Of all the things to do in Visby, if I’m completely honest, seeing Bob was always at the top of my list. We would leave the port and walk through a little park to get to the medieval town, and without fail a very large tabby cat with tufty ears would trot out of hiding to accompany us. We named him Bob. What a guy! He seems to have moved on now, but the pretty town of Visby remains a beautiful place to visit. If I could recommend ‘keeping your eyes peeled for Bob,’ then I would, but then I probably wouldn’t be doing my job properly would I?
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The beginners’ guide to Visby
The majority of visitors to Sweden tend to stick to the cities- namely Stockholm, and perhaps Gothenburg– and for good reason, they’re both absolutely beautiful. But there are so many other pockets of prettiness to discover here, and Visby is one of them.
Although the natural harbour has been inhabited since at least the days of the Vikings, Visby truly came into its own when it became part of the Hanseatic League. This was a medieval collective of merchant towns and guilds who traded with, and defended, each other. You could call it the EU of its day, I suppose. The league began in Lübeck, Germany, but included cities like Hamburg, Rostock, Bergen, Riga and Tallinn. Being a Hanseatic port brought Visby a great deal of financial success, and its city walls were filled with pretty cobbled streets, quaint cottages and even a very grand cathedral.
And you know what the great thing about Visby is? It looks pretty similar to how it did centuries ago, because this is officially one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Granted, there are a few (stunning) ruins, but the town is officially on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the whole place looks very much like an illustration in a fairy story, quite frankly.
The best time to visit Gotland and discover all the things to do in Visby is probably summer, from June-August, mainly because the weather is at its best. However I’ve only visited during spring or autumn, and have still been completely enchanted by its storybook streets.
How to get to Visby
It takes about three hours by ferry to reach Visby from the mainland of Sweden. Either take a ferry from Nynäshamn, which is just south of Stockholm (you can easily reach this by train if you don’t have a car), or Oskarshamn. If you’re travelling during summer, I’d definitely recommend booking tickets in advance; Gotland is a popular holiday destination for Swedes escaping the city, so ferries can fill up fast.
Check ferry timetables and tickets here.
Alternatively, get yourself over to Stockholm airport and catch a plane! The flight from Stockholm to Visby is less than an hour, but if you’re watching your carbon footprint, you might want to stick to the slower option.
Can you do a day trip from Stockholm to Visby?
I absolutely, wholeheartedly would not recommend a day trip from Stockholm to Visby. In fact, I’d go so far as to suggest that that would be absolute madness. The only way it would be logistically possible is to fly, but that seems kind of ridiculous when there’s more to Gotland than just Visby.
If you’re visiting the island for one day on a cruise ship, then I completely understand spending only a day here, and it’s also very easy to walk from Visby cruise port to the centre of town. But there are so many things to do in Visby, and reasons to visit, that it just wouldn’t make sense to fly in and fly out within such a short time span.
The best things to do in Visby
On to the the best things to do in Visby! In fairness, Visby is not an action-packed location by any means- in fact this is the perfect destination to appreciate slowly.
Wander though the town
As regular readers will know, I do love a good old Old Town to get lost in. Cobbled streets and ivy-covered buildings aren’t for everyone, but in my book Visby is the perfect pint-sized destination to have a wander in. The town is easily walkable, and most of it is enclosed within the 12th century ‘ringmuren’ (i.e. ‘city wall’), which has footpaths running alongside its interior and exterior and a sturdy guard of towers to protect its inhabitants.
There are over 200 medieval buildings within these stone walls: houses, university buildings, shops and restaurants. And pals, unlike plenty of other European old towns, as far as I can tell not a single one has been transformed into an H&M or a Zara or a New Yorker. Praise the lord! (Can you tell I’m tired of the identikit high streets?).
You’ll spot plenty of stone sheep, the curly-horned emblems of Gotland, and in summer the streets and parks are filled with roses. (Saunter down Fiskargränd for the dreamiest rose-lined lane.) Basically, whichever direction you head in, you’re bound to discover something lovely, and taking a leisurely stroll through the old town is probably the most important of all the things to do in Visby.
Explore Visby Botanical Garden
Visby Botanical Garden is my favourite spot in town, without a shadow of a doubt. The peaceful garden is bordered by the sea on one side, and the cobbled streets on the other, and it is so, so pretty. Open spaces, rose gardens, a pretty lake, and even the overgrown ruins of St Olof’s Church fill this 2.5 acre oasis, which was founded in 1855 by the so-called ‘Bathing Friends.’
Most surprising of all though, is that it’s completely free to visit! Considering that Scandinavia is notoriously expensive (I’ll vouch for that), outdoor spaces seem to very accessible to everybody, for little to no charge. Bravo, Scandinavia.
Here’s the location on Google Maps.
Walk the seafront
Step through a stone archway in the wall of the Botanical Garden, and you’ll find yourself directly on the seafront path that runs along the exterior of the city. It’s a peaceful place for a wander, and the sea is very often crystal clear and dotted with little fish within and geese and ducks above!
