When you ask someone to suggest a place to visit in Sweden, or type the classic query into Google—“best places to visit in Sweden”—you’ll almost always see Gotland popping up. Ever since we moved to Sweden, this place has been on our bucket list. But it didn’t happen until recently.

P.S. (Yes, right at the beginning!) This isn’t an article with travel hacks or budget tips for Gotland (May be something here and there)—it’s just me rambling about the island like it’s my personal diary!

I always thought that visiting a place within Sweden wouldn’t cost much. But believe me, ferry tickets and accommodation reach their peak prices during summer. Most importantly, if you have a car to travel around Gotland, you’ll definitely make the most of your trip.

It’s been a couple of times that we’ve planned, made countless phone calls, searched for Airbnbs, and yet it got canceled. Again we will wait till next summer. 

Last summer, when we couldn’t travel outside Sweden, we decided to plan a trip to Gotland (yet again—but this time, it finally happened!). Ferry tickets were priced high, and accommodations were filling up quickly. After much deliberation, we decided to book the ferry tickets first.

We booked them a month in advance (yes, very late) and struggled to find good Airbnbs. Eventually, we managed to find one, but it got canceled the next day because the host claimed we had too many kids (we were two families with four children).

Panicked at the thought of having nowhere to stay, we quickly booked a hostel. The pictures looked promising, but the reality was far from ideal.

Lesson learnt: Plan your trips well in advance!

And the day finally came! We started on a Friday evening and returned late Monday night, almost at midnight. The ferry ride was about 3.5 hours, and by the time we reached Gotland, it was close to midnight again. The real challenge wasn’t booking the accommodation—it was actually finding our room! Despite having a map of the cottages, we wandered around a bit before finally figuring out the exact spot. Not getting into more details. We found it in the end, settled in, and recharged ourselves for the exciting day ahead.

The struggles were worth it. We had complimentary breakfast on our stay and started on our way to Fårö island. It was about 1.45 hrs from Visby. Even though it was peak summer, the weather didn’t cooperate. It was windy on the first day, and once again, we found ourselves seeking shelter inside our jackets. 

But Fårö didn’t disappoint us. Specifically, Langhammars Naturreservat was a serene escape with its stunning limestone rock formations, peaceful beaches, and wide-open landscapes. My eyes couldn’t fully take in its beauty—it was one of those places that clears your mind and makes you forget everything, immersing you in nature. I was definitely overwhelmed. I managed to snap a few pictures, though the fierce wind made it nearly impossible to capture a perfect shot—especially with my hair refusing to stay in place despite all the effort! Nevertheless, it’s a place I’ll remember forever.

Followed by the list we reached our next destination Sudersand beach. The kids were excited to dig into their sand toys, as the name promised a sandy haven, but once again, the wind had other plans. With only our thin jackets that didn’t stand a chance against the chilly gusts, we couldn’t stay long. We decided to head back to our accommodation and cook a good meal (Yes, we cook even on vacations—it’s always a treat to enjoy homemade Indian food when we’re away from home!). Thus ending day One.

Things didn’t go as planned this time either—Swedish summers can be so unpredictable! After enduring the cold and dark days all year and eagerly waiting for summer and planning for a trip, it didn’t quite turn out as we hoped. Still, we had to make the most of it and visited the Visby town wall.

The Visby town wall, a stunning medieval relic, instantly transports travelers back in time with its majestic stone arches and ancient charm. 

On the day of our return, We finished our complimentary breakfast and packed our bags, cleaned and bid adieu to the dorm room. The weather was not so bad, so we planned our first stop to Blå Lagunen (The blue Lagoon). A very nice place for people who love to swim in the blue/turquoise water. 

After two days of cooking and eating in, we finally decided to eat out. We found a spot specializing in momos, and while we managed to finish our lunch there, the long wait for a plate of momos that disappeared in minutes just wasn’t enough. After Indian food, I always find solace in Thai cuisine, so we marched into a Thai restaurant nearby for a hearty meal. That’s when we remembered something—a friend’s display picture posing on the tip of a massive rock! Determined to recreate the moment, we decided to go there, even though we only had a few hours left before our return cruise.

We just had the picture in mind and started aimlessly searching in Google (You could think it’s better to have asked the friend directly, yet we didn’t). Finally we found it – Högklint Naturreservat. The view was nothing short of spectacular, with breathtaking heights and stunning surroundings. Standing on those high cliffs, gazing at the magnificent scenery, I was overwhelmed—it was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Nature truly has its own power.

Okay! With all the adjectives used for one single place, I didn’t do what I came for – taking a picture standing on the edge of the cliff. Honestly, it was just too scary, especially with kids running around! My focus was on keeping them safe, so the cliff-edge photo will have to wait for next time.

With our hearts filled and with little time left to board the cruise, we strolled around Visby, had a coffee and yes took a few pictures near “# I love Visby” sign and bid adieu to Gotland. Gotland gave me stories to tell (and write!) and memories to hold onto—until next time!