Ecotourism in Northern Europe: Visby, Sweden eco-itinerary

Recently, I had the pleasure of touring Northern Europe.  Besides relaxing and spending time with my family, my objective was to test the outer limits of the trip by discovering at least one ecotourism activity in each of the cities that we would be visiting.  In the fourth of a series entitled Ecotourism in Northern Europe, I invite you to appreciate the potential of Visby.

Facts about Visby:

Visby is the capital of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.  It is located 53 miles off of coast of Stockholm and for the typical Swedish family, Gotland is the main island to visit for a summer vacation.  With picturesque beaches and cliffs, Gotland is also home to the Swedish sheep farming industry. 

Getting around:

The easiest way to get to Visby is via a ferry from Nynashamm on the Baltic Sea or from Stockholm.  Though a very hilly town, Visby is easy to walk around and visit its various beaches, medieval fortifications, cliffs, museums and churches.  There is also a bicycle route around the island where one can examine firsthand the 35 varieties of wild orchids found all over the island.   

Ecotourist activities:

• During the summer months, one can rent bicycles as well as tents and other camping equipment to travel throughout the island and see the 400 million year old rock formations or visit the two bird sanctuaries (Stora andLilla Karlso) along the coast.  The sanctuaries are only available for visits with a recognized guide (call for tour times). 
• For more nature adventure activities around Visby, you may want to rent a canoe, go windsurfing, or even take a rock-climbing course. 

Part 5 of this series continues with suggested ecotourism activities in Stockholm, Sweden.

Check out other articles in the Ecotourism in Northern Europe series including eco-itineraries for:

• Helsinki, Finland
• Riga, Latvia
• Gdansk, Poland

For the latest Ecotourism news and travel tips, be sure to click the "Subscribe" or "RSS feed" buttons just above this article. Alternatively, you can follow me through my company, Greenloons, on Facebook and Twitter. I also welcome your valuable comments.