The island of Gotland, located in the Baltic Sea, undoubtedly deserves the attention of tourists. The capital of the island is . In general, holidays on Gotland can be divided into 3 large sections:

• Visiting natural attractions
• Visiting historical sites
• Leisure

Natural attractions

Gotland is sometimes called "limestone Hawaii" because once upon a time the island lay closer to the equator, where its limestone foundation formed. Wind, weather and the Ice Age formed a special natural landscape.

On the coast you can see vertical pillars of bizarre shapes. Most of these stones are in the eastern part of the island, where it is worth taking a walk along the edge of the sea and see how water and stone meet.

The mild maritime climate promotes lush vegetation from early spring to late autumn. Limestone retains heat even in winter, so traditionally southern plants can often be found on the island. Next to the medieval wall along the embankment is the Botan botanical garden, where various types of flora are presented.

The small island has more than 100 protected areas, the most famous being Brucebo, north of Visby. Rare animals and plants live everywhere, many of which are found only here.

Take a picnic with you and enjoy the northern nature among
bright meadows of the island.

The circumference of Gotland's coastline is 800 km, but the seascape also includes small islands that are worthy of attention. Sweden's best sandy beaches in the Baltic Sea are on the island of Fårö. The islands of Stora and Lilla Karlsö are home to bird species found nowhere else in Sweden.

Historical landmarks

All over the island you can see ruins and structures that testify to life on Gotland in the Middle Ages. You should start your acquaintance with a ride on a small tourist train that travels through the center of Visby.

The largest medieval landmark in Gotland is the Visby Wall. The Hanseatic city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city wall surrounds the city and extends for 3.5 km, has more than 50 towers and is surrounded by moats.

Gotland has the largest concentration of churches in Sweden. Here you will never be more than 10 minutes' drive from the church tower. The most famous church on the island is St. Mary Cathedral.

The beginning of August is “Medieval Week,” a time when everything on the island turns into an ancient city with markets, tournaments and exhibitions. You can see how people lived many years ago in the Gotland Museum.

Get inspired by the island's landscapes and visit the Gotland Art Museum, which features works by local artists.

Leisure

In the north of Visby is the longest cave in Sweden, Lummelundagrottan, which can be explored on a guided tour. You can find out about the cost and time of the event at the main tourist office of the island, located at Donners plats 1, Visby.

Be sure to take a bike ride - the flat terrain and attractive landscapes seem to be specially created for this type of recreation. You can rent a bicycle in Visby near the tourist office.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing are practiced on the coast of Gotland all year round. On the island's highway you can rent go-karts and have a blast.

Come to the island at the end of June and you will see an unforgettable sight - how
young chicks jump from the Karlsö cliff to fly for the first time.

During the summer months, you can enjoy relaxing on the island's sandy beaches. There is a great choice here: from lively Tofta, Ljugarn or Sudersand to small coves where you can relax alone.

For a holiday with children, you should choose the place Kneippbyn, where there is a water park, an amusement park and Pippi Longstocking's house.

How to get to Gotland

Gotland can be reached by ferry and plane.

Ferries depart from the ports of Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn. The trip will last just over three hours. You can fly from Stockholm by plane, the flight will take about 40 minutes. Airlines operating these flights are Gotlandsflyg and Nextjet

You can book ferry and air tickets, view prices and schedules at

Scandinavian mothers and grandmothers tell a very beautiful legend to their children and grandchildren about a beautiful island that every evening dives into the water of the Baltic Sea along with the sun. And with the first rays of dawn it is reborn again in an even more beautiful form. This beautiful tale is about the island of Gotland, which is located one hundred kilometers off the coast of Sweden.

Historical excursion

The island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea has a long history. Its main city, Visby, is called the last stronghold of the Middle Ages. Its thousand-year history goes back to the Stone Age, which is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds and remains of fishermen’s settlements. The Viking Age became the heyday of trade, and in the early Middle Ages, merchants from the island had trading yards in the nearest big cities, and even in Nizhny Novgorod. During the heyday of the island of Gotland (Sweden), churches up to 50 meters high were built here.

But at the end of the thirteenth century, difficult times began. The island changed hands several times. At one time it was owned by the knights of the Livonian Order, then by Denmark and even by the Swedish king Eric of Pomerania. But in 1679, the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea was annexed to Sweden, within which it remains as a province to this day.

Gord Visby

Currently, Visby, of course, cannot boast of perfectly preserved architectural monuments. Unfortunately, time and wars do not spare anyone. But still, some historical sights have survived to this day - the fortress wall and St. Mary's Cathedral from the 13th century.

