Holiday island Scandinavia
The Baltic Sea’s largest island is one of Sweden’s most attractive destinations. In the middle of Gotland’s historical and natural attractions, almost 100 medieval churches are packed in an area as large as Long Island.
From a historic city from the Viking Age with UNESCO recognition to kilometers of calm coastline and trails, Gotland has long been a favorite among Swedes during the summer holidays. For international travelers, Gotland has something to offer no matter when you visit.
Visby
The island’s capital Visby is rich in Viking age history and is today protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walled city is perfect for simply walking and absorbing the medieval atmosphere of what was once one of northern Europe’s most influential cities.
Hiking tours are available to dig deeper into history, but history buffs have other options as well. Visby Cathedral’s delightful octagonal tower catches the eye, as does the Gothic revival altarpiece inside. Try to catch one of the intimate summer concerts if you can.
The majority of Viking-era silver coins found in Sweden were found on Gotland. The island has also displayed Roman riches and jewelry from the Bronze Age, all to emphasize its historical significance. Much of this is shown together with the stories behind the finds at Visby Gotland Museuma must for anyone visiting the island.
Visy’s food scene is highly regarded, with local restaurants primarily using the island’s many farms and of course the richness of the sea.
Gotland’s beaches
Scandinavia is not exactly known for its beach holidays, but Gotland’s sandy beaches are one of the best places to try. The temperatures in the otherwise cold Baltic Sea become warm enough to swim in the summer.
The long sandy beach between Sjaustrehammaren and Ljugarn on the east coast is backed by pine forest, while the shallow water off Tofastranden on the west coast is a good choice for families.
Enjoying the Gotland coast
However, there is much more to Gotland’s seemingly endless coastline than just beaches. Sea kayaking is a popular activity in and around the protected bays, with guided tours available for those who have no experience of kayaking under sea conditions.
One of Gotland’s most famous features is the impressive limestone mounds, created by natural erosion during the last ice age. Known as raukarthese natural sculpture fields are found all over the island, but the most impressive are on the north coast of Gotland and on the neighboring country Fårö.
Fårö
Fårö is made entirely of limestone and is a small island off the northeast coast of Gotland, accessible via a short, free ferry ride. Acclaimed director Ingmar Bergman spent decades of his life here, a fact celebrated in the island’s culture house Bergman.
Sudersand on Fårö is considered one of the best beaches in the country. The added benefit of a restaurant, beach bar, mini golf, boat rentals and camping make the area an excellent choice for a family holiday.
Getting to Gotland
Most people travel to Gotland by ferry. Regular traffic runs from both Nynäshamn south of Stockholm and Oskarshamn in Småland. Both crossings take about three hours.
If you prefer to fly, SAS runs all year round from Stockholm Arlanda to Gotland, with Ryanair and Norwegian as summer traffic. Braathens Regional Airlines operates a route from Stockholm Bromma, while Finnair operates the island from Helsinki.