Fårö

Fårö is an island just north of Gotland. It is one of Sweden's more secluded holiday resorts; being an island off an island, 20 km across, with 500 permanent citizens (2021).

Do not confuse with the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic.

Understand

Ö is Swedish for "island", and while får is the mainland Swedish word for "sheep" (of which the island has plenty), the word is not used in the local dialect, and not behind the island's name. The name probably stems from the Norse word far ("sea lane").

Fårö has world fame through Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, who had many of his films recorded on the islands, including two documentaries. He now rests in the island church's cemetery. Another famous summer guest was Prime Minister Olof Palme.

Get in

The free-to-use car ferry from 🌍 Fårösund is the main entrance to Fårö. The trip takes 7 minutes, and ferries depart every half hour 24 hours daily. However, the night time departures, from 22:00 to 05:00, must be pre-booked. You can pre-book the ferry by calling ☏ +46 771 65 65 65 at least 10 minutes before departure. Additional ferry departures are added during the main tourist season in June, July and August.

There are buses from Visby to Fårösund.

By yacht
See also: Boating on the Baltic Sea

The relevant charts are nr 73 or 62/INT1204 (coast: "Gotland North–Landsort") and 731 (archipelago: "Gotland, North"; with Fårösund in large scale). No small craft chart series are available for Gotland.

There are moorings in two marinas in Fårösund (by the ferry) and at a fishing harbour at western Fårö. Fårösund has sights and services, including bus, fuel and bike rental. The Lauterhorn fishing harbour is by the Digerhuvud nature reserve, with many rauks.

Get around

Driving or cycling.

See

The sceneries. Fårö has many rauks; free-standing rocks on the shoreline.

  • 🌍 Bergmancenter, Fårö Svens 1118, ☏ +46 498 22 68 68, . May and first weeks of Sep: Th–Su 12:00–16:00. Jun–Aug: daily 10:00–14:00. A musum and activity centre revolving around the life and work of the famous Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, who spent many summers on Fårö. Every year during the end of June or beginning of July they organize the "Bergman Week" on Fårö, with plenty of screenings, performances and lectures related to Bergman. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 🌍 Fårö Church (Fårö kyrka). A church built during the 14th century, and gradually expanded. Ingmar Bergman's grave is in the cemetery. 
  • 🌍 Ullahau. A nature reserve. 

Rauks
  • 🌍 Bjärge rauk field. The largest rauk field on Gotland. 
  • 🌍 Gamle hamn rauk field. Also contains a viking era burial field. 
  • 🌍 Langhammars rauk field. 

Do

Water sport.

  • Fårö Islandshästar (at Stora Gåsemora from April to December and Nors from January to March), ☏ +46 70 6900432, . Go riding on Icelandic horses! 650 kr for 2 hours, 850 kr for 3 hours, 1300 for a full day and 4900 kr for a 3-day tour. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 🌍 Sudersand beach (on the southern shore of Fårö). A sand beach. 
  • 🌍 Sudersandsbiografen (Sudersandsbion), Fårö Sudersand 5609, . Screenings Su M W-F 20:00. Children's screenings Su W 16:00. Occasiaonal screenings 23:00 fr. Open from start of July until mid-August. A 60-year-old cinema once frequented by the famous Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. Adults 120 kr, children 100 kr. (updated Jul 2018)

Buy
  • 🌍 Fårölamm, Fårö Lansa 1066, 624 66 Fårö, ☏ +46 735-174664. F Sa 12:00-17:00. Breeds Gotland sheep that roam the island. Sells meat and other products related to Gotland sheep. 

Eat

Drink

Nightlife is very seasonal.

Sleep

There are several holiday cabins for rent.

Stay safe

Crime is not an issue. The rocky beaches can be slippery. There are no emergency vehicles on the island; they need to get the boat.

Go next
  • Northern Gotland
  • Gotska Sandön, arguably the most isolated island of its size in the Baltic Sea. Ferry from Fårösund W F Su late May to early September.
  • If you have a yacht, you can sail to the Archipelago Sea in Finland, for lots of islands and tiny archipelago communities to discover.
  • Another yacht destination is Estonia, with Hiiumaa a day's worth of sailing away (or so it was for the ships of yore, giving it the Swedish name Dagö).
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