Gotland

Gotland is Sweden's largest island, in the Baltic about 3 hours by ferry from Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, or about 40 minutes by air. In the Middle Ages it was a thriving Hanseatic trading centre.

Its capital, Visby, is one of the most complete medieval towns in northern Europe: a stone wall about 3.4 km long, set with dozens of towers, encloses cobbled lanes, merchants' houses and ruined churches. The Hanseatic Town of Visby was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1995.

Beyond the town are rocky coasts, quiet sandy beaches and limestone sea stacks called raukar. The best time to visit is June to August, booking the ferry and hotels early for July.