Gothenburg has it all. It is clean and beautiful, has great shopping, fabulous restaurants and cool hotels.

Sometimes I think that going back to the same destination over and over is not a good thing. Doesn´t that mean that one is becoming less creative and original, and more tedious and dreary and at worst, afraid of trying new things and new places… But then there are these spots, restaurants and towns that you just can´t get enough of. You fall in love with them and the love grows as the place just keeps on satisfying and surprising. Gothenburg is such a place for me. Perhaps it being the first place I went with my hubby has something to do with it, and the feeling of falling in love keeps coming back every time I visit… Who knows?

Regardless, I love Gothenburg. It is no more than a three hours drive from Oslo, has great shopping, several awesome restaurants, lovely surroundings and great people. You can experience the town by foot and it has a lot to offer regardless of what time of year it is. If you include Liseberg, which is an amusement park right outside of the town, your kids will love it too (just don´t eat any of your meals here). We have brought our kids on both regular and Michelin rated restaurants in Gothenburg with no problem. They are fans too!

Where to Shop

My favorite place to stroll and shop is Magasingatan with the amazing interior design shop Artilleriet. But there are several other interior shops in town. Artilleriet has opened it´s own little store dedicated to the kitchen. Entering The Kitchen will set you back a few krone, but I bet you will leave happy.  Another favorite is Floramor & Krukatös. I can come back to this shop days in a row finding new treasures, and the girls that work here are really nice. For more interior shopping, visit Market 29, Rum 21, Grandma´s, Le Kiosk, and Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör. Vallgatan 12 has interior products in addition to clothes, flowers and food, and is a super place to spend an hour or two. Kyrkogatan is a good street for both dining and shopping. Grace is a favorite clothing shop, in addition Grandpa, HOPE, Samsoe, and NK, of course.

Where to Stay

There are several good hotels in Gothenburg, depending on your needs and preferences. My favorites are Pigalle, Flora, Bellora, Elite Plaza and Post.

If you travel alone, or with a friend or dear one, Hotel Pigalle is awesome. The old-school Parisian feeling with velvety walls, black and white art and large chandeliers makes this a favorite.

My favorite hotel when traveling with my kids in Gothenburg is Flora. It is located very close to Magasingatan and the restaurant Hello Monkey, where I go every time I am in town. It is a small boutique hotel that has managed to keep the intimate feeling despite the increase in rooms. I love their family rooms (called “Bigger”) which has two large double beds in addition to an area with both two chairs and a sofa. Spacious and tasty. The breakfast is healthy and yummy.

The Bellora Hotel is located right on the “Avenyen” and works as the perfect base both for shopping, dining and a trip to the family park Liseberg. Oldschool Italian look and a wonderful atmosphere.

Clarion Hotel Post is a design hotel which is good for both couples, singles and families. The rooms are fancy, but not the most spacious for a family of four. They have a small outdoor pool on their rooftop, which is very cool when the weather is warm, and they also have a very cool bar and restaurant. The hotel is very big, and can be crowded at times, but if modern design is your thing, this is the place for you.

Elite Hotel Plaza was my favorite for years, but it is best when you travel without kids. The rooms are stylish, colonial style, but not very contemporary. I love the atmosphere here and they serve a good breakfast.

Where to Eat

My favorite places to eat in Gothenburg is Hello Monkey (with their two restaurants), Thornstoms, M2 and Koka. For the best coffee in town, visit Bar Centro, or go to one of the many Da Matteo cafes in town.