32 Enchanting Medieval Towns That Feel Frozen in Time
17. Visby, Sweden
Once a powerful Hanseatic trading post, Visby is the crown jewel of Sweden’s Gotland Island and a Scandinavian medieval marvel. Its stone city walls remain intact, complete with watchtowers and arrow slits, while the old town is packed with merchant houses, cobbled lanes, and ruined Gothic churches. Every summer, Visby hosts Medieval Week, a festival filled with knight tournaments, craft markets, and historical reenactments. With its windswept Baltic shores and fortress-like silhouette, Visby feels like a Norse legend come to life.
