Gothenburg is perhaps an underrated tourist destination when it comes to visiting Sweden. Most visitors seem to choose the bigger city of Stockholm or enjoy the snow up north in the likes of Kiruna or Umeå. However, as a city, Gothenburg seems to have a charm that you can’t ignore. Whether you are looking for great museums, beautiful nature, good food, or an “authentic Swedish experience”, you will be able to find it here. There are so many things to do in Gothenburg it was actually hard to reduce this list to 70. And if this article doesn’t convince you to visit Gothenburg, perhaps these ones will:
Gothenburg, or Göteborg in Swedish, is Sweden’s second-biggest city. Historically, one of the region’s most important commercial hubs, the harbour of Gothenburg is still very active today. The city is located at the outlet of the Göta Älv, or Göta Canal, on Sweden’s West Coast. Today, you can still see much commercial boat traffic travelling up the canal towards Sweden’s biggest lake, the Värnern.
With all the things to do in Gothenburg, it is becoming increasingly more popular as a tourist destination. It is a place to discover Swedish culture, history, and future, like Lonely Planet’s Sustainable city of the year 2021.
Other Gothenburg Guides you might enjoy
- Why visit Gothenburg, Sweden
- A sustainable travellers guide to Gothenburg
- West Coast Road trip from Gothenburg
- Day trips from Gothenburg
Having now lived in Gothenburg for 18 months and counting, I even now find myself spending days exploring every inch of this city I call home. I am so incredibly in love with not only the city but the way of life here. I hope I can bring you as much joy when you visit Gothenburg as I have had living there.
So, let’s get to it. Here are the best things to do in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Things to do in Gothenburg, Sweden
Palmhuset
Palmhuset is a tropical biome located in Trädgårdsföreningen in central Gothenburg. With several temperate rooms that are heated year-round, it’s a great place to explore some exotic plants. Throughout the rooms, there are several tables set up which are great for picnics, creating art, or simply taking a breather.
Palmhuset is open from 10 – 19 in the summer and 10 – 16 in the winter.
Liseberg
Liseberg is Scandinavias’ biggest amusement park and one of the best places to visit in Gothenburg. If you are visiting in the summer, then the park is open and in full swing with rides, performances and activities. In the autumn, Liseberg is known for having one of the best spooky Halloween celebrations, with up to 5 haunted houses to explore! And in the winter, Liseberg has Gothenburg’s cosiest Christmas market. In November and December it is full of cosy wooden stalls selling speciality food, and a working Santas workshop.
Göteborgs Stads Museet / The Gothenburg City Museum
The Gothenburg City Museum, or Göteborgs Stads Museet, is a great thing to do in Gothenburg if you are wanting to get to know a little bit more about the city. The exhibitions range from an immersive experience into the history of Gothenburg to archaeological findings of the Vikings, and a recently opened exhibition celebrating Gothenburg’s 400 year anniversary. You can read more about Gothenburg City Museum here!
Spårvagns Museet / The Tram Museum
The Spårvagn Museet is home to Gothenburg’s old tram collection. Only open between 11 and 14 on Sundays. Here you can see trams ranging from the first electric tram to the modern ones that are still in circulation. This is one of the most interesting places in Gothenburg to visit for anyone interested in trains, logistics or Gothenburg’s history! You can read more information here!
Discover the archipelago
One of the best things about Gothenburg is the ferry that takes you out to all of the islands. From Central Gothenburg, you can visit over 11 different islands, all with their own unique things to see and do. The ferries leave from Saltholmen or Stenpiran towards the southern archipelago, and you can catch a bus towards the islands in the northern archipelago. If you are visiting Gothenburg in the summer, this is one of the things you have to do!
Universeum
Universeum is the largest science centre in Scandinavia, and home to amazing exhibitions about sea life and wildlife. With a big, exotic rainforest room and aquariums, Universeum is not only one of the best things to do in Gothenburg for kids, but the adults will love it too!
Full Moon Thai
Full Moon Thai is a restaurant on Avenyn. I have purposely not included any pictures in this article as part of the experience is the amazement you get when you first walk inside. Full Moon Thai is more than just eating out, it is a real experience as you are transported to Thailand for the night. Visiting Full Moon Thai is a great thing to do in Gothenburg if you want to have a fun meal in a unique atmosphere.
