The five southernmost parishes of Gotland make up the district known as Storsudret – “The Great South.” With its spectacular landscapes, the most sunshine hours in Sweden, and plenty to discover, the southern tip of the island is a perfect destination for anyone looking for experiences beyond the ordinary.

Nature and activities

Wherever you set foot on Storsudret, the sea is close by. On the eastern side you will find beaches that are good for sunbathing and swimming, and along the western coast there are high plateaus that offer coastal views. In between, moorland spreads out, rich in fossils of plants and animals that lived on the island 400 million years ago.

Storsudret is an active agricultural area. The small-scale farming landscape tells a story from the past while looking into the future through conscious organic farming. There are many farm shops. 

Just south of Burgsvik lies Sibbjäns – an ambitious initiative in regenerative agriculture, focused on building soil fertility and strengthening ecosystems over time. By allowing grazing animals, natural soil cycles, and biodiversity to work together, ingredients are produced with a clear sense of place.

Where the sea opens out toward the Baltic Sea on the eastern side, level with Burgsvik, lies Faludden – one of southern Gotland’s most tranquil coastal environments. Here, shallow beaches meet the open sea alongside expansive sandy shores and coastal meadows, in a landscape defined by stillness and space.

The coastal road to Hoburgen is often referred to as “Sweden’s most beautiful road”. Perfect for a car or cycling trip, it winds along the shoreline, lined with gently shaped ridges and heathlands where sheep graze freely in the nature reserves Vaktbackar and Husrygg. In spring and autumn, migratory birds rest in the surrounding fields, and all year round you can spot large birds of prey soaring high above the landscape.

Heading south, you pass the Kettelvik Stone Museum, which showcases how limestone was quarried and handled in the past. Once you reach the high cliff plateaus, you’ll find Hoburgsgubben, the sea stack that eternally gazes out toward the horizon. Hoburgen actually consists of five cliffs, all made of reef limestone. Here you’ll also find legendary caves and 20–30 metre-high plateaus offering magnificent views over the Baltic Sea, the alvar landscape, and the surrounding fields.

If you’re curious about how people have lived around Hoburgen through the ages, you can follow the Gotland Museum's historical trail starting in front of Majstre. It tells the story of Viking graves and treasures, as well as shipwrecks, raids, murders, and rescues along this dramatic coastline.

A good way to explore the area up close is to rent a bike or hike on smaller back roads in one of the five beautiful parishes. For i further inspiration and information about trails and other hidden gems – please click here!

Beaches

There are beautiful beaches on both the eastern and western sides of Gotland's southern cape. Along the west coast, they are scattered and smaller, while the east coast has long sand dunes providing easy access to the water and lots of space for sports.

Austre: Beautiful beach on the eastern side, perfect for anyone who wants to swim and play beach tennis. Look for a beach sign on the road leading south from Hamra, past Holmhällar Nature Reserve in the direction of Nore.

Burgsviks harbour: Child-friendly beach with playground adjacent to the harbour. Further out on the pier there is a diving tower and deeper water as well as a sea sauna that can be booked by private parties. www.burgsvikshavsbastu.se

Faludden: On the beautiful neck of land called Faludden, east of Burgsvik, there is a shallow beach with warmer water than elsewhere. Close by is Skalpvik, another peaceful beach.

Fide Sea Pool: By oxygenating and pumping warm water from the shallow bay into a basin, this pool will help save Burgsviken. The beauty of the method is that the bathing temperature in the pool is constantly 4–6 degrees higher than in the sea outside.

Vändburg: Sandy beach in the bay north of the old fishing village of Vändburg, located on the eastern coast between Hamra and Holmhällar Nature Reserve. Especially nice for sunbathing when the wind blows from the west.

Vändburg Kajak rents out sea kayaks, SUP boards, and mountain bikes. Here you can paddle along the dramatic coastline of Storsudret, for example towards Hoburgen or out to Raude Hund for seal watching. During the summer season, guided tours and beginner-friendly activities are also offered, making it easy to experience nature from the water even without any prior experience.

Accommodation

On Storsudret, you stay close to nature, the sea, and the open landscape – whether you choose a boutique hotel, a farm stay, or a small, personal guesthouse. Accommodation options are spread throughout the area, with Burgsvik as a natural hub. During the summer season, places book up quickly, so be sure to plan ahead.

Bocksarve Bo och Rum – Two charming apartments in a renovated barn in Burgsvik. For rent during June–September. Perfect as a starting point for hiking, cycling or just enjoying the day. Several restaurants within walking distance.