The church is famous in the area for its choral organ. She is visible from afar; she is the first to be seen by everyone who arrives on the island. In the central part of the city you can see the fortress wall, which was built during a period of aggravated relations between German merchants and the population of the city. It completely surrounds the historical center of Visby. Its length is about three and a half kilometers. It consists of forty-four towers of various sizes, and they are much better preserved than other similar European buildings of that time.

The medieval spirit of the city is complemented by the inimitable smell of rose bushes, of which an incredible amount grows here. Red tiled roofs harmonize with stone paving stones and pointed towers.

Haunted Hotel

On the island of Gotland, the most popular hotel is located in an ancient building from the twelfth century. The establishment boasts medieval interiors and its own ghost, which local residents believe lives here. The benevolent spirit belongs to the nun who once lived within these walls.

Lambs are considered the symbol of the island of Gotland. The figure of this animal is even depicted on the coat of arms. In general, there are a lot of sheep here, whole flocks walk through the emerald fields.

What is the island interesting to tourists?

The largest island of Sweden, Gotland, is appreciated by vacationers for its wonderful mild climate, beautiful sandy beaches and unique landscape. It is not for nothing that it is called the “Baltic Pearl”.

The geological age of Gotland is quite solid. The island is made of rocks that accumulated in the tropical sea about 400 million years ago. Minerals are still found on the coast to this day. In the south and north of the island of Gotland, limestone comes to the surface, and the vegetation in these places is quite sparse. Here, high limestone cliffs with huge flocks of birds cut through the sandy beaches that tourists love. Along the coast there are numerous cliffs of bizarre shapes, called raukara. It is near them that many tourists always gather, wanting to capture this unique creation of nature as a souvenir.

The island is characterized by warm and long autumns with mild winters. Climatic conditions allow apricots and walnuts to survive in protected areas. In the local meadows you can find at least 35 varieties of orchids, blooming by mid-summer. Gotland does not have a very extensive world of mammals. Sometimes you can see fallow deer, ponies, as well as wild rabbits and foxes.

How to get to Gotland Island?

Getting to the island is not at all difficult. Regular flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow will take any traveler to Stockholm. From here, by car or bus, you need to get to the town of Nynäshamn (about 60 kilometers), from where ferries depart for Gotland. After three and a half hours you arrive in Visby. This path may seem quite tedious to some, so there is a faster way to get to the island. There are air connections between Gotland and the mainland. There are direct flights from Stockholm Airport to Visby. And in the summer, additional flights appear from other Swedish cities and even neighboring countries.

You can travel around the island itself by minibuses, buses, and taxis. And for more comfort, you can rent a car or moped. Having your own transport, you can actively move between the provinces of Gotland.

Gotland Hotels

When going on an excursion to the island of Gotland, every traveler will be interested in the issue of accommodation. It is worth noting that in terms of hotel infrastructure, the island has been very successful, so vacationers have at their disposal a large number of various hotels, guest houses, country cottages, apart-hotels, campsites on the coast, boarding houses, holiday villages and even affordable hostels. During your tour to the island of Gotland, you can find accommodation to suit any budget.

Most of the more modern hotels are located directly in Visby. Among them, it is worth highlighting Hotel Villa Borgen and Visby Hamnhotell. Both establishments offer fairly good and comfortable living conditions at a reasonable price.

According to tourists, the Jacobs Hotel Gotland, which is designed in the spirit of a boutique hotel and is perfect for a romantic and family vacation, has proven itself well. Renting an apartment in a hotel will cost approximately 750 euros per week. The homely, cozy rooms are designed in national style, allowing you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the island.

On the east coast of Gotland there is a small hotel with only 17 rooms. Fabriken Furillen has apartments in the main building and in forest cottages. Accommodation in such a hotel will appeal to those who are looking for unity with nature away from civilization. The cost of hotel apartments starts from 250 euros.

Good hotels can also be found on the coast, for those who want to relax in silence. The Stelor Hotel cottage complex is designed in a characteristic farm style. It is located just five minutes from the sea. The owner of the establishment herself feeds her guests, preparing local traditional dishes. The cost of renting a cottage starts from 240 euros per day.

Open-air museum

There are many villages on the island, each of which has something interesting. The best time for a tour to Gotland is from May to the end of September. In summer, most of the days are sunny, and the weather is conducive to traveling around the island. One of the places worth visiting on the island of Gotland is the open-air museum in Bung.

