Gotland is Sweden’s largest island, known for its distinctive wilderness and a coastline lined with beautiful sandy beaches.
Visby, the island’s main town, is historically significant, dating back to the Viking Age, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Everyone who has set foot on Gotland agrees that there is something magical about it. Gotland is a popular summer destination for Swedes as well as visitors from abroad. This unique island off Sweden’s southeastern coast has everything – nature, remarkable history and unique local flavours. Wander along the cobblestone streets of Visby and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back to the Middle Ages.
Visby’s historic cityscape is strongly defined by the Ring Wall, complete with towers and gates, built between 1250 and 1288. It stretches more than 3.5 kilometres around the centuries-old town centre. Gotland is well worth a visit at any time of year – each season has its own unique charm – but the island especially comes to life in summer, when temperatures hover around 20°C and the water is at its most inviting. Even if swimming isn’t on the agenda, Gotland’s dramatic coastline has plenty to offer. The sea stacks – or raukar, as they are called in Swedish – along the rocky east coast are an almost otherworldly sight.
Gotland boasts stunning nature, and because the landscape is mostly flat, it is a dream destination for cyclists. Ekstakusten is a popular cycling route with much to see. This coastal stretch lies within an idyllic nature reserve and runs along the island’s western side, from the fishing village of Djupvik to Hammarudden. Hop on a ferry to explore the neighbouring islands of Stora Karlsö and Lilla Karlsö, both known for their rich flora and fauna.
No trip to Gotland is complete without a visit to Fårö. Situated just northeast of the main island, this distinctive destination is reached by a free eight-minute ferry ride from Fårösund. It’s easy to understand why the world-famous Swedish director Ingmar Bergman fell in love with this island, where he spent much of his life from the 1960s until his death in 2007. Fårö is also home to impressive raukar (limestone stacks), forming magnificent natural sculpture fields along the shoreline.
Skerries, city or skiing in Sweden?
Experience the unique Swedish skerries. Rent a canoe or
kayak and paddle among the thousands of small islands with
raw and naked rocks or the bigger, forest-clad islands that
are easy to reach from the main land.
If you are looking for a bit more adventure then take a trip
to Gothenburg with the amusement park Liseberg with fun for
the entire family. Stockholm is the place to go, if you
love a city with beautiful nature, lots of history, culture
and beautiful, world class design. If you are looking for an
active winter holiday in Sweden you will find both
cross-country and alpine skiing in the Swedish mountains.
Holiday home in the Swedish nature
All of our holiday homes in Sweden are surrounded by the
scenic Swedish nature. DanCenter has numerous options across
Sweden from Skåne, Småland, near
Stockholm and in the Swedish skerries north of Gothenburg.
Sweden is a country full of oppositions and therefore also
full of opportunities for a holiday suited just right for
you and your family.
Do you want to experience Sweden through the eyes of the
children's author Astrid
Lindgren? We can offer you the classic Swedish holiday home
experience. Book an authentic, cosy, small, red wooden cabin
on the edges of a pine forest along a beautiful lake in
open country side. Your holiday in a traditional cabin in
Sweden can help you reduce stress and forget all your
troubles.
Go on a luxury holiday in Sweden
As a contrast to the idyllic cabin in Sweden you can also
book a lovely, big holiday home. DanCenter offers different
luxury holiday homes with room for the entire family. In
Sweden we have big holiday homes fitting the entire family
or groups up to 20 people. These include houses with
swimming pool and whirlpool that you can enjoy both during
summer or winter. Take a dip and cool off with your family
on holiday in Sweden and the sun shines from a clear sky.
You can also enjoy the warm water and a glass of champagne
in the outdoor whirlpool on a cold winter's night. Or during
the autumn break when the children splash in the pool and
you enjoy the beautiful views of the colourful leaves
falling from the trees.
Sweden is water, water and water
Sweden has been admitted to UNESCO's list of world heritage
for its unique coastline. Middle and north of Sweden have
countless rivers, lakes and streams criss-crossing the
country. Sometimes you get the feeling that the country is
swimming with only forests and fields acting as links
between rivers and lakes. This is particular noticeable for
the middle part of Sweden where the ice age left plain
tracks. Thousands of lakes fill the gorges created when the
ice retracted to the North.
At the exact place where the river Mälaren with fresh water
meets the salt water from the Baltic you will find Stockholm
spread across 14 islands and islets. But there is more: The
Stockholm skerries just a few minutes sailing from the
capital is comprised by a total of 24.000 islands and
islets.
The Siljan lake is located in the middle part of Sweden
called Dalarna. The lake and the surrounding towns are
regarded as the historical centre of the country. From here,
Sweden gradually becomes more raw and deserted. In
Norrland, the only sound you hear in the enormous forests is
from the roaring rivers.
For centuries, the rivers have been used for transporting
logs to the coast. And where the rivers flow into the ocean
is where the first settlements were founded several
thousands of years ago. Höga Kusten in the north-eastern
Sweden is permitted on UNESCO's list of world heritage for
its unique coastline.
Sweden is a hit with the active family
Sweden has countless activities for children, young people
and old people. It all starts when you book a holiday home
or a cottage in Sweden, so the entire family has a god
basis. Afterwards you have lots of room for social
intercourse, fun and games as well as instructive activities
for the entire family. The Swedish mountains provide plenty
of opportunities for skiing during the winter. Sweden has
lots of family-minded ski resorts.
If you have booked a holiday home near the cities Stockholm,
Malmø and Gothenburg, you will find plenty of activities.
Bring your family to the zoos, amusement parks, museums and
more.
Experience Sweden's mighty forests
Sweden has beautiful forests from north to south. To the
south, in Skåne and Småland, where DanCenter can offer you a
big selection of holiday homes and cabins, you will find
the hardwood forests. This area is also known for its
moose-safaris, a unique nature experience. Such an
experience is a guarantee for talks when you return to the
holiday home or cabin. Småland is also perfect for bike
rides, horseback riding, canoeing and fishing.
If you have booked a holiday home in the middle or northern
part of Sweden, you will find the landscape dominated by
deep valleys, plateaus and vast fir and pine forests. Here
you can bring your family berry and mushroom picking,
enjoying the beautiful flowers in the spring or the may
different colours of the leaves in the autumn. Take a
refreshing dip in the forest lake and catch a fish for
dinner. While the children play in these beautiful settings,
mum and dad can prepare the freshly-caught fish in the
open-concept kitchen and the grandparents can relax with a
glass of wine on the sofa. If you have plans of going to
Sweden, book a holiday home with DanCenter Holiday Rentals.
Midsummer in Sweden
The midsummer party in Sweden is truly unique. To many it is
a symbol of the lightness, the light and the life force
symbolic of the Nordic summer. Midsummer in Sweden is the
biggest celebration of solstice in Scandinavia.
When the most Swedish of Swedish parties approach, the whole
country is exited. Midsummer is traditionally a feast
celebrated with family and friends, but if you are a tourist
you are welcome to join the festivities. It is celebrated
all over the country - by the coast, in the skerries, by
idyllic lakes, in the mountains or one of the islands. All
is good, as long as there is plenty of pristine and diverse
nature around.