Gothenburg is another popular city that gets added to many Sweden itineraries. While I didn’t find the city as busy as Stockholm, Gothenburg had a more relaxed vibe, which makes it a great place to slow down on a a busy Scandinavia itinerary. Admittedly, this was not my favorite Scandinavian city, but it’s a city I’m still happy I visited and one that I recommend most travelers to spend one day in Gothenburg.
About Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, with only the capital city of Stockholm being larger. Founded in 1621, the city is now home to 600,000 people and the country’s third largest university (behind the University of Stockholm and the University of Uppsala). It’s also the top city on the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Things to Do in Gothenburg
This is not an exhaustive list of everything you can do in Gothenburg, but it’s a narrowed down list. You’ll find all the top sights, plus a few more out of the way options, on this list. And even better, you can cover a lot of this list with just one day in Gothenburg.
Palm House
The Palm House showed up on every single list of things to do in Gothenburg, so I had to include it here (especially since I visited too). The Palm House is a green house located in central Gothenburg that houses all kinds of flora. Additionally, there are numerous gardens nearby so don’t limit yourself to just exploring the greenhouse.
I visited and while it was nice, I feel that the Palm House is a bit overhyped. Now, if you’re visiting during the winter and want to see a bit of plant life (or escape the cold—it is a greenhouse after all), I’d say this could be a great addition. But in general, I didn’t see why everyone seemed to rave about it. This became especially true after I visited the Botanical Gardens (more on this later), which I felt were much better.
However, the Palm House is free, so pop over and decide for yourself.
Gothenburg Cathedral
I always include a church or cathedral on lists for European cities, so let’s talk about the Gothenburg Cathedral. While the current cathedral isn’t the original (the first cathedral burned down in 1721 and the second cathedral burned down in 1802), it has been standing in Gothenburg since the early 1800s. It is the seat of the Bishop for the Diocese of Gothenburg in the Church of Sweden.
The cathedral is fine but like most of Scandinavia, it’s not that impressive. Still a visit here is free, so stop in and check it out.
Haga District
If you’re looking for a district with a cozy atmosphere with cafes and cute shops, add the Haga District to your itinerary. This is a great place to take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a pastry and coffee.
That sounds pretty idyllic right? I’m not going to say that it can’t be found, because it can in some small areas. However, I had built up this district in my head that it was going to just be charming and wonderful and I’d be able to spend a half day here just wandering. That wasn’t the case.
The streets are nice and you’ll have some cute shops and cafes, but it’s not a large area. And if you aren’t planning on shopping for clothes and other non-traditional souvenir type items, this may not be the idyllic place you’re thinking about.
That all said, I do recommend strolling through here as even just sitting in a cafe for a bit with a good book (or just to people watch) can be a great way to spend an hour. I also believe that even if you only have one day in Gothenburg, this is an area of the city that you have to explore.
Fish Church
The Fish Church is another sight that makes it on to every list of Gothenburg. Contrary to what you might be picturing, the Fish Church is not a church, but rather a seafood market.
Unfortunately, during my visit, the Fish Church was closed so I can’t speak to how the experience actually is.
Skansen Kronan
Climb the hill to the tower for an amazing look at Gothenburg. It can feel like a workout climbing these steps, but I promise that the view from the top is a good one.
Plus, once at the top, you have the tower of Skansen Kronan. This was one of two fortresses built to defend Gothenburg in the very late 1600s. The tower is now used for private events and weddings and was closed to the public on my visit to Gothenburg. Still, the view from the top of the hill is wonderful and that alone is worth the climb to the top.
Slottskogen
This park is great if you’re just looking for a stroll in some greenery. It’s a bit of a walk to get here from the city center, but it’s perfectly walkable. That said, you could take public transportation to get here and save the steps for actually walking in the park.
I didn’t think it was all that impressive. Yes, there are some nice walking paths and ponds, but if you’re looking to surround yourself in nature, I think this there is a better option.
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens was my favorite experience in Gothenburg. These gardens are massive and despite nearly an hour here, I feel like I still missed parts of the gardens. Admittedly, I could have stayed longer but I was at the point where I needed to get some food before I reached “hangry”. Still, this was my favorite thing I did on my day in Gothenburg.
The Botanical Gardens are free to visit and are best visited between April and October when much of the plants are blooming. While there is plenty to see here, it’s nice just to stroll and see what you find. As you walk, keep an eye out for the Wild Way which offers a walk directly through some gardens to an overlook of the city of Gothenburg.
