Visby

Medieval Walls, Roses and Ruins

Visby on Gotland is a compact medieval town surrounded by stone walls built centuries ago. Its narrow streets are lined with timber houses painted in soft colors, many still used as homes or shops today. The city center features a large market square where locals gather and seasonal markets take place. Along the coast, visitors find quiet beaches and historic ruins that tell stories of trade routes from the Hanseatic League era. The landscape includes rolling fields and limestone cliffs offering wide views of the Baltic Sea.

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City in Sweden

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and shops, especially in summer. Locals in tourism are friendly and used to international visitors, so communication is easy for English speakers.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Visby Summary

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Outstanding for medieval heritage and seaside charm. Walk preserved city walls, explore cobbled streets, visit historic churches and enjoy cafés along the Baltic coast.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Cosy towns

Islands

Walkable

Spotless

Traditional culture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Sweden – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Swedish Krona (SEK) £1 ≈ SEK 13.23
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Sweden is one of the most cashless countries in the world. Nearly all transactions are conducted through digital means, with credit cards and mobile payments being standard. Cash is rarely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional in Sweden but appreciated. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving a 5-10% tip is customary. Taxi drivers expect a small tip or rounding up the fare, while hotel staff may appreciate a small tip for services.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Sweden in designated areas, especially during festivals and in outdoor events. However, drinking in public spaces such as streets and parks may be restricted.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated smoking areas are available in many public spaces.

Midsummer (June)	One of the most important holidays, with celebrations, festivals, and outdoor activities, expect crowded areas and increased travel.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations with markets and events, expect higher prices and crowded cities.
Swedish National Day (June)	A national holiday with celebrations, parades, and festivals, particularly in Stockholm.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Sweden is known for its beautiful landscapes, from the Northern Lights in Lapland to the archipelagos. Be prepared for cold winters, especially if you plan to visit during the winter months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Visby, Sweden

🌬️

Jan

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Feb

❄️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌬️

Oct

🌬️

Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Medieval Week, early to mid August: the old town fills with costumed visitors; book accommodation and ferries months ahead

Almedalen Week (political festival), late June to early July: hotels book out and prices spike

Many hotels, restaurants and sights close from September to April; main season is June to August

Don't miss

🧱 Walk the medieval Visby City Wall and towers
⛪ Visit the historic St. Mary's Cathedral
🏛️ Explore the exhibits at Gotland Museum
🌿 Stroll through DBW's Botanical Garden oasis
🏚️ Discover ruins of St. Nicholas Church
🌳 Relax at nearby Almedalen park by the harbor

You've been here?

Why travel to Visby?

Visby is Scandinavia’s best-preserved medieval town, with a 3.5 km city wall, dramatic church ruins and a maze of photogenic streets. You’ll find a vibrant café culture, botanical gardens and sweeping sea views. Summer brings lively festivals and a buzzing nightlife, while spring and autumn offer a quieter, more contemplative side. Families can enjoy hands-on museums and nearby adventure parks. Just know that Visby is very busy in summer, with higher prices and crowded streets, while many restaurants and shops close or reduce hours in the off-season. Winters are quiet but atmospheric, though some attractions may be closed.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Gotland art museum
2 Fiskargränd

🎡Places for activities

1 Cruise ship quay Visby

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 DBW's Botanical Garden
2 Strandpromenaden
3 Almedalen

🎈Events

Medieval Week (August)
Almedalen Week (political festival)
Spring Flower Festival
Christmas Markets
Summer Concert Series
Art Exhibitions
Outdoor Theatre
Food and Wine Fairs
Science Center Events
Local Handicraft Fairs

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Wear good walking shoes; the medieval cobbled streets are uneven.
Book summer ferries and accommodation early, especially around Medieval Week, when the town gets very busy.
Allow time to walk the full city wall loop and explore church ruins, botanical garden and cathedral viewpoints.
Visit shoulder season for quieter streets and golden light, yet still enjoy open cafés, sea views and atmospheric medieval alleys.

How to travel to Visby

Visby is accessible by ferry from Nynäshamn, Oskarshamn and Västervik (Sweden) and from Rostock (Germany) in summer. Visby Airport, 4 km north of town, has year-round flights from Stockholm and other Swedish cities, plus seasonal flights from elsewhere in Scandinavia and Germany.

Access summary

From Visby Airport (VBY): Short airport bus or taxi, about 10–15 minutes.
From Stockholm: Direct domestic flight to Visby, roughly 40–50 minutes.
From Nynäshamn/Oskarshamn: Car–passenger ferry to Visby, usually about 3–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Visby

Visby offers everything from boutique hotels in medieval buildings to cozy guesthouses, hostels and summer apartments. Book early for summer or festivals. Outside peak season, some places close or reduce hours, so check ahead. Family-friendly resorts and campsites are nearby.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Mullbarsgardens Rooms, Apartments & Villas

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How to get around Visby

Visby’s old town is compact and best explored on foot – expect cobblestones and some steep streets. Biking is popular, especially along the coastal Strandpromenaden. Local buses connect Visby with the rest of Gotland. In summer, hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses make exploring easy. Parking is limited inside the city wall.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+11 %

Daily expenses in Visby are around 11% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to SEK) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£76	£168	£463
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£83	£188
🍝 Food per day	£28	£73	£232
🚕 Transportation per day	£10	£12	£44

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£33
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£8.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£26
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£27
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£22

Safety information overview

General safety

Visby is very safe, with low crime rates. Usual precautions apply — watch for pickpockets in summer crowds and be careful on slippery cobblestones, especially in wet weather.

Health & Medical

Excellent medical care is available, with clinics and pharmacies in town. Bring any prescription meds. Tap water is safe. In summer, sunburn and dehydration are possible — stay hydrated and use sunscreen.

Accessibility

The old town has cobblestones and some steep streets, which can be challenging for wheelchairs or strollers. Many hotels and attractions are accessible, but check ahead for specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and widely available, including public fountains and cafés. Carry a bottle to refill, especially in summer.