Visby Old Town
Visby, Sweden
A medieval Hanseatic town on Gotland, enclosed by an almost complete stone wall, with cobbled streets and church ruins. Reach it by car ferry from the mainland, then explore on foot; summer is busy, so book the crossing early.
Visby, on the Baltic island of Gotland, was the main centre of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. UNESCO (World Heritage Site since 1995) calls it the best-preserved fortified commercial city in northern Europe. The ring wall is still about 3.4 kilometres long and has 27 large and 9 small towers; the first wall went up in the 1270s and 1280s and was raised by 3 to 4 metres in the 1350s. Within the walls stand 15 medieval churches or church ruins.
Inside there are more than 200 medieval warehouses and merchants' houses. The old town is easy to explore on foot, and a walk along the wall makes a good addition. If you are travelling by car, book the ferry to Gotland (from Oskarshamn or Nynäshamn, about three hours) in good time in summer.
- Nearest town
- Visby, Sweden
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 57.6387, 18.2948
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Sweden: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Congestion charges in Stockholm and Gothenburg; Øresund Bridge toll. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Visby Strandby - Norderstrands CampingCampsite2 km from Visby Old TownTentsCaravansDrinking waterWi-Fi
- Visby GustavsvikCampsite3 km from Visby Old TownWi-Fi
- Fritidsanläggning KneippbynCampsite4 km from Visby Old Town
- Visby Strandby & Snäcks CampingCampsite5 km from Visby Old Town
- Tofta CampingCampsite20 km from Visby Old TownTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Nymans Beach HouseCampsite20 km from Visby Old TownWaste disposal
All campsites in Sweden · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Visby Old Town?
Visby Old Town is in Visby, Sweden, at GPS 57.6387, 18.2948. It is about 43 km from Ljugarn.
Can you camp near Visby Old Town?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Visby Strandby - Norderstrands Camping, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 9 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Visby Old Town?
Places worth a stop nearby: Lummelunda Cave (13 km), Långe Erik (78 km), Hoburgen (80 km) and Borgholm Castle (131 km).
When is the best time to visit Visby Old Town?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)