Volvo Museum
The Volvo Museum is a fascinating place to visit if you are interested in cars. The museum exhibitions focus on the history of Volvo, including their past cars, prototypes, buses and racing cars. The museum is a fun thing to do in Gothenburg for kids and adults and is open every day of the week. You can find more information here!
Sauna at Frihamnen
The sauna at Frihamnen is one of Gothenburg’s highlights. A strange iron building sticking out in the harbour, you wouldn’t believe this is actually one of the best places to hang out in the winter months. The sauna is free to the general public and is open all year round.
Världskulturmuseet / The Museum of World Culture
The Museum of World Culture is one of Gothenburg’s best museums. They have exhibitions educating about different cultural aspects and social problems around the world. It’s a super fun thing to do with children in Gothenburg as there are lots of interactive exhibitions. You can read more about current exhibitions here!
Gunnebo Slott
Gunnebo Slott is an old manor house just outside of central Gothenburg. The house itself is quite small and not much of it is open, however, the gardens are very large and somewhere you could walk around for hours. There is a kitchen garden, an English style garden, and a forest and more open meadow on the outskirts of the property. Gunnebo Slott is known for its traditional, sustainable methods of gardening and maintenance. The gardens are all looked after using traditional methods, and therefore everything sold in their cafe is homegrown and ecological. You can find more information on visiting Gunnebo Slott here.
Konstmuseum / Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most acclaimed museums in Gothenburg. Here they have a lot of art pieces on display, including some pieces from local Gothenburg artists, and those from Sweden. The museum is a peaceful place to wander around and a great thing to do on a rainy day. You can find more information about their exhibitions here.
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet) is a fascinating place to visit. On display, they have fossils, animal skeletons, exhibitions about the arctic, Swedish nature and so many more things! The museum is a fun thing to do in Gothenburg, especially with children. It is open every day except Mondays. You can find more information here!
A day trip to Marstrand
Marstrand is one of the most popular islands to visit in the whole of Sweden – a thriving holiday town in the summer and a cosy nature retreat in the winter. Here you can discover the history behind Carlstens Fästning, a fortress turned gaol, try world-class seafood at one of the great restaurants, or take a dip in one of the picturesque bays.
Röhsska Museet / The Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft
The Röhsska Museet is my personal favourite museum in the city. It is a more contemporary art museum, with unique exhibitions. Last time we visited there was an exhibition on Swedish design through the years, and the unique people that live in Iceland. Both of these exhibitions have stuck with me still 2 years later. Today, they have exhibitions on the migration of objects, chairs throughout history, and 18th-century design and craft. Definitely recommend this museum as something to do in Gothenburg! You can find more information here!
Röda Sten Konsthall
Röda Sten Konsthall is another art museum, this time focusing on local artists with more contemporary pieces. Every few months the art hall features a new artist, so there is always something new to see here! You can find the exhibition program here!
Hönö
Hönö is one of the more popular islands to visit in Gothenburg’s northern archipelago. This is because you can take the car ferry over, and the island of Hönö is connected to several other islands by a bridge so it is super easy to ‘island hop’. These islands are Öckerö, Fotö and Hälsö. On Hönö, you have to visit Klåvan, the small fishing village with several great restaurants and shops to wander around. Don’t miss filling Cottage for the best pizza and interior decorations. There are several other small villages to visit on Hönö as well as some great beaches and walks through the nature.
Göteborg Opera
Göteborg Opera is a fun and unique activity to do in the evenings. The opera changes every few months with both classic and contemporary performances. In 2022, there is a contemporary show using the songs from popular Gothenburg singer Håkan Hellström called Kärlek skoner igen. Watching this will be a great way to see a little bit into the culture of the city. You can read more information about the opera here!
Haga Bion
Haga Bion is a really unique cinema/ cafe/ bar in the center of Gothenburg. The cafe is one of the cosiest places to sit, while the bar is open in the evenings. In the summer, they have one of the best outdoor courtyard bars in Gothenburg. The cinema only plays alternative films, usually from film festivals and foreign directors. If you’re looking for something unique to do in Gothenburg, then this is definitely the place for you! You can read more about Haga Bion here!
