My 13 Top Things to Do in Gothenburg, Sweden, Based on 5 Visits

Even though I love Stockholm (and lived there for a while), I *love* Gothenburg. And by that, I mean that it’s my favorite city in Sweden. I had already visited back when I was living in London, and now that I’m based in Copenhagen, it’s even easier to get there. In my opinion, Gothenburg is the perfect weekend break. I still cannot believe how many people sleep on Sweden’s second-biggest city, to be honest. 

Architecture-wise, I don’t think that Gothenburg is as pretty as Stockholm. However, the city has beautiful nature within a short public transport ride away. On top of that, you’ll find some excellent restaurants and a pretty decent nightlife scene. The people are friendly, too, and lots of big projects are currently happening in Gothenburg. To me, it feels like a very optimistic place, and I think that it’ll get even better over the next 5-10 years. 

Whether you’re on a bigger trip through Scandinavia (Gothenburg is within easy bus/train distance from Copenhagen *and* Oslo), or you’ve found some cheap flights from another European city, Sweden’s second-biggest city is well worth visiting. To help you figure out how to actually spend your time when you’re here, I’ve written this guide on my favorite things to do in Gothenburg. 

All of these tips are based on my own real-life experiences, and I keep this article updated—along with adding new tips—each time I visit. You can do most of these activities year-round, and for each one, I’ve added all the information you need.

1. Visit the Karlatornet Observation Deck

If I am being completely honest with you, I think that the Karlatornet tower itself is quite ugly. Nonetheless, I like that they’ve at least tried to be creative with how it looks instead of just making a generic glass box. The big appeal of coming here, however, is for the Gothenburg View observation deck. 

The observation deck opened in 2026, and I got to visit on a summer trip to the city. Up until it opened, I felt like Gothenburg had plenty of natural viewpoints but was lacking a decent building observation deck. Yes, you could stay at hotels offering this, but you may not want to always do that. 

From the top, you can see pretty much all of Gothenburg. Compared to many observation decks in other European cities, it was actually quite empty when I was here—despite it being mid-August. Yes, there were some other people, but I have definitely experienced much worse crowds. 

Buying tickets was pretty easy, too. I bought them at the front desk without any issues, and I didn’t need a time slot. You can, however, book tickets in advance on the official website if you’d like to secure a spot anyway. 

One Useful Note: Finding the Entrance and Elevators Can be Quite Challenging

When I was here, I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the entrance for the observation deck. After I bought my tickets, I also wasn’t sure which elevator to press. Now that I look back, both of these were quite simple… I guess. 🤣

I often recommend boat tours in cities that I visit, but truth be told, I haven’t felt the need to take one in Gothenburg itself. This is different from the archipelago, which I will talk about later. The public transport ferries cover many of the main waterways, and more importantly, they cover the points of interest. Another advantage is that they run year-round, whereas many boat tours in the city only operate during the summer. 

The best way to see Gothenburg from the water is, in my opinion, via Route 285. I did this on that same summer trip when I went to Karlatornet, and to be honest, it was mainly because I had ventured quite far out of town and was quite tired. Still, it was a nice bonus and actually something I would recommend making a priority while you’re in the city. 

Route 285 goes along the river from Stenpiren—which is in the city center—to Klippan, next to Älvsborgsbron (which is the most famous bridge in the city). The journey took me around 25 minutes one-way, and it was a nice way to see Gothenburg from a different angle. 

There isn’t a huge amount to see around Klippan, I think, but you will find a restaurant and some nice views of the Eriksberg crane. There’s also an art gallery, and you can get some nice photos of the bridge from here. Boats run every half hour throughout the day. 

If you want to buy your tickets, you can do so in the Västtrafik To Go app. You’ll need a Zone A ticket. Your ticket will be valid for 90 minutes. 

3. Go for Pizza at Magazzino

I said at the time when I went there that Magazzino is one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. I say this as someone who is half-Italian and has visited Italy more times than I can count. And after thinking about it again, I still think that statement is accurate. 

The pizzas are huge, and despite being what I thought was somewhat fancy, the food here is reasonably priced. You’ll also get generous portions for your starters, and the wine was really good when I visited as well. The restaurant is right in the city center and not too far to walk from the main train station. We went here before heading back to our hotel one night, and it was a nice way to end a day of exploring.

