Gotland Calling: Nature Meets Community at This Idyllic Swedish Farmstay

In Gotland’s southern reaches, where open pasture rolls towards the Baltic’s cooling embrace, you’ll find a place offering not the hurried, high-season summer rush this Swedish island is usually known for, but something slower.

Sibbjans is the result of a shared idea between two creative couples – Pontus and Sanna Rönn, and Jonas Nordlander and Kina Zeidler – who have spent the past four years transforming a former horse farm into a restful retreat rooted in nature, design and community. This summer marks its first full season, its 50-hectare estate luring a crowd drawn by thoughtful food, considered craftsmanship and space to switch off.

Much of the work has been carried out by local craftsmen, guided by Gotland heritage specialist Erik Larsson – who built some of the original structures with his own hands – alongside Swedish architect and interior designer Maja Berg. Together, they’ve ensured that traditional techniques are woven throughout the project; construction workers eschewed electric saws for broadaxes, and new roofs were thatched with sedge from the nearby coastline (and the help of a group of Gotland locals). Bedrooms, swathed in sheepskins and soft linens, feature the exposed original beams and sloping ceilings of the restored 19th-century farmhouse; others are set in the artfully outfitted bunkhouse next door. A hand-built yoga barn, woodfired sauna and outdoor gym are being added later this year.

Outside, animals roam freely. Fruit, vegetables and herbs are grown on-site and gathered as needed, feeding into an open kitchen that shifts its dishes daily and in step with the seasons. Horseriding and cycling around the island are encouraged. “Everything here is done with purpose,” says Sanna. “We want guests to leave feeling grateful for what nature gives us, and more aware of what they eat and where it comes from.”

For Zeidler, Sibbjans is as much about mindset as it is about place. “We’re building something regenerative in every sense – the land, the food, how people feel when they leave,” she says. “It’s about slowing down and spending time outside.”

DO — Spot Gotland’s native horses grazing freely across farmland, try kitesurfing along the blustery coastline, and visit Ala Gard for antiques and homemade cake.

EAT — Head into Visby for seafood at Bakfickan, a relaxed local favourite, or book a table at Surfers for classic Sichuan dishes and inventive cocktails in the old town.

SEE — Wander Visby’s well-preserved medieval walls and botanical garden, then venture to Gotska Sandön, a remote national park home to pale, almost tropical-looking beaches.

DRINK — Sip rosé at “Sanna’s beach” on Gotland’s southern tip, or try Sibbjans’s rhubarb saft, a cordial made with fresh produce from the garden.

sibbjans.se