It was founded in 1907. The idea of ​​its creation has been discussed for quite a long time. Eventually the establishment was founded on land owned by the church in Bunge. Historical buildings from all the villages on the island began to be brought here. It is worth noting that the historical museum in the village of Bunge is considered one of the largest in Sweden. It includes a complex of buildings designed in the form of three courtyards. On the territory of the museum you can see farms from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, mills, and houses covered with sedge. The center of the exhibition is the crucifix; it was around it that in ancient times people gathered for public prayer. The museum is interesting because you can enter all the buildings, and the decoration of the houses is made up of furniture from those times. An interesting fact is that it is the most visited place on the island by tourists.

Fore Island

One of the must-see places for travelers is the island of Fore, located near Gotland. Its population is about 500 people. You can get to the island by ferry. Not so long ago it was closed to the public because it housed military installations. But now Fore is open to tourists. Its main attractions are the unique raukars of various shapes. These bizarre creations, reminiscent of lunar landscapes, became the creation of the Ice Age.

Faure's attractions include Sudersand Beach and Digerhuvud (nature reserve). There are also man-made objects on the island. A nineteenth-century lighthouse and the home of the very famous director Ingmar Bergman, who lived here for the last decades of his life, have been preserved here.

Church in Bunge

On the island of Gotland (photos are given in the article) there is an incredible number of churches. Guests may be interested in the medieval Lutheran building in Bünge, which belongs to the Diocese of Visby. Excavations have been carried out here several times, the results of which indicate that there was once a Romanesque temple on the same site, dating back to the twelfth century. Its building looked more like a fortress, behind whose walls residents hid from pirates. From its former grandeur, only part of the tower has survived to this day, the frescoes of which show pictures of battles.

Abbey of Ruma

The sights of the island of Gotland are of genuine interest to all connoisseurs of historical monuments. One such place is the ruins of Ruma Abbey, located southeast of Visby. The building once belonged to Cistercian monks. The monastery here was founded in 1163. It included churches, of which only ruins remained, and utility buildings. The abbey prospered incredibly in the early thirteenth century. He owned numerous farms and lands not only on the island, but also on the mainland, including Estonia. But later changes came and for a century the abbey defended its property. Gradually it lost all its possessions and after the last reform it was turned into an ordinary garden farm.

Lebrou Church

Lebrou is another small town in Gotland. Its main symbol and attraction is the ancient temple. The stone structure from the Middle Ages is distinguished by a tower that served for defensive purposes. The church and tower were built around the same time. But only a few details remained from the temple.

The modern church was added to the northern part of the old building, and during its existence the building was repeatedly remodeled and supplemented. As a result, the temple acquired a slightly different appearance, and this is exactly how it now appears to tourists. Even the interior decoration of the church is complemented by antique furniture dating from the 17th-18th centuries.

Entertainment in Gotland

Gotland is interesting not only for its architecture and Byzantine churches, but also for its beautiful, surprisingly diverse landscapes. You just have to drive a couple of kilometers outside the city and you will see deciduous forests and places that are very reminiscent of the African savannah. On the island you can also see Viking graves from the Bronze and Iron Ages. There is always something to see in Gotland. History buffs can visit the spring asparagus festival, as well as reenactments of medieval tournaments, and professional historical theater productions organized in the summer. From June to August there is a Viking village, which is a reconstructed village from the ninth century. It is located in the town of Tofta. All museum visitors are given a unique opportunity to take part in the fun of those times and try their hand at baking.

Every year from 6 to 13 August, Gotland celebrates Medieval Week. At this time, the Old Town seems to be transported several centuries into the past. Visiting the island at this time is quite interesting and entertaining.

With children, it is worth visiting the theme park of the famous character Pippi Longstocking. The complex offers guests 50 attractions: a flying boat, a roller coaster, a carousel, a villa where the famous film was filmed and much more.

Tours to the island

Tours to Gotland are quite popular among tourists, and trips to the wonderful island are organized from different countries. To get to the island, you need to get to Stockholm, and then take a ferry or go to the airport. Currently, tours to the island of Gotland from St. Petersburg are actively offered. For example, you can go on a four-day trip by comfortable bus to Stockholm, where after the excursions you can take a ferry. On such a trip, a whole day is dedicated to exploring the island.

The cruise ship Silja Europa sails to the coast of Gotland from Helsinki and Tallinn in the summer. On board, tourists can expect a lot of entertainment for children and adults, food and a spa center. And the excursion program around the island includes a sightseeing trip around Visby, a visit to Fore Island and Pippi Longstocking Park.

In general, in the modern tourism market there are many options for trips to Gotland. It all depends on how many days you want to spend on it. The most daring travelers who have visited the island on cruises very often return here, having organized their own trip. This makes it possible to travel to all the most interesting places on Gotland and the neighboring islands, and also fully enjoy the beauty of the stunning city of Visby. When planning such a trip, it is worth remembering that the island is worth visiting in the summer, and it is better if your trip takes place from mid-July to mid-August. At this time, there are many holidays with historical reconstructions that will plunge you headlong into the Middle Ages.