Magazzino is very popular with locals, and it was packed when we went there. I strongly recommend booking a table in advance, and you can do this on the website. Select “Boka Bord”. We actually arrived early, but they said we could have some wine while we waited in the front area. 

4. Spend a Few Hours on Haga Nygata

Haga is my favorite district in Gothenburg, and that’s mainly because it has the most beautiful architecture. I love the wooden houses here, which are a joy to photograph throughout the year. This also happens to be one of the main shopping districts in Gothenburg, and while it is one of the more touristy spots in the city, I would say that it still feels quite local. 

Haga Nygata is the main street in Haga, and it’s where you’ll find the majority of the cafés and restaurants. If you have a free afternoon, it’s fun to just spend a few hours exploring the shops and dipping in and out of cafés. While you’ll find some standard souvenir shops, you can also see a number of other stores worth checking out. 

This street is one of the busiest in Gothenburg, and it’s where you will also find the most tourists. Having said that, Sweden’s second-biggest city has much fewer tourists than many other cities (which, I have to say, is one of the reasons I like it so much). It certainly doesn’t feel to me like some of the busiest streets in Copenhagen, even during the summer. 

You can visit Haga and Haga Nygata year-round. I actually prefer it in the winter, but it doesn’t really matter when you go there. It’s right next to Skansen Kronan, which I will speak about shortly, and you can also easily take the tram here from other parts of Gothenburg. If you don’t mind walking a bit longer, it’s not such a bad distance from many places in the city, either. 

5. Visit Slottsskogen

Although I love the nature near Gothenburg, it’s sometimes nice to find some green spaces within the city. If I had to pick one place, Slottsskogen would be my number one spot to hang out when I want to find some respite. I spent a lot of time here when I stayed at the nearby Slotsskogens Hostel, and on other trips, I have also been here quite often. 

Slottsskogen is a very big park and also not too far from Skansen Kronan. You’ll find a zoo here, which is free to enter. On top of that, you can visit numerous viewpoints in the park. I personally prefer visiting in the summer, but it’s a nice place to go during the winter as well. 

At Slottsskogen, you will find a couple of viewpoints as well. These aren’t as good as some of the others in Gothenburg, but they’re worth going to as and when you find them. These can be icy in the winter, but you can easily access them for most of the year. 

The park is quite easy to reach by tram, and it’s also near the Liseberg amusement park. You’d need at least three hours to see everything, in my opinion, and I usually just go here for a walk without any particular plan in mind. Personally, I’d say that this is also the best way to explore for you. 

6. See Gothenburg From Above at the Landala Viewpoint

The Landala Viewpoint is one of the more underrated places to see Gothenburg from above, and the main reason why is that it’s somewhat more challenging to reach. I actually like this; we were the only people when we went here, though that was in the winter. 

You can visit the viewpoint for free, making it a great activity if you’re visiting Gothenburg on a budget. From here, you can see Skansen Kronan and many of the churches in the city. Moreover, you’ll see over much of the nearby areas. 

If you’re coming here for photography, I’d recommend bringing a camera with a longer focal length. Getting good photos with something less than 70mm is quite challenging, in my opinion. I took an 85mm lens with me, which was a pretty good choice. 

7. Skansen Kronan Is Also Worth Visiting While You’re in Gothenburg

I couldn’t talk about the best things to do in Gothenburg without mentioning one of the most justifiably popular attractions. I have been to Skansen Kronan on all but one of the times that I’ve visited, and I absolutely love it here. The fortress itself is cool, but the views of the city are the main reason to visit. 

Regardless of whether you visit in the summer or winter, Skansen Kronan is worth seeing. The views are a bit better in the winter, in my opinion, as the tree leaves can block some of it during the warmer months. Still, it’s worth seeing throughout the year. While the path is elevated, it isn’t too hard to climb—and I’ve never needed any special shoes. 

Skansen Kronan is free to visit, and it’s a popular place for locals to meet. Like Haga, it’s quite touristy, but the crowds have never been insufferable. I also like that it’s something locals enjoy doing, too, which I think makes a huge difference compared to if it were *just* tourists. 

