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Visby, SwedenVisby is one of the most remarkable towns in Sweden and Scandinavia, and it is situated on the west coast of Gotland Island. It is known for the medieval city ringwall, theVisby, Sweden
Cathedral
(Sankta Maria Kyrka), and many medieval church ruins. A former Viking site on the island of Gotland, Visby was the main center of the Hanseatic League (German trading federation) in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. Its 13th-century ringwall and more than 200 warehouses and wealthy merchants' dwellings from the same period make it the best-preserved fortified commercial medieval city in northern Europe. In 1995, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
During the Swedish summer Mid June - Mid August, Visby is crowded. It is one of the best party cities in Sweden in the summer. Many Visby residents leave during... Read more
Destination:Visby, SwedenVisby is one of the most remarkable towns in Sweden and Scandinavia, and it is situated on the west coast of Gotland Island. It is known for the medieval city ringwall, theCathedral
(Sankta Maria Kyrka), and many medieval church ruins. A former Viking site on the island of Gotland, Visby was the main center of the Hanseatic League (German trading federation) in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. Its 13th-century ringwall and more than 200 warehouses and wealthy merchants' dwellings from the same period make it the best-preserved fortified commercial medieval city in northern Europe. In 1995, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
During the Swedish summer Mid June - Mid August, Visby is crowded. It is one of the best party cities in Sweden in the summer. Many Visby residents leave during these hectic months and rent their apartments. During the rest of the year, the atmosphere is quite different.Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Visby has an oceanic climate. This renders cooler summers and milder winters than most of mainland Sweden. However, in spite of its marine position the climate is very much influenced by continental airflows. The precipitation amount is quite moderated, especially for an oceanic climate, but is relatively consistent throughout the year.
Source:http://wikitravel.org/en/Visby
Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0Visby, Sweden: Port Information
Cruise ships plying the Baltic Sea, from May to September, call on the port of Visby. Small cruise ships dock at berth 7 at the port. Large cruise ships hold position at anchor, and passengers are tendered past the breakwater to the port. The port has only the most basic facilities; but shops and restaurants are in town, only about a 5-minute walk away.Get around Visby, Sweden
The inner city (Old Town), which is located within the medieval city walls, is small enough to be covered by foot. The rest of the city is easy to get around by bike and has plenty of good bikes paths.
Tourist information may be obtained from the Donnerska huset, Donners plats 1, nearAlmedalen
and the waterfront in Visby.
By Foot
Visby is best enjoyed by foot, especially the Old Town, located within the city wall. Be aware that some of the streets (alleys) are quite narrow, cobblestone-paved, and somewhat hilly and thus can be difficult for people with handicaps.
By Bicycle
During the summer there are usually plenty of bike rentals, but they can be expensive.
By Bus
There are several bus lines going out to the rest of the island, check the time table before heading out though.
By Car
During the summer cars are not allowed within the city walls, though parking outside the walls is free of charge.What to see in Visby, Sweden
Note that many of the town's attractions are only open during the summer months, usually until Aug 30th.
Old Town- Burmeister House, Strandgatan 9, on Donners Plats. Oldest surviving merchant house in Visby. Hans Burmeister, a merchant and an alderman, built this two-story house in 1652-1653 using horizontal timber in the log cabin principle with interlocking logs, painted with red color mixed with tar.
- City Ringwall Begun in the late 13th century, Visby's city ringwall stretches almost three and a half kilometers and stands 11 meters high. Today, 36 towers and three main gates remain. It is considered one of the best preserved medieval city walls in Europe. Take a stroll to the north gate for an unsurpassed view of the wall.
- DBW's Botanical Gardens (1855). Enter through the "Door of Love" to this picturesque garden of trees and ruins.
- Gamla Apoteket Strandgatan 28. A medieval step-gable house in stone built in the 13th century, likely used as a warehouse and/or residence. In the 1800s, there was a pharmacy in the building; hence its name.
- Klinten Once the workers' quarter and now a popular spot to take in the view over the lower town, Klinten is an attractive maze of small, rose covered, homes.
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Sankta Maria Kyrka Visby's cathedral
is the only one of the town's 13 medieval churches that is still intact and in use. It was originally built between 1190 and 1225 for the town's German parishioners.
Medieval Visby had more churches than any other town in Sweden - fifteen within the walls and two outside, which served various functions: parish churches, guild churches, monastic churches, and hospital church.- St. Clemens ruins
- St. Gertrude ruins
- St. Hans ruins
- St. Karin ruins on Stora Torget is one of the most evocative of Visby's medieval church ruins. It was founded by Franciscans in 1233 and the construction extended in the early 14th century. The Church was built with large stained glass windows, seven altars inside the church, and in 1404 an organ was installed, making St Karin the richest Church in Gotland.
