Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city and one of the country’s most beautiful. Located in the south of Sweden, and much closer to Denmark than the capital Stockholm, Gothenburg is a city with plenty to see, from the lively streets of Lorensberg and Haga, to the quiet villages of less than 1,000 inhabitants on the islands of its archipelago.
Read on to discover Gothenburg and all its quirks, such as its Liseberg amusement park, the best in Scandinavia, and its ‘fish church’. We also give you the best tips for your trip to Sweden and recommendations for restaurants and accommodation – don’t miss out on Gothenburg!
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Places to see in Gothenburg
Götaplatsen, the most beautiful square to see in Gothenburg
Götaplatsen is one of the most beautiful and special places in Gothenburg. Located in the city’s bohemian quarter, Lorensberg, Götaplatsen Square is a lively, cultural space. At its centre is the famous sculpture of Poseidon, and all kinds of cultural and artistic venues surround it. An example of this is the Gothenburg Museum of Art and the many concert and theatre halls.
Göteborg Art Museum
The Konstmuseum, i.e. the Gothenburg Museum of Art, is Sweden’s largest museum. It was opened in 1923 and was designed for the Gothenburg Memorial Exhibition on the 300th anniversary of the city. In its collection you can see the best works of art by late 19th century Nordic artists such as Edvard Munch, as well as pieces by artists such as Monet and Picasso. In addition, its restaurant has been awarded 3 Michellin stars.
Horario: Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 to 18:00, Wednesday from 11:00 to 20:00 and Friday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. Price: adults 5’60€, children and children under 20 free admission.
Liseberg, Sweden’s best amusement park
Liseberg is one of Scandinavia’s most famous amusement parks, as well as the country’s largest. Founded in 1923, Lisenberg is located very close to the centre of Gothenburg and riding its famous Balder wooden rollercoaster is one of the best things to do on your trip. Whether you’re travelling with children, as a couple or with friends, a visit to Liseberg will make your trip to Gothenburg a unique and thrilling experience.
There are different fares. The most expensive is All-in-One, which includes admission to the park and access to all attractions, for €37. All-in-One Mini is the children’s rate, with admission and access to all children’s rides included, and costs €9. All other rates can be checked directly on the Liseberg website. Open from June to December and opening hours may vary throughout the year.
Skansen Kronan, the best place from which to see Gothenburg
Built in 1697, the Skansen Kronan is one of the most impressive places to see in Gothenburg and from which to see Gothenburg. It is a fortress on Risåsberget Hill in the pretty Haga district, built a few years after the city was founded to protect it against possible attacks from Denmark. In 1904 it was given a new life as a military museum and today it hosts conferences and celebrations, as well as an impressive open-air terrace with panoramic views of Gothenburg. The terrace is open in summer.
Feskekörka
One of Gothenburg’s most famous landmarks is the fish market, the Feskekörka, whose name means “fish church” because of its unique architecture reminiscent of a Gothic temple. Inside you can find a wide variety of stalls with the best fish and the freshest products from the sea. In addition, in its restaurant you can taste delicious fish and seafood dishes.
Haga, the most beautiful neighbourhood to see in Gothenburg
The Haga neighbourhood is the oldest in the city and one of the unique and authentic areas you’ll see in Gothenburg. Wandering through its cobbled streets lined with terraces and lively cafés is one of the best ways to spend a lively morning in Gothenburg. Its pretty shops and cafés and light-coloured brick and wooden houses make Haga one of the prettiest places in all of Gothenburg.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Places to see around Gothenburg
Gothenburg Archipelago
One of the best things to do in Gothenburg is to visit the beautiful islands of its archipelago. The archipelago is separated into two, the North, with 10 islands, and the South with 14, and the most interesting are The Vrango, Branno, Styrso and Vargo Islands, all of which belong to the Southern Archipelago. Donsö, Styrsö and Vrångö are the closest islands to Gothenburg.
The islands are characterised by pretty wooden fishermen’s houses, pleasant cafés and the stunning sea and nature that surrounds it all.
You can go to the different islands on your own with the various ferry combinations, or you can book a guided tour with Västtrafik, Gothenburg’s public transport company, which will take you from island to island, taking in the main villages and sights. You can go to Styrsö on ferry 281 at Saltholmen, which takes about 18 minutes, costs between €3 and €4 and has a 1-hour frequency.
Where and what to eat in Gothenburg
Although Sweden is not a popular country for its gastronomy, there are some typical dishes that you can’t miss on your trip to Gothenburg. Examples include the famous Swedish meatballs (Köttbulllar) with mashed potato and the Räksmörgås, a toast made with prawns and other ingredients such as cucumber, tomato and dill.
- La Cucina Italiana: One of Gothenburg’s best restaurants is a Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant. La Cucina Italiana has three innovative menus based on the flavours and recipes of traditional Italian cuisine, which change according to the day as only the freshest produce is chosen each day. Price of the menus: €70 four passes, €60 three passes. Wine and food pairing €55.
- Bord 27: A beautiful and pleasant restaurant with delicate and innovative dishes. Bord 27 offers the best European and Scandinavian recipes and transforms them into beautiful, flavourful dishes. Price range: €20-42.
- Barrique: Gothenburg’s best wine place, with delicious tapas of Swedish, European and Scandinavian haute cuisine. Price range: €4-21.
Where to sleep in Gothenburg
- Hotel Poseidon: A fantastic three-star hotel in the centre of Gothenburg. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and elegant. There is a tea and coffee service free of charge all day in the lobby. And in the hot months you can have a nice breakfast in the courtyard. Breakfast included. Price range according to date: €109-259 per night.
- Elite Plaza Hotel: One of Gothenburg’s finest and most beautiful hotels. With an enviable location and 5 stars, the Elite Plaza offers rooms that combine old-fashioned comfort with modern facilities, plus a gym, sauna, restaurant and luxurious rooms. Breakfast included. Price range according to date: €150-330 per night.
What should I consider before travelling to Gothenburg?
- The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish króna (SEK).
- The best time to travel to Gothenburg is from May to September, the winters in Sweden are very cold, and the days are very short.
- If you’re travelling to Gothenburg in winter, don’t forget to bring warm clothes and waterproof shoes.
- Even if you’re travelling in summer, don’t forget to pack some warm clothes and an umbrella or mackintosh.
- Brace yourself for medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Sweden is one of the safest countries in Europe, however, it is always wise to keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded and touristy places.
- You won’t have any trouble communicating in English in Gothenburg.
- Many establishments do not accept cash.
- Download the Passporter app to help you organise your travel itinerary.
How to organise what to see on a trip to Gothenburg
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map. You can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post.
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Gothenburg, Sweden.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about Gothenburg
Gothenburg is a city with pleasant summers and cold, snowy and wet winters. Summer temperatures usually hover around 21°C, but rarely exceed 25°C, and lows are usually around 10°C. In winter, lows reach -5°C and lows can drop to -5°C. In the case of winter, minimum temperatures are as low as -5ºC and maximums are 5ºC.
The best time to travel to Gothenburg is from May to September, the warmest months, but especially during the summer, not only because of the temperature but also because the city is more lively and there are more activities.
Besides walking, a good option in Gothenburg is to use the tram. Gothenburg’s public transport is highly developed, with the largest tram network in Scandinavia, as well as many bus lines and ferries. Bicycling is also popular in Gothenburg, and there are many rent-a-bike companies.
Gothenburg has its own airport, Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, which is well-connected to the city centre by a shuttle bus that leaves every 20 minutes and takes 35 minutes. The shuttle bus company is Flygbussarna and the fare is €8-10.
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