Traveling with Tanya
1st September 2021
Best Places to Visit in Gothenburg
Welcome to Gothenburg! Also known as Göteborg in Swedish, it is the second largest city in Sweden brimming with Scandinavian charm. This was my first ever trip to Scandinavia, and I was amazed by the aesthetic architecture, sceneries, nature and food. The city has a very unique, calm and serene vibe about it that makes you fall in love with it more with each passing day. Located on the West coast, Gothenburg lies at the mouth of a beautiful archipelago. We stayed in Gothenburg for 4 nights and tried our best to explore the charm of this city. We traveled in May but surprisingly the weather was pretty cold and windy. We couldn’t step outside without a sweater and a jacket on. So please check the weather details before planning your trip to Sweden.
This is our travel guide of the town, to help you to plan your travel when you visit this gorgeous port city.
Interesting Fact: Did you know that Gothenburg has been named as World’s most sustainable city and has made immense progress in ecological sustainability.
How to reach Gothenburg:
Gothenburg is about halfway between the capitals of Denmark and Norway; Copenhagen and Oslo and can be easily reached by road from these cities. Since we live in Nuremberg Germany, we took a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and then from Frankfurt to Göteborg Landvetter Airport. The flight duration from Frankfurt was around 2.5 hours. The Landvetter Airport offers a lot of international routes and has a great connectivity with a large number of airlines. Once landed, the airport has very good connectivity with the city center through buses. You can also take a cab to travel to the city.
Currency: The currency in Sweden is Swedish krona SEK.
1 Euro= 10,63 SEK approx.
Where to Stay in Gothenburg:
Since we have our cousins living in Gothenburg we didn’t need to book any hotels for this trip, however, Gothenburg offers a wide range of stay options. You can choose your stay options depending if you are into art, culture, leisure or even nightlife. There are plenty of neighborhoods to choose from. If you are visiting Gothenburg for the first time, then Centrum is a great option for you to stay. Linné & Haga are also good options to consider while planning your stay. Avenyn is a paradise for people who enjoy nightlife. If you are on a budget, Majorna is a good choice. You can also find plenty of Airbnbs in different parts of the city with excellent reviews and with all budget sizes.
Places to Visit in Gothenburg
Although with a rich industrial past, the city has undergone a major transformation and is now a Cosmopolitan Hub. It has a lot of green spaces to offer in and around the city. The city can be easily explored on foot, cycle or in the gorgeous Blue Trams. The beauty about Gothenburg is that it is dynamic, vibrant, youthful yet calm, unhectic and sustainable. Here are my top picks of the city.
The Market Hall (Saluhallen):
Looking for fresh, delicious and ethnic food. Then this is just the right place. Built back in the 1880’s, Saluhallen is a giant market hall at the center of Gothenburg with real taste experiences. You can buy food from almost all corners of the World and treat yourself here with freshly baked bread with olives, locally produced meat, cheese, chocolates, fresh fruits, coffee and much more.
Explore Haga:
Haga is one of the most popular and well known areas within the city. It is one of the sweetest neighborhoods in the city offering a wide bunch of restaurants, cafes with cinnamon rolls, buns and breads. This is one of the best places to experience Fika; a Swedish concept of drinking coffee with sweet treats, pastries or pies. Haga offers a charming atmosphere and you can find a lot of local shops here with souvenirs, gift items, books and textiles. A lot of quaint cafes have outdoor patios, offering a perfect setup for lunch or a coffee break.
Climbing up to Skansen Kronan:
Located in the Haga district, Skansen Kronan is definitely worth a visit as it offers one of the best panoramic city views. It is a short climb of around 10 minutes and you will come across a small fortress built on a hill, overlooking the city. Built back in the 1600’s to prevent from the potential Danish attacks, it was then converted into a prison and then a military museum. Although it was never attacked and hence the fort is intact. You cannot enter the fort as it is only open for private parties and ceremonies. There is a lovely green patch around the fort, and makes a perfect spot for a picnic on a warm summer day.
Marina Lilla Bomen:
Located just at the mouth of Baltic Sea, Lilla Bomen is a part of the Gothenburg Harbour and is one of the best places to experience the Gothenburg skyline. This is also a great spot to start a walking tour as it’s very close to the old town center.The red and white distinctive building is also referred to as The Lipstick and enjoys a landmark status in the city. The eponymous Building, Gothenburg Opera House and the Viking ship are all the Lilla Bomen. The former sailing Viking ship has been moored here since 1993 and is now used as a hotel, restaurant and for conferences.
Sunsets at Göteborg Centralst Drottninget:
This is one of the most beautiful and central places in the city to enjoy the sunset and right opposite to the Garden Society, Tradgardsforeningen. There is a beautiful, cute wooden bridge running over the canal and is the best place to enjoy the vibes of the town. This place is just a few steps away from the Gothenburg central station and is very lively during the evening hours.
