Exciting museums, lots of activities for all ages, and an amazing archipelago.

Sweden’s second biggest city is located on the west coast of Sweden, at the outlet of the Göta river. Gothenburg, once the centre of the Swedish ship-building industry, has turned into a diverse and lively city full of Swedish design, food, and culture. Offering both land and sea, city and nature, cobbled streets and industrial buildings revived to modern galleries and hip cafes; Gothenburg is one of Europe’s top destinations.

The archipelago of Gothenburg stretches along the coast and consists of over 20 islands. A 30-minute tram ride will take you from the city centre to Saltholmen. Enjoy the tram ride itself, and step out to view one of the most stunning sights.

The Museum of Art houses remarkable works dating from the 15th century and has one of the finest collections in Northern Europe with significant Nordic and international artwork. The museum has a 3-star ranking from Michelin Travel.

Seeing Gothenburg from the water is one of the great attractions of the city. Choose a tour with a local public transport ferry instead or enjoy the ”Paddan” boat tour instead. Explore the harbour and some of the modern neighbourhoods along the northern banks of the river. Sit on the rooftop of the ferry and enjoy a great view.

Visit one of the city’s landmarks and central points, the Dome Cathedral, Domkyrkan. This classical style church designed by architect Carl Wilhelm Carlberg is the third building constructed on the same site, as the original church was destroyed in 1721. The entrance is free.

Gothenburg is a perfect combination of history and modern design. You can find picturesque wooden houses, contemporary pieces of art such as the Opera House, as well as places where the old meets the new, like the renovated Old Shipyard. A guide to architecture highlights can be found here.

The charming Haga quarter is the city’s most historic district, full of wooden houses and cobbled streets. The pedestrian street Haga Nygata is lined with well-preserved houses, many in the characteristic Gothenburg style called “landshövdingehus” with one floor in brick and the rest in wood. Today they house plenty of independent shops and cafés.

Gothenburg is very green and has lots of parks and gardens to enjoy.

In the heart of the city, you can find Trädgårdsföreningen, the Garden Society of Gothenburg. This garden is one of the best preserved 19th century parks in Europe.

The main park, Slottsskogen, is a 137-hectare haven in the middle of the city, with playgrounds and picnic spots, as well as a year-round free petting zoo.

Close to it, you can find the Botanical gardens, where you’ll find 430 acres with around 16,000 species of plants in the different greenhouses and areas.