Botrajvs Vin & Logi (pictured above) offers seven exclusive apartments in a carefully restored limestone barn on the beautiful Botrajvs farm in Hamra. Here, you are surrounded by the sea, grazing pastures, and vineyards. The apartments offer a high level of comfort, with carefully selected materials and a strong focus on quality throughout. Bookings are available via Airbnb or www.botrajvs.se.

Burgsviks camping – Quality camping with swimming pool and small cabins. Located a stone's throw from Burgsvik's harbor and a 10-minute walk from grocery store and gas station.

Fide Äventyrsby & Camping – Child-friendly site in Fide. Stay in a wooden cabin and let the kids ride the slide right out of bed, or rent a small house by the sea. Unless you are camping, that is.

Grå Gåsen – A personal hotel with a relaxed atmosphere, where the TV show Så mycket bättre was previously recorded. A lively meeting place in Burgsvik, with a restaurant, concerts, and relaxed barefoot luxury around the pool.

Gåsen Out – Bed & breakfast located about 1.5 km north of Burgsvik. On the premises you will find newly built padel courts and a bistro.

Pensionat Holmhällar – Classic guesthouse located next to a rauk field and sandy beach. Book a single or double room with shower and toilet, or rent a fully equipped cabin for up to 6 people.

Sibbjäns – a new boutique hotel with a "farmstay" theme, located just south of Burgsvik. This place offers nine exclusive rooms with private bathrooms, a library, a shared kitchen, multiple dining areas, a natural pool, and exceptionally beautiful surroundings. A farm-style breakfast is included, made with ingredients sourced directly from the self-sufficient farm.

Sjövärnsgården – Seaside hostel at the foot of the Hoburgen cliff, closest accommodation to Majstre. Simple standard with  great ocean veiw.

Rent a house/cottage: Search among rental objects on Airbnb. There you may find both limestone houses and furnished Gotland barns to rent.

Parking spaces for mobile homes:  On Storsudret there are several serviced motorhome pitches, including at Petes Ekogård, where facilities such as latrine and grey water disposal, as well as fresh water refill, are available. In the Vamlingbo–Hamra–Burgsvik area, there are both campsites with designated motorhome spaces and smaller farm- and harbour-based pitches, which often offer electricity, water, and waste disposal in a peaceful rural setting. 
 

Restaurants and cafes

Storsudret is also known for really good restaurants and cafes, all within a couple of miles. Thanks to renowned chefs and restaurant owners, the area has become an attractive destination for foodies as well as travelers where food is of great importance to the experience.

Burgsvik Brewery – In a warehouse in the middle of Burgsvik, ten kinds of beers and vintage products such as Whiskey Stout are brewed. From malt to bottle. Brewery tours and Summer Bar are organized during the summer.

Busters – Ice cream bar located along Burgsvik's main street. Wall to wall is a new home furnishings store well worth a visit.

Burgsviks krog – Restaurant run by local heroes Robin and Ellen. Open all year round, serving homemade food and pizza for lunch and dinner. Pool table and recurring rock nights.

Grå Gåsen – During the summer season, a renowned chef makes a guest appearance in hotel Grå Gåsens’s cozy barn. Delicious food and often crowded, so book a table well in advance!

Guldkaggen (picture above) – A seaside restaurant in a prime location at the harbor of Burgsvik. It's also run by Ellen and Robin from Burgsviks Krog. Much of the food is prepared on outdoor grills, with guests watching from a cozy piazza setting.

Hamra krog – Nina and Jakob Ringbom is the couple behind the best French cuisine on Gotland's southern cape. Bohemian place with high ambiance and delicious dishes.

Körsbärsgården is a popular cultural destination on Storsudret, where contemporary art, architecture and an extensive sculpture park meet the natural beauty of Gotland. From Midsummer until mid-August, the café is also open for lunch and refreshments.

Majstre – Restaurant located in the middle of nature at Hoburgen. Astonishing view of the sea and a kitchen delivering Gotland culinary experiences for all tastes.

Pensionat Holmhällar – Rustic and price worthy lunch restaurant among the pines, right next to the mighty rauk field and the beautiful beach.

Vamlingbo Prästgård – Lunch and coffee served in the vicarage cafe. Some ingredients come from kitchen’s garden, the rest from local farmers. The floral splendor surrounding the outdoor dining area is worth a visit in itself.

