With the World Cup finals approaching we thought it would be fun to give you some extra inside info on the city of Gothenburg! Here’s our top 10 things to do in Gothenburg.
- Wander the Botanical Garden
Just arrived in Gothenburg? You might want to stretch your legs.
With more than 16,000 species of plants—including the largest tropical orchid collection in Sweden and the rare Easter Island tree—it’s a place where you can wander for hours, enjoying the long summer days (it’s open from 9 am to 9 pm). - Enjoy Fika
To experience Gothenburg like a local, make room in your day for a few stops at local cafes and bakeries for fika, or coffee break. The Swedish tradition of pausing your day for a bit of socializing, coffee, and a snack fits effortlessly into a long day of sightseeing. Not only is it a great chance to rest between activities, it’s also an opportunity to taste your way through the icons of fika—cinnamon buns, cakes, cookies, and open-faced sandwiches at cafes around the city. The charming neighborhood of Haga has a wonderful selection of cafés and small artisan shops. You might like to try a giant cinnamon bun on Haga Nygata. - Buy some seafood at the Feskekôrka fish market
The “Fish Church” is a fish market hall completed in 1874 to a design by the city architect Viktor von Gegerfeldt. And yes, it does actually looks like a church. Gothenburg’s dining scene is defined by the abundance of fresh fish and seafood, caught off the west coast of Sweden. Swedish oysters, seasonal smoked prawns, grilled crayfish and catch of the day dominate the menu at local institution Restaurang Gabriel inside the legendary Feskekôrka fish market.
- Take a wild ride at Liseberg, Scandinavia’s largest amusement park
Head-spinning rides, carousels and concerts are an essential part of summer. All ages are accommodated at Liseberg, so those adrenaline rides are combined with thoughtfully designed kids’ amusements like merry go rounds, flying elephants and dragon boats. This thriving amusement park goes back to 1923 and draws big crowds today. - Try local specialties at Stora Saluhallen
A perfect getaway when the weather isn’t very good! At Kungstorget, right in the city center, lies Gothenburg’s largest market hall which was constructed in 1889. This food haven is beautiful from the outside and on the inside offers a real taste of Sweden. There are more than 40 stalls and restaurants inside with national as well as international products. You will of course find the famous Köttbullar with mashed potatoes, but also things like elk meat, raindeer and delicious salmon. - Visit a museum
Off to a museum!
At the experimental museum Universeum you not only get to visit the rainforest, you can go to space or dive into the ocean. Over two stories the museum offers lots of opportunities to do scientific experiments yourself.The Museum für Weltkultur is already worth a visit for its exterior, it has won several architectural prizes. Inside you can tour the world.
Gothenburg Museum of Art is known for its works from across Europe painted from the 1400s to the 21st century.
- Navigate Gothenburg’s canals with a boat
a trip on a boat is the perfect start to get to know the city and to get an overview. The boats leave several times as day from Kungsportsplatsen and a tour is 50 minutes.First you travel through the canals and under bridges, then out onto the river Göta. There you have a wonderful view of the dockyards, the port and a few museum ships. In your little boat it will feel like miniature world and you might get pretty wet if the waves are high. But if the sun is shining and temperatures are warm this can be great to cool off!
- Take a picture
It’s well worth the effort to take the stairs up the fortification Skansen Kronan. From here you have an amazing view over large parts of central Gothenburg.
Furthermore, the square Järntorget is a hub for trams and Gothenburg’s alternative nightlife. It’s a popular Instagram spot – especially when the cherry trees blossom in the Spring. - Free ferry
If you get a one-day or three-day ticket for Gothenburg’s public transport, you can do a tour on the ferry for free. Hop on and hop off as many times as you like or just stay on the ferry all the way through. On a sunny day, it’s a summer must-do! - Gothenburg Archipelago
You’ll catch a ferry from Saltholmen and can use that ticket to jump from island to island, calling in on painted fishing villages and old shipping settlements, and taking kayak trips on glassy water and hikes in nature reserves. The northern Archipelago is more inhabited and connects to Gothenburg via a car ferry.