If you fancy a Baltic swim, head to Visby Strandbad, where a small pier with a ladder into the water is positioned strategically for swimmers. Don’t get me wrong, I love a sea swim, but I’m more of a Mediterranean/Caribbean gal myself; Baltic waters strike me as being a little too chilly even at the best of times.
Buy tea!
Ok pals. I know Swedes are far more enthusiastic about coffee than tea, but hear me out on this one. Because I love this little tea shop!
Kränku was founded here in Visby in the 1970s as an old fashioned tea shop, where customers could buy loose-leaf tea (and coffee, and plenty of sweets) over the counter, ye olde worlde style. It’s popularity took off, and the shop continues to be a success. I’m personally a big fan of their little tea tins, featuring a hat-wearing man in boots drinking a brew as he sits on a milk stool. Good lad.
And I know tea doesn’t grow in Sweden, duh! But the folks at Kränku have actually began to experiment with a small tea plantation on Gotland, under the cover of greenhouses! The climate is considerably chillier than the norm for a tea plant, but I’m intrigued to see how their tea-growing develops.
Explore the ruins
Of the nineteen ruined churches strewn across Gotland, twelve of them are located within Visby. Which, considering the teeny-tiny size of the town, is rather a high concentration of holy buildings! It also makes it very easy to see them all in one day, and I’ve spotted many despite the fact that I’ve never intentionally set out to find them all.
Some of the ruined churches are very accessible (in fact, one of my favourite coffee shops in Visby is set within the actual crumbling walls of Sankt Hans church. Read on below, pals), but others are completely barricaded due to being unsafe.
Say hi to Pippi Longstocking
The Pippi Longstocking books were written by Astrid Lindgren and were so popular that they were made into a TV series during the late 1960s. The series and subsequent movies were filmed here in Visby, with the quaint streets providing the perfect backdrop for the redheaded lass and her antics. The house used as Villa Villekulla (Pippi’s house), was actually a caretaker’s home located just outside the town, although it’s since been moved completely.
But don’t worry pals: you can still visit the house. It’s now located within Kneippbyn Resort, which is a few miles away from Visby. The family amusement park has rides and attractions for just about any age, and Villa Villekulla sits at the very heart of it all.
Visit the cathedral
The Cathedral Sankta Maria was originally built in the 13th Century as a church, for itinerant German traders when they visited Visby. It was upgraded to Cathedral status in 1572, although compared to other cavernous European cathedrals this one is on the small side. Good things come in small packages, that’s what I always say. And this building really is pretty; I especially love its rather steampunk-esque tower.
The cathedral is very much a working religious building, and is home to the Diocese of Visby in the Church of Sweden. Anyone can visit with no charge, although guided tours are offered throughout the summer months, if that floats your boat.
Here’s the exact location on Google Maps.
Where to eat in Visby
Of course, one of the best things to do in Visby, as with pretty much anywhere in the world, is to eat. I’d be really letting you down if I didn’t let you know a few of my favourite Visby restaurants and cafes, wouldn’t I!?
For coffee and the most delicious cardamom buns this side of Stockholm, head to Sankt Hans Cafe Restaurang & Bar. (Yep, this is the one I told you about, in the ruins of Sankt Hans Church.) There’s plenty of outdoor seating in the garden, which happens to be contained within the old church walls, and the inside space is also light and airy. (If you’re English and the owner happens to find out, there’s a chance he’ll start blasting out a few Genesis hits for you, too. What a bonus.) There are also plenty of lunch options on the menu, as well as saffron pancakes, the local speciality, but you can’t go to Sweden without enjoying fika, can you? It just wouldn’t be right.
(Not sure what fika is? Read my post on Swedish food.)
Fun fact: once upon a time, Gotland was part of Denmark. That may have been plenty of centuries ago, but you can still find hints of Denmark within Visby’s medieval streets! You’ll definitely find a clue to the city’s Danish past at the cathedral, but another option is to get yourself over to Danskens Kök & Bar. This Danish restaurant is a cozy nook that serves freshly made smörrebröd as good as any I’ve sampled in Copenhagen, which you can of course wash down with a Carlsberg (although I tend to stick to the rabarbersaft).
And last but not least, a wildcard which is incredibly popular with the locals. The real reason that my boyfriend and I opted for Mel’s Diner is that I was about to sail to the USA, and he was not. (It’s a long story which basically involves an incredibly slow visa application process.) As consolation, I took him for a slap-up meal at a real Swedish American diner! And actually, we were impressed. Mel’s is clearly the place to be, and it was packed on the weekday lunchtime that we arrived. The diner is themed, Grease-style, with plenty of USA memorabilia, and the food was pretty darn good!
(But if you’re a US citizen bear in mind these are Swedish portion sizes, not American ones.)
So, there you have it pals: my favourite things to do in Visby. These tranquil streets may not cut it for the more adventurous types, but this historical old city is very much my cup of tea.
Ps. If you make a visit, please let me know if you spot Bob the cat. Thanks.
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