How To Spend 24 - Hours In Gothenburg, Sweden

How To Spend 24 - Hours In Gothenburg, Sweden
Sally
Sally 
Updated
| 4 min read

Whether you are island hopping or traveling through Sweden, you need to spend 24-hours in Gothenburg. Gothenburg is located off the Göta älv river on Sweden’s west coast. The vital seaport city is known for its “Dutch-style canals” and its thriving boulevards. A trip to Gothenburg is not complete without a walk down the city’s main boulevard, Avenyn, which is lined with popular shops and numerous cafes. Prior to your trip make sure you get some Swedish Krona because businesses will not accept Euros.

Stay at the Radisson Blu Riverside hotel (from USD 139)

The Junior Suite
Source: Sally Pederson

Book your stay at the Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel. It is ideally located next to the Lindholmen Science Park and Göta River harbor. Your 10 minute journey on the complimentary ferry will bring you into the city center. If you arrive via train, it is a short 10-minute walk to the ferry terminal.

After returning to the hotel after dinner, you will want to relax in one of two relaxation pools or in the outdoor hot tub in the wellness center. You can also keep your workout routines with some time in their fitness center. Both the fitness and wellness centers are located on the top floor of the hotel and offer stunning views of the city and harbor. Additionally, there are several lounge chairs inside and outside to relax on.

In the morning you will want to enjoy the complimentary buffet breakfast in the award-winning Cuckoo’s Nest Restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel before starting your day.

As of January 2019, the hotel and restaurant are cash free.


Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: Lindholmspiren 4
3.38 km (2.1 mi) from Liseberg

Restaurant Pets allowed Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Sauna Fitness centre

Get a massage

Lady getting a massage
Source: Pixabay

After checking into your hotel, go for a relaxing massage at Chillax Massage. This is not a large spa for you to lounge around in, it is a small one-room space that offers massage treatments. This is what makes this place perfect, you are there specifically for the treatment and you leave. You relax and have those sore achy muscles worked on and in 60 or 90 minutes you are getting out of there to enjoy the rest of your time in Gothenburg. After your relaxing massage, take an evening stroll through the city center before heading to 2112 for dinner.

Have dinner at 2112 Restaurant

Dinner at 2112 restaurant
Source: Sally Pederson

Situated just inside the walkable only city center streets is 2112 Restaurant. It is conveniently located a stone’s-throw away from the ferry from the Radisson Blu Hotel. Inspiration here comes from both newly released and old classic rock songs and bands. According to the White Guide, you will enjoy Sweden’s best burgers here. They have monthly specials if you are not sure about having Smoke On The Water, The Number of The Beast or the Hell Awaits Burger. If you are Vegetarian or vegan, you might want to try the One The Other Side Of The Wall.

The restaurant is painted in a shade of burgundy and the dark wood tables with black chairs give the rooms an intimate feeling. However, with the sounds of rock music playing, it gave the restaurant an edgy feel to it. Throughout the restaurant, you see various memorabilia from numerous rock bands. If you want to feel like you are more in a pub setting, you will want to sit on the main floor. Here you will sit at high-top tables or at the bar. If you are looking for something a little more intimate then go up a few stairs to the dining area that has regular dining tables and chairs with backs.

With over 20 beers on tap and the best burgers in Sweden, it’s no wonder they are the go-to beer and burger restaurant in Gothenburg.

Go on a Goteborg Walking Tour

Waiting for the ferry in Gothenburg
Source: Sally Pederson

Gothenburg was founded in 1621, which makes the city almost 400-years old. However, the history of the area dates back a lot longer than that. The best way to get to know any city is to go on one of their walking tours. Most cities have various walking tours that take about 2 - 3 hours. They include ones to get to know the history of the city, discover the highlights of well-known monuments and landmarks, or even a food tour. During this tour learn how the present day Gothenburg has been inhabited for thousands of years. With rock carvings from the stone age, the Thirty Years War with Denmark and Norway, to present day stability and growth.

Currently, Goteborg Walking Tours has two different kinds of walking tours. The first is the General Goteborg Walking tour. Here you will discover the old city districts and the city core. The second one is a Make Your Own tour. It is designed for the specific requests of groups.

They are in the process of rolling out 4 more this summer. They include Alternative Göteborg Tour (June), Coffee Crawl (July), Island Trips (July), and Sounds of The City (August).

Dine at Jimmy and Joan's NY

Lunch at Jimmy and Joan's NY
Source: Sally Pederson

After your walking tour, you should be ready for some lunch. Depending on which way you are coming from you should go on a stroll down Kungsportsavenyen before or after lunch at Jimmy and Joan’s NY. It is just one block over and the street is full of shops, restaurants, and a great place for people watching. Not only are the bagels at the restaurant the best I have ever eaten, but the story behind it also is heartwarming and worth the visit. The restaurant appears bigger than it is due to strategic architectural planning. The dark blue with gold accents, along with the two family portraits on the wall, gives off a homey yet chic feel to the interior.

With several types of bagels and various things to go in them, making a decision on what you want may be difficult. I was unsure during my visit, so I opted for three mini bagels. They included the Smoked Salmon (which I think it was the best salmon I have ever had). The second one was called Hangover. It was a delicious egg salad bagel. The third was the Turkey bagel. It was followed up a perfectly made NY Cheesecake with fresh blueberries.

If you want to know who Jimmy and Joan are, you will have to visit the restaurant and ask Elizabeth, the owner.

A quick trip

Even though 24-hours in Gothenburg is not a lot of time, you can still see and do several things. The key to remember is to know the types of things you like to do and plan your time accordingly. Remember it should also be about enjoying yourself while you are there. Not just trying to get in so many things that your exhausted and didn’t enjoy the moments there.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sally Pederson is a professional freelance travel writer, international house sitter, and novice photographer. She has the true “Wanderlust Gene”. She has been to over 20 countries with too many...Read more

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