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Should you visit Gothenburg during your stay in Sweden? Wondering what to see and do in Gothenburg? You’ve come to the right place!
During our road trip to Sweden ‘s Bohuslan region, we spent a few days there, visiting various Gothenburg districts and parks, as well as its incredible archipelago.
To help you prepare for your stay, here’s our itinerary, our must-sees, our advice and our schedule for visiting Gothenburg by bike or on foot in 1, 2 or 3 days, and above all, not missing a thing!
Göteborg is Sweden’s 2nd largest city, after the capital Stockholm, and yet the city is disconcertingly calm. The reason is simple: there are virtually no cars in the city, and a toll system has been put in place to limit traffic in the center – what an efficiency!
We really enjoyed wandering around the historic center, the various parks and the archipelago. A pleasant town to live in, quiet and wooded, with a great cycling network.
Let’s start with the district we recommend you visit: Haga!
Formerly a working-class district, completely renovated in the 80s, today it’s Gothenburg’s most charming district, with its cobbled streets and wooden houses. It’s the ideal place to stroll around and browse the stores selling decorations, clothes and books. used…
We quickly forgot that we were visiting a big city. Afterwards, we recommend stopping for a Fika on the terrace of one of the many coffee shops in the area.
It’s a 100% pedestrian zone, like many of Gothenburg’s streets, so it’s easy to understand why we found the city disconcertingly quiet overall.
After your visit to the Haga district, we recommend climbing the few steps up to the Skansen Kronan fort (Crown Fort) for a breathtaking view of the district.
Our first reaction was “that’s very green for a big city” – welcome to Sweden! The small park surrounding the fort is also very pleasant, making it the ideal spot for a picnic. Don’t hesitate to go there at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset over the city.
After these first two visits, you’ll probably already want to move to Gothenburg, just like we do!
Another place we really enjoyed in Gothenburg: the Botanical Gardens (Trädgårdsföreningen), a veritable oasis of tranquillity.
Admission is free. The adjoining bar offered a small concert, and the atmosphere was great. We recommend you take a stroll through the various well-maintained and landscaped areas and groves.
It features an exceptional rose garden, home to numerous species of roses, and attractive greenhouses. We even saw a hare roaming free. The kidfriendly spot not to be missed is, of course, the huge play area at the heart of the garden.
Tip: the garden is particularly beautiful in spring, when we were there, during the flowering season.
There are two botanical gardens in Göteborg, the one we’re talking about right in the center of town and the fee-paying Botaniska Tradgarden outside the city, which we didn’t have time to visit.
From the Gothenburg Museum of Fine Arts, we took Avenyn Avenue to the harbor and the opera house. Don’t miss the emblematic statue of Poseidon, a true icon of the city. This thoroughfare is brimming with stores, and is a bit like Gothenburg’s Champs-Élysées. The buildings framing the avenue are quite imposing in red brick.
If, like us, the weather is rainy, we recommend you take advantage of the huge shopping arcades linked by tunnels, to avoid getting soaked outside. It’s also thanks to this type of infrastructure that we realize that the city is adapted to very harsh winters.
Gothenburg’s city center is shaped by water. At its heart, the city is criss-crossed by canals. We loved strolling along these canals to discover the city from a different, even more peaceful and picturesque angle. We didn’t feel like we were in a big city at all.
You can also explore the canals by boat to the Savean River.
We recommend a stop at the Saluhallen food market , where you can sample an excellent brioche à la Canelle. The market interior is pleasant and clean.
At the cheese shop, the huge wheels of cheese in the window are not cheeses, but Swedish“knäckebröd” bread. This is a flat, dry bread that cannot be cut and is sold either in the form of large slices with a hole in the middle, often made from rye. Which you can find at a more attractive price in any Swedish supermarket. It’s a great gift idea to bring back from your stay.
Another not-to-be-missed market is Fiskekyrkan, the futuristic fish market building inspired by Gothic churches!
The city of Göteborg stretches over hundreds of granite islands and islets, so a visit to the Göteborg archipelago is a must.
There are several options for visiting the Gothenburg archipelago by boat, depending on how much time you want to devote to this activity. You can opt for an organized 2h30 cruise or a short trip on the ferries, a kind of public bus.
Each island has its own unique character, from tranquil Vrångö to charming Styrsö. We advise you to plan a full day for the archipelago. Read all our tips in our article on visiting the Goteborg archipelago.
Gothenburg’s Museum of Fine Arts (Konstmuseum) houses an impressive collection of works of art, ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art. Stroll through the rooms and admire masterpieces by masters such as Rembrandt, Picasso and many others. This museum was recommended to us by other travelers, but we didn’t take the time to visit it. Don’t hesitate to give us your opinion in comments.
Tip: set aside a few hours for this visit, to fully immerse yourself in the art and culture.
The Göteborg Opera House(Göteborgsoperan), located at harbor level, is a must-see for its modern, arrowhead-shaped architecture. At night, with lighting, the building’s shapes are even more accentuated.
We loved its futuristic look and the beautiful boats parked in the harbor.
Like Stockholm, Gothenburg also has its own amusement park right in the city center. Liseberg, one of Scandinavia’s largest theme parks, is a must for families and thrill-seekers alike. You can enjoy a wide range of attractions, from roller coasters to games for all ages.
We stayed in Gothenburg for 3 days. We spent the first half-day visiting the Haga district, the viewpoint and the fish market (located in south-west Gothenburg). Then on the second day, discover the historic center, canals, port and botanical gardens. Then the third day in theGothenburg archipelago.
