10 Reasons to Visit Gothenburg, Sweden

An innovative port city with an intercultural history, we found so many reasons to love Gothenburg that we wish we had more time to experience everything this city has to offer.  Gothenburg is amazingly easy to get around and manages to combine cosmopolitan luxury and entertainment with the calm, open beauty and bounty of the Swedish seaside.

Here are 10 reasons to visit Gothenburg, Sweden!

 

10 Reasons to Visit Gothenburg, Sweden

 

1. All That Green!

Gothenburg’s flair for architecture finds its way into its beautiful parks and gardens, of which there are many. Parks like Slottsskogen Park, Keillers Park, and the Gothenburg Botanical Gardens give you plenty of gorgeous pathways to walk, run, or bike while enjoying the natural lay of the land.

 

2. The Islands

A great way to check island-hopping off your vacation to-do list, the islands of the Gothenburg Archipelago are easily accessed by local ferry. Many of the southern islands don’t allow cars, which leads to a more peaceful, rustic atmosphere as you swim, fish, shop, or seal-watch.

 

3. Upper House Spa

Along with two signature treatment styles — the Classic set inspired by the fresh, invigorating quality of the Swedish seaside and the Oriental set, which incorporates warm steam and spices inspired by Istanbul — they have a glass-bottomed pool! A very interesting way to see Gothenburg, beneath your feet and 19 floors up!

 

4. Canals

Taking a tour of the canals is a fun way to get your bearings and maybe a bit of a workout at the same time. You can use your Gothenburg City Card to take a guided Paddan boat tour through the moat and canals, or you can take a self-guided tour by kayaking through the city.

Read more: 7 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Sweden

 

5. Fresh Seafood

Gothenburg’s place on the coast means amazing local seafood options in local restaurants. Whether it’s a complete seafood spread at Sjömagasinet, seasonal oysters & champagne at Restaurant Atelier, or a creative twist on a Swedish classic in contemporary settings like SK Mat & Människor and Mr. P, the food is so fresh it will satisfy even the most skeptic of seafood connoisseurs.

 

6. Easy Transportation

The city’s strong backbone of public transportation makes getting around a snap. Public buses, boats, trams, and ferries offer a cheap way to do and see a lot without worrying about driving in a strange and busy city. Not only that, the Gothenburg City Card offers one, two, and three-day passes for unlimited use of public transportation.

Read more: 10 Best Islands to Visit in West Sweden

 

7. It’s Not Too Big

Even as Sweden’s second largest city, it’s incredibly walkable; and since it’s got about two-fifths of Stockholm’s population in a relatively equivalent urban area, it’s not too dense, either. Once you reach Kungsportsavenyn, you’ll find easy access to both points of interest and most conveniences you’d need.

 

8. Liseberg Amusement Park

The city’s number one attraction is this roller coaster park in easy access of downtown. Over three million European visitors come between July and the end of December each year, and its wooden roller coaster, Balder, has been voted the World’s Best Wooden Roller Coaster twice.

 

9. It’s Bike Friendly

Not only does the city’s Congestion Fare keep the roadways safer for bikers by regulating the amount of traffic during weekdays, and the City Card include a bike rental option, but the popularity of biking is also driven by the number of urban, woodland, lake, and seaside trails in the area.

 

10. The Nightlife

A little something for everybody! If you like clubbing, PUSH on the main thoroughfare combines house & disco with open-aired terraces. Craft beer and live music more your scene? Nefertiti offers nightly jazz, and The Rover, with over 32 different beers on tap, is a local favorite.

 

 

Disclosure: We were invited by West Sweden and Volvo to take part in their Gothenburg and West Sweden In a Volvo campaign and this post is a result of that trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.