Delsjön
Delsjö is home to two lakes – Stora Delsjö and Lilla Delsjö. The area is one of the most popular areas in Gothenburg and a great place for a walk, kayak, picnic or swim. The walking track around Delsjön is 7.5km with beautiful nature the whole way, while there are also bbq places scattered around the grassy areas for barbeques.
Haga
Haga is the oldest part of Gothenburg and is known to have the cosiest cafes and shops. It’s a great place to start exploring when you first arrive in Gothenburg as Haga is where you can really get a feel for what the city is all about. There are so many fun things to do in Haga, including Haga Badet, the spa, taking a fika in one of the cosy cafes, and finding locally produced souvenirs. If you want to find out more about the are and the houses there you can do a Haga walking tour such as this one!
Styrsö
Styrsö is one of the most popular islands to visit in Gothenburg’s southern archipelago. It is relatively close to the harbour and takes around 20 minutes by ferry to arrive at one of the two ports. Strysö is known for its beautiful houses and great swimming spots! On the island, there are four small villages, each with its own unique character. A day trip to Styrsö is a fun thing to do in Gothenburg in the summer.
Härlanda Tjärn
Härland Tjärn is another of the big lakes in Gothenburg. This is also a great place for a summer swim or barbeque, with fire pits dotted around the lake. there is a walking track that circles the lake, giving way to many great swimming spots on rocks and sandy beaches.
Älvborgs Nya Fästning
Älvborgs Nya Fästning, also known as Elfsborgs Fästning, is a fortress in the middle of the harbour of Gothenburg. It can only be reached by ferry throughout the summer months making it a really special and unique thing to do when you can. Walking around the fortress you can discover a lot about Gothenburg’s history and get some great views of the city from the sea. You can find more information about visiting the fortress here!
Vrångö
Vrångö is the southernmost island in the Gothenburg archipelago (and my personal favourite!) The island is known for its beautiful nature and great swimming spots, with several great seafood restaurants. The island is car-free and only accessible by ferry. It takes about 30 minutes to get from Saltholmen in Gothenburg to the port on Vrångö.
Frölunda Ice Hockey
Frölunda is Gothenburg’s much-loved ice hockey team. They are a part of the SHL (Swedish Hockey League) and their season usually plays out from September to May. They are one of the best teams in the league so you are usually in for a very exciting game.
Masthuggskyrkan
Masthuggskyrkan has one of the best views over Gothenburg, located on the eastern side overlooking the harbour. Built in 1914, the church itself is an impressive sight, however, the park and the view are the main attractions of Masthuggskyrkan. Here is a great place to visit for a walk or a picnic.
Kronhuset
Kronhuset is one of the oldest areas of Gothenburg, a church, courtyard and several buildings which are now a cafe and several art studios. The cafe is one of my favourites and one of the best in Gothenburg in the summer when you can sit out in the courtyard. The art studios are open during the week and you can find handcrafted ceramics and jewellery for purchase. At Christmas, Kronuset has one of the best Christmas markets in Gothenburg.
Minigolf in Kungsparken
Minigolf is always a fun thing to do, especially when it is in a park in the city centre. The minigolf is part of Golf and Bar Allén, so while you play you can take a drink and a pizza. Kungsparken minigolf is open throughout the spring and summer.
The Botanical Gardens / Botaniska
The Botanical Gardens is my absolute favourite park in Gothenburg. In the spring, the park is constantly blooming with different flowers, both planted and those more natural such as the white anemones in Vitsippordalen. In the summer this is the ideal place for a picnic, while in the autumn the colours are magical. The Botanical Gardens cafe is also a great fika spot, with delicious snacks, soup and cakes. Here they are super good with dietary requirements and there is always something vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and/or lactose-free!
If you are interested in the different seasons in Gothenburg, you can read my posts about the best places to visit in the spring, the best spots for finding cherry blossoms, and the best places to see the autumn colours here!
Second Hand Shopping
There are SO many great second-hand shops in Gothenburg that you would be a fool not to go to at least one while you are visiting the city. The best thing about Swedish second-hand stores is that the clothes are all of great quality, fashionable and still cheap. You can find a list of my favourite secondhand stores in Gothenburg here!
