Sweden’s second largest city Gothenburg doesn’t often make the headlines as the go-to holiday destination but when super-cheap flights and a bargain hotel deal came up I couldn’t help jumping at the chance to tick this country off my to-visit list. I jumped on a flight with my mum and sister to spend three days in Gothenburg and here’s everything you need to know about where to go, where to stay, what to eat and how to get around Gothenburg along with why I’ll definitely be making a return trip to discover even more of its attractions.
Is Gothenburg Worth Visiting?
A question I’ve been asked a few times since returning is ‘is Gothenburg worth visiting’. And the answer is absolutely yes! We were more than pleasantly surprised by the sheer amount of things to do in Gothenburg Sweden and completely filled our time there. The streets were beautiful, the people lovely and the food amazing! So yes, Gothenburg is worth visiting, especially if you love a city break!
Where is Gothenburg?
Gothenburg or Göteborg is on Sweden’s west coast and sits with an archipelago of islands (over 800!) it’s the largest non-capital in the Nordics and sits opposite (and got burned down several times by) Denmark. Gothenburg is a huge seaport with cruises even stopping there and has plenty of fishing and seafood-related treats to enjoy.
Key Facts:
- Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK) (1 SEK = approx 80p)
- Time Zone: Central European Summer Time – GMT+2
How to Get to Gothenburg
Gothenburg is served by frequent flights from the UK, including regional airports. We flew Ryanair with hand luggage only into Gothenburg Landvetter Airport and getting into the city was incredibly simple! To get to the city from the airport there is a 30 minute (approx) bus ride into the centre called Flygbussarna that stops right outside of the door to the airport. You can buy tickets on the day, but if you book online in advance like we did they often have a deal on to save you money.
Our tickets cost 209 SEK for the first ticket with the other two just 99 SEK each for a return ticket to the centre of Gothenburg from the airport with an open return of three months.
Where to Stay in Gothenburg
Whilst we found plenty of amazing-looking hotels and places to stay in Gothenburg, we opted for a city-centre hotel that was super-convenient for all of the main sights and right on budget with breakfast included.
We stayed at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel Gothenburg in a family room and absolutely loved it! There was tons of space in the room, the reception staff couldn’t do enough to help and the room had everything you could possibly need for a hotel stay in Gothenburg.
Breakfast at the hotel was a brilliant buffet with hot and cold options a whole free-from section and takeaway hot drinks and snacks. In the lobby there was always a snack and water station with biscuits, chocolate, fruit and different types of water and the on-site restaurants were amazing. We had a brilliant meal after arriving there later on in the day and the Swedish meatballs were INCREDIBLE.
How to Get Around Gothenburg
Like many European and Scandi countries, Gothenburg is extremely easy to get around, we loved walking its streets and found most things really easy to get to if you didn’t mind a walk. There are also plenty of buses and cute blue and white trams in the city which run like clockwork to get you to all areas of Gothenburg. Each of the trams are named after someone famous from Gothenburg with more being named each year and are an incredibly easy way to get around.
However, if you treat yourself to a city attraction pass (I’ll talk about that later) you’ll also get access to the hop on hop off bus and boat which is a great way to get around if you are visiting the main attractions in a short trip like our three day trip!
What to Do in Gothenburg Sweden
There were so many things we wanted to do whilst we were visiting Gothenburg from the UK and we seemed to find even more as we were wandering around. Here are some incredible things to do in Gothenburg based on what we did during our three-day trip to Sweden.
Go on a Boat Tour of Gothenburg’s Canals and Waterways.
Gothenburg is surrounded by water, including scenic canals and rivers that go all the way out to sea. We loved the Paddan boat tour! There are so many lovely bridges and sights to pass in Gothenburg and the docks area and its history is brilliant. You’ll pass by the iconic Fish church along with other famous Gothenburg sites.
Enjoy Fika in Gothenburg
Fika (FEE-kah), the Swedish tradition of taking a coffee break is ingrained in Gothenburg and Swedish life and is the practice of relaxing, socialising, and connecting with friends, family, or colleagues over coffee (or your choice of hot drink) and a sweet treat. Bonus points if it is a cinnamon bun.
Visit the City’s Extensive Gardens and Parks.
Slottskogen is a MASSIVE park filled with tranquil trails, the park zoo, mini golf and even an observatory! Trädgårdsföreningen is right next to the centre and we loved wandering about it in the evening, seeing its beautiful rose garden and greenhouse.
Whilst You’re Checking out Slottskogen, Visit Gothenburg Botanical Garden
This incredible botanical garden is free to enter and worth a visit if you are in the Slottskogen area, as it is just beautiful and has tons to see from flower-filled walks to brilliant greenhouses.
Tuck Into Instant Swedish Meatballs (or Sample Them in a Sit-Down Meal)
One thing you won’t find a shortage of in Gothenburg is Swedish meatballs and if you head to Köttbullekällaren – Café du Nord you’ll be able to have an instant hit of them in a cosy sit-down setting. Simply order the number of meatballs you want at the till along with your mashed potato and lingonberry jelly and carry them right away.
Visit an Indoor Rainforest and Aquarium at Universeum Gothenburg
Right next to Liseberg Gothenberg is an indoor rainforest, aquarium and science centre all in one and it is the perfect place for a rainy day or if you are travelling with children, as it has tons to explore! There are monkeys, birds, rope bridges and more to discover here.
Enjoy the Historic Haga District
One of my top things to see in Gothenburg has to be the Haga district. Filled with historic buildings, perfect cafés and quaint streets, I loved strolling around this area and sampling the local treats including the iconic cinnamon buns! Sadly, by the time I passed the place selling giant cinnamon buns I was too stuffed to manage any more, but next time Gothenburg!
Handy Tips for Visiting Gothenburg
If you’re planning on visiting Gothenburg, here some of my top tips pulled from the trip.
- Get the Gothenburg City Pass from GoCity, it includes tons of attractions as well as the hop-on-hop-off tour bus and boat which were super handy for getting around the city! Get 10% off here.
- Get a hotel near to Gothenburg Central Station or Kungsportsplatsen. The airport bus stops there and a lot of the tours and attractions have pickup points or start from there so you’ll be right where you need to be!
- Take time to wander. Gothenburg’s streets are incredibly beautiful so don’t spend too much time rushing around and missing out, look up at the beautiful buildings and enjoy the vibe.
- Talk to the locals. Gothenburg locals are incredibly friendly and happy to help with a recommendation or directions. You might find out something interesting about the area on your travels.
What I Would Visit on a Return Trip
Whilst I loved my wander, Gothenburg had plenty more to offer. On a return trip I would definitely make time to visit Liseberg Theme Park. It’s a hundred-year-old theme park and looked so much fun when we passed! I would also take one of the boat trips further out into the Gothenburg archipelago as the islands look amazing!
I had the best time during my short stay in Gothenburg and would definitely recommend this Swedish city for a mini break as it has so much to offer! If you’ve visited Gothenburg Sweden before, what were your favourite spots? Let me know in the comments!
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