Visby was one of the stops on a cruise we took from Copenhagen to St. Petersburg. Visby was, by far, a definitely highlight of the cruise. Our ship was too big to dock in the harbor, so we had to take the lifeboats from the ship to the harbor. That was fun. It was so beautiful in Visby, and the medieval city and the church were breathtaking. I would highly suggest a trip to Visby to anyone interested in history and beauty. And -- they stressed to us fully -- the Vikings were not rapists and pillagers. They were merchants!
Hostels in Gotland 
Looking for the best hostels in Gotland? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Gotland with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Gotland hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Gotland and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Gotland
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Gotland, across 3 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Gotland hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Gotland. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Gotland
Gotland is an island in the Baltic Sea; it is Sweden’s largest island. It is a Swedish province and is made up of the island of Gotland and four smaller islands. The main town on the island is Visby, which is on the northwestern side of the island, nearest to Sweden. The island is accessible by ferry from the Swedish mainland at Nynashamm or by air from Stockholm or Goteborg.
Gotland has been occupied since prehistoric times, as well-preserved settlements such as Ajvide show. DNA from Gotland also proves that the early agricultural settlers came from as far away as the Mediterranean and Finland. In later centuries, the island was under Viking rule. Visby is one of the best examples of medieval architecture and design and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1995. It is an attractive vacation destination for Swedes, with is ancient city walls, cathedral ruins, and Hanseatic history. Visby was a leading economic, defensive, and cultural centre for the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages.
The archaeological relics that have been found in Gotland give incredible examples of how trade in the ancient world occurred. The number of Arad dirhams found on Gotland almost matches the number found in the entire Muslim world, while the largest hoard of Viking silver was unearthed at Spillings farm in 1999.
Budget hostel accommodation on Gotland can be found in Visby, the capital of the region, around the country in small towns, and on all of Gotland’s smaller islands: Faro, Lilla Karlso, and Stora. Traditional hostels with dorms, shared bathrooms, and a common kitchen are easy to find, as many Swedes stay in them while on vacation; either search for a hostel or a “vandrarhem.”
Once you have your accommodation sorted, you can explore this island region. For the outdoor enthusiast, Gotland has several large lakes and popular beaches as well as over 200 shipwrecks for the avid scuba diver. To get to one of the smaller islands, catch a ferry from Klintehamm Harbour, in Visby. The smaller islands of Stora and Lilla Karlso are known for their nesting bird cliffs and orchids. Ferries to these two islands are seasonal. Faro is the main agricultural island outside of Gotland; there are more sheep than people and farming is a way of life. The ferry to Faro is free and runs year round. Whatever you choose to do in Gotland, you will find warm, welcoming hospitality and a vibrant culture.
Handwritten by local expert for Gotland hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Gotland - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Gotland. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Gotland. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Gotland
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Gotland?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Gotland here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Gotland safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.