Holiday apartment in Gotland – Nature, Visby and Stora Karlsö

Gotland’s hiking landscape includes coastal trails, limestone cliffs, forests and agricultural areas. These different landscapes shape the routes across the island and are complemented by cultural and historical sites, museums and special natural areas.

Trails

The hiking trails on Gotland marked according to the so-called Gotland standard use a uniform marking system, indicate responsibility for their maintenance and have information boards at their starting points. In addition, there are the Gotland promenades: walking routes between one and five kilometres long that are not particularly hilly and are suitable for a broad target group. Thus, the routes described range from longer hikes through different landscapes to clearly defined walking routes.

Nature

The Högklint nature reserve has a hiking trail, extensive views and interesting geology. The 480-hectare Langhammars nature reserve encompasses the more than 2.5-kilometre-long Langhammars peninsula and the alvar areas to the south. Above Klajvika, more than 50 rauks stand at Langhammars, some of them more than eight metres high.

Stora Karlsö consists of fossil coral reefs in Silurian limestone and has around 30 sea-washed caves. Razorbills and common guillemots breed on the island in colonies of several thousand pairs each. Stora Karlsö also has rare plant species and orchid meadows that bloom in late May and early June. From the beginning of May until August or September, the island is regularly served by boat from Klintehamn.

Lummelundagrottan also combines nature and geology. The karst cave, which is partly accessible to visitors, lies in 400-million-year-old Silurian limestone. Guided tours explain its formation and discovery; the cave also has a café and a nature trail for visitors.

Culture

The Norrbys i Väte cultural reserve preserves a typical medium-sized Gotland farm from the first half of the 20th century. At Norrbys i Väte, visitors can take part in a guided tour. The cultural reserve also includes one of the few surviving watermills on Gotland.

Naturum Gotland is a visitor and information centre near Vamlingbo Church. Its permanent exhibition covers Gotland’s development from its formation 400 million years ago to the present-day landscape. Visitors can learn more there about fossils, orchids and bats in Gotland’s natural environment.

In the heart of Visby, Fornsalen is Gotland’s oldest cultural and historical museum. The museum presents finds from the Stone Age through the Middle Ages. These include the Spillings Hoard, the largest known silver treasure from the Viking Age in the world.

Visby is a fortified trading town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Northern Europe. Visby’s World Heritage area includes 13th-century city walls as well as more than 200 warehouses and residences of wealthy merchants from the same period.

Shared experiences

The Skepp & Skoj exhibition allows children and adults to play together and learn about the importance of the sea to Gotland. Practical activities include tying knots, loading ships and petting seals.

The Medieval Week has been held on Gotland since 1984. It is an eight-day historical festival that takes place on Gotland every summer. The Medieval Week includes performances, tournaments, lectures and culinary offerings. Most activities take place in Visby, with others in the Gotland countryside. The programme also offers craft courses and archery.

Getting around

The ferry to Fårö operates year-round, takes about six minutes and is free; there are more departures in summer. Alongside the landscapes and cultural sites, the connection to Fårö is therefore another of the ways described to experience Gotland.

Included services, the breakdown of the price components, and the booking and cancellation conditions are equally important. You can then take the opportunity to view or compare offers for Gotland.

For further destination choices on Gotland, these destination pages are available: Gotlands Tofta, Visby.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gotland.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Swedish islands: archipelagos, Gotland and Öland for your holiday.