Haga Badet
Haga Badet is an old spa located in the old part of town, Haga. The spa has several pools and a gym and is a great place to visit if you want a low key spa experience with a massage or the likes. Haga Badet is open every day and offers special passes for visitors – such as a 3 day pass where you get access to the spa, pool and gym! You can find out more here!
Bohus Fästning
Bohus Fästning is a fortress in Kungälv, a town just north of Gothenburg. It takes 20 minutes to get to from Gothenburg Central station on the bus so it is an easy day trip. The Fortress was built in the 14th century and is now a fascinating place to walk around, with a small museum about the history of the fortress and fun little exhibitions in each of the rooms to show how they are used. This is one of the best unique things to do in Gothenburg with kids, especially in the summer when you can take a picnic and eat it by the lake in the fortresses main courtyard. You can find out more about visiting the fortress here!
Upper House Spa
Upper House Spa is probably the most well-known spa in Gothenburg, with a “hanging pool” that looks out over Liseberg amusement park. When you book through a day spa package, you get 2 hours to explore the pools and saunas. It is the perfect inner city spa escape.
For more spa inspiration in and around the city, you can read my post on 10 Amazing Spas to Visit Near Gothenburg!
Gathenhielmska kulturreservatet
Gathenhielmska Kulturreservatet is a cultural reserve with some of Gothenburg’s oldest houses. This is a great place to visit if you want to see how traditional timber houses are made, and how Gothenburg used to look before it was developed.
Lindholmen Food Market
Lindholmen food market is one of the most fun places to visit in Gothenburg if you are into food. Located inside an old hangar, the Food Market is an international fusion that features different restaurants in and around Gothenburg every Saturday. There is usually also a tattoo artist, an art and design market, and a live band performing which makes for such a fun atmosphere.
Lindholmen Science Park
Lindholmen Science Park is on the north of Gothenburg. Taking the ferry over to Lindholmen is one of the more fun ways to explore the city and a great thing to do if you are visiting! Lindholmen is one of the newer areas of the city so here you will find a beautiful walk around the harbour with modern buildings. It is a popular place for students to hand out, with both Chalmers and Gothenburg University having buildings in the area.
Paddan
The Paddan is a small boat that tours the Gothenburg canal throughout the summer. It is such a fun thing to do in Gothenburg as you get to see the whole city from a different perspective, while also learning about some of the most iconic spots.
A Cruise on the M/S Göteborg
The M/S Göteborg is a small ship that cruises around the harbour and offers different meal packages. This is a really fun thing to do in Gothenburg as you get to try some local food and see the city at the same time! They often do a seafood lunch or dinner throughout the summer, and a traditional Swedish Julbord (Christmas table) throughout November and December. You can find out more here!
Victoria Passagen
Victoria Passagen is a small alleyway in the central shopping area of Gothenburg. Inside, you will find several super cosy restaurants and shops to visit! This includes Jinx Dynasty, one of the best contemporary Asian lunch restaurants in the city. On the other side, you will find Da Matteo, one of the best places for a cosy fika in Gothenburg!
Röda Sten
Röda Sten is an area by the water in the western part of Gothenburg. It is named after a stone in the water painted red (Röd means red, and Sten means stone). Röda Sten is a beautiful area with a great walk that goes from Röda Sten Konsthall to Tånguddens Båtuppläggningsplats, and Saltholmen if you continue on further. Along the walk are some great views of the harbour and some great picnic spots.
Saltholmen
Saltholmen is Gothenburg’s most popular swimming spot and the port where the majority of ferries leave to the archipelago. At Saltholmen there is a small walk through the nature, some fabulous swimming spots off the rocks on both sides of the harbour, and a good restaurant.
Stora Saluhall
Stora Saluhall is the bigger of the two food markets in Gothenburg. Here you can try local delicacies, purchase meats, cheeses, salads and seafood, and eat at a great restaurant that overlooks the food hall. On the sides of Saluhall are small restaurants and bars.
Take a drink in Cafe Magasinet
Cafe Magasinet is probably the most well-known cafe/ bar in Gothenburg. With its “instagrammable” decor, it is a very cool place to hang out during the day and evening. They do a great daily lunch with fresh salads and sandwiches, and sourdough pizza in the evenings.
