Visby
Medieval Hanseatic town behind the city wall
Overview
Places on Gotland
The key places and attractions on Gotland at a glance, from the UNESCO World Heritage town of Visby to the raukar on Fårö, beaches, churches and museums.
Contents
The key places on Gotland
Gotland packs into a small area what other regions spread across long distances: UNESCO World Heritage status, medieval churches, striking limestone sea stacks and sandy beaches. At its heart is the Hanseatic town of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995 and the best-preserved medieval trading town in Scandinavia. Its landmark is the Visby city wall - around 3.4 km long, up to 11 m high, with about 50 towers dating from the 13th century, and free to walk. Inside the largely car-free old town stands Visby Cathedral (S:ta Maria), the only medieval church in the town still in use. Anyone wanting to dig deeper into the island's history should start at Gotlands Museum (Fornsalen).
Across the whole island, churches define the landscape: Gotland has 92 medieval churches (91 rural churches plus the cathedral), most built before 1350. Two worth singling out are Lärbro church in the north and the atmospheric Roma Abbey ruin in the island's interior. For families, the show cave at Lummelunda and the Kneippbyn amusement park, with the original Villa Kunterbunt from the Pippi Longstocking films, are classic destinations.
Fårö, raukar and beaches
North of Gotland lies the island of Fårö, reached by the free car ferry from Fårösund (crossing time 6-8 minutes, no ticket needed). This is where Gotland's most famous raukar stand: Digerhuvud, at around 3.5 km Sweden's largest raukar field and a nature reserve since 1930, and neighbouring Langhammars, which shows off the most photogenic formations in the evening light. A third, easily accessible raukar area is Folhammar near Ljugarn on the east coast.
For swimming, Sudersand on Fårö is unmissable, a long, gently shelving sandy beach where the water reaches around 18-19 °C in August. On the main island, Tofta Beach south of Visby is the most popular spot for swimming. All these nature and beach destinations are free to enter; only parking or camping can add extra cost at some sites (rates in SEK). For a full overview of every destination, see Attractions and Beaches.
Frequently asked questions
Which places on Gotland are free to visit?+
Most of the highlights charge no admission. Free to enter are the Visby city wall (the walk outside and inside the walls; in summer, charges in SEK can apply for the ramparts and towers), Visby Cathedral (S:ta Maria), the Roma Abbey ruin and Lärbro church. The raukar fields at Langhammars and Digerhuvud on Fårö, as well as Folhammar near Ljugarn, are also free nature reserves, as are Sudersand and Tofta beaches. For beaches and nature sites, only parking (rates in SEK on site) or camping can add extra cost.
Which attraction on Gotland is a must-see?+
If time is tight, the Visby city wall comes top of the list: around 3.4 km long, up to 11 m high, with about 50 towers, it is the best-preserved town wall in Northern Europe, free to walk and the emblem of the UNESCO World Heritage town. A good day combines it with Gotlands Museum in Visby, the raukar at Langhammars and Digerhuvud on Fårö, and a swim stop at Sudersand.
How many attractions are there on Gotland?+
This guide covers twelve selected places across every category: four attractions (including the city wall, the museum, Lummelunda Cave and Kneippbyn), three churches, three raukar fields and two beaches. They're spread across the two core areas, Visby and Fårö, as well as the rest of the island. For a full list with a map, see Attractions and Beaches.
What does admission cost at the places that charge a fee?+
Only three of the twelve places charge admission. Gotlands Museum (Fornsalen) in Visby charges adults 190 SEK in high season (May-September) and around 140-150 SEK in the low season; free under 19. Lummelunda Cave costs 195 SEK for adults, 110 SEK for children aged 4 to 12. The Kneippbyn amusement park, with the Villa Kunterbunt (Pippi Longstocking house), costs from 375 SEK per person for a day ticket, up to 475 SEK in high summer; parking is 75 SEK per day (as of 2026).
How do you get from Gotland to Fårö?+
Fårö lies immediately north of Gotland. From Visby it's about 55 km to the ferry landing at Fårösund. The Fårösundsleden car ferry is free to use, the crossing takes just 6 to 8 minutes, departures are frequent and no booking is needed. On Fårö, the best-known raukar await at Langhammars and Digerhuvud, along with Sudersand beach.