For photography, pretty much any camera will do the job. I’ve gotten my best photos with a 35mm or 40mm focal length, so those are pretty good places to start. You can see much of Gothenburg’s city center from here, and it’s a short walk from Haga. While slightly longer from Gothenburg Central Station, you can still get here within 40 minutes on foot. 

When Should You Visit Skansen Kronan, Then?

I’d say that sunset is the most beautiful time to visit Skansen Kronan, especially in the winter. The lighting is much nicer at this time of year, I think. At the same time, though, it’s also when Skansen Kronan is the most crowded. 

You can visit during the day as well. When I went here in the summer, there were only around three groups of other people at the top. I went late in the morning and not too long before lunch, and I still felt like I had the place largely to myself. 

8. Take a Day Trip to Skärhamn

Before visiting Skärhamn, I actually thought little of it. But as it goes, that West Coast sailing trip I went on—which I mentioned earlier—departed from here. I spent the morning checking out the town beforehand, along with staying for the night afterward. I think that Skärhamn is worth a day trip from Gothenburg, and it’s quite easy to get here. 

Skärhamn is quite a small town, and most of the highlights are around its harbor. Before going on the sailing trip, I went to Quo Coffee (Google Maps location here 📍), which was a nice place to spend an hour or two. The coffee was great; I tried both the decaf and caffeinated versions. It’s quite small (and closed from Sunday to Tuesday), but nonetheless worth a stop. 

After coming back from the trip, I went around the town in more detail. The harbor area is really nice, and you can also go swimming within the designated areas. I did this on one morning, and… let’s just say that the water wasn’t as warm as the Bahamas 😄. Still, it was a nice activity.

The most famous attraction in Skärhamn is the Nordic Watercolor Museum. This is actually the main reason why people visit; I went here, and it was quite nice. Having said that, I’m into art, so I therefore found it worthwhile. If you aren’t, it might not be. Even if you don’t see the exhibitions, the café is nice, and I also liked the outdoor area. 

Skärhamn is better visited in the summer, as there’ll be much more to do. However, it’s still a pleasant and peaceful place to be in the off-season. 

Getting to Skärhamn

You can take a bus from Nils Ericsson Terminalen, which is the main bus station in Gothenburg. The journey takes around an hour, and you can buy tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app. You’ll need a Zone AB ticket; you can purchase tickets on the day. 

The journey takes around an hour. I strongly recommend checking the bus schedule *before* you travel, especially outside the summer and on weekends, to ensure that you can get to and from the town without issues. 

9. Go for Brunch at Coco Orangerie

Gothenburg has quite a few decent places for brunch, and Coco Orangerie is my personal favorite. I went here on a previous trip with my girlfriend, and it was a nice way to spend a relaxed Sunday morning in the city. 

I had a tuna melt when I was here, which was delicious. I’m often skeptical about eating tuna, since I once had… issues, let’s say, when eating it. However, this was really good. I was a bit skeptical about chips (as in, crisps) on the side, but I’d say that it worked. Maybe I would have preferred fries, but I guess I could have asked if it was such a big deal. 🤷🏾‍♂️

10. Take a Fika Break at Café Husaren

A fika break might as well be mandatory whenever you visit anywhere in Sweden, and this includes Gothenburg. It’s basically, in simple terms, a break in the day with usually coffee and sweet treats. I don’t need to go into much more detail than that, to be honest. Anyway, Café Husaren is my top place to have a fika break in the city. 

The café is famous for its Hagabolle, which is basically a massive cinnamon bun. I remember the first time I visited Gothenburg, when I sat there and ate the whole thing myself and also had a sandwich on the side. It’s not surprising that I used to carry a few extra pounds, let’s just say that. 🤣

11. Spend a Day in the Gothenburg Archipelago

I strongly considered moving to Gothenburg for a very long time before I chose Stockholm, and the main reason why was that I wanted easy access to nature. Since I was living in London at the time, I wanted to get out of the city in much less time. Gothenburg offers precisely this, and its archipelago is lovely. 

I have been to several islands in the archipelago, and I think that seeing at least one of these is a great way to spend a day outside of Gothenburg. The ride there is an attraction in and of itself, and despite being quite close to the city, you’ll often feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside instead. 

