Essentials
- City
- Visby, Gotland County, Sweden
- Population
- 26,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps; widespread fiber-optic infrastructure
- Currency & Banking
- 1 SEK ≈ 0.096 USD, 1 USD ≈ 10.45 SEK (Swedish Krona)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Gotland specific: high mineral content)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telia, Tele2, Telenor; available at Pressbyrån (approx. 100 SEK for starter pack)
- Banking for Expats
- Swedbank, SEB, Revolut, Wise; Sweden is almost entirely cashless
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Blocket.se (local classifieds), Gotland.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Sweden is a world leader in cashless transactions; many shops refuse cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (average 1,200 SEK/night in old town), Hotell Visby Börs
- Budget Accommodation
- Visby Fängelse (Prison Hostel) starting at 350 SEK/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Innerstaden (within the medieval wall)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Öster (East of the wall) for proximity to shops and lower rental prices
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Science Park Gotland (Kaserngatan 1); approx. 1,500 SEK/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Gula Huset (Tranhusgatan 2); cozy atmosphere with stable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Almedalen Week (Annual political/business week in July), Science Park Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats on Gotland Facebook group; weekly Language Cafe at Visby Stadsbibliotek
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Gotland (0498-200 200); Uber/Bolt are not currently operational in Visby
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Visby Hyrcykel (Österväg 1); approx. 180 SEK/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Norderstrand (1.5 km from center) or Tofta Strand (20 mins by bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- BRA (Braathens Regional Airlines) to Stockholm Bromma
- Top International Airline
- SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) via Stockholm Arlanda
- Highway Access
- Väg 140 (South), Väg 148 (North); high speed ferry to Nynäshamn
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Visby Hamnterminalen (Ferry port) and Visby Busstation
- Public Transport Passes
- Region Gotland 'Periodkort' (30 days for 650 SEK)
- Regional Travel
- Länstrafiken Gotland buses; Destination Gotland ferries to mainland Sweden
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Visby Lasarett (S:t Göransgatan 5)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Visby (Skeppargatan 8); drop-in approx. 200 SEK
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Form Gotland (Bingebyplan 10); approx. 499 SEK/month
- Laundry Services
- Most rentals include laundry rooms ('tvättstuga'); dry cleaning at Visby Tvätt AB
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodora (Limited availability in off-season)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Saffranspannkaka (Saffron pancake with dewberry jam)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vår Fru (Sankt Hansgatan 11); plant-based focused menu
- Best Dessert Spots
- Glassmagasinet (Visby Harbor) – 300+ flavors of ice cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- ICA Maxi or Coop Forum located at Östercentrum
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.se, Zalando.se, Apotea.se
- Grocery Delivery
- Mathem.se, ICA Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Stora Torget (The main square inside the wall)
- Local Brewery
- Gotlands Bryggeri (S:t Hansgatan 9)
- Wine Bars
- Volym (Adelsgatan 2); wide selection of natural wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Fish & Chips at the Visby Harbor stalls (summer only)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Surfers (Södra Kyrkogatan 1) - high-end Sichuan style tapas
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Visby City Wall (2nd longest medieval wall in Europe)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Gotlands Museum (Fornsalen); entry 150-200 SEK
- Historical Sites
- Sankta Maria Domkyrka (St. Mary’s Cathedral)
- Religious Sites
- Medieval church ruins (e.g., S:t Nicolai, S:t Karin)
- Annual Events
- Medeltidsveckan (Medieval Week) - August annually
- Cultural Districts
- The Inner City (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Theater Venues
- Länsteatern på Gotland (Bredgatan 10)
- Local Markets
- Visby Farmers Market (Lilla Torget - seasonal Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- Munthe’s (Live acoustic sets), Wisby Strand (Concert hall)
- Street Art
- Limited due to UNESCO preservation; look for murals in the Öster district
- Cooking Classes
- Fanny’s Mat (seasonal cooking workshops focused on Gotlandic produce)
- Art Galleries
- Gocart Gallery (Bredgatan 8)
- Historic Buildings
- Burmeisterska huset (17th-century merchant house)
- Local Heritage
- The Gotland Ram (bagge) symbol found throughout the city
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Högklint Nature Reserve (7 km south of Visby) for dramatic cliffs
- National Parks Nearby
- Gotska Sandön (Accessible by boat from Fårösund/Nynäshamn)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Strandpromenaden (5 km trail along the coast)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Väktargången (on the city wall) or the cliff overlooks at Galgberget
- Birdwatching Locations
- Paviken Nature Reserve (25 km south of Visby)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Norderstrand designated fire pits (outside bird nesting season)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- PostNord centers located inside ICA/Coop stores
- Tech Repair Services
- Audio Video Visby (Skarphällsgatan 13)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Rackethallen Visby (Hejdans väg 5)
- Language Classes
- SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) at Komvux Gotland
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Almedalsbiblioteket (Cramérgatan 5); stunning sea views
- Community Centers
- Kulturhuset Fenomenalen (Science-focused community space)
- Gaming Lounges
- Local e-sports groups often meet at Science Park; no dedicated public lounges
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No land-based casinos; legal gambling via Svenska Spel outlets
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 65,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 1,950,000 SEK)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 40,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 1,200,000 SEK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 60,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 3,000,000 SEK)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 35,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,750,000 SEK)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 55,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 4,400,000 SEK)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 30,000 SEK per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 2,400,000 SEK)
- Corporate Tax
- 20.6%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 52-55% (National tax + Municipal tax)
- VAT
- 25% standard; 12% food; 6% transport/books
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Sweden has comprehensive CFC legislation
- Property Tax
- Municipal property fee (fastighetsavgift), max 9,597 SEK per year for houses
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty 1.5% for individuals, 4.25% for legal entities
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Special 'Expert Tax' (25% tax-free income) for high-earning foreign experts; no digital nomad visa