Gotland – A Fantastic Island in the Baltic Sea
Gotland is the largest island in Sweden and is located in the Baltic Sea, around 90 kilometres off the mainland. Known for its rich history, scenic beauty, and vibrant cultural scene, Gotland is a popular tourist destination and a place of unique significance in Swedish heritage. Until recently I had never visited the island, but thought about it many times. I think especially as it’s remotely located for itself on the world map. After a trip on Destination Gotland‘s ferry from Oskarshamn, I arrived excited to experience Gotland and the nearby Fårö island.
My hotel of choice was Strandakar located about an hour’s drive from Gotland in quiet surroundings. The hotel has 12 rooms total and a beautiful Scandinavian design. I arrived late and was impressed with my room. It had an ultra-comfortable bed upstairs, a sitting area downstairs and a beautiful modern bathroom with a rainshower next to it. The cleanliness was very impressive. Maybe more a feeling of a home than a typical hotel room.
In the morning I met with the owners Charlotte and Lars, and had breakfast. They are very friendly and I had good conversations. Charlotte helped me plan an itinerary for Gotlanud and I went out to experience this beautiful island by car. It turned out to be a very exciting experience with stunning nature, friendly people, great food and a lovely main town, Visby, which was the highlight. The well-preserved old building reminded me of Tallinn, one of my favourite cities in the world with its beautiful old town. There is a lot to do and see in Gotland, and I could easily have spent a week without getting bored.
I liked Gotland very much and consider it one of my favourite destinations in Scandinavia, up there with Stockholm, Gotland and Bornholm. I have been to more than 1,500 destinations and I highly recommend Gotland to even the most discerning travellers.
Below are some of my photos from Gotland and Fårö Island (About six minutes by ferry from Gotland).