Donsö is my favorite island to visit, and Vrångö is also nice. I quite liked Hönö as well, which is connected to Öckerö and Fotö, but Hönö felt a bit less like being in nature and more like being in a suburb. Still, the bus service here is decent enough that it’ll get you around to the other islands as well. 

I basically had to leave there and then, but I also needed to book a new flight back to London. The silver lining is that I now didn’t need to fly to Stansted, but that was £130 extra that I wouldn’t have needed to spend if I had planned everything better.

If you visit the archipelago, always check the boat schedule before you travel. This is particularly true in the off-season, but it’s also something I recommend if you’re here in the summer. Oh, and you probably should visit on another day that isn’t the one you’re meant to be leaving. 

Does It Matter if I Visit the Northern or Southern Archipelago?

Yes and no. Both are reachable from Gothenburg by public transport, but the Northern Archipelago is a bit easier to get to. The trade-off, however, is that these islands feel more urban. So, if you want to actually be in nature, I’d recommend going to the southern islands instead. 

Compared to the northern part of the archipelago, the southern part is car-free. I personally think the southern islands are nicer, but you will need to plan a bit more than if you visit the Northern Archipelago. 

Getting to the Gothenburg Archipelago

You can take the bus or tram from Gothenburg, depending on where you’re going, to the ferry terminal. From here, ferries will take you to the islands in the Gothenburg Archipelago.

Boats run year-round, but again, be sure to check the schedule properly. You can purchase your tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app. Enter your destination, and you’ll find routes and guidance on which tickets you should buy. 

Depending on when you go, it’s also possible to take a guided tour to the Gothenburg Archipelago. So, if you’d rather explore with someone else, you might want to do this. 

12. Enjoy a Chilled Morning at Morgon Coffee Roasters

If I had to say one thing that Sweden does better than Denmark at (and maybe I shouldn’t admit such a thing when I now live in Denmark 🤭), it’s coffee. Swedish coffee is really, really good. Maybe it’s because it’s so dark there in the winter, so everyone needs an extra pick-me-up, but the reason itself doesn’t matter. 

As a self-proclaimed coffee expert who also happens to be experienced in traveling around Sweden and the Nordics, I think that Morgon Coffee Roasters is one of the best places for coffee that I’ve been to in the country. It’s my top choice in Gothenburg, anyway, if I wanted to specifically go for coffee. 

I found Morgon Coffee Roasters on a trip where I was staying nearby in Lindholmen. You have to make an effort to get here from the city center, but I’d personally say that it’s worthwhile. I tried both the fruity and non-fruity coffees, and both of them were good. I say this as someone who usually isn’t a fan of fruity coffees, too. 

The space itself is a repurposed former industrial space, and this personally is the kind of aesthetic that, to me basically guarantees a good coffee. Whether that’s an official fact or not is up for debate, but I digress. 

13. Visit Masthuggskyrkan

Masthuggskyrkan is one of the most recognizable churches in Gothenburg, and even if you don’t go inside, I think it’s nice enough to see from the outside. However, the main reason to come here is for the views of the Eriksberg Crane and Älvsborgsbron. I personally think it’s easier to see from this side of the city compared to many other viewpoints in Gothenburg. 

The viewpoint is from the parking lot outside, and you’ll also find a small recreational area close to the church. I would personally argue that this recreational area could be kept in better condition, but the views from it are still nice. On that side, you can see more of the city compared to the other part. 

Masthuggskyrkan is around 25 minutes on foot from Skansen Kronan. You can also walk here from Slotsskogen in around half an hour. So, it’s a good option to add to your itinerary if you have some extra time and are in the area anyway. 

A Useful Guide to the Best Things to Do in Gothenburg

Gothenburg is a great city to visit for a weekend or as part of a bigger trip on the West Coast of Sweden, or throughout Scandinavia. I’ve visited for multiple reasons and on numerous occasions, and I can easily spend weeks here without getting bored. Even if you don’t have so much time to explore, Gothenburg has a lot to keep you entertained. 

Sweden’s second-biggest city is still pretty underrated, which is one of its main charms. Compared to many other cities, you’ll find that crowds are much thinner here—especially in the off-season, but even in the summer. So, if you’ve found some flights, I can only recommend booking them.

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better idea of what you can do in Gothenburg when you visit. If you have other questions, feel free to reach out, and I’ll do my best to help.