Gothenburg Museum
I had to include one museum on this list, so I’m including the Gothenburg museum which is dedicated to telling the story of the city.
This is the one item on this list that isn’t free. Entrance costs 70 SEK. Learn more at the Official Website.
Market Hall
The Market Hall is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a hall with vendors selling foods. Yes, you’ll find more traditional market foods like meats and cheeses and jams, but you’ll also find some food stalls selling complete meals. If you’re looking for lunch on a budget, consider a stop here.
How Long to Do You Need in Gothenburg
I spent a day and a half in Gothenburg and felt it was just on the tail end of too much time in Gothenburg. While travelers who enjoy a more relaxed pace (aka, not me), may want two days, I think you can see the highlights in just one day in Gothenburg.
One Day in Gothenburg – Sample Itinerary
I had one and a half days in Gothenburg, but I think it’s pretty easy to adapt my itinerary into just one day in Gothenburg.
Start your day at the Palm House before making your way west to the Gothenburg Cathedral and Gothenburg Museum. Venture just a smidge north to Gustaf Adolfs Torg for a picturesque square. Visit the Fish Church if it’s open. Head to the Haga District to wander the lanes and take a break with a pastry and coffee. Then you can head to Skansen Kronan and finish your day with a wander through the Botanical Gardens.
Getting to Gothenburg
Buses and trains connect Gothenburg to destinations across Scandinavia. I arrived via train from Stockholm and departed via bus to Oslo. Plus, there is an airport in Gothenburg that will help connect you to even further destinations.
Here’s some common connections and estimated travel time.
Gothenburg to Stockholm: 3.5 to 4.5 hours by train
Gothenburg to Oslo: 3.5 hours by bus
Gothenburg to Copenhagen: 3.5 hours by train
Getting Around Gothenburg
In Gothenburg you’ll find trams and buses that can help to get you around the city. However, I found that I was able to walk everywhere without any issues. The only areas that felt out of the way were Slottskogen and the Botanical Gardens. These were a further walk from the center of the city, but it’s still possible to visit these on foot (just expect a long walk).
When to Visit Gothenburg
Winters have the fewest visitors and therefore you can expect a slightly lower price. However, winters have the worst weather (expect it to be cold) and have limited daylight. For example, in Gothenburg, the sun does not rise until 8:30 am and sets before 4:00 pm in January.
Summers have long days with the sun not setting until 9:00 or 10:00 pm. You’ll also have the best weather. However, crowds are at their highest.
Typically, shoulder season can offer the best mix between daylight hours, weather, and tourist crowds. But I personally would recommend traveling very late spring to very early summer or very late summer into very early fall. Basically, try to catch that cut over between spring and summer or summer and fall.
I traveled in mid April and it was a bit chilly, especially in the mornings. I did ok, but I definitely would have preferred it to be just a little bit warmer. Plus some sights still had limited hours. If I were to do this trip again, I’d aim for mid to late May.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad I visited Gothenburg, but I’ll admit that it wasn’t my favorite city in Sweden. I like visiting places that have a lot to do and I just didn’t feel like Gothenburg had as much to offer as the other Scandinavian cities I visited. There are a handful of nice sights, but I think it’s important to go into your visit knowing that you won’t find as much as you might in a city like Stockholm.
So, I am happy I visited, but I don’t think I’ll be returning. And for the right traveler (ie, someone who enjoys a more laid back visit to a city, rather than a frantic visit where you can’t possibly see everything), I think Gothenburg will make an excellent addition to their itinerary. Even if you’re not that traveler, add one day in Gothenburg to your itinerary and decide for yourself.
Continue Your Adventure
Sweden: A visit to Sweden will generally include its capital city of Stockholm. The city is great and has several great day trip options, including Uppsala and Drottningholm Slott. Continue your planning with my Sweden Travel Guide.
Scandinavia: Start planning your trip to Scandinavia with this 10 Day Itinerary, featuring stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Check out my Scandinavia Budget for a realistic look at travel costs and budgeting tips. Plus, here’s my top tips for traveling Scandinavia.
Denmark: No visit to Denmark would be complete without spending at least one day in Copenhagen, where you can tour several churches and have some fun at Tivoli Gardens. Plus, learn more in my Denmark Travel Guide.
Norway: While so much of Norway’s beauty is found outside its cities, add a quick stop in its capital city of Oslo. Plus, check out my Norway Travel Guide.