Top Attractions to See and Activities to Do in Gothenburg

July 4, 2021 Mustafa Natalwala 3931 Views

Gothenburg is the capital of Vastra Gotaland County in Sweden. The city is situated on the west coast of Sweden at the opening of river Gota Alv into the North Sea. It has had great significance as a trading port city. The history of the city was largely hinged on its strategic location as Sweden’s gateway to the open ocean. There are several places to visit in Gothenburg which celebrate the seafaring and trading history of the city. The very foundation of the city was laid as a trading colony in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus.

Being a coastal city, there are plenty of things to do in Gothenburg along the shorelines. You can enjoy the beaches, hike along the coastline, or indulge in water sports. There are numerous islands quite close to the shore of the city forming an archipelago. These are some of the most popular Gothenburg tourist attractions. Each island has a unique charm to it and many of them feature small car-free towns which are bliss to explore. There are numerous activities in Gothenburg around these islands including swimming, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and so on. There are many sea-related activities to do in Gothenburg, which you can enjoy in the city itself including staying on a Viking ship.

Amusement parks and Theme parks are other Gothenburg attractions. The biggest and most popular amusement park is Liseberg, a park powered by wind. This brings us to another major aspect of Gothenburg sightseeing, the gardens and eco-friendly lifestyle. The city is bristled with beautiful gardens and is surrounded by breathtaking natural attractions as well.

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Table of Contents

The Best Tourist Places to Visit in Gothenburg in 4 Days

This section explores some of the most popular things to see in Gothenburg which you can explore in 4 days.

Day 1

1. Archipelago of Gothenburg (Göteborgs skärgård)

Among the most beautiful things to see in Gothenburg is the collection of small and large islands off the coast of the city. You will need to get a ferry or private boat service to reach any of these islands. There are also tour boats that provide guide trips to one or more islands and get you back for further Gothenburg travel by the end of the day. Even if you are not taking half a day’s trip, you need at least 3 hours to explore these islands.

2. New Älvsborg Fortress

This is one of the best preserved historic structures in the country. The fortress hails from the 17th century and has had a significant contribution to the history of the city. Hence, it is among the top historical places to visit in Gothenburg. You will need about an hour to explore it.

3. Volvo Museum

This museum honors the history, engineering achievements, and legacy of the most well-known Swedish car manufacturer brand. The brand has reached several countries and has also been featured in films and popular media. It hence attracts many people who visit Gothenburg as a tourist attraction. You will need about an hour to explore this museum.

Day 2

1. Liseberg Amusement Park

This amusement park is among the top things to do in Gothenburg. There are several rides, games, and entertainment options in this park to keep you occupied all day. You would need at least 2 to 3 hours to explore this venue.

2. Universeum Science Center

This is the largest science museum in all of Scandinavia. It is spread over several floors and covers a variety of branches of science. It is among the most popular Gothenburg tourist attractions for families. You would need at least 2 hours to explore it.

3. Museum of World Culture (Världskulturmuseet)

This museum sheds light on several cultures around the world. It is among the most interesting Gothenburg attractions. The museum features a large collection of art, literature, lifestyle items, replicas, and recreations of different cultures. You will need 2 hours at least to explore 4 floors of this museum.

4. Gothenburg Museum of Art (Göteborgs konstmuseum)

This museum showcases artworks by several renowned artists from different time periods. You will need about an hour to explore this art museum when you visit Gothenburg.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Gothenburg Museum of Art with a Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket.

Day 3

1. Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdsföreningen)

This horticulture garden is among the best-preserved 19th-century gardens in Europe. You will find a great variety of plants in this garden. It is among the most beautiful things to see in Gothenburg. You will need about an hour to explore it.

2. Gothenburg City Museum (Göteborgs stadsmuseum)

This museum is housed in an 18th-century East India House and tells the story of the city. It is among the first places you should explore when you visit Goteborg. This museum will help you put the rest of your trip in perspective. You will need about an hour to explore this museum.

3. Maritiman Maritime Museum

This maritime museum exhibits several naval vessels and showcases the naval history of the country. You will need an hour or so to explore this museum.

4. Aeroseum

This is the aerospace museum you can visit during Gothenburg travel. This museum is known for civil and military aircrafts, especially from the cold war era. You will need 2 hours to explore this museum.

Day 4

1. Feskekörka / Fish Church

This is an indoor fish market as well as a popular local seafood restaurant. Even if you don’t want to go in for the market or the food, you should include it in your Gothenburg sightseeing itinerary for its Neo-gothic architecture. You will need about an hour to explore it.

2. Haga

This neighborhood is known for its old-style buildings, wooden houses, antique shops, old markets, and so on. You should explore this area on foot. It will take you about an hour to explore it.

3. Skansen Kronan

This iconic fortress is among the most famous places to visit in Gothenburg. This fortress has a storied history going back to the 17th century. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

4. Gothenburg Museum of Natural History

This museum exhibits 200 years of history with an exhibition of preserved animals and geological specimens. You will need an hour or two to explore it.

5. Slottskogen

This park is the venue for outdoor and recreational activities in Gothenburg. You will need about an hour for this park.

6. Gothenburg Botanical Garden (Göteborgs botaniska trädgård)

These gardens exhibit more than 16,000 varieties of plant life and will require an hour of your time to explore.

If you plan to visit Gothenburg for more than 4 days or if you are looking to add more attractions to your itinerary, you should check out the section below. It has an exhaustive list of several Gothenburg tourist attractions of different categories.