Spinneriet in Lindome
Spinneriet in Lindome, previously known as Lilla Spinneriet, is a beautiful farm shop style cafe just outside the city of Gothenburg. With a small boutique shop and a wonderful cafe that serves organic, locally grown food, it is the perfect place to visit for a nice lunch out. On weekends they serve a brunch menu which is my personal favourite time to visit.
Silviksbadet
Silvikabadet is one of the best beaches in Gothenburg. it is very popular in the summer as it is very sandy with a small slope into the ocean. You can sit on the rocks, on the sand, or on the grassy bank beside the water.
Slottsskogen
Slottsskogen is one of Gothenburg’s oldest and biggest city parks. It is a very popular place all year round for a walk, picnic or sledging in the winter. There are several playgrounds within the park, and a small animal zoo. There are also several cafes dotted around the park which serve lunch all year round. A great activity is to take a walk through Slottskogen to one of the cafes for lunch.
Pedelo around the Gothenburg canal
In the summertime, you can hire a kayak or pedalo from Kajakbryggen (by the entrance to Trädgårdsforeningen). This is a super fun thing to do in Gothenburg for all ages, in one of the most beautiful parts of the canal.
Take a drink on Andra Långgatan
Andra Långgatan is well known as the “bar street” in Gothenburg, with pubs, restaurants and bars open until late every night of the week. This is the ideal place to visit if you want to meet some new people, go on a bar crawl, or even just explore Gothenburg’s nightlife.
Antiquehallaren
Antiquehallaren is an old antique hall in central Gothenburg. The main hall has been transformed into a cafe with some really cosy spots to sit, while the shops surrounding it are really unique boutiques. Here you can find a stamp collecting shop, an antique jeweller, the British Shop and many other fascinating places.
Stora Teatern
Stora Teatern is Gothenburgs biggest theatre. Throughout the year they put on many different shows and performances that are definitely worth going to watch! In the summer they also have a bar that is open, with a lovely courtyard overlooking the Gothenburg canal.
Askimsbadet
Askimsbadet is another of the popular swimming spots in Gothenburg. What makes Askimsbadet special is that it is an incredibly long and wide sandy beach. Visiting here in the summer is a great thing to do with kids as there is a lot of space to run around, as well as a cafe and a climbing frame on the grass bank behind the beach.
Giant cinnamon buns at Cafe Husaren
You can’t come to Sweden and not try a cinnamon bun! I read a fact once that the average Swede eats 300 cinnamon buns a year (I know!?), so if you can’t beat them, join them and buy a big one from Cafe Husaren in Haga. There are a few other cafes that have started selling these giant cinnamon buns, but Cafe Husaren is the most famous of them all and my recommendation.
Heaven 23
Heaven 23 is the bar on the top level of Gothia Towers. The views from here and incredible, and they have super nice cocktails which are surprisingly not as expensive as you would think. You can visit the bar any time, but it is best to book if you want to visit the restaurant!
Singsing
Singsing is quite a popular karaoke bar in Majorna, a “suburb” of inner Gothenburg. The bar has an upstairs where you can sit and eat, with a music quiz once a week, while the downstairs is split up into several small karaoke rooms. This is a go-to for my friends and I when we are looking for something fun to do in Gothenburg. It does book up quite quickly though so make sure to book in advance if you want to go on a Friday or Saturday!
Guldheden’s Vattentorn
Guldheden’s Vattentorn is an old water tower turned cafe in Guldheden. Visiting here is a very unique thing to do in Gothenburg. The cafe is open during the spring and summer and is a great place for fika or lunch.
Styr och Ställ
Styr och Ställ is a company that leave our hire bikes throughout the city. They are super easy to use, all you do is download the app, scan the QR code, and off you go! There are so many great bike routes to do around Gothenburg. My personal favourite is cycling from Röda Sten out to Saltholmen.
Bärby Self-picking fruit and vegetables
Bärby Self-picking fruit and vegetables in located slightly outside of the city, on the Northern “island” of Hisingen. Here you can pick different fruits and vegetables from spring to autumn including raspberries, cabbage and potatoes. It’s a super fun place to visit if you want to get some locally grown, organic vegetables. Also, super fun for kids to get to pick them themselves and see where they come from!
