Did your summer holiday feel too short? Do you feel the need for some action? Luckily, you’ll find plenty of fab activities here in Sweden. Families in need of a change of scenery should certainly consider a trip to Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city. So make sure to squeeze in a weekend trip here and enjoy a great end to the summer!
Holidays in a mountain cottage surrounded by pine trees, sandy beaches on Gotland’s east coast or time spent exploring Österlen’s hilly terrain? Whatever takes your fancy, you’ll be well-placed to head out to a variety of places from this fabulous metropolis in the west of Sweden. There are excellent train and air connections to Gothenburg, and you can certainly look forward to a city that offers a great range of indoor and outdoor experiences. Check out our top family tips for a wonderful weekend on the west coast! The following attractions and activities can be enjoyed all the year round.
Liseberg
There’s plenty to excite young and old(er) at Gothenburg’s famous amusement park, the largest of its kind in the Nordics. Liseberg currently boasts 42 attractions – but it just keeps on growing!
New attractions for 2017 include Loke, a rotating gondola, and Valkyria, Europe’s biggest dive coaster with a vertical drop of 50 metres. In addition to the new rides, there’s also Klubbland – a museum, or rather “temple” as Liseberg calls it – dedicated to one of Sweden’s top artists, Håkan Hellström, who was born and raised in Gothenburg.
You’ll have no trouble spending a whole day or even weekend at Liseberg! And there’s more to explore in the surrounding area too! Head to Hamnkrogen in Liseberg’s harbour area for delicious wine and fresh seafood.
During the summer months, you can also look forward to a great range of musicians on the main stage, Stora Scen, including Emmylou Harris, Alice Cooper, The Hellacopters and Henrik Berggren.
Trädgårdsföreningen
Action-packed adventures are fun, but sometimes you just need to take things easy. Particularly when you’re travelling with your family! Trädgårdsföreningen, the Garden Society of Gothenburg, enjoys a fabulous location right in the centre, just a short distance from Avenyn. This is a true oasis within an urban jungle!
Trädgårdsföreningen is one of Europe’s best-preserved nineteenth-century parks. You can look forward to an elegant rose park filled with plants from days gone by and the glazed palm house with various exotic species.
During the summer months, there are a number of events to relax both body and mind. Between 26 June and 7 August, there are yoga sessions from 10.30am-12pm, and anyone is welcome to join in without prior registration (that includes children!). There are various theatre performances for children several times a week, both in the park itself and indoors.
Universeum
When the sun is hiding behind the clouds or there’s nothing but rain – do not despair! There are plenty of indoor activities here in Gothenburg too!
Universeum is a museum that encourages you to play with science. The building itself was designed by renowned architect Gert Wingårdh. Come here to experience shark feeding time, a rainforest safari and the delightful “Guess the poo”. You’ll be hard-pressed not to have a good time here at Universeum, no matter what your age!
This is the place for curious minds! How about trying out life as an astronaut or a deep-sea explorer? These are just some of the things that await you at Universeum.
The Plikta playground
You’ll find the Plikta playground in the Slottsskogen park and there’s plenty to do here for the whole family! Enjoy slides, climbing frames, boules, table tennis, chess and an outdoor gym! There are activities every day from Monday to Friday between 2pm-4.45pm for kids aged 6-16 years.
The playground is located in the lush surroundings of the Slottsskogen. It’s easy to get here by tram with the number 2 from Vasaplatsen to Slottskogen. This is also a great place to come for a picnic, and if the weather is not at its best, head to Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum, just a short walk from the playground.
Gothenburg’s archipelago
Some cities are best enjoyed outside the city! And in this case, Gothenburg’s maritime suburbs, or Sweden’s western archipelago, are within easy reach. Take a bus or tram and then a ferry. Spend a day or even a weekend on the bare cliffs, go on a seal safari or wander the narrow paths between the boat houses far away from the bright city lights!
North of Gothenburg you’ll find the islands of Björkö, Hönö and Öckerö. Just catch a train from Nordstan station to nearby Hjuvik and take a ferry over to the sunny islands!
The islands of Styrsö and Brännö are located just south of Gothenburg and you can easily reach them by taking a ferry from Saltholmen, or by public transport. Ideal for a day trip!
Read more about the archipelago of Gothenburg!
