Dreaming About a Beautiful Boutique Farm Stay on Gotland

I'm back! Thank you for your patience! What was rare about my break this last week was that I was surrounded by a mixed group of fabulous women at various times, drifting in and out of the picture in Andalucía, and I had forgotten just how much I love that: cooking together, chatting for hours, sipping wine long after the sun had gone down. There’s something so restorative about female company. Warm, funny, wise. Do you ever come away from time like that feeling completely reset? Like you’ve remembered a part of yourself you hadn’t realised you’d been missing?

And of course, it was very lovely to come home to Per and the girls too - as always! 

With one holiday over, there’s only one thing to do: start daydreaming about the next one, right? Although I won’t be able to make it there this year, one place I’ve been quietly drooling over lately is Sibbjäns on the Swedish island of Gotland. Have you heard of it?

Set on an old horse farm in southern Gotland, Sibbjäns is Sweden’s very first boutique farm stay. The story behind it is lovely too. Two families swapped the pace of city life for something slower and more meaningful, transforming a rundown farm into a place centred around sustainability, good food, craftsmanship and the rhythms of the land. What began as a simple dream of opening a small B&B gradually evolved into something much bigger: part hotel, part working farm, part gathering place.

They also happen to have impeccable taste and everything about it sounds right up my street: a beautiful interior with every guest room entirely unique, wildflowers blowing in the breeze, long farm lunches made from whatever is growing in the garden that week, limestone buildings washed in soft earthy tones, sheep grazing nearby, sea air drifting in from the Baltic, a soothing nature pool. It all feels wonderfully unfussy and restorative and there is something so appealing about places that feel more like a home from home.

Ready to dream?

What a beautiful place to stay, don’t you think? Needless to say, Sibbjäns has been widely featured in the press since it opened, including a piece in New York Times Magazine!

I especially love the look, and idea, of the nature pool. Having said that, there was one at a place we stayed at once and I remember climbing down the ladder only to hear a little “ribbit”… only to discover a big, fat, beautiful frog sitting happily on one of the rungs! It gave me such a fright at first, but he did turn out to be a lovely bathing companion. Have you ever experienced a nature pool before?

And while we’re on the topic of pools, you might also enjoy this feature I once wrote sharing inspiration for lovely small pools for every budget. 

You may also like to tour more beautiful island homes too. Some are available to rent, some are private, all are dreamy:

A quiet cabin escape on a Danish island
Airbnb tip: The Stonecutter's farm
Elsa's inspiring cottage on the island of Gotland
A fairytale escape on 'happiness island'

Thank you so much for your patience while I've been away, I'm so happy to be back! See you later this week.

Niki

Photography: Mike Karlsson Lundgren, courtesy of Sibbjäns

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11 Dreamy Airbnbs in Sweden and Denmark for a Summer Escape

 

Spring is here, and along with the wood anemones, a flurry of emails has started to land in my inbox asking for Airbnb recommendations in Sweden and Denmark. Before the real deluge begins, I thought it would be nice to gather some of my favourites here in one place, many of which you might well recognise from the blog.

From city hideouts and tiny seaside cabins to country pool villas and idyllic island getaways, there’s something for everyone to check into and unwind this summer. And even if you’re not planning a trip, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found in the different styles and settings too!

Simply click on each link to explore the full tour here on the blog. You’ll also find links to book each Airbnb from there.

Ready to explore? Let's kick off with.....

Denmark

A short hop over the bridge from where I live, I visit Copenhagen every Wednesday and it never fails to inspire me. This place looks like the perfect crashpad from which to explore! 

Calling all lovers of design - this apartment in the heart of Copenhagen is a dream. The only problem is, you wouldn't want to leave! 

One of my most viewed posts ever, this little waterside cabin on Zealand, Denmark is the perfect place to unwind with a book! 

If you're feeling intrepid, why not make your way to the Danish island of Anholt and make this little cabin your home for the week? It's the perfect place from which to relax on a white sandy beach or pull up a seat in a boho-style restaurant in the harbour and tap along to live music! 

Sweden

Live like Pippi Longstocking and getaway from it all at this traditional-style country Swedish cottage. 

Go for a quirky, laidback stay at this wonderful, creative stay in Skåne, southern sweden. 

The area of Österlen in south Sweden is popular among artists and comes to life in summer with artisan bakeries, cosy restaurants, galleries and live music - and this is a charming base! 

Escape to the magical island of Gotland this summer and stay in this limestone barn. 

Gotland is famous for it's rugged coastline and beautiful nature - which you'd experience firsthand at this cosy little beach front cabin. 

Connected to the mainland via a bridge, the island of Öland is a summer destination for the Swedish royal family. The palace might not be available on airbnb, but this charming stone cutter's cottage complete with pool is also a wonderful option! 

