Gothenburg Travelers Recommend

Three days in Gothenburg give you plenty of time to tick off the highlights, cruise the coast, and get a taste of Swedish culture. Make the most of limited time by booking tours and tickets in advance, and take advantage of money-saving passes. Here’s how to spend three days in Gothenburg. 

Day 1: Sightseeing in the City

As well as allowing you to create your own itinerary, a hop-on hop-off bus or boat tour is a great way to get your bearings. Disembark to take in views from the fortress of Skansen Kronan; admire landmarks such as the Gustavi Cathedral and Gothenburg Opera House; or stroll along Lilla Bommen harbor. Alternatively, to get a more intimate glimpse into Sweden’s second-largest city, take a walking tour. 

In the afternoon, gain insight into Swedish cuisine and culinary traditions on a food tour that reveals local specialities that you may otherwise miss. Tours typically cover Feskekörka fish market and Saluhallen market hall, both famous for their fresh fish and seafood. Spend the evening in Haga, a neighbourhood famous for its cobbled lanes and traditional architecture. Alternatively, track down some of Gothenburg’s best nightlife in Avenyn and on Park Lane. 

Day 2: Cruise the Coast

Due to a prime location at the mouth of the Göta River and Kattegat Sea, Gothenburg is the main departure point for boat cruises and ferries to the islands off Sweden’s west coast. To see a different side of Sweden, take a day trip to the islands of Tjörn and Orust, where you can experience local life in historic fishing villages, shop for local handicrafts and sample typical Swedish foods, and visit a traditional bee farm.

Alternatively, set sail on an island-hopping cruise of the Southern Archipelago. Home to more than 20 islands, highlights include the island fortress of Nya Älvsborg, the beaches of Styrsö island, and the nature reserve of Vrangö island, a prime spot for hiking and bird-watching. 

Day 3: Parks and Museums

Gothenburg is home to some of Sweden’s most important museums and cultural institutions, so it’s worth setting aside a day to visit as many as possible. For the best value, purchase a Gothenburg Pass, which offers free or discounted admission to many of the city’s museums. 

Highlights include the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the Universeum Science Museum, and the Museum of World Culture, all located within walking distance of one other. After visiting Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum, stroll through Slottsskogen park or the nearby Gothenburg Botanical Garden. Spend your final night at Liseberg, Scandinavia's largest amusement park, where you can ride rollercoasters, enjoy live entertainment, and fill up on classic funfair foods. 

Like most Swedish cities, Gothenburg was inhabited by the Vikings from the late-eighth century. Sweden’s second-largest city still has much to appeal to modern-day travelers, from its neoclassical architecture to 17th-century canals. Here’s what you need to know to explore Gothenburg’s Viking past.

Viking History in Gothenburg

An important port whose west coast location made it a gateway to the North Sea and Atlantic, Gothenburg was a strategically important city for the Norse seafarers. The Vikings dominated the region around what is now present-day Sweden, Norway, and Denmark up until the mid-11th century, establishing trade routes around Europe, exploring America, and settling as far away as Russia and Ukraine. While brutal in their methods, the Vikings also demonstrated advanced engineering skills, as you can see in examples of their strong and extraordinarily seaworthy longboats.

Ways to Experience Viking History in Gothenburg

Traces of Gothenburg’s Viking history are few but the city is home to one star attraction—the impressively preserved remains of the Askekarr longboat. You can see the longboat and its runic inscriptions at the Museum of Gothenburg (entrance to which is included in the Gothenburg Pass). The building, the 18th-century home of the Swedish East India Company, is itself of interest to maritime history enthusiasts. 

The 10th-century Askekarr longboat was discovered in the nearby Ale Viking Farmstead, 19 miles (30 kilometers) away, a reconstructed version of which welcomes tourists. If you are here in June, you can also visit the Hornebore Ting Viking market in Hamburgssund, 79 miles (127 kilometers) north of Gothenburg. 

Explore the city at your own pace on foot, take a hop-on hop-off bus or boat excursion, or a guided bicycle tour.