Things to do in Gothenburg

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Gothenburg

Gothenburg Museum of Art
Archipelago of Gothenburg Lighthouse
Gothenburg City Museum
Skansen Kronan
Volvo Museum
Museum of World Culture
Rohsska Museet Museum
Maritiman Maritime Museum
Goteborgs Konsthall Museum
Bohus Fortress
Gothenburg Museum of Natural History
Aeroseum
Gothenborgsoperan
The Swedish Ship
Poseidon Statue
Masthugg Church
Nya Alvsborg Fortress
Molndal City Museum
Gotaplatsen
Hasselblad Center
Oscar Fredrik Church
Sjofartsmuseet Akvariet
Skansen Lejonet Fortress
Gothenburg Cathedral
Oscar II Fort
Goteborgs Sparvags Museum
Radio Museum
Medical History Museum
Ragnhildsholmen Castle Ruins
The House of Emigrants
The Haga Church
Lilla Bommen
Kortedala Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Gothenburg

Archipelago of Gothenburg
Gota Alv River Canal
Delsjon Reservoir
Saltholmen Peninsula
Anggardsbergen Nature Reserve
Delsjoomradets Nature Park
Ramberget Mountain
Branno Riverside
Sisjon Lake
Vattlefjall Lake
Harlanda Tjarn Lake
Saro Vasterskog Nature Reserve
Keillers Park
Kasjon Lake
Nordre Alv River
Stensjon Lake
Aspen Lake
Radasjon Lake
Sandsjobacka Nature Reserve

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Gothenburg

Liseberg Amusement Park
Universeum
Gothenburg Botanical Garden
Slottsskogen Zoo
Helix Amusement Park
Roda Sten Cafe & Restaurang
Styrso Car Free Island
Balder Roller Coaster
Lisebergbanan Roller Coaster
AtmosFear Ride
Jubileumsparken
Loke Amusement Park
Flume Ride
Liseberg Park
The Children’s Zoo
Wave Swinger
Casino Cosmopol
Aerospin
Kallerado Amusement Ride
Liseberg Wheel
Kungsparken

Shopping in Gothenburg

Feskekorka Market
Vallgatan Street
Nordstan Shopping Center
Kungsportsavenyen Street
Frolunda Torg Shopping Center
Langgatorna Street
Arkaden Shopping Center
Magasinsgatan Street
Haga Nygata

Beaches & Islands in Gothenburg

Foto Island
Donso Island
Vinga Island
Askimsbadet Beach
Smithska Udden Beach
Stora Amundon Beach
Groto Beach
Amundon Beach
Hypplen Island
Knarrholmen Island
Lilla Varholmen Island
Vrango Island

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Gothenburg

Hiking
Historical Ship Tour

Sightseeing in Gothenburg

Alvsborgsbron Bridge
Port of Gothenburg

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Gothenburg

Familjen
Upper House Dining
Lindholmen Street Food Market
Sjomagasinet
Jarntorget
Linnea Art Restaurant
Teatergatan
Cuckoo’s Nest
Unity Jazz
Fiskekrogen
Dubbel Dubbel
Le Pain Francais
Linneterrassen
Heaven 23

Where to Stay in Gothenburg?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Gothenburg. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Gothenburg.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Gothenburg

How to Reach Gothenburg?

By Air

The fastest way for Gothenburg travel is via Landvetter Airport located at a distance of about 25 km from the city. You can either take a cab or a bus to take you to your destination in the city from the airport. This international airport receives direct flights from Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Malaga, Frankfurt, Budapest, Rhodes, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Belgrade, Warsaw, Prague, Istanbul, Munich, London, Riga, Barcelona, Vienna, Palma, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Krakow, Dublin and several other cities in Europe.

By Road

You can also use train services to visit Gothenburg. The train network connects you to several cities and towns in Sweden as well as Copenhagen and Gothenburg. There are also numerous bus services which will take you to Gothenburg sightseeing from cities in Sweden and nearby countries. There are regular domestic and international transport buses also which can be used to get to Gothenburg.

If you plan to travel by road, choose between routes E6, E20, and E45 to reach Gothenburg.

By Water

You can get ship transport services from Denmark, Germany, UK, and Belgium to visit Gothenburg.

Image Reference

Archipelago of Gothenburg (Göteborgs skärgård) – ASSY / PixaBay
Älvsborg fortress – W. Bulach / Wikimedia Commons
Volvo Museum – blue_quartz / Flickr
Liseberg Amusement Park – Bjoertvedt / Wikimedia Commons
Universeum Science Center – Beatrice Törnros / Göteborg & Co
Museum of World Culture (Världskulturmuseet) – Dominic Simpson / Flickr
Gothenburg Museum of Art (Göteborgs konstmuseum) – blue_quartz / Flickr
Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdsföreningen) – Lena Lindell / PixaBay
Gothenburg City Museum – Maria Eklind / Flickr
Maritiman Maritime Museum – Leif Jørgensen / Wikimedia Commons
Aeroseum – Johnny Comstedt / Flickr
Feskekörka / Fish Church – David J / Flickr
Haga – magro_kr / Flickr
Skansen Kronan – magro_kr / Flickr
Gothenburg Museum of Natural History – Netha Hussain / Wikimedia Commons
Slottsskogen – Guillaume Baviere / Flickr
Gothenburg Botanical Garden (Göteborgs botaniska trädgård) – Udo Schröter / Flickr