Last Updated: May 2026
Visby is located on the picturesque island of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Like Tallinn, Estonia, Visby is a remarkably well-preserved medieval city — but it carries a distinctly different character. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, its largely intact 13th-century ring wall, cobblestone streets, and dramatic Gothic church ruins create an atmosphere that feels genuinely medieval rather than merely historic. The entire island of Gotland is home to fewer than 60,000 people, and the walled city of Visby itself has a population of around 24,000 — making it a small, intimate, and extraordinarily beautiful place.
