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Beaches

Tofta Beach

Gotland's most popular beach

Tofta south of Visby is Gotland's most popular sandy beach, around 2 km of shallow-shelving shore with EU bathing water quality, beach bars, a pool and equipment hire.

Wooden boat on the fine sandy beach of Tofta, idyllic summer atmosphere.
Contents

Tofta lies around 20 kilometres south of Visby on the west coast and is the island's most popular and liveliest beach. The sandy beach stretches for about 2 kilometres, the strip of sand is around 20 metres wide, and the water shelves gently, ideal for swimming and especially good for families with children. Where many of Gotland's beaches are quiet and unspoilt, Tofta is all about classic beach life with facilities laid on.

Water quality & bathing season

Tofta is an officially designated EU bathing water and was rated "Excellent quality" in 2025, the top rating. During the season, water samples are tested for E. coli and intestinal enterococci three to four times. The official bathing season with monitoring runs from 21 June to 15 August in 2026, outside that window the beach remains freely accessible, but is no longer sampled and most food and drink outlets close for the season.

What to expect at the beach

In peak season, Tofta is Gotland's busiest beach. Over summer, beach bars, kiosks and restaurants open here, along with:

  • Food and drink: several beachside venues, including a Beach House, a Beach Club (Mediterranean food, seating for around 120) and a beach guest house with a restaurant; the Beach Club typically opens around Midsummer.
  • Pool & after-beach: a pool plus after-beach events during the season.
  • Sport & hire: beach volleyball, padel courses, and SUP, surf and kitesurf lessons on the beach.
  • For families: a playground, shallow water and accessible access (ramp, hard-standing surface) at Tofta Smågårde.
  • On site: camping, cabins and a food shop right at the beach.

If you'd rather have things quieter, head for the calmer stretches away from the main beach area, the crowds along this long stretch of sand thin out noticeably there.

Is it worth visiting?

Tofta is the top choice if you want a beach day with full facilities on Gotland: sand, shallow water, food, equipment hire and activities all in one place. That's exactly what also makes it the island's busiest beach, if you're after empty dunes and quiet, you're better off at Sudersand on Fårö or one of the more unspoilt swimming spots further afield. For families and anyone who enjoys classic beach life, Tofta is the clear recommendation.

Visiting & practicalities

  • Season: the beach is open access year-round; restaurants, the pool and equipment hire run only in summer (roughly Midsummer to August). Official bathing season in 2026 runs from 21 June to 15 August.
  • Getting there: around 20 kilometres south of Visby, quick to reach by car or bike. There's a good bus connection from Visby with a stop within 2 km, see the getting there guide.
  • Parking: a large paid car park at the beach; pay via the Parkster app (rates posted on site in SEK).
  • Dogs: a dog ban applies at the bathing area from 1 May to 30 September.
  • Tip: families will enjoy the nearby Gotland with kids guide; find more beaches in the beach overview.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tofta beach free?+
Yes, beach access is free and the beach is open year-round, around the clock. Costs only apply to parking in the large paid car park, which is paid via the Parkster app, rates in SEK are posted on site. The pool, equipment hire and restaurants also cost extra.
What is the water quality like at Tofta?+
Tofta is an officially designated EU bathing water and was rated "Excellent quality" in 2025, the top rating. Water samples are tested for E. coli and intestinal enterococci three to four times during the season. The official bathing season with monitoring runs from 21 June to 15 August in 2026.
Is Tofta suitable for families with children?+
Yes. The water shelves gently, and there's a playground, a pool and around 2 km of sandy beach. Region Gotland lists accessible access with a ramp and hard-standing surface at Tofta Smågårde. That makes Tofta one of the most family-friendly beaches on the island.
Are dogs allowed on Tofta beach?+
A dog ban applies at the bathing area from 1 May to 30 September under Region Gotland's local rules. Outside that period, dogs are allowed.
How do I get to Tofta without a car?+
Tofta has a good bus connection from Visby, with a bus stop within 2 km. Drivers can use the large paid car park at the beach, paying via the Parkster app.

Nearby

Kneippbyn

The amusement and water park south of Visby is home to Villa Villekulla, the original film house from the Pippi Longstocking movies.

Gotlands Museum

Gotlands Museum (Fornsalen) in Visby displays Gotland's picture stones, the Viking silver hoard from Spillings and the island's history from the Stone Age to the Hanseatic era.

The Visby city wall with a round section and the Dalmanstornet tower in the background.

Visby City Wall

The Visby ring wall encloses almost the entire old town and is regarded as Northern Europe's best-preserved medieval town wall, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

View from Visby harbour of the old town skyline, with the distinctive black spires of the Domkyrka (Sankta Maria) rising above the rooftops.

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (Sankta Maria) is the only medieval church in Visby still in use, seat of Gotland's bishop, once the church of the German Hanseatic merchants.

12th-century Cistercian abbey: surviving outer walls and arches of the basilica.

Roma Abbey Ruins

Roma Abbey, the Cistercian monastery founded in 1164 in the geographic centre of Gotland, is now a freely accessible ruin with parkland and a café.