Take a drink at the secret Stranger Bar
Stranger Bar is by far the coolest bar in Gothenburg. Firstly, there is no signage, you have to know where you are going to get inside. You find the door, press the doorbell, and wait to see if you are let in. When you are inside, it feels like you are in some underground club with brick walls and delicately crafted cocktails. I make it sound hard to find but its location is on Google Maps, just don’t be scared to knock on the random door!
Änggårdsbergen
Änggårdsbergen is a stretch of forest that connects to the Botanical Gardens in Gothenburg. It is one of the best places for a forest walk, with many tracks of different lengths throughout the area.
Fiskekyrka
Fiskekyrka (or Feskekorka) is a big food hall where local fishermen come in the mornings to sell their daily caught fish. This is an amazing place to visit in Gothenburg to see how this harbour city runs. Fiskekyrka has been open since 1874 so is very historically engrained in Gothenburg’s culture.
Ramberget
Ramberget is another of the great forests in Gothenburg, located on the Lindholmen side of the city. The word Berget means mountain, and that is just what this forest is. The walking trail wraps around the mountain until it reaches the top where there is a great viewpoint that looks over the city. It is quite a short walk but something to do if you enjoy exploring the city by foot.
HMS Småland J19
HMS Småland J19 is a military ship on display as a part of the Maritime Museum. It is one of two ships built of this type in Sweden and was in service until 1979. When you visit, you can climb aboard the ship and discover the inner workings of the engine and crew quarters. You can find out more here!
Slottskogen Children’s Zoo / Barnens Zoo
Slottskogen Children’s Zoo is a free zoo located in the city’s biggest park. They have farmyard animals like goats, sheep, chickens, more typically Swedish animals such as moose, and reindeer, and more exotic animals like penguins and seals. The “zoo” is completely integrated into the park so is open 24 hours a day.
Take the ferry to Lindholmen
Something fun to do in Gothenburg on a nice day is to take the free ferry from Stenpiran to Lindholmen. The ferry goes every 10 – 15 minutes and is only 5 minutes long, but it’s a fun way to travel. Gothenburg is known to be a big harbour city so I find it amazing to be able to visit so much of the city by ferry and boat. It gives such an insight into what the city is all about and how day to day life works.
Sail on The East Indianman Göthenborg
The Swedish Ship Götheborg is a replica of the 16th-century ship that sank just outside of Gothenburg on a voyage back from China. Today, the replica ship has made 5 trips around the world, and now sits in Gothenburg harbour and is a great place to visit to find out about Gothenburg’s rich history.
Skansen Kronan
Skansen Kronan is an old fortress that sits in the centre of Gothenburg, just on the outskirts of Haga. The fortress has one of the best views over Gothenburg city, especially at sunset. Just outside the fortress, on top of the hill, is a super cosy waffle cottage, serving coffee and hot waffles throughout the year.
Visit the cat cafe Purrfect Cat
This is a new addition to the list as Purrfect, Gothenburg’s first cat cafe, just opened up a few months ago. Here you can come for a fika, and play with cats while you drink your coffee or tea. You can even adopt one of you get too attached.
Gothenburg Viewpoint, Lilla Bommen
Gothenburg Viewpoint is the official name for the viewing deck on the top floor of the Lipstick building in Lilla Bommen. The viewpoint is one of the best for a view of Gothenburg’s harbour, as you can see across to Lindholen, the opera house, and all the way to Masthuggskyrkan. The viewpoint is free to enter so a great thing to do when exploring the city!
Take a coffee at Magasinsgatan
Magasinsgatan is the best place to be in Gothenburg on a sunny day. With several coffee shops, boutique shops, and food trucks, the atmosphere is like nowhere else in Gothenburg. When here, you have to try the Bao from Jinx Food Truck (best in the city!). In the winter, it is super cosy to sit inside Da Matteo and drink a coffee, with the smell of their fresh roasted beans filling the air. Make sure to take a look around and see if you can find Floramor and Krukar, the “hidden” flower shop and ceramic workshop.
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