I have wanted to visit the Swedish island of Gotland for a very long time; last August I had the opportunity. Of all the summer travels and adventures, I miss this island the most :)

I spent 3 days on the island, but during that time I accomplished a lot. Even rest :))

First, a little information about the island and its main city (but it’s worth noting that I’m not a historian, I just collected some facts to make the post more interesting)

Gotland not only the largest island in Sweden, but also one of the oldest historical areas in the country. Now, together with nearby small islands, it forms the historical province of Gotland, Gotland County and commune. The climate and topography of the island are not at all similar to the climate and topography of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

During the Middle Ages, trade developed here very actively both with the countries of Western Europe and with Russia and Asian countries. The island was a transit point between Russian (Novgorod) and German markets. Accordingly, people lived here quite richly; every village could afford to build churches. On the island with an area of ​​2994 km² (176 km long and 50 km wide) you can now find about 100 churches or their ruins!

Since 1679, Gotland has continuously belonged to Sweden, with the exception of a few weeks during the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809, when it was occupied by Russian troops and declared a Russian province.

Moment 1. So what was my main goal? It’s not so easy to convey the atmosphere in words and photos, I can only say it was simply wonderful - smiling medieval Vikings, traders, merchants, musicians, pirates, beautiful ladies, 100% living their roles; a wonderful market and medieval fast food, concerts and theatrical scenes, ancient fun in the form of throwing axes and archery...

02. First of all, you need to look like locals :)

03. So that you can immediately blend into the crowd :)

04. At the market

05. Heroes.

Moment 2. Visby.
The founders of Visby were the ancient pagan tribes of the Goths, as evidenced by the name of the island on which it is located. Visby is translated from Old Norse as “settlement near the shrine.” Visby was the main center of trade on the Baltic. For 100 years, German ships sailed to Novgorod under the Gotlandic flag. Merchants from Visby established an office in Novgorod. By the beginning of the 13th century, the city had become an important trading post due to its entry into the Hanseatic League, at which time construction began on the famous ring wall that surrounds the city to this day. Medieval churches have also been preserved in the city. Visby is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

06. How nice it is to walk along the cobbled medieval streets, and when you see this in front of you, you forget what time you are in.

07.

08. Ruins of a church (I think St. Nicholas, but I could be wrong). They look amazing. They also hold concerts here!

09. The city wall, which has no analogues in Northern Europe in terms of its state of preservation, is 3.4 km long with 44 towers from the 12th to 14th centuries.

Moment 3. Ice cream in Glass Magasinet (Visby).
Visby is home to Europe's largest ice cream bar. Here you can choose the flavor of your ice cream scoop from more than 180 varieties (on the day of our visit, I counted 210!)
10.

11. Only a small part of the assortment :)

12. Ice cream with basil, beer, licorice, tiramisu and Jack Daniels flavors - no problem!

Moment 4. Sea.
In summer it’s simply impossible not to swim in the Baltic Sea. We did not live in Visby itself, but 5 km from it in a huge hotel and tent complex, if you can call it that. Accommodation here includes both tents and trailers, you can live in simple houses (like in a camp) with outdoor amenities or in improved houses.

13. Lyrical digression. On the territory of the complex (photo from phone). Cool tent, right?

14. Of course, it was a bit shallow to swim, but look at the landscapes here!

15. And it’s not necessary to swim here. You can simply throw pebbles into the water to see who gets the most splash :) Or just enjoy the sunset :)
Moment 5. Högklint Naturreservat
Observation deck on the rock. Located approximately 5 km from Visby, it can be reached by car or bicycle. The views of the city and the sea are wonderful, and the steep cliffs make the landscape even more mysterious. On the day of my visit, they were filming some kind of film about knights :)

16. Sunset

17. Rock. Did you find me? :) It was scary to pose there :)))

I was also very pleased that the site has places for a picnic and grill. And in the free parking lot there was a free (and clean!) toilet.

Moment 6. Meeting with Ira agnessss . Not only did I give her Viking family (who are regulars at the medieval festival) a short photo session in authentic ruins, but I also received valuable advice on how to best spend 1 day on the island.

Moment 7. As I already said, there were a huge number of medieval churches on the territory of Gotland, some of which have survived to this day and are even in operation.

19. Lärbro Church. Almost all the churches on Gotland are open around the clock, this one was also open, but there was no one inside. The strange feeling was even intensified by the fact that a ghost lives here (according to legend).

