Gothenburg, Sweden: Best Places to Visit
For the next leg of our tour around the grand Scandinavian trio Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, we made our way south from Oslo and over the border to the west coast of Sweden. Since Norway and Sweden have a long history together, we were excited to find unique differences and similarities between the two.
We started our journey through the country with a 4 night stay in one of the best cities in Sweden – Gothenburg. Although it’s the second biggest city, it is permeated with a uniquely laid back vibe which is probably why taking a Gothenburg city break is so popular among both locals and visitors.
As the seafood capital of Sweden with an abundance of trendy restaurants, a city of canals, green expanses, and islands to escape to, Gothenburg is charming, delicious, and versatile. It is small enough not to worry about transportation, yet big enough to find plenty of things to do. In Gothenburg, you are guaranteed to have an authentic taste of Sweden. And this guide will help you pick the best places to visit in Gothenburg and have an unforgettable stay.
Top Places to Visit in Gothenburg
Gothenburg Botanical Garden
On our travels, we’ve visited many cities featuring stunning green spaces and one of them is definitely Gothenburg. What to do if you are craving a nature fix or need a running trail, like John? Gothenburg Botanical Garden has got you covered. With over 16000 plant species on 175 hectares, varied landscapes, and themed garden sections, it is one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe that is also considered one of the best. And from Haberget Hill, which lies on the territory, you get stunning views of the city and the harbor.
Stroll through Haga
One of Gothenburg’s most captivating qualities is its ability to effortlessly blend its historical past with its dynamic present. Stroll through the 17th century cobblestone streets of Haga, Gothenburg’s oldest district, and admire the well-preserved wooden houses, make stops to visit boutique shops, and pop into inviting cafes. One of these spots that will hypnotize your senses is Café Husaren, a bakery and a true Haga institution. They bake the famous Kanelbulle that is impossible to miss. Piled in the glass display of the storefront, they are the largest cinnamon bun style pastry we’ve ever seen! Since it’s a Gothenburg must-try, we got one to split between the two of us and loved being able to stretch the enjoyment thanks to the size.
Visit the Volvo Museum
Gothenburg started as a commercial fishing hub but later advanced in transport innovation and became the birthplace of Volvo cars. Whether you are a gearhead or simply want to travel back to 20th century Sweden, we recommend visiting the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg. The museum houses a unique collection of heritage vehicles dating back to 1927 and provides a great insight into the history of the city and the evolution of technology.
Gothenburg Museum of Art
This award-winning museum, situated in front of Gothenburg’s main street colloquially known as “The Avenue”, is unmissable. Built out of yellow “Gothenburg brick” for being the signature material used around the city, it stands out of the crowd. And the art collection housed inside, which spans 6 centuries, is said to be one of the finest in Northern Europe. Work your way through six floors of iconic masterpieces and contemporary art and then admire the controversial Poseidon statue in the middle of Gotaplatsen Square before taking a stroll along Gothenburg’s main boulevard.
Partake in the Fika Tradition
If you are heading to Sweden then you’ve probably heard of Fika. In case you haven't, here is what you need to know. The loose translation of the word means taking a coffee break, but to Swedes, it embodies an entire aspect of their culture. This ritual of taking a spontaneous break to enjoy a coffee paired with pastry in a social setting is so ingrained in daily life that it even appears as a clause of employment contracts! In other words, Fika is mandatory time that you carve out to be present and connect over a treat, anywhere, anytime.
Thanks to this delightful custom, Sweden has a flourishing coffee and patisserie culture, and Gothenburg is studded with places to partake in this tradition. (Though remember that you can always take away your treats and enjoy them in nature.) We couldn’t list all of the cafes where to have the best fika in Gothenburg even if we tried, but da Matteo is a huge favorite among locals and visitors. Their coffee is so popular that they have four locations in Gothenburg. Our favorite was the one in Victoriapassagen.
Indulge at Stora Saluhallen
Since Gothenburg has been Sweden’s seafood capital since the 1600s, we couldn’t wait to explore its fishing heritage through our stomachs. We originally planned to visit the famous Fish Church, a historic fish market that resembles a real church, hence the name. But unfortunately, during our stay in September 2023, it was closed for renovation. If you make it there during your stay, tell us about your experience in the comments! But instead, we headed to Stora Saluhallen, a big indoor food market that is just as spectacular inside as it is on the outside.
Saluhallen is by far the most popular spot to have lunch in Gothenburg, so prepare for busy stalls at peak hour! Do a lap of admiring the produce and delicacies and then pick the counter to eat at or grab your goods for take away and walk to the riverfront. Toast Skagen, or shrimp on toast, is a must-try in Gothenburg. You can’t go wrong with this absolute classic creamy mixture of shrimp piled on bread.
Join in the Lordagsgodis Fun
After finding out about yet another tradition for sweets, we started to think that Swedish people have a sizable sweet tooth. These customs certainly help to keep it in check. Lordagsgodis, translated to “Saturday sweets”, is a delicious tradition that allows Swedes to indulge in all-they-want candy just one day a week, on Saturday. It originated in the 1950s when the Swedish medical authorities suggested limiting sugar consumption to lower rising cases of tooth decay. And to this day, you’ll see candy shops busier than usual on Saturdays as the locals stock up on bags of their once-a-week goodies. There are walls of candy trays lining nearly every supermarket in Sweden, offering an overwhelming variety of lollies. Join in on the fun and create your own bag of pick-and-mix, and don’t forget to try the local favorite salty licorice.
Take a Day Trip to Gothenburg Archipelago
Gothenburgers lucked out with having the perfect beach getaways just a stone’s throw from the city. A short trip by tram or bus and ferry will transport you to Gothenburg’s archipelago, which consists of over 20 islands. It is also possible to kayak there if you are headed to one of the closer situated islands. Cars are not allowed on most of the islands, but you can rent golf carts or bicycles to get around. You are truly spoiled for choice when deciding which island to visit. Most have adorable cottages, cafes, and nice lookout points. We decided to take a day trip to Vrango, considered one of the best islands in the Gothenburg archipelago and accessible all year round. After hiking to Lotutkiken lookout, from which you can get sweeping views of the archipelago, we grabbed a seafood picnic at the gourmet minimart, perched ourselves up on rocks in front of the water, and basked in the sun. 5 ingredients for a perfect day.
And we hope these 8 places to visit in Gothenburg will become your ingredients to a perfect stay.