If you're visiting Stockholm it would be a real pity not to enjoy a few days in the stunning archipelego. I vote for this stay on the island of Dalarö (wait till you see the inside!). 

They are all charming in their own way, and I’m pretty sure you’d have a wonderful stay at any one of them. But did any catch your eye in particular?

Have you visited Sweden or Denmark in the past? If so, do you have a favourite place? Perhaps you even have a favourite Airbnb you would recommend. If so, please do share below.

That's it from me this week. Thank you so much for stopping by, and for all your comments. I can’t wait to find a quiet moment with a coffee this weekend and respond to them all.

Niki

Images courtesy of Airbnb, with thanks.

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From Stable to Sanctuary in Tasmania

Hallo Freunde, I’m scribbling this from Frankfurt Airport, where I’ve spent the past couple of days exploring Ambiente (more on that over on my IG).

As always, when travelling, the world opens up a little — and suddenly you feel like you could just keep going. Don’t worry, family. I am actually coming home. Still, I do have a long-held dream of visiting Tasmania one day, and I’ve just found another stay to add to my ever-growing list: The Stable Lofts.

Housed within a historic converted stable, The 'Pony' is a charming mudbrick loft set right in the heart of rustic Tasmanian country life. The listing describes it as being surrounded by lush gardens, serenaded by birdsong and visited by wallabies at dusk and dawn — a place where time slows down. The perfect setting for a romantic weekend escape. And, I’m completely there for it (virtually, for now).

I love the simplicity of it all: the whites and warm wood tones, the carefully chosen vintage finds, the sense of calm throughout. It looks like the perfect place to truly unwind. Come and enjoy the tour with me.

I'd happily escape to this lovely place, how about you? 

If you're curious to rediscover all the other Tasmanian properties I've shown, take a look here - for a years worth of stays! 

Uh oh, I need to run, my flight is boarding shortly for Copenhagen. I have to say, I'm looking forward to my own bed. There's a saying in Sweden 'borta är bra, hemma är bäst' - away is nice, but being at home is best. Would you agree with this? 

Have a happy mid week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of AirBnb / The Stable Lofts, with thanks.

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Two Dreamy Airbnb Cottages on the Swedish island of Gotland

It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Swedish island of Gotland. Granted, I’ve only been there once—when we sailed there on an East Coast tour and Per pretty much had to drag me away after five days (well past our original plan!). I was completely bowled over by the island’s beauty, creativity, and laid-back vibe, and I’ve been dreaming about returning ever since.

It’s only January, but after one sunny day my mind was immediately transported back there (even if the temperature is hovering around zero degrees!). In case you’re feeling tempted to visit this beautiful place, here are a couple of Airbnb cottages I stumbled upon today.

1. Jordkällaren beach cottage on Fårö

Just north of Gotland lies the tiny island of Fårö, connected to the main island by ferry. Rugged and wild, it has inspired creatives for generations. Film maker Ingmar Bergman called it home, and today his house is available as an artist residency. Imagine?

The island is rich in contrasts: deep, atmospheric forests, a long stretch of deserted beach, and dramatic stone stacks jutting straight out of the sea. True to Gotland style, it’s also peppered with ultra-cool yet wonderfully laid-back bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

Tucked away in Mölnorviken, you’ll find this little stone cottage. Its name translates as “The Earth Cellar,” a nod to its past as a jordkällare—a traditional underground storage space once used to keep food cool year-round. Today, the small stone cottage, with its sedum roof and location just 90 metres from the beach, offers a cosy place to stay, complete with a small kitchen (not pictured) and a barbecue spot looking out to sea. Perfect!

2. The Limestone Cottage

The main town on Gotland is Visby—where the ferries arrive (and where we also moored up during our first few nights). Dating back to medieval times, the town feels like a living village, buzzing with restaurants and cafés all summer long.

Just ten minutes from Visby and only 2 km from the sea, this limestone oasis is surrounded by meadows and quiet gravel roads. The interior is pared-back yet inviting, while the garden is beautifully wild – perfect for a barbecue dinner or a drink in the evening sun.

Lovely! I’d be perfectly happy whiling away long Swedish summer days, soaking up the pin-sharp Baltic light and fresh air at either of these beautiful stays — how about you?

It was sadly quite a while ago that I last visited Gotland, but if you’d like to take a look at my guide (alongside a few other Baltic islands), you can find it here.

I’ve also shared many other beautiful stays on the island, including:

A rustic Gotland cottage with a pool
A beautiful limestone barn stay
A summer island retreat with a pool for family and friends

And you can even take a peek inside a few private summer homes too — including:

Elsa's inspiring summer cottage
A converted school on the island of Gotland
A 19th century house ready for summer

Here’s to a little summer dreaming, friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb, with thanks.

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