Moment 8. Fore Island and its incredible landscapes!
According to Wikipedia, the island of Fårö is separated from the island of Gotland by the Fårösund Strait. Transport connections are provided by two ferry crossings. The area of ​​the island is 111.35 km², of which 9.7 km² are swamps. The population is 524 people (2012). There is no post office, police, hospitals, banks on the island, the road network is underdeveloped, despite this, in the summer the island is often visited by tourists.

Until the 1990s, Fårö and the north of Gotland were closed to foreigners because they were home to state military coastal defense units.

Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman lived and died on the island, and several of his films were filmed here.

Stone columns called "Raukar" are often found here, formed as a result of erosion during the Ice Age.

20. Gamle Hamn. Old harbor. Probably one of the most famous stones (this is raukar) of the island. At first it seemed to me that it was a sheep, then a camel and finally I saw a dog :)

21. Just some lunar-Icelandic landscapes!

22. Fishing village

23. I think that we were lucky with the weather - the cloudy sky added its own atmosphere.

24. Langhammar is a peninsula in the northwestern part of Fårö, on which the nature park of the same name is located, with rocky shores and stone columns formed during the Ice Age, called “raukars”. Ingmar Bergman's film Through a Glass Darkly was filmed in Langhammar.


I note that this is the only place where tourists were seen. This is due to the fact that large tourist buses can reach here, but not to other places (20 -23). By the way, all iconic places have a short description of the attraction, free parking and free toilets.

25. I'm on the Moon:) It just seems to me that this is exactly how it should be there. Or in Iceland (only the photo was somehow shrunk down)

Moment 9. Incredible cafe Kutens benzin(Creperie Tati)
26.


No, this is not a landfill or a trash heap, but the “entourage” of the establishment. There are a lot of “rusty exhibits” collected here, I’ll try to write about the cafe separately.
The inside is all "Elvis era style" and serves crepes (pancakes) with a variety of different fillings. The cafe is very popular, we had to wait about 40 minutes for our order.

Moment 10. Gotlandic.
Did you know that there are more sheep in Gotland than people? :) The approximate number of people is 57,300, and the number of sheep is 70,000! In Visby they were not very noticeable (only on flags and in the form of statues), but it was worth driving further away... And I’m generally silent about the island of Fårö.
27. Sheep in Visby.

28. Sheep from Fårö.



Bottom line - I really liked Gotland, impressed, inspired (although I was only in the northeast) and I already want to return here this year and continue exploring the island.

Now a question for my beloved readers: haven’t I been writing too long posts lately? 28 pictures and a decent amount of text - is this a lot or is it readable?

Useful information for tourists about the island of Gotland in Sweden - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

The island of Gotland lies in the Baltic Sea and currently belongs to Sweden. However, this was not always the case: Gotland has been part of the kingdom since 1679, with the exception of the short “Russian period” - an episode of the Russian-Swedish war at the beginning of the 19th century, when the island was briefly a Russian province.

Administratively, Gotland is a county, geographically it is one of the largest islands belonging to Sweden, and culturally it is a historical region that includes several neighboring islands. The center of Gotland is the city of Visby, which has been recognized as the best preserved medieval city in northern Europe.

The location of Gotland has always been considered advantageous in terms of trade, so local wars often took place on the island, kings and pirates tried to capture it, and it remained the subject of a dispute between Denmark and Sweden for a long time.

Viking graves, ruins of ancient churches, unique natural landscapes, medieval festivals - all this and much more can be found within Gotland. In the summer months, the village of Tofta is open to everyone on the island - a recreated Viking settlement that was on Gotland in the 9th century. Not only the meticulously recreated surroundings (the houses and life of the Vikings), but also master classes on the pastimes and crafts of medieval Scandinavian warriors and sailors help you feel the atmosphere of that era.

The creative legacy of the famous writer Astrid Lindgren is now also one of the brands in Sweden. A few kilometers from Visby, in the town of Kneipby, there is a museum in the Villa “Chicken” - in the house where the girl Pepilotta Longstocking lived. The villa was built in the 60s, especially for the filming of a film about the adventures of an unusual girl. The villa was moved several times until it ended up in its current location.

Natural attractions of Gotland include Lummelunda Cave near Visby - an underground kingdom with waterfalls, stalactites and halls. This complex operates during the warm season. On the island of Stora Kalse there is a nature reserve famous for the giant limestone formation, carved by water and wind - this rock reaches a height of 16 meters. Other bizarre sculptures can be seen on the islands of Wind and Faro. By the way, the climate of Gotland is considered milder than the climate of mainland Sweden, so this region has beaches and places for surfing.

Stone Age burials, poppy fields, and caves with stalactites are scattered around the island. And that's not all: Gotland has Europe's largest limestone quarry and even its own (now inoperative) oil pump.

