After three years in Sweden, it was finally time to pay Gothenburg (Göteborg) a visit, and only on the way out. Can you imagine?! But luck was on our side; we visited on a couple of beautiful fall days.
Gothenburg is the second city in Sweden, after Stockholm, with some 600.000 people. It is a surprisingly walkable city, even though the public transport is great. While it’s most known for the beautiful archipelago (an absolute joy to visit in the summer) the city itself offers plenty to do and see. Join us as we lay out the perfect one day itinerary Gothenburg!
One day itinerary Gothenburg
How to get to Gothenburg
Gothenburg has its own airport, which is serviced by many European countries. The airport is only 20 kilometers from the city and has a shuttle bus directly to the city centre for around 120 SEK. (around 10 $ or €)
Alternatively, there is an overnight ferry from Kiel (Germany) directly to Gothenburg. The trip will take 14 hours, but there’s plenty to do and eat on board. Book well ahead of time to get a better deal, but remember the cheaper the ticket, the closer you are to the engine room.
Start your day by the central station, and wind your way through the city with our route!
Göteborg Trädgårdsföreningen
Gothenburg’s Garden Association is one of the best kept European parks of the 19th century. It was started around 1842 as a botanical garden and a place for meet other garden enthusiasts.
It’s the perfect spot to soak up the morning sun. Get a coffee at Rosenkaféet, located in a building from 1874. In the gardens itself you will find a large rose garden with over 1200 different kinds, and the ‘stenpartiet’, a part where they keep rare plants.
Right in the middle of the garden stands Palmhuset.
Palmhuset
Palmhuset, or the Palmhouse, is a large yet light building made of glass and iron. The main area upon entry holds large palmtrees and you can climb upstairs to get a better view. The areas on either side show a variety of different plants, there is a water garden, cacti and a tropical garden.
No matter the time of year you visit, there is always something in bloom!
Saluhallen
Continuing through the park, following the river, you will come across Saluhallen just on the other side of the water. This large market hall has been here since 1888 and houses some 40 vendors and restaurants. It’s a great place to walk around and see the local specialties.
Enjoy a fika here, or get lunch! They close at 6pm, so if your choice is dinner, work your schedule around that.
Haga
Gothenburg’s most popular (and oldest) neighbourhood! Starting all the way back around the 1650’s, the area evolved from a part of town for the working class with a questionable reputation to the hip and trendy neighbourhood it is now.
This is where you will find vintage shops and specialised boutiques, and cute cafe’s and restaurants. The most famous cafe might just be Café Husaren, where they have kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) as big as your head. They are so big they got their own name: Hagabulle.
Café Husaren is located on Haga Nygata, which is the main street and where most of the shops and cafe’s are located. Find a spot in the sunshine and watch the world go by. They serve other great pastries here as well.
Skansen Kronan
Just outside Haga, the fortress of Skansen Kronan sits on a hill overlooking the city. Construction was completed in in 1700, and it was fitted with 23 guns in preparation for a possible Danish attack. That attack never came, the guns were never used and around 1900, it was turned into a museum.
Today it is privately owned, but the collection can be seen at the Museum of Gothenburg. It’s only a short climb up the hill, and you’re rewarded with a 360 view of the city.
Feskekôrka
Literally ‘fish church’, this iconic 1847 building served as a fish market as well as a seafood shop. After a major renovation in 2021 it is now a fish food hall, with 3 small restaurants and food counters.
If you’re not into fish, this one is not for you, but do admire the building itself shaped as, you guessed it, a church. We had a late lunch here and ate the freshest shellfish we ever had!
This itinerary pretty much has you covered for one day in Gothenburg on a leisurely time limit, but what if you have more time or are a fast walker? There is much more to do and see! Check out some additional highlights!
- Liseberg. Scandinavia’s busiest attraction park is right in the centre of the city! It’s got a famous wooden roller coaster, an arcade hall and rides.
- Gothenburg has a number of museums, most notably the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History, the City Museum of Gothenburg and the Gothenburg art museum.
- The Gothenburg cathedral is the third of its kind, after the first two were destroyed completely by fire.
- If you’re visiting in spring and summer, you simply cannot miss a boat tour around the archipelago!
Where to eat and drink in Gothenburg
- Saluhallen for a variety of foods and drinks
- Feskekôrka for the freshest fish
- Sjöbaren Fish in Haga. Best fish soup in town!
- Kafe Magasinet for a great lunch that won’t break the bank
- Poppy, a funky, unserious restaurant that serves excellent food out of a tiny kitchen
- For the best fika in town, head to Ahlströms Konditori!
Where to sleep in Gothenburg
→ We stayed at First Hotel G, located right by the train station. It was affordable and in a great location!
→ A little more budget friendly is the Best Western Center Hotel, where you’ll have a room for around $60 including breakfast, and still right in the city centre.
→ We love the Elite hotel chain, and the Elite Park Avenue Hotel is no different. Excellent service and location, and the best hotel breakfast in town!
OR FIND YOUR OWN HOTEL IN GOTHENBURG HERE!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Find our favourite tours on GetYourGuide:
- Book your hotels on Booking.com or Agoda
- Need a Gothenburg guide? Find it on Amazon!
Don’t forget to pack!
- Comfortable walking shoes!
- We love our compression packing cubes
- You’ll need a travel adapter for Europe
- A raincoat for Swedish weather
- Warm layers
- Airalo e-SIM for internet access
One day itinerary Gothenburg: FAQ
Do they speak English in Gothenburg?
Yes! Everybody and their mother speaks good English. Like in most European countries, English is taught from a young age and almost everyone speaks it at a high level.
Is Gothenburg a walkable city?
Very much so. Gothenburg is quite compact, making it easy to walk everywhere. The city is well adapted to pedestrians, which means it’s easy to find your way safely.
What is the best time to go to Gothenburg?
Every season has its charm if you ask us! Swedish summers are magical, and winter in a city like Gothenburg is like a fairytale. Fall could be chilly and rainy, but you’ll get to see beautiful fall foliage. Spring is great for being active and seeing the city and its garden in bloom.
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7 comments
I haven’t been to Sweden yet but it is right up there on my list! The architecture of Gothenberg is beautiful, your photos capture it so well. I love old neighborhoods especially, so visiting shops and cafes in Haga sounds so magical!
Gothenburg looks beautiful in Fall. I think we’d have to go then, despite the possible rain.
Love this! Great itinerary and I so want to go to Fish Church! So fun!
I have always planned to visit this city as our au pair was Swedish. She talked about it lovingly. I enjoyed my virtual tour. Thanks!
It’s my favorite city in Sweden!
Passed by the city a few years ago, but didn’t took the time to visit. I’ll put this one on my list!
Never been but this really makes me want to go. We did Norway last year so would look at other parts of Scandinavia for our next trip.