Recently I went on a road trip around Sweden’s lake Vänern. On that trip, I spend a day in Göteborg / Gothenburg. In Göteborg there are plenty of things to do and see. I only spend a day there, so this list is not complete at all. These are just the ones I did.
1. Eat a burger and enjoy the best beer collection at 2112
2112 is a cozy little rock café in the city center of Göteborg. There is plenty of room to sit, but I chose to sit at the bar. You can order great hamburgers there. I had the bacon & cheese as that is my favorite kind of burger.
On top of that, they have a large beer collection. Ranging from their local microbreweries to Belgian beers like Duvel. I tried the ‘Brutal Bulldog Double IPA’ and ‘If You Want IPA (You’ve Got It)’. Both IPA’s I can recommend.
2. Enjoy a view over the city at Masthuggetskyrkan
Looking over the city to see all the things you’ve seen in one image. That’s what you get at the Masthuggetskyrkan. It’s a large church on top of a hill. The hill provides a view over the city center and the harbor.
I’ve been there during the day, but I can imagine it being even better during sunrise (over the city) or sunset (over the harbor).
By the way, if you want to walk around town with other tourists and a knowledgeable guide, book a 3-hour small-group tour!
3. Watch wildlife in Älghägnet
In the park, you can find several fun things to do. There is a children’s farm, beautiful paths to walk on, and a free little zoo. You won’t find lions or elephants there. Only local wildlife like deer, elk, sheep, goats, and caribou.
It might not be too easy to always spot the animals right away since they have large habitats. Especially for children, this is one of the fun things to do in Gothenburg.
4. Walk around at Slottskogen
The rest of the park is beautiful as well. You can see different kinds of birds fly. Walk under the beautiful (and sometimes ancient) trees. There is room to lay in the sun for some vitamin D. It’s a very big park, especially if you consider it’s near the city center.
5. Learn about plants in the Botaniska Trädgården
This is the only paying activity on this list. And even the 20kr they ask are voluntary. There is a possibility to deposit the coins at the entrance of the park. They use it to maintain the nature reserve you are walking through.
It’s a huge botanical garden. They have several sections like rock gardens, European gardens, Japanese gardens, greenhouses, … the list goes on. I suggest going to the rock garden, climbing one of the steep paths and enjoying yet another view over the city.
6. Watch the (military) ships in the harbor
The city of Göteborg is located near a river. This means that going to the riverside will result in seeing loads of ships. Some of them are there for preservation reasons, others are there for a couple of days before the captain takes off again. You can see some old military ships, old sailboats, sea ships, …. It is not possible to enter most of the ships, unfortunately.
Gothenburg is a fairly large city, so consider exploring it with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
7. Stroll around Haga
It’s kind of the hipster part of town. Here you can find shops and restaurants. It’s a cozy-looking neighborhood to walk around. So definitely a must if you don’t know what to do for an hour.
8. Kungsparken
This park south of the city center runs along one of the side-rivers and has many bridges to the city center. Here you can find a bit of peace and quiet. During the morning hours, the light falls beautifully on the buildings around the park, so it’s the perfect place for your morning walk or jog. Or to think about what to do in Gothenburg in the coming days.
Disclaimer: In this article are some affiliate links. This means that, if you buy or book something, I get a small percentage of the fee. This comes with no extra cost to you but helps me run this website.
