Six Things to Do in Gothenburg, Sweden

Gothenburg, or Göteborg in Swedish, may be a little quieter than its big sister Stockholm but is definitely worth a visit for hip cafes, luscious park areas and some of the best interior stores in Scandinavia. This is just part of its charm, while cycling the tree-lined bike paths of the inner city gives you the ease and accessibility to access all attractions in less than the time it takes to drink one of their strong coffees.

Gothenburg is a city easy to explore and even easier to enjoy. Here are the best things to see and do in Gothenburg:

Eat

Being from England, I have love for any culture with their own word to describe afternoon tea. In Swedish, the word is ‘fika’ and it’s necessary to know while exploring Göteborg. Fika is associated with taking time out of your day to sit, on your own or with a friend, and relax.

In the old quarter of Haga, there are many cafés but the most famous is Café Husaren. It is easily recognisable by the size of their cinnamon buns; I am not sure you will find any larger in the whole city and one is a great thing to share between friends.

For a healthier alternate, En Deli Haga across the streets serves up vegan delights as well as an impressive salad plate.

Coffee

Strong coffee is the drink of choice in Gothenburg. Da Matteo has three locations in the city, so you’re never too far from your next cup. Definitely check out their courtyard location at Vallgatan; perfectly situated between some of the best boutiques this café is the perfect place to unwind with a good book. They also serve pizza which becomes a little hard to resist as the smell of bread wafts around the place.

See

For just 40 SEK, you can get a one year pass for five of the best galleries and museums in Gothenburg. Head to the Hasselblad center and the Göteborgs Konsthall for contemporary exhibits as well as the old masters. Here you can see the works of Claude Monet and Van Gogh sitting next to an modern illustration that crawl over floors and ceilings. For the history of the city, head to Göteborgs Stadsmuset where you can learn about Viking culture. Röhsska Museet reveals the history of decorative arts, fashion and design.

Shop

Gothenburg has an impressive array of beautifully currated stores and inspiring boutiques. Atlilleriet is noted for its style and well-known designers. Small trinkets, stationary and luxurious cosmetics, they also cater to big investment items such as sofas, tables and rugs. Not enough? They recently opened a new boutique around the corner, The Kitchen from Atlilleriet.

Over the courtyard you have Grandpa, a store with a bit of a Urban Outfitters vibe (think coffee table books and wearable everyday clothing) but with a bit of a Scandinavian twist. For more clothing, along with interior as well as a bite to eat head to concept store come café, Vallgatan 12. This store is a bit of a modern take on department store (with no barriers), where they cater to making almost everything in life that much better. This place is perfect for a late afternoon browse, a glass of wine and to watch one of their live music performances.

You can never have too many notebooks (at least, I can’t) and Rum för Papper is the place to satisfy your stationary craving.

→ Artilleriet

Flöjelbergsgatan 11

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

→ Grandpa

Vallgatan 3

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

→ Vallgatan 12

Vallgatan 12

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

→ Rum för Papper

Victoriapassagen
Vallgatan 19

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun Closed

Walk

The Botanical Gardens are easily accessible and beautifully curated; more than worth the 20 SEK entrance fee. It’s easy to spend hours discovering ‘living stones’ and rainforests within the greenhouses, walking through the Japanese zen gardens and then grabbing a warm drink and lunch in the garden café.

Do

The city bike system is easy to use and cheap. If you use a bike for less than 30 minutes, it’s free and you can get almost everywhere within that time. As a city, Gothenburg is really adjusted to the needs of a cyclists; most of the bike paths are separated from the road. There’s nothing better than cycling the city at your own speed while still being able to see everything.