Gotland & Stockholm: Swedish Summer Fly-Drive

Your Swedish summer adventure begins in Visby, one of Scandinavia’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, it was the main trading center of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic region, and the historic core is still encircled by stone walls that date back to this era. On arrival, you’ll collect your hire car and make the scenic drive (around 1 hour 15 minutes) towards the southern tip of Gotland – Sweden’s largest island – where you’ll be spending the next four nights at a family-run boutique farmstead surrounded by forests and meadows.

You’ll be greeted with a welcome aperitif and a guided tour of the farm before settling into your cozy and stylish farmhouse room, replete with vintage furnishings that perfectly compliment the building’s 19th-century heritage. Here, you’re invited to embrace a slower, more relaxed pace of life that’s deeply connected with the rhythms of nature. This evening, enjoy your first delicious three-course dinner; the culinary ethos is rooted in organic, seasonal produce sourced directly from the farm and nearby artisanal producers, with options for both indoor and outdoor dining. 

Start your morning with a fresh and bountiful farm breakfast before taking your pick from a host of optional activities. You might, for instance, venture out on a hike or a bike ride to explore the idyllic Gotland countryside, or you could take to the water on a boat tour or a kayaking or paddle boarding adventure. Back at the farm, you’ll have access to a wood-fired sauna and an outdoor pool, while there’s also the opportunity to partake in yoga sessions, cooking classes and wine tasting. Later on, savor a signature six-course dinner showcasing the very finest Gotland produce; expect the likes of fresh fish, vegetables and herbs from the farm and artisanal local cheeses, complemented by optional wine pairings. 

With the freedom and flexibility of a hire car, the next couple of days are a perfect opportunity to explore Gotland at your own pace. Along the west coast in particular, you’ll find a string of traditional fishing villages (such as Djupvik, Kovik and Gnisvärd), while the east coast is characterized by expansive sandy beaches (such as Ljugarn and Sjaustrehammaren) – perfect for picnics and refreshing dips in the Baltic Sea. Delve into Gotland’s rural interior, meanwhile, and you’ll discover a bucolic landscape of lush pastures and pine forests, dotted with windmills, barns and medieval churches.

It’s also well worth dedicating at least half a day to exploring the cobbled lanes of Visby’s medieval Old Town, where you’ll also find the excellent Gotland Museum and many of the island’s best restaurants serving fabulously fresh seafood. Another must-visit destination is Fårö, a small island just off the northern coast of Gotland, which is accessible via a free ferry. It’s renowned for its dramatic limestone seastacks (raukar) at Langhammarsgubben, the gorgeous Sudersand beach, and the Bergman Center, which honours the legacy of the legendary Swedish filmmaker, Ingmar Bergman. 

After breakfast, return to Visby Airport to drop off your hire car before boarding a short flight (around 45 minutes) to Stockholm. Make your way to your hotel, which is conveniently located right next to the King’s Garden and within striking distance of many of the city’s top attractions. You’ll have the remainder of the day and the entirety of the following day to explore the Swedish capital at leisure.

Wander among the narrow, cobbled lanes and squares of Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s medieval center), take a stroll or a bike ride through leafy 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 could also hop on a ferry out to the islands of the Stockholm Archipelago, or head underground to explore Stockholm’s remarkable collection of subway art. And of course, make plenty of fika stops along the way – you’ll find a plethora of cafes serving irresistibly delicious kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) and kardemummabullar (cardamon buns). 

Return to Stockholm Arlanda airport as your Swedish summer adventure reaches a conclusion.