Mariehamn - Åland

Torggatan is the pedestrian street that runs through the centre of Mariehamn, one lined by artisan shops and cosy cafes. It’s easy to spend a few hours here, dropping into one store after another, with a pleasant coffee break in-between.

The peculiar creations of this shop's owner and primary craftsman are something one is unlikely to have seen before: put together from discarded parts of machinery, old rusty tools and the like, the pieces are, indeed, unique, and range from bizarre creatures like a chainsaw spider to endearing piglets (made of rusty metal tubes) and piratical pieces like candle-holders and bookshelves.

Another shopping gem not to be missed is the Torggatan 15 collection of small boutiques, each with its own irresistible appeal. Torggatan packs everything from islands' art to clothing. Two stand-outs are Viktor Crafts & Designs, stocking items (clothing, accessories, home decor items, etc.) produced by a collection of local artisans, and Labelled, which sells wearable pieces made from recycled fabrics.

The sleek designs produced by Jussis Keramik have long been recognised for their finesse; watching the pieces as they are being created in-house adds to the boutique's appeal. A bird motif runs through many of the creations.