The guide to Gotland: what not to miss on the island

Out on Furillen, a small peninsula on the northeastern coast of Gotland, lies the award-winning hotel of the same name. The Furillen factory is perhaps  best known within the advertising and fashion industry, as many photographers and magazines have used the location. Stay in unique rooms designed with industrial, raw materials that resonate well with the rugged landscape. If you want to get really close to nature, you can book one of the hermit cabins on the hotel grounds, where you stay completely without running water or electricity.

Clarion Hotel Wisby is housed in a historic old building within the city walls of Visby. With 212 hotel rooms, several meeting rooms, an indoor pool, and a banquet hall, there's plenty of space for everything from families to couples, colleagues at conferences, and other globetrotters to settle in. End the evening with dinner in Friheten Bistro & Bar and wake up to a sumptuous breakfast buffet the next day.

If you jump at the sound of creaking doors, you might want to scroll on, but if you're a fan of medieval history and looking for a different hotel experience, you might want to check out Hotel Helgeand. The 20 uniquely decorated rooms are located in various buildings from the 1200s, 1600s, and 1800s, with the former being one of Visby's oldest structures. Amenities, however, are of a more modern kind: how about comfortable beds from Carpe Diem, bathroom products from Rituals, a TV, and a minibar in all rooms?

Does the name Grå Gåsen sound familiar? If you've seen the popular Swedish TV show Så Mycket Bättre, you might recognise the old barn and the large stone house where the artists have dinner and stay. You don't need to be a songbird to stay here, though – the place operates as a hotel year-round, with a cosy garden where you have access to wood-fired hot tubs in the winter and a refreshing swimming pool in the summer. The building, which is at the southern tip of Gotland, was completed in the mid-1800s and houses twelve hotel rooms.

There are several good hotels, hostels, and other accommodation options both in and around Visby. Some are only open during the high season, while others are open all year round. You'll find our best tips for accommodation in these guides.

Surfers has a popular branch in Stockholm, but their Visby restaurant was actually the first to see the light of day, and has since 2006 become a favourite among both local residents and temporary visitors. The concept revolves around small and medium-sized plates from the Sichuan Province in China, served in a vibrant and warm atmosphere. Lots of people drop by for a signature cocktail or a splash of Baijiu at the bar.

At Bolaget, one of Visby's most historic restaurants, French flavours fill both the plates and glasses, with everything from oysters to steak tartare and boeuf on the menu. The restaurant also houses a cocktail bar, where bartenders shake up both original and classic drinks.

During the summer season, Lilla Bjers farm shop expands its operations with an organic-certified restaurant, where sustainable dishes are served made from the farm's own produce. Lunch consists of a shorter à la carte menu, while dinner is offered as a tasting menu. Drinks are also organic. The farm is located seven kilometres south of Visby and offers a rural idyll both indoors and on the outdoor seating area.

Bruna Dörren in Ljugarn is a true summer oasis that houses a restaurant, cocktail bar, Thai eatery, and ice cream bar. Potatoes are a recurring feature on the menu, but there's also a wide selection of pizzas with various toppings. The outdoor seating area is one of the best on Gotland, often enlivened with music quizzes, live performances, discos, and other fun activities.

Bungenäs Matsal is in a natural area at the top of northern Gotland, a short bike ride or walk from the road. During the summer months, they serve both lunch and dinner with international flavours, largely made from local ingredients. If you want to enjoy the beautiful surroundings a little bit longer, you can stay overnight in one of the hotel rooms.

Across Gotland, you'll find both well-known eateries and some hidden gems, many of which focus particularly on using local produce from the island. In this guide, we recommend Gotland's best restaurants, from Sudret in the south to Fårö in the north.

In Spring 2024, Marta Beimin, who moved to Gotland from Poland, opened the doors to her dream café. Babka Café is located on Adelsgatan in the heart of Visby and offers both pastries and lighter lunch and breakfast options with influences from Eastern Europe, France, and the Nordics. What they serve varies with the seasons and what Marta feels like baking at the moment, but you can always count on both creative flavours and loving craftsmanship.

Down in Visby harbour lies Glassmagasinet, which, with over 300 different flavours, is not only Gotland's but also all of Europe's largest ice cream parlour. From the moment the spring sun peeks out until early autumn, you can cool off with everything from Italian gelato to locally produced ice cream, with a view of the water. There truly is something to suit all tastes here – the only challenge is deciding which ones to order today.

