The ultimate travel guide to Gotland, Sweden – including must-see places and best local eateries.
Gotland is everything you would not expect far up north, in the middle of the Baltic Sea. In late spring and summer, the island fascinates its visitors with a rich and colorful fauna – wildflowers in lilac, yellow, red and blue, blossoming all around – creating the perfect contrast to the rich green pinewood forests covering much of the land. It is an incredibly serene place, with the warm summer breeze and soft waves of the sea forming a magical bond with birds singing a lullaby and wild rabbits playing in the fields. Nature is absolutely stunning here.
The locals are in the best mood too, enjoying the warm and light months of the year to the fullest. Generally, Swedes – visitors and residents alike – are incredibly welcoming, friendly and even-tempered – the epitome of calm and relaxed – which can be quite a culture-shock, if one is being used to stressful, loud, and hectic city-life.
Summertime on Gotland is calming for the soul and an absolute delight for all the senses – with breathtaking sunsets, painting the clouds pink, blue and all shades in between. In June, right around Midsummer celebrations, days are long and bright and even after midnight, daylight never fully fades. If there is a place on earth to fully enjoy natures wonders: it must be this beautiful Swedish Island. You just can not help falling in love.
Trips to Gotland in fall or winter
It is not surprising, that Gotland is one of the Swedes favorite holiday destinations. Even in fall and winter, the climate here is unusually mild – for northern standards that is – with temperatures rarely below zero, but quite a bit of wind and rain. For visiting the nordic countries in winter one must really be a night owl too: sunlight is rare and days incredibly short. Nevertheless, a trip to Gotland in fall or winter can be quite poetic, with long walks along empty beaches in crispy cold weather, visiting museums, taking time to read a good book and romantic evenings by the fireplace.
Gotland is the largest Island of Sweden, with a long history dating back to 7200 BC. Its central location in the Baltic Sea right between mainland Sweden and the Baltic States made it strategically and economically very relevant. For centuries, it has been the target for military conquests. All along the coastline one can still find abandoned bunkers to protect the land from its latest adversaries.
Having been inhabited by multiple cultures since prehistoric times, numerous artifacts have been found. Most notably, the largest Viking silver treasure worldwide, consisting of coins, bronze objects, tools, pottery, iron bands and more.
Visby, the only town on Gotland, is a real gem and a must-see destination while on the island. Almost half of the total population of Gotland (roughly 60,000) live in the beautifully preserved medieval town. Everyone else is enjoying life in minor rural settlements or rather secluded, on small farms. Agriculture, local craftwork, tourism and concrete production are the main sources of employment for locals.
The ideal time to visit Gotland is between May and August, the warmest and sunniest months of the year, with up to 11 hours of sunshine daily. An incredible experience are the white nights (May 22 - June 21), when even after sunset, it never gets completely dark at night. For anyone not born and raised in a northern country, swimming might be quite a chilly adventure nevertheless. For Swedes however, it must feel just like taking a dip in the Mediterranean Sea.
If you prefer a bit less hustle and bustle of visitors from all over the world, travel a bit before Midsummer (the Saturday between June 19 and June 25), but make sure not to miss that spectacular day of celebration.
Fall and winter on Gotland have a special kind of charm. Once the crowds of tourists leave in early fall, life slows down and an almost mystic kind of calm covers the island. The landscape turns bare and into a winter wonderland, which can be just as enchanting.
Ferry and plane are the only options for traveling to Gotland (timetables and booking). Airlines like SAS, BRA, Norwegian and Finnair are offering flights to Visby all year, usually via Stockholm or Helsinki for international holidaymakers. Most popular however, is taking a ferry to the port of Visby and traveling by car or camper. The crossing of the Baltic Sea itself is a lovely experience.
Attractions worth visiting are almost endless, but these are our top 5 excursions and delicacies not to miss, while on Gotland.
2 The island of Fårö
An excursion to Fårö, the small island northeast of Gotland, is perfect for a day trip. Reachable in only 6 minutes by ferry, Fårö welcomes you with its rugged and barren landscape, “Raukar”, its famous rock formations, and fabulous beaches.
Recommended stops include: Digerhuvud, a nature reserve, exhibiting hundreds of impressive rock formations on land and in the sea; as well as Sudersand, one of Swedens best beaches, thanks to powdery, white sand and shallow waters.
While driving along the east coast, make a stop at the charming, quiet village of Ljugarn. It is the oldest seaside resort on Gotland with only 200 inhabitants but very popular among holidaymakers, offering the longest beach of the island, cute coffee shops and restaurants.
Holiday homes & cottages:
Novasol: Huge selection of holiday homes and rentals from private owners. For a typical red Swedish cottage by the beach: book at least 1 - 2 years in advance for high season.
Hotels:
Clarion Hotel Wisby ****