Tourists from all over the world flock here, and among the Swedes it is considered prestigious to have a summer house on Gotland. Here are the summer villas of Swedish politicians, millionaire businessmen, movie stars and musicians.

Gotland is the largest island in the Baltic Sea. It belongs to Sweden, but the Gotlanders themselves consider themselves not Swedes, but specifically Gotlanders. The Swedish dialect here is also special.

If you are traveling without a car, then along with a ticket for the ferry itself, you can immediately buy a ticket for the bus to the ferry (båtbus). The bus departs from Stockholm Central Station (T-Centralen, City Terminal), you can find it by following the signs on the “Destination Gotland” board. Here you need to pay attention to the fact that the bus leaves according to its occupancy - it can leave five minutes before the time indicated on the schedule.

When is the best time to go?

It's simple: Gotland is beautiful at any time of the year, but the best time to visit is from mid-May to mid-June or at the end of August.
In summer there are more entertainment and amenities than in winter, but there are also a lot of tourists. The peak occurs in mid-August, during Medieval Week. During this holiday, it is impossible to crowd the streets of Visby, and all the hotels are packed. The disadvantages of traveling in winter are the inability to get to many nature reserves.

Transport on the island of Gotland

Car rent: At Visby airport and at the ferry terminal you can find all the main car rental companies: Herz, Europcar, Visby Biluthyrning (Färjeleden 41, next to the ferry terminal), in Visby itself there is an Avis car rental at Donners Plats 2, and in the city of Färjeleden there is Carina's Car Rental in Farosund(phone +46 708 231408).

Bicycle rental: There are several bike rentals on Gotland (and most hotels and guesthouses will offer bikes for free).
In Visby on Skeppsbron 2 there is a bike rental shop called Gotlands Cykeluthyrning. It operates from early May to mid-September. You can book bicycles or tandems in advance, along with tents, trailers for children, dog carriers, helmets, baskets, and child seats. There are even ready-made bike camping packages that include all of the above.

Municipal transport: There is also a bus service between settlements on Gotland, but the breaks between buses can be long, and on some routes they run once or twice a day.
The schedule can be found on the Gotland.se website in the Kollektivtrafiken section by selecting Busstidtabeller per linje and the desired route line.

Accommodation on Gotland

There are many accommodation options during the tourist season: hotels and guesthouses in the city, hotels and villas outside the city, cottages, summer houses and campsites in the forest and on the seashore.
The Visby Prison Hostel is located next to the ferry terminal in Visby. Until 1998, the building, built in 1857, functioned as a prison, which was called Sjumastaren (“Seven Mast”): thanks to the seven protruding chimneys, the structure from the sea looked like a ship with seven masts.

On the east coast of Gotland, near the town of Lärbro, on the island of Furillen (the island can be reached by bridge), there is a hotel Fabriken Furillen, designed by Swedish photographer Johan Hellström. It all started when Hellström used the industrial landscape of a limestone quarry that closed in 1990 to film music videos and advertising photo shoots. He then bought the buildings that previously belonged to the factory and opened a hotel on the site in the early 2000s.

Visby Prison Hostel

Visby Prison Hostel

Fabriken Furillen

Fabriken Furillen

Fabriken Furillen

Visby

Gotland's capital, Visby, is called the "city of roses and ruins" and is, of course, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visby is the best preserved medieval city in Scandinavia. It was built in the mid-13th century on the site of a Viking settlement; its historical part is surrounded by a fortress wall with 44 towers. In order to save materials, some buildings were attached directly to the walls. People still live in these houses. It would probably be nice to have a Sunday barbecue in your yard, where instead of a fence there is an 800-year-old wall protected by UNESCO!

All the streets of the city are decorated with flower beds and rose bushes.
In the Middle Ages, Visby was part of the Hanseatic League. The favorable location of the island quickly enriched its inhabitants. The fortress wall protected the wealth of the townspeople not only from foreign invaders, but also from fellow citizens-farmers, from whom enterprising merchants extracted taxes if it occurred to one of the Gotlanders to bring their goods for sale abroad.

Merchants from different lands, in order to show who had more money, each built their own church in Visby and tried to outdo each other. Therefore, this city has the highest concentration of ancient churches per square meter in Europe. There are now about a dozen churches inside the city walls. True, most of them are ruins maintained in good condition (weddings and concerts are held in these ruins, as well as summer terraces of restaurants).