- St. Nicolaus ruins (1230). In 2012 a new glulam roof was erected over the ruins to adapt it to a concert hall.
- St. Olof ruins (located in the Botanical Gardens)
- St. Per ruins
- Gotlands Museum, Strandgatan 14, Open 10 AM-6 PM. Museum of local history (Fornsalen), plus a science museum for children (Fenomenalen).
- Gotlands Konstmuseum, S:t Hansgatan 21, Open Tu-Su 12 PM-4 PM. Art museum.
What to do in Visby, Sweden
- Boda Borg, Tallbacken, 621 91 Gotland, ☎ +46 498 26 11 90 Fun and challenging quests for people of all ages.
- Free Tours Visby, Donners Plats Visbyslätt. June 1st-August 30th, Mon-Sat 11 AM. A walking tour of Visby covering the old town, city wall, and the cathedral.
What to eat and drink in Visby, Sweden
Eat
- Strykjärnet Visby Crêperie & Logi, Wallérs Plats 3. Nice crêperie with world music on the stereo.
- Köpmannen II, Wallérs Plats 7. Tasty pasta.
- Bakfickan, Stora Torget 1. Seafood.
- Kafé Strandporten, coffee shop near Hotel Strandporten.
Drink
- G:a Masters, Södra Kyrkogatan 10, Open 6 PM-2 AM.
- Munkkällaren, Sankt Hansgatan 40.
- Hamnplan 5, Hamnplan 5.
Shopping in Visby, Sweden
There are only three ATM machines in the old town and port area: one at Donners Plats just as you come up from the waterfront, one on Adelsgatan, and one on Stora Torget. Along the Östercentrum there are several others.
Most shops close at 5 pm on weekdays, at 3 pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.- Adelsgatan. This is the major shopping street and by far the most touristy. Don't be discouraged though, it has plenty of interesting shops selling small trinkets and local handicraft. If you venture off this street you'll get to see the beautiful alleys and the smaller streets, which are less crowded, and there are smaller shops hidden here and there.
- Hästgatan
- Sankt Hans Quarter (Sankt Hansgatan) - some clothes and design shops.
- Östercentrum (exit the old city through the Österport gate) Modern pedestrian shopping district with most of the usual European retail outlets, as well as banks, pharmacies, and fast food joints.
Safety in Visby, Sweden
Gotland is, like Sweden in general, a safe destination. Visby is crowded during summer, with an elevated risk of pickpockets and drunk brawls.
The Baltic Sea can occasionally get stormy, and perilous for small boats.
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SEKTravelers recommend visiting the following places of interests
Visby city wall, Sweden
The Visby city wall (Swedish: Visby ringmur, sometimes Visby stadsmur) is a medieval defensive wall surrounding the Swedish town of Visby on the island of Gotland. As the strongest, most extensive and best preserved medieval city wall in Scandinavia, the wall forms an important and integral part of Visby World Heritage Site. Built in two stages...Brucebo, Visby, Sweden
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Visby Cathedral (Swedish: Visby domkyrka, officially Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka) is a cathedral in Visby in Sweden. Belonging to Visby Cathedral Parish of the Church of Sweden, it serves the Diocese of Visby. and was inaugurated on 27 July in 1225. History Visby Cathedral was built as a church for German traders in Visby. It was...Visborg, Visby, Sweden
Visborg (Wisborg) refers to a fortress in the town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland. There was no one fortress called "Visborg", rather it refers to successive fortresses built in Visby (Borg means fortress or castle). Though Visborg is usually a reference to the castle built here by Erik of Pomerania. History Duke Erik...Gotland Museum, Visby, Sweden
The Gotland Museum (Swedish: Gotlands museum) (previously known as Länsmuseet på Gotland or Gotlands Fornsal) in Visby, Sweden, is the county museum of Gotland. It was founded by the Friends of Gotland's Antiquity society in 1875, at the initiative of P. A. Säve. The museum owns a number of houses and farms on Gotland, some of which are used as...Akeback Church, Visby, Sweden
Akebäck Church (Swedish: Akebäcks kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Diocese of Visby. History and architecture Akebäck Church is, with the exception of the sacristy, a completely Romanesque church. Most of the building was done at the end of the 12th century, with the tower added during the mid-13th...Almedalen, Visby, Sweden
Almedalen (in literal English translation: The Elm Valley) is a park in the Swedish city of Visby on the island of Gotland. It is well known in Sweden as the central site of the annual Almedalen Week. In medieval times the area, just outside the city walls, was the city harbour. Due to the post-glacial rebound, the port over time grew too...Ala Church, Visby, Sweden
Ala Church (Swedish: Ala kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Diocese of Visby. History and architecture The oldest part of the aisleless church is the nave, erected during the 12th century. The choir was added during the middle of the 13th century, and replaced an earlier considerably smaller choir and...
