Gothenburg

After the capital Stockholm, Gothenburg is Sweden’s second city for number of inhabitants and vastness of the area. Situated on the western Swedish coast, one of the world’s last remaining pristine locations, the city sits on the Archipelago of Bohuslan, which is made up of some 8,000 islets that extend to the north of the Norwegian border. The area offers visitor unique sights that are unimaginable elsewhere.

 

 

Against the backdrop of a calm and limpid sea and spectacular granite cliffs, enchanting fishermen’s villages, with their simple wooden construction, look like they came out of a fairy tale and offer the very freshest of shellfish. Gothenburg is also the fifth largest of the Nordic countries and owes its name to the fort (burg) built in the past to protect the port. The port was once Sweden’s main gateway for trading with the west and a continual source of riches for the city, which in the eighteenth century was the headquarters of the Swedish East India Company.

 

 

Another interesting attraction is the Universeum Science Discovery Centre, which has large aquariums, interactive experiments and even a rain forest. But the main tourist attraction for adults and children alike is the Liseburg Amusement Park, which is equipped with an ice-skating rink and stage for concerts, and which from November is brought to life by a fantastic Christmas Market, filled with stalls of all types. On this occasion, the entire park is lit with five million lights – a true feast for the eyes. The Botanical Garden is another spectacular park. It has some 20,000 examples of plants and is one of the largest and in northern Europe.

 

 

One of the most characteristic destinations of the city is the old District of Haga, where small antique shops and stores selling clogs alternate with vintage clothing boutiques and shops selling special types of tea. The city is, in fact, a blend of craft trades and cutting-edge industries, which include, for example, Volvo, the very well-known car maker, and Ericsson, the mobile phone producer.

 

The local cuisine of Gothenburg is appreciated the world over, and not just for the extraordinary fish found it its seas, but also for the mushrooms, berries, game, cheeses and, above all, for the skill of its chefs, who have earned the title of Culinary Capital of Sweden 2012 for the city, which has some five Michelin-star restaurants.

 

In Swedish cuisine, the main dishes are generally barley soup, or pork and pea soup, such as the arter med flask soup. But the fish is undoubtedly the main protagonist and in particular the herring that is prepared in wet, marinated or fried. Meat dishes are based on elk, reindeer, pork but also veal. Renowned are the Swedish meatballs accompanied by excellent cranberry jam. Among the desserts, famous are the Pepparkakor, Christmas gingerbread cookies, and also the Kanelbulle, small sweet rolls with cinnamon. 

 

 

 

 

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Gothenburg  is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.