In 1808, Gotland was briefly conquered by the Russian general Nikolai Bodisko. They say that for 24 days that Bodisko held the island, balls and feasts were continuously given on it and everyone had fun. After surrendering the island back to the Swedish detachment without a fight, Bodisko was dismissed from service “for the removal of the ground forces that were under his command from the island of Gotland and the position of weapons without resistance.” In memory of the Russians, the names in Visby remained: Ryska Gränd (Russian Lane) and the restaurant Ryska Gården (Russian Courtyard), in the basement of which there was an Orthodox church built by the Novgorodians (now only the foundation remains of the church).

Ryska Gården ("Russian Courtyard")

Nature reserves of Gotland

Gotland has about 100 nature reserves (naturreservat) and one national park. For an island with an area of ​​3,000 square kilometers, this is, you see, a lot.

Grottoes in Lummelund

A system of karst caves with stalactites (total length - about four kilometers). The grottoes are located on road 149 (väg 149) 13 kilometers north of Visby. You can get into them from May 1 to September 15.

The grottoes were discovered in the 1920s - then about 40 meters were explored, after which the caves were forgotten until 1948, when three Gotlandic boys found a new entrance inside and spent several years studying the underground corridors. In 1959, the caves were opened to the public. Now you can choose a standard walking tour or an extreme boat tour along underground rivers. At the entrance to the grottoes there is a warning that the maximum temperature inside, even on the hottest summer day, does not exceed +10 °C.

In the Lummelunda grottoes, local cheesemakers from Stafva Gård produce a Gotlandic specialty - organic cheese. A special variety of blue cheese, stavfa grottblå, is kept on special racks for seven weeks. This cheese can be purchased both in the farm store and in Coop and Ica supermarkets.

Nature reserve on the island of Stora Karlsö

The islands of Stora Kalsø and Lilla Kalsø (Great and Small Charles Islands) are located six kilometers off the west coast of Gotland. They are small plateaus rising above the sea. The Big Island, Stora Kalsø, can be reached in 45 minutes by ferry from the town of Klintehamn. The island is open to visitors from early May to early September.

Swedes' passion (besides coffee, Nordic walking and detective writing) is bird watching. Therefore, on the island you can see many people with binoculars, cameras and easels - all of them are busy studying, photographing or sketching birds. As soon as the ferry from Klintehamn arrives on the island, tourists are gathered into a group and the rules of conduct are explained in two languages ​​(Swedish and English). The basic rule is not to go beyond the restrictive markings. This is especially important during the hatching season - birds behave extremely aggressively at this time and pose a threat to humans.

You can come to Stora Kalsø for the day and leave on the evening ferry, or you can stay in the old lighthouse from 1887 or in a hostel. Near the pier there is a restaurant (the food is good) and a small souvenir shop.

Fårö Island

To the northwest of Gotland is the island of Fårö. This picturesque place can only be visited in the absence of snow - the road network on the island is poorly developed, and when the roads become covered in snow, it is almost impossible to drive through. You can get to Fårø by ferry from the town of Fårösund; the ferry runs all year round, twice an hour (more often in the high season), from early morning until 10:00 p.m. In summer, the queue of cars at the pier can reach several kilometers.
Fårö's calling card is the stone formations of the Silurian period, for which a special name was invented - rauki, or raukars (rauk - singular, raukar - plural). Rauks look like huge columns of bizarre shapes. This is a consequence of the fact that they were once the bottom of the ocean, and Gotland was a coral reef in the equator region.

Rauk "Hunden" in the shape of a dog

You can look for rauki on the island of Fårö on the Langhammar peninsula, in the town of Digerhuvud and in the Old Port (Gamla Hamn). There is a rauk there, shaped like a dog. The locals call him that: Hunden - “dog”.

Fårö Fyr Lighthouse

In the north-eastern part of the island is the beautiful Fårö Fyr lighthouse, built in the mid-19th century.
In addition to sandy beaches, pine forests (full of blueberries in August!) and rauki, Fårö is famous for being the home of film director Ingmar Bergman. The famous Swede is buried in the cemetery of the local church. The films “Passion”, “Shame”, “Hour of the Wolf” were filmed in Fårö; the film “Scenes from a Marriage” was filmed in the house of Bergman’s ex-wife, and “Through a Glass Darkly” was filmed in Langhammar. In the summer, look for the Bergman Center on the island - they organize tours, lectures and film screenings. Every June, a week-long film festival is held on the island in Bergman's honor.

An equally important attraction of Fårö is the cafe and home bakery “Sylvia’s Daughters” (Sylvis Döttrar Hembageri). The most delicious buns in all of Gotland are baked here, and if you manage to get into this cafe, be sure to take some cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) with you. Unfortunately, the cafe is not open all year round, but you can check this information in advance on the page Facebook.
Another interesting place - Cafe Kutens Bensin. Old rusty cars, 50s atmosphere and even concerts.

