After almost three days in Copenhagen it was about time to head to my next destination Gothenburg, Sweden. I took the train which brought me there in about three hours. I stayed in Sweden with a couchsurfer, who picked me up from the tram-station (By the way: the tram network is with over 80 km (50 mi) the largest in Scandinavia!).

Since Gothenburg is not very big I just stayed in the city for two nights. So I had one whole day to explore and discover the sights and little corners of the college town. Still, it’s after Stockholm the second largest city of Sweden. Most of the time I was walking to see the most out of Gothenburg. So, here I summed up some locations you shouldn’t miss out on when you plan a trip!

What to do in Gothenburg

Haga

The Haga district has one of the coziest provincial charms that I’ve ever seen in a city. You find little boutiques, cute cafés, and original houses that are lovingly restored there. In the cafés and restaurants, you can enjoy delicious self-made cakes and cinnamon rolls (Swedish: Kanelbullar).

Skansen Kronan

Not far away you can hike up to the Skansen Kronan. It is a fortress located on a hill from where you have a fantastic view over Gothenburg. In summer there is a café serving ice-cream, pastries and a lot more. So, it’s definitely worth a visit – especially if you love to see a city from above.

Garden Society of Gothenburg

On my short trip to Sweden, I didn’t want to miss the Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdsföreningen) – and you shouldn’t too! It’s the perfect park for jogging, a walk and to discover thousands of roses, carpet beddings, and lush woodlands. The highlight was the palm house with five halls that have different vegetation areas.

Saluhallen

If you are a food lover like me, go to Saluhallen. It’s a lively market hall with a lot of delicacies from all over the world. You find there about 40 shops and places to rest and enjoy the food. 

Opera

Located right next to the Gota River the Gothenburg Opera offers not just beautiful architecture, but also a wide range of operas, musicals, classic and modern ballet. It’s also a fantastic reason to walk along the river and watch the boats. 

After a day full of discovering and exploring, I had to leave Gothenburg for Stockholm. A new adventure in Sweden was lying ahead…

Small narrow alleys to get lost in, magical buildings – each with its own historic meaning and a modern brushstroke make Sweden’s capital Stockholm to an open-minded metropole that is still faithful to its traditions. But the beauty of water – as the Stockholmers call their city – hasn’t stopped in time. It’s now a vibrant, modern, and beautiful place for locals and tourists with many museums and attractions.

I had the chance to spend three days in this beautiful city. After Copenhagen and Gothenburg, I felt like Stockholm was even better than the two cities before. But it’s no wonder since I had luck with the sunny weather and got to see wonderful places to hang out and relax. Here I summed up the best parts of Stockholm.

What to do in Stockholm

Gamla Stan

One of the most gorgeous districts in Stockholm is the old town, Gamla Stan. The small quarter fascinates with picturesque houses, cozy cafés, and restaurants that play live music and rustic stores that also open their doors on Sundays. Here’s my tip for you: get lost in the winding alleys and begin to search for the narrowest street in Stockholm. You also shouldn’t miss out on the Chokladkoppen. It’s a quite popular café where you can have great hot chocolate while sitting outside.

Djurgården

The central part of Stockholm consists of 14 islands. Djurgården is one of them and attracts with a beautiful park and yacht harbors. But it is also home to historical buildings, galleries, the amusement park Gröna Lund and museums such as the ABBA Museum, the Vasa Museum (where you can discover the ship Vasa that sank on its virgin voyage in 1628) and the open-air museum Skansen.

Skogskyrkogården

One place you wouldn’t think of when visiting Stockholm is the woodland cemetery Skogskyrkogården. It’s located south of central Stockholm (you get there by metro) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1994. The cemetery doesn’t just offer guided tours, but also great architecture and a beautiful landscape to stroll around and enjoy the peace it spreads out. 

Ericsson Globe

Not far away from Skogskyrkogården, you can climb up to one of Stockholm’s iconic landmarks: Ericsson Globe. It’s round as a ball and with a diameter of 110 m (361 ft), it’s the largest spherical building in the world. You can take the SkyView (an outdoor glassy elevator) to get to the top and enjoy a perfect view of Stockholm from a platform 120 m (394 ft) aboveground. On beautiful days, try to book the tickets online. Otherwise, you will have to wait in long lines to get up there.

Södermalm

Once a harsh working-class neighborhood, now the hipster quarter: Söder, as the locals call Stockholm’s island Södermalm, is Sweden’s alternate living room for students and artists. You find there flea markets, cool bars, cafés, and little boutiques for an extensively shopping-tour. And from the Södra Teatern, you get an incredible view over the city. Plus: Södermalm is also the location of the Millennium novel series of the best-selling Swedish crime author Stieg Larsson. 

Fotografiska

Also in Södermalm, you can find the photo museum Fotografiska. If you love contemporary photography as much as I do, then it’s a must-visit. The museum usually offers four unique large exhibitions and about 20 smaller exhibitions annually. Check out on their website if there is anything that interests you and just enjoys modern art in beautiful photos. 

Last, but not least I can only say, don’t forget to eat some Kanelbullar when in Sweden! And if you want to visit a lot of museums and parks get the Stockholm pass (about 73€/$90 a day) to have free entry to the top attractions.

Booking.com

It’s unbelievable how fast three days passed by. But I wasn’t sad about it, because my next adventure is already waiting: Finland, here I come! 

I just wanted to let you know that this page contains affiliate links. If you decide to buy something using one of these links, I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry that’s at no extra cost to you, but it does help to fund my travels and keep the website running. Thank you!