Discover one of the sunniest and most picturesque destinations in Sweden as you explore the largest island in the Baltic Sea – Gotland. With the freedom and flexibility of a hire car, you’ll be able to explore the island’s historic fishing villages, unspoilt beaches and UNESCO-listed capital, Visby, entirely at your own pace. Based at a beautifully renovated 19th-century farmstead tucked away among forests and meadows, you’ll enjoy seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine, relax in a wood-fired sauna and venture out on scenic hikes and bike rides to explore Gotland’s gorgeous countryside. It all concludes back on the mainland with a couple of days to take in the medieval treasures, world-class museums, thriving culinary scene and archipelago delights of Stockholm.
Gotland & Stockholm Fly-Drive
To book call us on:
At a glance…
Contrast tranquil island life on Gotland with the urban delights of Stockholm, Sweden’s captivating capital city.
» 6 day tailor-made self-drive
» Accommodation: Superior A higher standard of accommodation with a better range and quality of facilities, often in a good location (typically 4 stars)
» Price from: £1,370 pp incl. flights
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1 » UK to Gotland
Your Swedish summer adventure begins by flying (via Stockholm) to Visby, the UNESCO-listed capital of Gotland and one of Scandinavia’s best-preserved medieval towns. On arrival, collect your hire car and make the scenic drive (around 1 hr 20 mins) to Sibbjäns – a beautifully renovated 19th-century farmstead near the island’s southernmost tip, nestled among forests and meadows. It’s a delightfully tranquil place to stay, inviting you to immerse yourself in Gotland’s idyllic nature and savour a bounty of locally-sourced culinary delights.
Indeed, each evening the restaurant offers a three-course menu crafted from the freshest seasonal ingredients, including vegetables and herbs from the farmstead’s gardens and artisanal cheeses and beverages from nearby producers. If you prefer, a lighter bistro menu is also available for outdoor dining.
Alternatively, you may wish to stay at the Clarion Hotel Wisby, which is perfectly placed for exploring the highlights of Visby, including its warren of cobbled lanes, medieval city walls, 12th-century cathedral and lush botanical garden. This will be on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Stay: Sibbjäns or Clarion Hotel Wisby
Meals: Dinner
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Days 2-3 » Exploring Gotland
The next couple of days are free for you to explore Gotland at leisure. Perhaps you’ll spend some time delving into the fascinating Viking and Hanseatic heritage of Visby, or making the most of your hire car to visit the island’s unspoilt beaches and historic fishing villages. You could even take advantage of the free ferry to Fårö, a small island just off the northeast coast of Gotland, renowned for its dramatic limestone seastacks (raukar) and the former home of legendary Swedish filmmaker, Ingmar Bergman.
Sibbjäns also offers a whole host of nature-based activities in the surrounding area, including the likes of hiking, cycling, kayaking, fishing and horseback riding. There’s plenty of scope for relaxing, too, with access to a wood-fired sauna and a natural pool, alongside optional massages and yoga sessions. Foodies, meanwhile, will relish the opportunity to join a cooking class with the in-house chef, or partake in a local wine-tasting session. However you choose to spend your time here, you’ll gain an authentic insight into the very best of island life on Gotland.
If staying at Sibbjäns, we have included their 6-course signature dish. This tasting menu showcases the best the farm has to offer.
Stay: Sibbjäns or Clarion Hotel Wisby
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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Days 4-5 » Exploring Stockholm
After dropping off your hire car at Visby Airport, board a short flight (around 45 minutes) to Stockholm. You'll be staying in one of the city’s finest hotels, an 18th-century masterpiece of chandeliers, high ceilings and superb buffet breakfasts. Over the next couple of days, you’ll have ample time to explore Stockholm entirely at your own pace.
Wander the narrow, cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, enjoy a leisurely stroll or bike ride through Djurgården, explore the trendy Södermalm neighbourhood, and take your pick from the city’s plethora of superb museums – including Skansen (the world’s oldest open-air museum), ABBA The Museum and the Vasa Museum. You might also be tempted to take a ferry out to the islands of the Stockholm Archipelago, or head underground to explore the extraordinary collection of colourful artworks on display throughout Stockholm’s metro stations. And of course, make sure to carve out time for fika stops – there’s no shortage of fabulous cafes for delicious pastries and coffee throughout the Swedish capital.
Stay: King's Garden Hotel, Stockholm
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 6 » Return to UK
Return to the airport this morning in time for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
To book call us on:
At a glance…
Contrast tranquil island life on Gotland with the urban delights of Stockholm, Sweden’s captivating capital city.
» 6 day tailor-made self-drive
» Accommodation: Superior A higher standard of accommodation with a better range and quality of facilities, often in a good location (typically 4 stars)
» Price from: £1,370 pp incl. flights
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