Two or three days. Walk the wall from Norderport to the harbour, then spend a morning on the old town's lanes, the cathedral and Stora torget's ruins. Give Gotlands Museum two hours for the picture stones and the Viking silver. Watch sunset from Klinten or Almedalen. Hire a bike or car for Högklint, and drive north for a full day on Fårö's sea stacks.
Visby is a Hanseatic trading town that never outgrew its wall. Some 3.4 km of ramparts still ring the old town, a dozen church ruins stand among the lanes, and the Baltic sits at the bottom of every street. It is Gotland's capital and the place every ferry docks.
Scandinavia's best-preserved medieval town wall: about 3.4 km of limestone with 27 of its 29 large towers still standing. Walk the outside from Norderport to the sea, where the meadows give the clearest view of the towers.
Built for the German merchants of the Hanseatic trade and consecrated in 1225, it is the only church inside the wall still in use. The black baroque tower caps are the old town's landmark from every viewpoint.
Eight thousand years of island history, and the reason to come is the carved picture stones and the Spillings hoard, the largest Viking-age silver treasure ever found. Give it two unhurried hours.
The old town's main square, framed on one side by the soaring Franciscan ruin of Sankta Karin, whose consecration in 1412 marked the end of church building in Visby. Restaurant terraces fill the rest of it in summer.
A lawn and pond where the medieval harbour used to be, overlooked by Kruttornet, the 12th-century Powder Tower that is the oldest part of the wall. Each June it hosts Sweden's political festival, Almedalen Week.
Laid out in 1855 by the town's bathing society, De Badande Wännerna, inside the wall and close to the sea, with the ruin of Sankt Olof among the beds. Entry is free and it is the old town's quietest hour.
Fiskargränd is the most photographed lane in Visby, low cottages smothered in climbing roses. Climb on up to Klinten, the limestone ridge above the old town, for the view across the rooftops, ruins and harbour.
The roofless church of the Dominican friars, begun around 1230 and now Visby's open-air stage. Its acoustics carry summer concerts, and it hosts the Medieval Yule market at the start of winter.
A limestone cliff just south of Visby, and the easiest way to see Gotland's steep coast without travelling far. Walk the cliff edge for open views over the Baltic.
Limestone sea stacks up to eight metres tall at Digerhuvud and Langhammars, on the island Ingmar Bergman made his home. Drive north to Fårösund and take the free ferry over; it is a full day from Visby.
Two churches built side by side, with an older limestone church found beneath.
The island's art museum, with Gotland painters and changing shows.
Coastal guns and Cold War bunkers in Tofta, south of Visby.
Maypoles, dancing and pickled herring on the Friday nearest the longest day.
Sweden's political festival: party leaders' speeches and almost 3,000 events across town.
Film screenings and talks on Fårö, run by Bergmancenter.
The KSSS offshore sailing race round the island, with up to 250 boats.
The Gotland Olympics: five days of island sports such as varpa and log tossing.
Visby in costume: jousting, markets and over 800 events in 40 venues.
The world's biggest enduro motorcycle race, at Hejdeby just east of Visby.
A torchlit procession from Österport to a Yule market in the Sankt Nicolai ruin.
The main way in. Car ferries reach Visby harbour from Nynäshamn in about 3 hours 15 and from Oskarshamn in about 3 hours. Book cars early for summer.
About 3.5 km north of the old town. SAS flies from Stockholm Arlanda and BRA from Bromma; a taxi into town takes about ten minutes.
Region Gotland's buses run from Visby bus station across the island; summer adds airport and sightseeing routes.
The old town is walkable end to end in twenty minutes. Hire a bike by the harbour for the coast, Högklint and the beaches.
Baked saffron rice pudding with almonds, Gotland's provincial dish.
Dewberry jam, served with the saffron pancake and whipped cream.
Smoky, juniper-flavoured farmhouse ale still brewed on the island.
Lamb takes the place on Gotland that pork holds on the mainland.
Summer truffle from the island's oak and hazel on limestone soil.
Fried Baltic herring, often with mashed potato and lingonberry.
Pickled herring, dill and soured cream, the midsummer plate.
The cardamom bun that anchors an afternoon fika.
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