Cafe and home bakery "Sylvia's Daughters" (Sylvis Döttrar Hembageri)

Gotska Sandön National Park

The island of Gotska Sandön is located 38 kilometers north of Gotland. The word "sandyeong" translates as "island of sand" - its coastline consists of long beaches and dunes. Rare plant species grow on the island, such as Gotlandic orchids. There is a colony of gray seals off the coast: upon arrival at Gotska Sandön, you can find out on the information board where the seals are currently located and whether you can see them. Unfortunately or fortunately, seals do as they please, so there is no 100% guarantee that you will be able to see them.

You can get here by ferry from Fårösund or from the mainland from Nynäshamn; the ferry service operates from May to September. You must reserve your place in advance. You can stay on the island in houses (Fyrbyn - “village by the lighthouse”) or in a campsite. It is worth remembering that you need to take everything you need (including bed linen) with you - there are no shops on the island, everything is very ascetic and camp-like.

You can book a trip to Gotska Sandon.

Shops and specialties in Gotland

On Gotland, you should definitely try saffranspannkaka - local saffron pudding (this dish is most similar to pudding). It is served with jam made from a special variety of blackberry that grows in Gotland - salmbär (this berry is also called gray blackberry or blue raspberry). Very tasty saffron pudding is served in the restaurant of the Breda Blick hotel in Visby (Tranhusgatan 33).

Saffranspannkaka

In the very center of Visby (Wallérs Plats 4) there is an edible souvenir shop called Wisby Ost - a brand of local Gotlandic cheese. In addition to cheese, here you can buy (and, most importantly, taste it completely free) locally made marmalades, bread and cookies. The store also hosts wine tastings (ost och vinprovning - “wine and cheese”), but you need to sign up for them in advance.

Speaking of wine. There is a local winery on Gotland - Gutevin. Solaris, Phoenix and Rondo grapes, from which wine and spirits are made, are grown in the town of Hablingbo in the southern part of the island. You can purchase Gutevin products in Systembolaget stores (in Sweden there is a law on a state monopoly on the sale of alcohol - it can only be purchased in this chain).

Gotland also has its own whiskey distillery, founded in 2004 on the site of a former sugar factory. Isle of Lime Whiskey is made from local organic barley and special limestone spring water. From March 2017 it will be available in Systembolaget stores.

We have already mentioned farm shops (gårdsbutik) - in Gotland, as throughout Sweden, organic farming is very developed. In summer and autumn you can see signs on the roadsides: “jordgubbar” (“strawberries”), “potatis” (“potatoes”) and others. Typically, such local stores operate without salespeople, using the “walk in, take the goods, put the money in a box” system (yes, the Swedes are an honest nation). Products in these stores are often certified as eco-products (for example, by the KRAV certificate, the most famous Swedish food eco-label) and are much cheaper than in the specialized departments of supermarkets. Let's note the good shop Nickarve Gård, which is located near Visby (Hejdeby Nickarve 308, Visby). Even shops in mainland Sweden order the organic strawberries grown on this farm for sale - they are so delicious. Also during the season you can buy potatoes, onions, zucchini, zucchini, cucumbers, apples, blackberries, various jams and honey from neighboring apiaries.

Farm shop (gårdsbutik)

You can't ignore the loppis. Loppis (from the word lopp - "flea") is something of a flea market or consignment store, where anything can be sold - from antique coffee grinders, copper sugar bowls and antiques to brand new furniture from IKEA. Example: a family is moving to a new house and wants to get rid of some things before moving. What is the family happy with? That's right, loppies. Loppies are advertised in newspapers and signs are posted along the road. If you see a sign for “loppis” or “loppisbutik” on the side of the road, don’t hesitate to stop by and take a look.

In the town of Hems.

Näsudden is a wind park (with the largest concentration of wind turbines per square kilometer in Sweden) on the seashore in Näs. Tarkovsky's film "Sacrifice" was filmed here.

Lighthouse in När fyr, Närsholmen.

Högklint Nature Reserve, seven kilometers south of Visby, is where locals come with sandwiches and coffee to watch the sunset from the cliffs above the sea.

Ekstakusten Nature Reserve with views of the Charles Islands.

Lickershamn is a nature reserve 30 kilometers north of Gotland, where the highest Gotlandic rauk is located - Jungsfrun rauk with a height of 27 meters.

The cement plant and limestone quarry in Slite, the largest in Europe. Near the quarry there is an observation deck and a place to rest (Skolgatan 6).

Interactive open-air museum of folk life in Bunga.

Cape Hoburgen is the southernmost point of the island. Here lives “Uncle Khoburien” - a rauk, surprisingly similar to a human head.

Näsudden

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