Sibbjäns – A new restaurant housed in an old barn, beautifully renovated to perfection. The “farm-to-table” menu is based on vegetables from the farm’s own gardens, along with lamb and pork raised on-site. Here, you can enjoy a four-course seasonal dinner or a bistro menu in the bar, which also serves cocktails in the glow of the evening sun.

Snausarve Brewery – An old stable converted into a family owned brewery. Wall to wall is the pub serving food, home-brewed beer, Gotland spirits and wine. During the summer, markets, concerts, art courses, massages and story readings are arranged.
 

Culture and other attractions

During summer, southern Gotland churn with a rich entertainment and cultural life. Within a relatively limited area, several excellent artists, exhibitors and museums come together. There is also a flourishing garden center and several small shops where you can buy products directly from the people who made them.

Bottarve Museum is located in Vamlingbo parish. The old farm has become a go-to-destination due to its originality and insight into late 19th century life conditions. The museum also has a nice café and a shop with quality Gotland handicrafts. Outside children can enjoy a playground from the old days.

Fide Fajans – Well-known pottery along road 142, about five kilometers north of Burgsvik. In a glass veranda with climbing cress flowers and vines up to the ceiling, artist Ingela Karlsson is selling her crafted plates, bowls and jugs in white faience glaze with touches of thin pastel colors. Here you will find both beautiful everyday porcelain and collector's items.

Körsbärsgården's Art Hall and Sculpture Park (pictured above) – Housed in a beautiful garden laid out for exhibitions as early as the 1940s. In the architecturally award-winning gallery with associated pavilions, Marita and Jon Jonsson exhibit Swedish and international contemporary art.

Långmyre Vineri – Local wine producer that started in 2018 by Emma Serner, sommelier, and Andrea Guerra, master winemaker with roots in Italy. Their five-hectare vineyard in Hamra delivers small quantities of exquisite white wine and a fresh, fruity rosé. If you want to know more about what it takes to run a winery on Gotland, you can book a tour of the winery in Burgsvik, where the couple demonstrates the refining process. 

Museum Lars Jonsson is located on the upper floor of the heritage listed Vamlingbo vicarage built in 1779. This is where the celebrated bird painter Lars Jonsson's paintings are displayed, often with motifs from the shores of Storsudret. When you are here, take the opportunity to visit Vamlingbo church. It was built in the 13th century, in sandstone with supporting columns of alternating white and pink Hoburg marble.

Naturum museum is an exciting interactive exhibition about the island's unique nature, fauna and geological history. Housed in a beautiful barn in front of Vamlingbo vicarage.

Suderverket is Storsudret’s new meeting place for crafts, design and upcycling. Located in the old village store at Bottarve Museum Farm, it brings together local designers, artists and food artisans under one roof. Throughout the summer, visitors can also enjoy workshops, exhibitions and other events. An inspiring destination where creativity, craftsmanship and local talent take centre stage.

The ceramics studio – Pottery run by LottaMari Eriksson, opening up in Fidenäs during the spring of 2023. Her design is beautifully stripped down with exquisite details inspired by Gotland. The clay and glazes recall the sea, the sand, the limestone and the mysticism of the Middle Ages. Perfect gifts for those who seem to have everything.

Vamlingbo Kulturscen is a new venture, located in the barn opposite Naturum museum. In the long and narrow space, with room for about 80 people, both theater and music are played. The repertoire includes world-famous artists within jazz to classical music.

Vamlingbolaget, on the road opposite Vamlingbo church, was started by Kristina Torsson in 1983. She was already a well-known Swedish fashion designer, textile artist and entrepreneur who co-founded the textile company Mah-Jong in Stockholm in the 1960s. In the shop you can buy clothes and accessories with her beautiful designs, often inspired by nature and animals or from art.
 

Welcome to the southern tip of Gotland!

The five southernmost parishes of Gotland form the district Storsudret (The Great South). With its spectacular nature, most hours of sunshine annually in the entire country, and plenty to see and do, the southern cape is a destination for anyone seeking experiences out of the ordinary. Click the “Storsudret” button below to explore tips on accommodation, beaches, restaurants and cafés, as well as many other places to visit in Storsudret.

Start from Burgsvik and continue straight south for about 12 km, until the sign Vacker kustväg till Hoburgen appears. Turn right and follow that road to the sea where it turns left and then continues southward. When the high limestone cliffs tower up, you have arrived at Majstre Restaurant Bar & Café.