The stone-oven bakery Leva Kungslador is open year-round, offering not only freshly baked treats but also breakfast, lighter lunches, and early dinners. Just a short detour from Visby, it's a harmonious little paradise with raw limestone walls, as well as a rustic outdoor seating area and an orangery. Be sure to pick up something from the farm shop while you're there.

Overlooking Själsö harbour is this organic bakery that's open all summer, as well as on Friday to Sunday during the low season. Enjoy cinnamon and cardamom buns, hearty sandwiches made with freshly baked sourdough, fine coffee, and other treats. If you're after something refreshing, local Guteglass ice cream is also available. You can follow their bread vans on social media, as they pop up at various destinations on the island.

If you're feeling peckish in Visby, you can head to Gula Huset, which is housed in a yellow building inside the city walls. The place is particularly known for its Gotlandic saffron pancake with salma berry jam, but other homemade treats such as quiches, cakes, buns, and cookies are also lined up behind the counter. A tip is to come here on your birthday – if you're celebrating your birthday you get to drink coffee from an 1800s coffee cup.

The Visby city ring wall is perhaps Gotland's most characteristic landmark, and a significant factor in the city's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearly 3.5-kilometre-long wall began construction in the 13th century, and is a must-see during your stay on the island. If possible, explore the entire circuit, but if you're short on time, the stretch along the promenade is particularly beautiful. Stop by the Love Gate, an arched portal that has become a popular spot for both engagements and weddings.

The Eksta coast stretches a couple of kilometres along Gotland's western shore and is a beautiful nature reserve characterised by stony beaches and low coastal woodland. From here, there are magnificent views of the sea, the sunset, and the Karlsö islands a bit further on the horizon. Make a stop at one of the beaches and look for fossils, take a day trip to Stora Karlsö, or enjoy local delicacies at Djupvik Hotel.

Along the promenade, inside the city walls, the Botanical Gardens flourishes. In addition to a wide colour palette of roses, the flower that symbolises Visby, you can find all kinds of plants that wouldn't normally thrive in Swedish nature. Stroll around and read about the different flowers, or sit down on a park bench and simply soak in the relaxed atmosphere.

Take a road trip to the southernmost point of the island, Hoburgen. The area consists of rauks, cliffs, and heaths, offering breathtaking views of the open sea. You'll also find Hoburgsgubben, ("The Old Man of Hoburgen") perhaps Gotland's most famous rauk, which got its name because, from the right angle (and with a touch of imagination), it looks like a man. Have something to eat or a coffee at Majstre, or swing by the Så Mycket Bättre restaurant Grå Gåsen on your way to or from.

The cathedral has stood firm in the heart of Visby's old town since the early 13th century. The building features many beautiful details that carry intriguing anecdotes about the city's history. Join a guided tour or a dramatised tour of the church's hidden attic, in the evening after closing.

Just a five-minute ferry ride from the northern tip of Gotland lies Fårö, a small island with untouched nature, beautiful limestone houses and some of Gotland's best beaches – including the popular Sudersand beach. Marvel at the rauks at Langhammars Rauk Area, enjoy crêpes at Kutens Bensin, and experience Ingmar Bergman's artistry at the Bergman Centre.

The whole of Gotland is lined with beautiful bathing spots, with both sandy and stony beaches. Perhaps the most famous are Tofta Strand on the west coast as well as Sudersand beach on Fårö, but if you want to explore (or just find something less crowded) there are several gems to discover. In Östergarn lies Sandviken's  shallow sandy beach, where there's a summer restaurant, café and campsite, at Nisseviken you can jump from the pier, while Herta, with its secluded location and access to both a playground and a kiosk, is suitable for the whole family.

Fornsalen ("The Hall of Antiquities"), Gotland's oldest cultural-historical museum, offers plenty of exciting objects and exhibitions for both young and old. Among other things, it houses the world's largest Viking-age silver hoard, the Spillings Treasure, which was discovered in the northern part of the island in the late 1990s. There are also fossils, graves, and objects from the Stone Age to the Viking Age, as well as the children's and family exhibition Ships & fun, where you can learn about the sea's significance for Gotland, dress up as a Viking, and tie knots.

Bowling, beer tastings or flea markets? On Gotland, there are plenty of fun activities to engage in, and in this guide, we've gathered all our favourites.