Visby Gotland cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: Figures use cruise quays 14/15 to Visby's walled old town; quay 4 is beside the old town.

• Distance: about 1.2 km, cruise quays 14/15 to the old town.
• Walk: realistic on the marked route towards town; expect cobbles, slopes and level changes inside the walls.

Sources: Gotland official visitor service, Copenhagen Malmö Port.

Orientation, not a walking route

The cruise terminal can berth two cruise ships. Check which quay your ship uses before planning your walk.

Taxis are often available at the cruise dock, and the visitor office publishes a local booking number. Shuttles vary by call, so use your ship's daily programme for the pick-up and return point.

About this port

Visby's walled old town is a good place to spend your day ashore on Gotland. UNESCO inscribed the Hanseatic Town of Visby in 1995, recognising its surviving medieval trading-town fabric. For a short call, plan a walk through part of the old town and one indoor visit, rather than a tour of the whole island.

The modern cruise terminal opened in 2018. For planning your day, the terminal's location and the terrain inside the old town matter more than your ship's size.

Getting Around

Walking works well if you're focusing on the old town, but its cobbles, slopes and changes of level can make even a short walk take much longer. Wear shoes suited to cobbled streets. If you have limited mobility, ask the tourist office for a suitable route; don't assume the whole town is accessible just because it's compact.

Bike hire at the cruise pier operates for selected arrivals only. If you want to cycle, confirm hire and choose a route that fits your time ashore.

Things to Do

Old-town walk: the old town has surviving walls and warehouses, and a medieval street pattern. Pick a section of the wall and the streets beside it; you don't have to make a full circuit. That leaves time to pause in town and turn back without finishing a long loop.

Fornsalen, Gotlands Museum: at Strandgatan 14, the museum makes an indoor stop, with Gotland's picture stones and the Spillings silver hoard among its collections. You can pair it with an old-town walk without adding a trip across the island. Check the museum's visitor page for your date.

On a brief call, choose the museum or a longer walk as your main outing, then use any time left for the other. A visit to town is much easier to adjust than an excursion that depends on another vehicle.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: save your ship's quay number and return instructions; “the harbour” is too vague when several quays are used. If you're going elsewhere on Gotland, arrange the whole outward and return journey before you leave Visby.

Practical Information

Currency: Swedish krona (SEK). Carry a payment card. Call 112 in an emergency.

Gotland's official visitor service can help with tourist information; its town office is at Donners plats 1.

Getting back: save your ship's quay number and return instructions; “the harbour” is too vague when several quays are used. If you're going elsewhere on Gotland, arrange the whole outward and return journey before you leave Visby.

Frequently asked

Can you walk from Visby cruise terminal into the old town? Yes. The old town is about 1.2 km from cruise quays 14/15 along a marked route; quay 4 is beside the old town.

How far is Visby cruise terminal from the old town? About 1.2 km from cruise quays 14/15. The figure does not apply to quay 4, which is beside the old town.

Is the walk into Visby step-free? No, not throughout. The route reaches the old town on foot, but streets inside the walls include cobbles, slopes and changes of level.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Visby? They normally dock. The purpose-built cruise terminal has two alongside berths and is in operation for cruise calls.