You should consider Gothenburg for your next Scandinavian trip. It is excellent for weekend getaways without the tourists you find in Stockholm.
There are a lot of cities with a reputation for being “cool” and “hip”. Stockholm ranks as one of those begrudgingly trendy cities with an excellent gastronomic scene, thriving cultural and arts scene, as well as offering travellers a chance to get back to nature with a gorgeous Djurgarden in the city centre akin to New York’s Central Park. Yet, if you have “been there, done that” when it comes to Stockholm, you should consider Gothenburg for your next Scandinavian trip.
To every great city, there is always a cooler, lesser-known sister city, and Gothenburg is just that to Stockholm. Located on Sweden’s west coast, the city is known as a fishing and ship-boarding city, and with this history, you get marvellously fresh seafood, Dutch-style canals mixing with leafy boulevards for afternoon strolls and a vibrant second-hand shopping scene for excellent weekend getaways without the tourists you find in Stockholm.
With 2023 being an exciting year for the city and celebrations to mark its 400th-anniversary, here is your complete guide to Gothenburg.
The city of Gothenburg proves that all good things come to those who wait and in 2023, the time has come for the city to celebrate with music, arts and new landmarks set to change the way Gothenburgers live in Sweden’s second-largest city. In 2021, Gothenburg officially celebrated its 400th anniversary, which was marked by a simple ceremony live broadcast on television to accommodate a restrictive pandemic year which prevented the city from celebrating with a bang. With the pandemic well and truly behind them, the people of Gothenburg have a year of celebrations to look forward to, which will see all the urban planning, new initiatives and ideas set in 2009 finally come to fruition.
Choose anything from intimate boutique hotels to family-run businesses on the coast. Hotel Pigalle is a popular hotel with a French twist. The rooms are adorned with velvet furnishings, and the hotel restaurant, Restaurant Atelier is a place for great cocktails and French food with a strong emphasis on locally sourced products. Hotel Dorsia is a firm favourite for travellers who seek out family-run hotels without skimping on quality (or luxury), no room is the same, with each being tailor-designed with exquisite furnishings. Hotel Riverton is located right on the harbour with stunning views of the water and has a great wellness centre, as well as a sky bar worthy of a visit for cocktails. New additions this year include Jacy’z Hotel, a 233-room, 328-feet skyscraper equipped with several restaurants and a Miami-inspired pool club on the 28th floor with views of the harbour city, as well as the reopening of Clarion Hotel Draken. Further out and into the woods, you will find a wellness retreat Naas Fabrika for people who want to swim out on the lake and sauna – in true Swedish style.
There is a lot of pleasure dining in Gothenburg. Restaurants range from cheap and cheerful eateries in the city centre to high-end dining experiences you would normally find in Stockholm. Frontlining Gothenburg’s dining scene is Restaurant Bulot, a relatively new spot by a very young brigade of chefs. The restaurant started as a simple pop-up in the city’s food market and has now grown to become a popular fine-dining restaurant (without the fine-dining stiffness). Restaurant Koka was one of the first Michelin-starred restaurants in the city and still remains a popular spot for diners seeking out modern Swedish cuisine. For wine lovers, Project is a good choice for a strong wine list with well-executed dishes for a 1-Michelin experience in the city.
The Swedish archipelago can be reached in less than one hour from Gothenburg city with a very comprehensive and easy public transport system to get you there. If you want to stretch your legs, you really must go on the Gotaleden trail. You can pick the route and length you take on a self-guided tour, however, the trail is most enjoyable when guided by Pathfinder Travels – learning about the history of the trail with a local, as well as taking in some delicious delicacies on the way like at Garveriet. For people who want to enjoy the coast, jump on a bus and head directly to Hono. A new pilgrimage trail takes you walking along the gorgeous coast, but if you want to take it easy, join a seal or lobster safari. What you must not forget is to have lunch at Tullhuset for the freshest catch of the day, best enjoyed as the sun sets over the Swedish coastal waters.
One of Gothenburg’s proudest characteristics (making Stockholm very jealous like an older sister) is their sustainability. Consistently regarded and voted as the “world’s most sustainable city”, the city has a thriving second-hand shopping culture. Bjorkafrihet is a charity franchise with vintage designer items and a typical thrift shop, but there are other designer sustainable fashion brands for people who want to splash out whilst holidaying in Gothenburg. Houdini is a popular brand for recycled, renewable outdoor items. Nudi Jeans offers sustainable and lifetime repair of their handmade jeans and is seen as a pioneer in “green” fashion for Gothenburgers. Designer furniture can be found at Pop Boutique for colourful chairs, sofas and curtains with an eco-tag. There’s no excuse not to shop in Gothenburg – after all, it is sustainable.