If time permits and you’re on your bike, you can combine Day 1 and Day 2. It’s going to be a busy day, but you’ll have time to get everything done if you start early.
GOOD TIP FOR NOT GETTING RUINED: we recommend opting for the buffet options available at lunchtime in most restaurants, or eating at Max, the Swedish burger chain, which offers some 20 vegetarian options. We’re not big fans of fast food, but we did find the veggie burgers not too bad. The prices below do not include drinks.
In Göteborg, we didn’t try out the Swedish savory cuisine because we didn’t want to blow our budget. You can try the famous meatballs or fish dishes. You can also find shrimp toast.
Of course, there are plenty of cafés in Gothenburg where you can take your famous Fika break.
Wondering where to stay in Gothenburg to make the most of your stay? To get the most out of your stay, we recommend you choose the downtown area, the Haga district or the Olivedal district for budget hotels.
Hotel Flora quartier cente ville (the best area to sleep in, in our opinion): the hotel’s location is perfect for visiting the center of Gothenburg on foot. Rooms are spacious and clean. It’s excellent value for money, with breakfast, where you’ll feel right at home.
Avalon Hotel: ideally located in the heart of Gothenburg city center. However, the rooms are very quiet and beautifully decorated. The rooftop pool will welcome you after your visit to Gothenburg!
Linnéplatsens Hotell & Vandrarhem is a beautifully decorated youth hostel, certainly the best value for money in Gothenburg, located in the residential district of Olivedal (southwest of Gothenburg). Cleanliness and tranquility are the order of the day, and access to the city center is easy, with the tramway at the foot of the hotel.
Camping
If you’re visiting Sweden by camper van or caravan, Liseberg campsite in Gothenburg is just a few kilometers by bike from the city center, very clean and quiet, with a large playground for children.
The shared kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, a great luxury when traveling in a camper van or tent. Remember to book in advance in high season (approx. €30 per night).
We discovered these amazing buses that run through the center of Gothenburg. You won’t want to miss these big buses painted with a blue or pink whale effigy, which roll through the city streets and then transform into a “boat” to explore Gothenburg from the water.
We looked it up online, and for 1 hour the bus takes you through the streets of Gothenburg and then into its canal. According to the reviews, it’s a surprisingly pleasant experience. If you try it out, let us know what you think in the comments.
From Paris, the city is just a few hours by plane. Hop (Air France’s low-cost airline) offers low-cost flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle. Landvetter airport is 25 kilometers from downtown Gothenburg. A shuttle bus takes you to the city center. (approx. SEK 100 per person / €9)
If you want to get around Goteborg easily without having to use public transport, you can rent a car.
Driving in Sweden is very pleasant, speed limits are respected by all drivers (in any case, fines for speeding are very high, so it’s a deterrent) and Swedes are (obviously) respectful of other drivers! We loved driving in Sweden, a country we crossed from north to south.
➡️Pourto compare rental prices, we recommend the RentalCars website. For example, you can collect your car from the center of Goteborg and return it to the airport.
You have two options for getting to southern Sweden, either by crossing the bridge from Copenhagen (in Denmark) or by taking a boat from the port of Travemünde , north of Germany, to Trelleborg or Malmo (approx. 8h crossing).
We then recommend that you compare ferry prices on the following website Direct Ferries to find the one that best suits your schedule. We travelled with TT Lines for 138€ for a motorhome and 3 passengers. Depending on the company, you will arrive either at the port of Malmö in Sweden or at Trelleborg (located a few kilometers south of Malmö). The ferry was new and even had a sauna. Finnlines offers an arrival in Malmö, for a similar fare. We took the company that suited us best in terms of crossing times.
Note that freeways in Germany are free of charge, and diesel is generally cheaper in Luxembourg. As you’ll be crossing several countries in a short space of time, remember to compare fuel prices.
From Stockholm
Numerous trains link the country’s two largest cities, allowing around 3 hours by TGV and 4h30 by TER.
From Oslo, Norway
Oslo is just 300 kilometers north of Göteborg, and several trains and buses link the 2 cities in around 3h30.
From France
For travelers who have the time or are looking for an alternative to planes and cars, here’s some information on how to get to Sweden by train. Of course, if you choose this option, we advise you to stop off at the various towns you’ll be passing through.
From Paris’s Gare de Lyon station, you can reach Basel (Switzerland) by direct TGV (approx. 3-hour journey). Then Basel to Hamburg (northern Germany), by direct train, allow 6h30 for the journey.
Then, you can connect Hamburg – Copenhagen by train about 3 times a day, including 1 night train (about a 14h journey, which is a bit long). Then Copenhagen – Malmö, over the Öresund bridge, by train, approx. 45-minute journey. You can end your journey with a 40-minute train ride to Gothenburg.
In Gothenburg, there’s something for everyone, summer and winter alike. Here are some ideas for winter activities in Gothenburg:
In December, January and February, we advise you to opt for the famous onion technique, which consists of layering several garments.
Here’s a list of clothes you can pack in your suitcase: a warm under-sweater (heattech or wool), a warm sweater, a fleece, tights, ski pants, booties or waterproof hiking boots, not forgetting gloves, hats and scarves.
We’ve listed all the places and addresses mentioned above on a map to help you find your way around.
If you’re looking for ideas of things to see around Gothenburg, we’ve put together an article with around 20 must-see and must-do places in Sweden, some of which are completely unusual. Our map will help you find your way around.
We wish you an excellent trip! Don’t hesitate to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.