National park · Sweden
Karlsöarna
Go for one day on Stora Karlsö: take the 09:30 boat from Klintehamn (355 kr, 30 min), join the included 2.5 km guided walk, and be back on Gotland by late afternoon; skip Lilla Karlsö unless you sleep over or arrive by your own boat.Go for one day on Stora Karlsö: take the 9:30 AM boat from Klintehamn (355 kr, 30 min), join the included 2.5 km guided walk, and be back on Gotland by late afternoon; skip Lilla Karlsö unless you sleep over or arrive by your own boat.Go for one day on Stora Karlsö: take the 09:30 boat from Klintehamn (355 kr, 30 min), join the included 1.6 mi guided walk, and be back on Gotland by late afternoon; skip Lilla Karlsö unless you sleep over or arrive by your own boat.Go for one day on Stora Karlsö: take the 9:30 AM boat from Klintehamn (355 kr, 30 min), join the included 1.6 mi guided walk, and be back on Gotland by late afternoon; skip Lilla Karlsö unless you sleep over or arrive by your own boat.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4 km²2 sq mi
approximate
Established
1880
Best months
May–Jun
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Sweden ↗Sweden is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
- Sweden ↗Many shops, cafés, buses and even toilets do not accept cash: bring a card that works with PIN and contactless.
- Sweden ↗The right of public access (allemansrätten) lets you walk and camp for a night on most land; keep away from homes and leave no trace.
- Sweden ↗Drinks stronger than light beer are sold only at the state Systembolaget shops, which close in the evenings and on Sundays.
At a glance
- Country
- Sweden
- Area
- 4 km²2 sq mi
- Stora Karlsö about 2.5 km² and Lilla Karlsö about 1.6 km², 4.5 km apart (check).
- Established
- 1880
- Best months
- May–Jun
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Visby
Karlsöarna is two limestone islands in the Baltic 3–6 km west of Gotland: Stora Karlsö and Lilla Karlsö, run as a reserve by Karlsö Jagt- och Djurskyddsförenings AB since 1880 and among the oldest protected natural areas anywhere. Stora Karlsö holds the Baltic's main seabird cliffs — common guillemots, razorbills and black guillemots — plus alvar grassland, a museum, an 1887 lighthouse and a handful of beds. Lilla Karlsö is smaller, grazed by Gute sheep, with a fossil exhibition and a beach hut, and is reached only by the main-season boat or your own vessel. There is no entrance fee as such: the return boat from Klintehamn, 355 kr, includes the guided walk, and everything on the islands happens between roughly May and late August.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1880Stora Karlsö is one of the oldest protected natural areas in the world, bought and held by Karlsö Jagt- och Djurskyddsförenings AB.
Size and age
4 km²2 sq mi · national park since 1880
Stora Karlsö about 2.5 km² and Lilla Karlsö about 1.6 km², 4.5 km apart (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Visby.
Why go
- The only proper seabird cliffs in the Baltic: guillemots, razorbills and black guillemots nest in the limestone walls.
- Late June brings Grisslehoppningen, when flightless young guillemots jump from the cliffs to the sea.
- Alvar grassland with orchids and rare limestone plants, best in May.
- A guided walk is included in the boat ticket, so a day here needs no planning beyond the timetable.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanNo boats; island closed to day visitors
- FebNo boats
- MarNo boats
- AprNo boats
- MayBoats run; main blossoming season on the alvar
- JunGuillemot leaping peaks at the end of the month
- JulMain season, most departures, busiest
- AugBoats run into late August; quieter after mid-month
- SepSailings wind down; confirm before travelling (check)
- OctNo scheduled boats
- NovNo scheduled boats
- DecNo scheduled boats
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common guillemots, including leaping chicksMay–Jul · Peak leaping at the end of June. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Razorbills and black guillemotsMay–Jul | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Peregrine falcon and eaglesMay–Aug | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Orchids and alvar floraMay · Main blossoming season. | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Gute sheep grazingMay–Aug · Reintroduced to Stora Karlsö in 1995; Lilla Karlsö was never cleared of them. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Klintehamn, Gotland
Passenger boat to Stora Karlsö; in the main season the same boat also calls at Lilla Karlsö.
30 min
From Visby
Road to Klintehamn, then the boat; allow time for the drive and parking before the 09:30 departure.Road to Klintehamn, then the boat; allow time for the drive and parking before the 9:30 AM departure.
45 min drive plus 30 min crossing
Open the page →
From Stockholm
Flight or ferry to Gotland, then road to Klintehamn.
