Free & Self-Guided Gothenburg Walking Tour

Last Updated on 19th October 2022 by Sophie Nadeau

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Romantic restaurants, modern architecture, and often looked in favour of its more famous counterpart, Stockholm, Gothenburg is a beautiful city of Sweden’s West Coast. Here’s a free and self-guided Gothenburg walking tour to help you get to know the quirky Swedish city on a more local level!

Gothenburg Walking Tour: Practical Advice, Tricks & Tips

Like many European cities, Gothenburg is best explored on foot, though there is also a fantastic transport system in the form of trams and buses. For this walking tour of Gothenburg, I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes as there are cobbled lanes in places (particularly around the Fish Market).

Although most of this self-guided walk is flat, the part at the end around the Haga District and up to the Skansen Kronan fort gets a little bit steep in places. In terms of dining options, you’ll be delighted to know that Gothenburg has a wonderful foodie scene, just waiting to be explored. Some of my top recommendations include Kafé Magasinet and Restaurang Atelier.

Distance: 4.7 km

Walking time: 1 hour

Feskekôrka, Fisktorget 4, 411 20 Göteborg, Sweden

The first stop on this walking route is probably the most famous building in Gothenburg. The Feskekôrka is quite literally translated as the ‘fish church’ and is a fish market inspired by Gothic architecture.

Constructed in the 19th-century, the architect felt that fish was so integral to the city of Gothenburg that he constructed the indoor market to serve as a homage to the trade. Close to the Rosenlund Canal, the building also a restaurant within which serves a sea-inspired menu.

Magasinsgatan, Göteborg, Sweden

If you want to do a little shopping while in the city, or you’re simply looking for a quaint café in which to enjoy the Swedish art of Fika (a happiness ritual which involves enjoying coffee with cake!), then be sure to wander around Magasinsgatan.

Home to plenty of independent boutiques and shops, you’ll likely want to purchase several beautiful Swedish design pieces should you choose to check out any of the shops!

Victoriapassagen, Vallgatan 19, 411 16 Göteborg, Sweden

If you’re looking for a great place to hang out on a rainy day in the city, or simply wish to shop in some independent boutiques, then you need to look no further than the Victoriapassagen (Victoria Passage).

Stretching between Vallgatan and Södra Larmgatan, the passage was constructed at the end of the 19th-century and is now a lovely street to stroll along, especially if you’re looking to escape some rainy weather!

Saluhallen, Kungstorget, 411 17 Göteborg, Sweden

For those looking for the opportunity to delve further into Gothenburg’s foodie scene (or are simply looking to escape some bad weather!), I highly recommend a venture through the Saluhallen.

Free to visit, the Market Hall is filled with produce from all over the world. Home to spices, coffee, and local delicacies, in total there are over forty shops and stalls!

I personally recommend Flickorna Kanold- their chocolates are simply delicious! Elsewhere in the vicinity, you’ll find several places in which to purchase lunch.

Lejontrappan, Östra Hamngatan 23, 411 10 Göteborg, Sweden

One of the prettiest spots in the city can be found not far from the Clarion Post Hotel in the form of the Fontänbron, the fountain bridge.

The area surrounding this bridge is home to a set of bridges spanning the Harbour Canal, and connecting the Southern part of the Östra Hamngatan to the Northern part.

Palmhuset (Palm House), Slussgatan 1, 411 06 Göteborg, Sweden

Come summertime (or even in the winter) the coolest place to hang out in the city is the Palm House, part of the Garden Society. Open on a daily basis, all throughout the year, once inside this set of greenhouses you’ll soon discover a pretty oasis of greenery. Modelled on the Crystal Palace of London, the Palm House dates all the way back to 1878.

Hem i Haga, Haga Nygata 7-9, 411 14 Göteborg, Sweden

For lovers of Fika, coffee culture, and Scandi design, the historic Haga district is an absolute must when visiting Gothenburg. Once on the fringes of Gothenburg, today this district has been incorporated into the city of Gothenburg itself.

Home to plenty of coffee shops and boutiques, during the month of December, one of the best Christmas markets in Gothenburg is held in the heart of this district.

Kafé Magasinet, Tredje Långgatan 9, 413 03 Göteborg, Sweden

The most ‘Instagrammable’ coffee shop in the city is that of Kafé Magasinet. Home to two spaces; an indoor bar and a plant-covered conservatory area, this café has a great selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as a mouth-watering menu of desserts, including raw vegan options!

Skansen Kronan AB, 413 01 Göteborg, Sweden

The final stop on this Gothenburg walking tour is that of Skansen Kronan. Offering a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the city, truth be told, the hike up to the top is pretty steep! Dating all the way back to the end of the 17th-century, this domed structure is characterised by its crown roof and has 4-5 metre thick walls.

Things to know before visiting Gothenburg

While many people maintain that the best time to visit Gothenburg is in the summer months when the days stretch on for hours and the weather is warm, a trip to the city is well worth it during other seasons as well.

After all, if you spend a weekend break in Gothenburg in the winter, then you can expect to find plenty of beautiful Christmas markets and the chance to go shopping in the sales.

Although English is well spoken in many parts of the city, I still did find myself reaching for a translation app on my phone on a fair few occasions. As such, I highly recommend purchasing a simple Swedish phrasebook in advance.

When it comes to finding the perfect hotel to stay at, while Gothenburg is not nearly as popular as the Swedish capital of Stockholm, certain events during the year mean that at certain times, all the best hotels and guesthouses are booked up.

As such, I highly recommend booking your Gothenburg stay well in advance. Check here for the best accommodation prices in Gothenburg.

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