City Escape at the Garden Society:
Gothenburg is a home to beautiful gardens; offering a perfect escape from city life. Tradgardsforeningen is my absolute favorite and has a huge palm house that can be visited for free of cost. The palm house was built in the 1800’s to mimic the Crystal Palace in London. The palm house hosts a variety of flora ad exotic plants , tropical warmth and is totally worth a visit. The Garden society is Europe’s best kept park since the 19th Century and offers a perfect spot for a picnic (with no alcohol and dogs)
Fish Church or Feskekôka:
One of the most unique and unusual fish markets that I have ever seen. Yes, don’t let yourself be mistaken by the architecture and the exteriors. Situated at the bank of the canal, it is actually an indoor fish market dating back to the 1870’s and sells fresh local fish and seafood. You will also find here Restaurant Gabriel that offers a fresh seafood buffet with the local catch and fresh ingredients.
Haga Church:
Talking of Churches, one of the prettiest churches that I saw in Gothenburg is the Haga Church. Interestingly it took the area 200 years to get its own church.Built back in the 1850’s this church is a classic example of Gothic revival architecture style. Haga Church is a three-aisled basilica and features an impressive tower. Because of its rich sound and the first-class acoustics in the nave, concerts are often held here.
Götaplatsen:
Looking for iconic photo spots in the city. Head towards Götaplatsen, which is a public square. It was inaugurated in 1923, to celebrate the city;s 300th Anniversary. Götaplatsen is Gothenburg’s cultural hub, enclosed by the Gothenburg Concert Hall, City Library, City Theater and Museum of Art and every building has its own characteristic. Götaplatsen is terraced in stone with wide stairs leading up to the Gothenburg Museum of Art’s. One of the most iconic features in Götaplatsen is the view with Poseidon in the foreground and Avenyn stretching out in the background.
Botanical Garden:
Welcome to Europe’s largest and most astounding Botanical gardens. The garden is a natural reserve right in the middle of the city. Here you can find more than 16,000 species of plants and fascinating parts of the garden include the Rhododendron Valley, the Japanese Dell and the Rock Garden with its waterfall. As we went ahead exploring the garden, it felt as if we were in a floral paradise. Allow yourself plenty of time here; as there is so much to see here. And the best part: The entry to the Botanical Garden is free of cost.
Ferry Rides from Lilla Bomen:
When in Gothenburg, you can either take the classic city tour on the Paddan boats that show you the beauty of Gothenburg from a waterside perspective. The tour takes you under 20 bridges and out to the harbor and costs around 220 SEK. Or you can also take a ferry ride from Lilla Bomen which gives you the same experience. And the best part is that the fare of the ferry ride is included in the regular transport ticket issued by Västtrafik. Västtrafik is the agency responsible for public transport services involving buses, ferries, trains, and the Gothenburg tram network. Each ticket is valid for 90 minutes and costs roughly 3 Euros pp. Once on the ferry, you can sail on the North Sea and enjoy the views that the city has to offer.
Eriksberg:
One of the stops from the Lilla Bomen ferry ride is Eriksberg. Eriksberg is an old shipyard; that since the collapse of the shipyard has now been converted into a modern neighborhood with cafes and theaters. The Eriksberg gantry orange crane is a main highlight of the area. Once on the ferry ride; this place is definitely worth a stop for a coffee break and with lovely river views.
Älvsborg Bridge:
Älvsborg Bridge is a large suspension bridge with 6 lanes and a bicycle track. We stopped here as well while on our ferry ride. It is a famous landmark in Gothenburg as you can get on the bridge and take a bird’s eye view of the ports and docks around. What makes the bridge a great photo spot, is a giant artificial Polar Bear in the middle of the waters. The place has a very soothing and relaxed vibe to it. We also stopped by a restaurant here to enjoy a couple of beers and soak in the sun on a chilly May afternoon.
Gunnebo House & Gardens:
Visit Gunnebo house and Garden and come closer to the 1700s. It is one of Sweden’s foremost 18th century estates and is beautifully situated between the lakes Stensjön and Rådasjön in the city of Mölndal, just south of Gothenburg. Gunnebo has one of Sweden’s finest and best preserved baroque gardens. Gunnebo house was built as a summer villa for the wealthy merchant John Hall and his family. Today, Gunnebo is a thriving cultural landmark with guided tours and events, a coffee house and restaurant, a shop and a farm.
Experience the Archipelagos from Rönnäng:
On the southern side of Tjörn lies the old fishing settlement of Rönnäng. Tjörn’s southernmost tip is called Tjörne huvud. The view is breathtaking, far out in the Skagerack, sky and sea meet. The islands of Åstol, Dyrön, Tjörnekalv and Klädesholmen are lined up like pearls in the sea. From Rönnäng there is a passenger ferry. Shortly after the ferry’s departure the traffic-free islands of Åstol and Dyrön appear, each with totally different characters. While Åstol is a barren and rocky island, Dyrön is lush, inviting you to discover its varied and dramatic scenery. Fishing trips can also be undertaken from here. In Rönnäng there are hotels, restaurants, a youth hostel and a guest harbor.
