Live life outdoors

GOLF

If you enjoy golf, there are seven golf courses on Gotland ranging from pay-and-play to renowned 18-hole courses. Some courses offer accommodations and some have restaurants and shops. There are packages available that cover accommodations, green fee and dinner at a number of courses or you can book a course on improving your swing.

Gumbalde Golfklubb near Ljugarn – prime 18-hole course a lá Pierre Fulke. In addition to excellent golf, there are padel courts, a farm restaurant, bike rentals and a hotel.

Visby Golf Club at Kronholmen – earned first ranking by Svensk Golf (2021) and third in the Nordic countries by Golf Digest. Beautiful natural surroundings by the sea. Pierre Fulke and Adam Mednickson designed both the 9-hole and the 18-hole high-class European courses. Suderbys Golf. A simple pay-and-play course a few minutes south of Visby. Perfect for golfing beginners or those who want to try the sport. The fee includes club, bag and cart rental.

BEACH LIFE

Gotland constantly tops the list of sun-drenched destinations. No wonder the island’s many beaches are so popular. Here, you will find beautiful sandy beaches with a wealth of services, or quiet, hidden gems.

Tofta Strand beach – This beach is a total swimming and people magnet. Probably the most popular beach for swimming on the island. Lovely sand and lots of activity.

Nisseviken – Generally one of the beaches to have the warmest water. Shallow for long stretches, a dock to swim from and lot of room for your beach chair or blanket.

Sudersand – Fårö's best known beach. Fine-grain sand, restaurants, and a good mix of activity and tranquillity.

Ljugarn – Perfectly situated beach resort, since the late 19th century. The sandy beach stretches for several kilometres. Area teeming with restaurants and cafés.

Sandviken – Shallow fine-grain sandy beach with lots of parking. Camping, shops and a short distance from Sysne Udd, where you can buy freshly caught fish.

SURFING

Around the island, the sea and waves are perfect for kite, wave and wind surfing, and stand-up paddling (SUP).

Take a course if you’re not already a master. Surfing schools and rentals can be found on Fårö, in Slite and Gnisvärd.

Don’t miss Surflogiet in Tofta. They offer surfing, luxury camping in glamping tents and a lovely beachside restaurant with the sea as its nearest neighbour.

A few of the popular places for kite and board surfing: Kovik, Ekeviken, Faludden, Gnisvärd Keep in mind that the wind and currents can be hazardous. Do not go out alone and make sure you have the requisite knowledge. Show nature, landowners and bird protection areas respect.

CYCLING, RUNNING, HIKING

The island’s 800 kilometre coastline is clearly attractive. But Gotland has so much more to offer those who want to hike, run or pedal their way around. From comfortable walks and electric bike tours on flat ground to challenging mountain bike races or long runs in tough terrain.

For bike enthusiasts Gotland Bike Park – Lots of routes for any bike lover, with its epicentre in the Slite area. Road cycling and MTB. Gotland’s bike rental in Visby – MTB for a day on Södra Hällarna, package offer including a tent and comfortable bike for exploring Visby over the course of a day. Bikeaholic – You will find this shop, repair shop and organiser of routes for cycling fanatics in Klintehamn. Hiking at your own pace There are many beautiful hiking trails to choose from which are also perfect for long runs. Three of the most scenic and appreciated are: Klintkustleden trail – Possibly the most beautiful in Sweden. Starts in Hall in north-western Gotland. It traverses cliffs, meadows, beaches and forest, finally ending in Lummelunda – 30 kilometres of beauty with barbecue pits and overnight accommodations available. The Pilgrim trail between Fröjel and Klinte – Eight kilometres of lush forest, outlooks from high cliffs and the amazing view of the Karlsöarna islands. Or take the Pilgrim trail that goes from St. Olofsholm in north-east Gotland to the Solberga abbey ruins in Visby. It takes about two days to make the trek.

Södra Hällarna – A favourite of Visby residents, this beautiful site is just south of Visby harbour. Here, you can take a number of short hikes. Bring your dog or bike along. And don’t miss the sun setting over the sea.

DIVING

The diving conditions around Gotland are some of the best in the Baltic Sea. The water is often clear, offering great opportunities to successfully dive to a shipwreck or take an underwater excursion among rauks, cliffs and steep underwater drop-offs. Dyk & Sport Gotland can assist with courses, excursions and equipment. Experienced divers can contact Gotlands Dykarklubb for scuba diving and freediving tips. Digerhuvud, Fårö – Here, there is a steep drop down tens of metres, straight off the ledge. A real drop off. Here, bullheads, flounders and cod swim among the magnificent underwater cliffs. Close by, you will also find the Casper and Stern wrecks. St. Olofsholm – Outside St. Olofsholm on north-eastern Gotland lies Ytterholmen island. This is a good location from which to dive to the wreckage of the Mulan which sank here in 1958 and is a popular and reasonably easyto-dive wreck.

Hallshuk – Mighty cliffs on land and nice little seaweed-clad underwater rauks. Amazing experience in surroundings particular to Gotland. There are fissures a few metres below the surface that look like walkways and caverns. Lots of fossils and some flatfish to examine.

BIRDWATCHING

Gotland is one of the most interesting places in Sweden for birdwatchers. Many different species, from the smallest passerine to mighty birds of prey, breed here. During the spring and fall, many species migrate past, providing ornithologists with rare sightings.

Birdwatching towers With binoculars and a packed snack on hand, you are ready to take in the scenery. Popular birdwatching towers can be found around inland lake Paviken in Västergarn, Storsund in Gothem, Inre Stockviken in south-eastern Gotland, Träskmyr in Kappelshamn and on Närsholmen.

Karlsöarna islands Stora and Lilla Karlsö islands constitute a nature reserve that deserves its very own presentation. The islands are the breeding grounds for birds such as guillemots and razorbills. A highlight of the year is when the guillemot chicks plunge from the high cliffs to start their lives outside the nest.

Book a guide and boat tour to these gems for a memorable experience. Eagle safari If you are interested in seeing mighty birds of prey, an eagle safari is just the thing. Nowadays, there is a high proportion of golden and sea eagles that breed on Gotland. It is an impressive sight when these large birds spread their wings overhead. Book via Destination Gotland.

FISHING

Gotland is well-known for its sport fishing of sea trout along the coast. The season, long as it is, is best in the autumn, winter and spring. Don your waders to fly or spin fish for the silver of the sea. Hire a guide or explore on your own. Remember that there are conservation areas where fishing is prohibited. Observe minimum length and catch quota regulations for the different species of fish.

Freshwater fishing can be found in a few places but requires a fishing license. For fishing tips, advice and regulations, see www.fiskelandgotland.se. You can purchase complete fishing packages from Destination Gotland. See destinationgotland.se for more outdoor activity tips.