Looking for an easter escape? Here's the Vogue-approved guide to Sweden's enchanting Gotland

With summer around the corner it is time to plan for your next adventure. And Gotland, an island just off the southeast coast of Sweden, is one of the most picturesque places to plan your next trip. With its historic treasures and remarkable nature, coupled with stylish restaurants, quaint cafés, and outstanding hotels, Gotland is a real draw.

Tempted to see for yourself? Here’s our must-visit spots to put on your to-do list, from luxurious stays to boutique shops.

With picturesque cafés and outstanding restaurants scattered all over the island, Gotland is undoubtedly a paradise for foodies. A few gems in the northern parts of the island, towards Fårö, are Prima Gård, and Rute Stenugnsbageri (try their shrimp sandwich) where homemade buns and cookies and delicious lunch dishes can be enjoyed in old farm and greenhouses.

Gotland truly is home to some incredible bakeries as well, and the hunt for Sweden’s best cinnamon bun ends here thanks to Själsö bakery just north of Visby. Although the view over the ocean is incredible, it is indeed a bit of a trek (even a precarious jaunt on slippery cliffs and through winding paths in the forest thicket) if you wish to walk from Visby. But the bun makes it all worth it though. However, they usually have a little van coming down to the beach promenade in Visby during the warmer season, in case you want to relish their pastries and bread rolls in town instead.

Another gem to check out in the area north of Visby is Salthamn – an incredible place surrounded by beautiful nature, where you can eat, attend cooking classes, retreats, and other events, as well as come for a delicious meal or stay for a few nights. Be sure to take a tour in their garden and check out their factory and its outdoor yard with a Mediterranean feeling. Head down to Visby and your first stop should be Bakfickan, one of the island’s best seafood restaurants. Order their famous fried herring with spring onion butter and mashed potatoes to give both your taste buds a real tickle.

Another favoured lunch spot is Vinäger where you can enjoy both incredible food and gorgeous interiors all at one. The best dinner options for an evening with friends are Vår Fru with its amazing cocktails and natural wines, as well as 800 grader if you’re in the mood for a fancy and delicious pizza in a more simple setting. Don’t forget to stop Gute ice cream bar which is just around the corner for something sweet afterwards – try the saffron and honey flavour as it is delicious.

A short drive south from Visby sits the incredible farmhouse restaurant Leva Kungslador, where you can enjoy a lunch of locally grown vegetables, homemade pastries, coupled with cute interiors. Their settings are both beyond cozy and Instagram-friendly. Continue down to Tofta beach and you will find Broman & Son an amazing seafood restaurant, which includes a regularly changing menu of fresh food. Try their fish stew with boiled potatoes, chili and garlic mayo, it’s moreish.

Head to Surflogiet and enjoy sunset dinners while a live band plays and you sip on their homemade kombucha. There’s also La Petit Patisserie Tofta du sud for the best croissants and baguettes around and if you still need to satisfy that French delicacies fix, order a galette or crêpe at popular Hablingo Crêperie, located further down on the island. On Gotland’s most southern tip, Prästgårdscaféet Vamlingbo and Vejde restaurant can be found - a tranquil oasis where you have to check out both their amazing lunch dishes and sweet treats, as well as the peaceful garden.

For an unforgettable stay where the incredible surrounding nature will make the experience feel both unique and remote, check in at Bungenäs Hotel which boasts a gorgeous barn-turned-restaurant and stunning sea views. With its handful of rooms, the place feels intimate and cosy. While Fabriken Furillen is frequented by visitors from all over the world thanks to the contrasting and untamed landscape reserve on the Furillen peninsula. Make sure to borrow a bicycle from the hotel to explore the area during your visit.

Drive 15 minutes from Visby and you’ll find the picturesque old-villa-turned-hotel Hallfreda Hotell offering a very warm and welcoming feel to it thanks to the stunning interior and the homemade breakfast. And when it gets a little warm, try glamping on the beach in a luxurious tent at Surflogiet situated on Tofta beach. Spend the night in a Hästens bed and fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean lapping just a stone’s throw away. Of all the glamping spots that have become popular over the recent years, Surflogiet is the place that has really mastered outdoor living with a touch of comfort and luxury.

At the end of Tofta Beach you’ll discover another pearl, Hotel Stelor, where the seven unique and carefully curated rooms will give you the sense of visiting a friend’s summer house. A mix between a boutique hotel and bed & breakfast, this farmhouse hotel with its big red barn and garden, full of free-range hens, is a total pastoral dream.

But if you’re looking for a trendy and sleek place for your visit, drop your bags at Djupvik Hotel where you find white sun beds, an infinity pool, stunning large rooms with their own kitchen, as well as an excellent restaurant. Another place for barefoot luxury, astonishing food, and gorgeous rooms is Grå Gåsen – the beautiful and exclusive boutique hotel with a southern European flare to it and famous from the beloved Swedish TV-program “Så Mycket Bättre”, where famous Swedish singers and artists re-create and perform each other’s songs. Home to twelve newly renovated room and a stone barn where seasonal and local food is served, this is definitely one of the brightest stars on the island.

It’s highly likely you’ll be leaving Gotland with lots of added excess baggage, so keep some space in your bags for all the handmade ceramics, local honey, and antiques there is to offer. Two must-stops in Visby are Akantus Design & Interior and Idyllien for chic interiors, including gorgeous glassware and luxury natural candles. In addition, StyleMood in Klintehamn is another interior-must and is known for its beautiful vases, pots, pillows, and other home decor bits.

A few other favourites for home goods, especially antiques in the south of the island are Landa, Lyckliga Gården, Kuriåsa, Kvarnbacken Interior in Ljugarn, as well as the pottery from Etelhems Krukmakeri and Scharp Keramik for ceramics. Go to Graute Farm for incredible sheepskin – a signature souvenir for Gotland – and don’t forget to check out Skatan & Ruth and Fint o Fult in Fårösund by Fårö. Lastly, new bed linen, towels, and stunning linen clothing in amazing quality can be found at Lin Living with locations in both Visby and Ljugarn.