Largest Islands In Sweden

Sweden is famously island-rich — by some counts it has more islands than any other country

Sweden’s six largest islands are Gotland, Öland, Orust, Hisingen, Värmdö, and Tjörn. The first two dominate the Baltic with medieval towns and limestone plains; the latter four cluster around Gothenburg and Stockholm, mixing coastal culture with easy access.

1) Gotland — the Baltic giant

Approx. area: ~3,000 km²
Sitting roughly halfway to Latvia, Gotland is Sweden’s largest island and a world unto itself. Medieval Visby — a Hanseatic port with ring walls and rose-clad lanes — is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the island’s cultural heart. Beyond the town, you’ll find wind-shaped raukar (sea-stack) limestone formations, sweeping beaches, and a distinctive food scene (try saffron pancakes). Film buffs often make a pilgrimage to Fårö, the smaller island just off Gotland’s north coast long associated with Ingmar Bergman.

2) Öland — long, low, and sun-kissed

Approx. area: ~1,350 km²
Öland runs like a slender ribbon along Sweden’s southeast coast, linked to the mainland by the Öland Bridge. Its defining feature is the Stora Alvaret, a vast limestone plain recognised by UNESCO for its unique biodiversity and traditional farming landscape. Expect windmills, Borgholm Castle ruins, long sandy beaches, and big skies.

3) Orust — west-coast boat country

Approx. area: ~346 km²
Part of the Bohuslän archipelago north of Gothenburg, Orust has a centuries-old boatbuilding tradition, fishing villages with white-painted houses, and rocky, heather-flecked coastline perfect for kayaking and sailing. It’s a calm, family-friendly base for exploring the skerries.

4) Hisingen — Sweden’s city island

Approx. area: ~200 km²
Hisingen is unusual among large islands: it’s embedded in the fabric of Gothenburg. Cross the Älvsborg or Hisings bridges and you’re on an island with urban neighbourhoods, green spaces, and industrial heritage — Volvo was born here. It’s the easiest “big island” to sample on a short city break.

5) Värmdö — gateway to the Stockholm archipelago

Approx. area: ~180 km²
East of Stockholm and connected by bridges, Värmdö mixes year-round communities with classic summer-house culture. Granite outcrops, pine forest and sheltered inlets make it a natural springboard for boat trips deeper into the archipelago. The Artipelag centre blends nature, design and exhibitions in one striking venue.

6) Tjörn — art, cliffs, and sea air

Approx. area: ~148 km²
South of Orust, Tjörn is linked by the elegant Tjörnbron bridge. Highlights include the harbour village of Skärhamn and the Nordic Watercolour Museum perched by the water. Sculptures dot the landscape at Pilane, where modern art meets ancient burial grounds amid grazing sheep.