Discover Slite: Archipelago, beach and trails

Slite combines a distinctive archipelago landscape with beaches, hiking trails, cycling experiences and fascinating traces of military and industrial history. Anyone planning a trip to Slite can choose between days by the water, nature observation, active tours and cultural discoveries. This mix can also help you search for the right holiday apartment or holiday home for your preferred travel pace.

Archipelago landscape and nature around Slite

The Slite skärgård nature reserve covers more than 6,000 hectares and consists mostly of water. It is Gotland’s only area with a pronounced archipelago character and has high natural values both in the water and on land. Its special character includes rich birdlife, traces of the cultural history of limestone quarrying, fishing and seafaring, as well as geological formations such as rauks, beach spits and beach ridges.

The landscape around Slite is also varied. Limestone-rich alvar with high natural values meets a cultural landscape partly maintained through grazing. To the southwest of Slite lies Bogeviken, a shallow sea inlet separated from the open sea, with rich birdlife and a fish spawning area. If you would like to include nature observation and different types of scenery in your trip, Slite offers several concrete starting points for doing so.

Beach, hiking and cycling

Slite bad is a shallow sandy beach more than 200 metres long. Bus routes 20 and 22 stop directly at the beach. Slite bad is also an accessible bathing beach with a ramp; a beach wheelchair can be borrowed from Slite Intresseförening. Those who take beach design and access options into account when planning their trip can make use of these facilities.

Slite has a marked 10-kilometre route for walks and longer hikes, which runs mostly along the water. Cyclists will find a hub in and around Slite at Gotland Bike Park. It offers both road cycling and mountain biking routes. Prepared mountain bike trails with easier and more demanding sections are available in Slite and the immediate surrounding area. There is also a long mountain bike trail that runs around Boge.

Culture and excursions to Enholmen

Slite kyrka stands on a hill in the middle of Slite and offers views of the town, the sea and Bogeviken. The Slite Industrimuseum provides a different perspective on the history of the town. The small museum is located in a residential building and displays historical material from the more than 100-year history of Slite’s cement factory. It is open on Tuesdays from 18:00 to 20:00, or by telephone or electronic appointment.

The well-preserved ruins of Karlsvärds fästning are located on Enholmen. The fortress was built by Sweden after the loss of Ösel; on Enholmen, Swedish military history from the 17th century to the present day can be traced. Visitors are welcome to explore the island on foot. However, the donjons and defensive structures are accessible only with a guide. On a guided day trip, the boat travels from the harbour in Slite to the island; the boat journey takes 10 minutes in each direction.

The Slite skärgård nature reserve also offers a special overnight accommodation option: on the island of Fjaugen, old fishermen’s huts are available for overnight stays. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Slite, you can consider such excursions and special stays as different elements of your trip planning, without making every holiday day the same.

Which accommodation suits your trip planning?

For a trip involving different interests, it is worth first deciding on the mix you want. The shallow sandy beach, the marked waterside route and the views from Slite kyrka represent more relaxed or observational days. The industrial museum, Enholmen and the fortress ruins provide a cultural and historical focus. Those travelling by bicycle can include the road cycling and mountain biking options, as well as the routes with sections of varying difficulty, in their plans.

This leaves room for beach, nature, history and activity, without requiring you to commit to just one type of trip.

More local pages

For further orientation, you can also view the local pages for Gothem, Stånga, Dalhem, Hejde, När, Kappelshamn, Tingstäde and Lau.

To the overarching travel overview: Gotland.