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ESSVEN

Gotlands län · 57.6° N

Visby

In Swedish

Visby is the main town on Gotland and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Scandinavia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Ferries from Nynäshamn, near Stockholm, or Oskarshamn take about three hours, and there are flights too.

Quayside and red-roofed houses climbing a slope, with the cathedral's three dark towers on the left and the sea in the foreground.
Visby's inner harbour and cathedral, seen from the ferryPhoto: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0

Now in Visby

Time

Weather

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Today's light

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Things to do in Visby

  1. Walk the town wall

    The wall runs for 3.4 km, reaches 11 metres in places and keeps 27 of its 29 original towers. Follow the outside of it in the evening light.

  2. Almedalen

    The park sits on the old medieval harbour. By the pond stands Kruttornet, the oldest tower in the wall, and in the first week of July the park fills with politicians for Almedalen Week.

  3. Gotland Museum

    Fornsalen, the museum's main building, displays the Spillings Hoard, the largest Viking-age silver hoard ever found.

  4. Botanical garden

    Visby's botanical garden, near the sea and the Strandpromenaden, dates from 1855 and has the ruins of St Olof's church at its southern end. Entry is free.

Official tourism guide
Towers and arches of a medieval stone wall in low evening sun, with dry grass, a bicycle and a pink sky.
North section of the town wall at sunsetPhoto: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0

When to go

Best timeJune to August

Visby is one of Sweden's sunniest towns in summer. August is the peak, with Medieval Week bringing more than 800 events in week 32. For quieter days, avoid that week and the first week of July.

The light of the year The longest and the shortest day of the year here.

21 June
18 h 04 min
21 December
6 h 33 min

From Santiago

As the crow flies
13,000 km
Time difference today
4 hours ahead of Chile
County
Gotlands län

The city

Population
60,971 (municipality, SCB 2024)
Known for
For its 3.4 km medieval town wall, still standing around the old town, and its church ruins, which earned it the name City of Roses and Ruins.
To study
Uppsala universitet, Campus Gotland