Sweden’s Trendiest Retreat Is Also A Lesson In Sustainable Longevity

When I laid eyes on Sibbjäns, Gotland’s hottest new sojourn, my first thought was same, same, but different. At the time, I thought it summed up the farm stay perfectly. As I walked through its pretty lawns and manicured gardens, I vividly remembered letting off a simple shrug of total indifference. Everything looked the same and felt the same as all of the other boutique boltholes I’ve stayed in over the years. So naturally, I then wondered what all the darn fuss was about.

Sibbjäns opened quietly last summer and was a hit, co-owners and investors Jonas Nordlander and Kina Zeidler tell me over a sunset chardonnay. Trendier than trendy Swedes, the nation’s king and queen and America and Europe’s jet set crew all raved about the place. But not for the reasons you might think. Over the two short days I was here on this Baltic island, I soon learned that Sibbjäns’ true mastery was found in all the finer details you couldn’t see.

There are an unbelievable number of hotels around the globe who greenwash. Not at this hotel. Beyond its slick digs, Sibbjäns is at heart a regenerative farm with rooms. Everything that has been planted here, along with all of the fauna who help pollinate it all rely on it being a fully functioning example of what a healthy ecosystem should look like. This is what the vision of Sibbjäns was always about, says co-owner Pontus Rönn. ‘It was about creating a place that was eco-minded, served healthy organic food and tackled climate issues head on.’

Credit: Mike Karlsson

The Eco Story

The technology here is smart and impressive. Orbital showers – created in collaboration with NASA (yes, that one) – recycle water in real time and, after each use, tell you exactly how much water you have saved every rinse. Due to its porous geology and thin soil layers which prevent water retention, Gotland is one of the driest places in Sweden. To help combat this and get neighbouring farming communities on side, the hotel collects all of its rainwater into specially commissioned onsite reservoirs to help irrigate crops, fill its natural swimming pool and flush toilets using a complex, scientifically backed recycling system.

Gastronomy and agricultural practice is another boon. Everything green and rooted comes from the farm’s exceptionally diverse bounty and is all cultivated organically without the use of sprays or pesticides. The team avoids all strict labels and practices (and preaches) soil quality, health and biodiversity to all guests that attend the daily morning farm walks. The taste of it all is one thing, but never in living memory have I seen as many insects and pollinators swarm one space since I was a child back in the 90s. 

Credit: Ida Rönn

Sibbjäns, in short, is the healthiest farm I have seen in years, with its ecological impact monitored through a long-term Living Lab, established in 2022 in partnership with Hushållningssällskapet, Sweden’s 200-year-old agricultural advisory body. Thirty-seven breeding bird species have been documented on the property, and the farm’s principal cultivation zone increased its soil organic matter from 6.6 percent in 2022 to 10 percent in December 2025.

In August 2025, Sibbjäns commissioned an independent nature conservation plan for the land, comprising of 40 to 60 species-specific nest boxes across its forests and meadows, purpose-built amphibian breeding ponds, a diversity field sown for partridge and songbirds, standing dead wood, and sun-exposed stone piles for reptiles, alongside a new patch to plant over 5,000 native plant species. As for what’s next, Rönn stresses that the health of insect life is the next big frontier, with the hope that others throughout Sweden, Europe and the globe, will lead by example. An insect biodiversity monitoring programme is also being developed in collaboration with Professor Nils Ryrholm of the University of Gävle, one of Sweden’s leading entomologists. 

Credit: Ida Rönn

Sibbjäns is not just Sweden’s trendiest retreat right now: it’s the country’s savviest, setting a precedent for a vision of self-sufficiency rarely seen throughout the rest of western Europe. Sustainability has become such a buzzword in travel nowadays, and much of what’s paraded around on social media and in marketing campaigns has become totally meaningless. But not here. Sibbjäns cares, and in such a way that positive impact ideologies are built into its fabric and DNA – a rare feat in hospitality nowadays. 

The Stay

Sibbjäns suits travellers who yearn for seclusion. Mornings are silent – except for the hum of the bees and the chatter of dawn’s birdsong. As for the rooms, mine was on the top floor reached by a cantilevered spiral staircase from the outside – something to ensure an extra level of privacy, I’m told. All are named after the women of the family, and mine was a true reflection of the quintessential Scandi aesthetic: cosy, snug and draped in limewashed walls, oak beams and silk-smooth linens. 

Credit: Mike Karlsson

Despite its contemporary appeal and Nordic flair, much of what else showcased in all the spaces are all vintage steals. ‘Everything here has been designed with thought, with much of it framed around our own personal sense of style and from designers we all personally love,’ says former model scout and co-owner, Susanna Rönn. Art, alongside a swathe of coffee table books, sculptures, counters topped with dried flowers and board games accounts for much of the Sibbjäns mise-en-scène. It’s a curated aesthetic that wins and woos on all fronts, and one so sexy, I secretly wanted to imitate it in my own flat back in London. ‘It wasn’t just about making things look good; we wanted it to feel like a farmhouse, but in the most sustainable and natural way possible,’ Susannah tells me while out on a walk around the islands. 

The natural, like everywhere else in the property is a theme throughout. Multi-course seasonal dinners anchor on the entire eco experience and focus heavily on local Gotlandic produce and independent regional makers. A lot is fermented, including non-alcoholic wine pairings, and will help kickstart everything from your palette to your digestive system. 

Credit: Mike Karlsson

As for wellness, this is what Gotland is all about. Guests can borrow bikes to explore nearby limestone sea stacks, local birdlife, and hidden beaches. But the beauty of staying somewhere like Sibbjäns is that it’s fantastically walkable. Wake up early to hear the forest wake. It’s best described as a holy experience.

The Final Word

At first glance Sibbjäns can be misunderstood as just another farm stay that attracts beautiful people and beautiful labels. The reality is far from this. With a clear vision, eco-mandate and a team of dazzlingly influential owners, this is a hotel that some of the world’s greats can learn a thing or two from, no matter their distinction or star rating.

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