Half day
Open the page →
From Your own boat
Anchor or moor at Norderhamn on Stora Karlsö; Lilla Karlsö has no harbour for visitors.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Norderhamn | Landing, harbour, kiosk, restaurant and the start of the guided walk. | Open to ticket holders and visiting boats. |
| Stora Karlsö plateau | Alvar grassland, the museum, the 1887 lighthouse and the cliff edges. | On foot; stay back from the cliff edge. |
| Stora Karlsö seabird cliffs | The guillemot, razorbill and black guillemot colonies on the west and south walls. | View from the marked route only; no climbing down. |
| Lilla Karlsö | Smaller, grazed island with a fossil exhibition and a beach hut. | Reached only by the main-season boat or your own vessel. |
Sketch map
- 1Norderhamn landing · Ranger station≈57.298, 18.015Map ↗
- 2Stora Karlsö lighthouse · Viewpoint≈57.299, 18.021Built 1887, automated 1974.Map ↗
- 3Stora Karlsö Museum · Headquarters≈57.299, 18.020Map ↗
- 4Guillemot cliffs · Viewpoint≈57.295, 18.010Approximate; viewed from the guided route.Map ↗
- 5Lilla Karlsö · Beach≈57.317, 18.067Approximate; fossil exhibition and beach hut.Map ↗
- 6Klintehamn · Town≈57.387, 18.200Approximate; boat departure point on Gotland.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat from Klintehamn to Stora Karlsö, including the guided tour | SEK 355 | person | Return crossing, 30 min each way; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Harbour fee, own vessel | SEK 150 | vessel per day | — |
| Landing fee, own vessel | SEK 50 | person per day | — |
| Season ticket, own vessel | SEK 500 | vessel and two people per year | — |
| Electricity hook-up at the harbour | SEK 50 | vessel per day | — |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Boat seat permit or guide
Own-vessel landing permit or guide
Guillemot marking permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Not allowed anywhere on the islands; sleep in the lighthouse village, the hostel or the beach house.
- Cliff edges
- Steep, loose and very slippery when wet; do not approach the edge or descend to the colonies.
- Provisions
- No groceries are sold on either island; bring what you need beyond restaurant and kiosk food.
- Guillemot marking
- Only with permission from the scientists on site, and only a limited number of people may join.check
- Wheelchairs and strollers
- Allowed on the boat, but paths are unpaved so not the whole island is accessible.
Where to stay
In the park
Fyrbyn (lighthouse village)
Doubles and quadruples in the old houses and the lighthouse; WC, shower and kitchen on site.
In the park
Strandhuset, Hien
Newer post-and-plank house with doubles and quadruples and shared kitchen and shower.
In the park
Vandrarhemmet (hostel)
Rooms at Norderhamn, Hien and Bergshyddan; bring or rent sheets.
In the park
Lilla Karlsön Strandstuga
Small unmanned beach hut with basic cooking gear; no food service on the island.
Near the park
Klintehamn and Gotland mainland
The fallback if the island beds are full or you miss the last boat.
Safety
Slippery limestone near the cliffs high
Missing the return boat medium
Cold wind and exposure medium
No groceries on the islands low
Accessibility
- The boat takes wheelchairs and strollers, and the landing and Norderhamn area are manageable.
- Paths across both islands are unpaved and rough, so the plateau and cliffs are not fully accessible.
Visiting lightly
- Keep to the marked route during the breeding season; disturbed birds leave their ledges.
- Do not join unofficial trips that promise close views of the colonies.
- Carry out everything you bring; there is no waste collection for visitors on the islands.
- Buy meals or kiosk items on Stora Karlsö so the reserve's own operation benefits.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Karlsöarna?
There is no separate entrance fee. The return boat from Klintehamn costs 355 kr per person (2026 estimate) and includes the guided tour on Stora Karlsö. Arriving with your own vessel, you pay 150 kr per boat per day plus 50 kr per person per day, or 500 kr for a season ticket covering one boat and two people.
What are the best hikes in Karlsöarna?
The included guided walk on Stora Karlsö, about 2.5 km over two and a half hours, is the main route and takes in the alvar, the museum and the cliff viewpoints. Beyond that you walk the plateau on your own; both islands are small, with Stora Karlsö roughly 2 km across.
When is the best time to visit Karlsöarna?
May for the alvar in flower and June for the guillemot chicks leaping from the cliffs, most intense at the end of the month. July and early August have the most boat departures but also the most people. Outside the sailing season there is no scheduled transport.
Can I visit Lilla Karlsö?
Only in the main season, when the Stora Karlsö boat also calls at Lilla Karlsö, or with your own vessel. There is no restaurant or shop there, just a fossil exhibition and an unmanned beach hut, so bring everything you need.
Can I stay overnight on the islands?
Yes. Stora Karlsö has the lighthouse village, a newer beach house at Hien and hostel rooms at Norderhamn, Hien and Bergshyddan; Lilla Karlsö has a small beach hut. Camping is not allowed. Book through Karlsö Jagt- och Djurskyddsförenings AB on +46-498-240500.
Is there food on the islands?
One restaurant at Norderhamn on Stora Karlsö, with a cafe and kiosk beside it, and nothing on Lilla Karlsö. No groceries are sold, so bring provisions for the time you plan to stay.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go