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Visby

Visby is Scandinavia's best-preserved medieval town. It's also one of Sweden's most photogenic destinations, its tangle of cobbled lanes, pastel cottages and colourful wildflowers seemingly pulled from the pages of a well-worn storybook. With hauntingly beautiful ruined Gothic churches and mostly intact 12th-century ramparts, it's a place where history is written large.

Understandably, the town swarms with summer holidaymakers. For many, Medieval Week means the chance to don all manner of period garb and parade around as knights, queens, peasants and strumpets, dining, drinking and dancing against a Unesco World Heritage backdrop – surprisingly convincing and fun! Others are drawn to quieter periods, when they can ponder Visby's riches, undistracted. Either way, expect to fall deeply for Gotland's richly historical capital.

Explore Visby

Visby Sankta Maria Domkyrka
Visby's church ruins contrast with the stoic and utterly awe-inspiring Sankta Maria kyrka. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and heavily…
Gotlands Museum
Gotlands Museum is one of the mightiest regional museums in Sweden. While highlights include amazing 8th-century, pre-Viking picture stones, human…
St Karins Kyrka
One of the most stunning of Visby's medieval churches, it's often used for performances. In winter, local children skate on an artificial ice rink within…
N
Norderport
The northern gate of Visby's city wall is a good entry point if you're short on time. Follow the wall in a southwesterly direction until you find the…
K
Konstmuseet
The Konstmuseet has a small permanent collection that primarily focuses on Gotland-inspired, 19th- and 20th-century art. More exciting are the temporary…
S
Södra Hällarna
Formerly a military station, the southern cliffs are a wonderful spot to gaze out over the Baltic towards the mainland, or look back at the walled city…
St Nicolai Kyrka
The once magnificant St Nicolai Kyrka, now in ruins, was built in 1230 by Dominican monks.
F
Fenomenalen
Appropriate for Gotland, Visby's quaint and informative science museum focuses more on the origins of science through hands-on historical artifacts and…
Ö
Östergravar
The grassy area outside the city wall known as the East Graves is a popular spot for jousts during Medeltidsveckan – and a great spot for photographers.

Visby Sankta Maria Domkyrka
Visby's church ruins contrast with the stoic and utterly awe-inspiring Sankta Maria kyrka. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and heavily…
Gotlands Museum
Gotlands Museum is one of the mightiest regional museums in Sweden. While highlights include amazing 8th-century, pre-Viking picture stones, human…
St Karins Kyrka
One of the most stunning of Visby's medieval churches, it's often used for performances. In winter, local children skate on an artificial ice rink within…
N
Norderport
The northern gate of Visby's city wall is a good entry point if you're short on time. Follow the wall in a southwesterly direction until you find the…
K
Konstmuseet
The Konstmuseet has a small permanent collection that primarily focuses on Gotland-inspired, 19th- and 20th-century art. More exciting are the temporary…
S
Södra Hällarna
Formerly a military station, the southern cliffs are a wonderful spot to gaze out over the Baltic towards the mainland, or look back at the walled city…
St Nicolai Kyrka
The once magnificant St Nicolai Kyrka, now in ruins, was built in 1230 by Dominican monks.
F
Fenomenalen
Appropriate for Gotland, Visby's quaint and informative science museum focuses more on the origins of science through hands-on historical artifacts and…
Ö
Östergravar
The grassy area outside the city wall known as the East Graves is a popular spot for jousts during Medeltidsveckan – and a great spot for photographers.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Visby.

See
Visby Sankta Maria Domkyrka
Visby's church ruins contrast with the stoic and utterly awe-inspiring Sankta Maria kyrka. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and heavily…
See
Gotlands Museum
Gotlands Museum is one of the mightiest regional museums in Sweden. While highlights include amazing 8th-century, pre-Viking picture stones, human…
See
St Karins Kyrka
One of the most stunning of Visby's medieval churches, it's often used for performances. In winter, local children skate on an artificial ice rink within…
See
Norderport
The northern gate of Visby's city wall is a good entry point if you're short on time. Follow the wall in a southwesterly direction until you find the…
See
Konstmuseet
The Konstmuseet has a small permanent collection that primarily focuses on Gotland-inspired, 19th- and 20th-century art. More exciting are the temporary…
See
Södra Hällarna
Formerly a military station, the southern cliffs are a wonderful spot to gaze out over the Baltic towards the mainland, or look back at the walled city…
See
St Nicolai Kyrka
The once magnificant St Nicolai Kyrka, now in ruins, was built in 1230 by Dominican monks.
See
Fenomenalen
Appropriate for Gotland, Visby's quaint and informative science museum focuses more on the origins of science through hands-on historical artifacts and…
See
Östergravar
The grassy area outside the city wall known as the East Graves is a popular spot for jousts during Medeltidsveckan – and a great spot for photographers.

Guidebooks

Learn more about Visby

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