Mbali & Samuel
Things to do in Gothenburg
Liseberg
Liseberg is Gothenburg's amusement park and is one of the main attractions in the city. Many of the rides have a Viking or Nordic theme. We will go to Liseberg as one of the informal events after the wedding. Be sure to book tickets in advance since the park now limits the number of people who can enter each day!
Universeum
An interactive museum designed for both kids and adults. Themes include the brain, the ocean, and space.
Skansen Kronan
Another fun (and free) activity to do on a sunny day. Skansen Kronan is a small castle that was built in the 17th century. The castle is perched on a hill in central Gothenburg and boasts stunning views of the whole city. It is a popular place to hang out and relax. Afterwards, you can stop by the nearby neighborhood of Haga.
Haga District
Haga is one of the older areas of the city and is known for its traditional wood buildings and cobbled streets. It is also home to 17th-century fortress Skansen Kronan. There are lots of nice restaurants, cafes, and shops in the area. We recommend to try the traditional Swedish fika, or coffee break, which includes coffee and a cinnamon bun ("kanelbulle" in Swedish). Certain cafes have extra large kanelbulle which are meant to be shared with multiple people.
Volvo Museum
Gothenburg is known as "The City of Volvo." If you fly into the Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, you will see many pictures of various Volvo vehicles and perhaps an automobile or two. Come to this museum to see the history of Volvo. Sam also worked at Volvo Trucks for two years.
Gothenburg Archipelago
The Gothenburg Archipelago is a must see! The islands are located about 1-2 hours west of the city and can be easily reached with public transportation. The Archipelago is divided into the northern and southern parts and there are more than 20 islands total, each with their own unique charm. If you decide to rent a car, please be aware that cars are not allowed on the southern archipelago. Make sure to plan out your journey as ferries to and from the islands can be limited with sometimes a few hours between adjacent ferry rides. Additionally, for food options, be sure to check if your island of choice has grocery stores, restaurants, both, or neither.
Ramberget (AKA Rambo Mountain)
One of our favorite places to hang out and relax since it has stunning views of the city and the Göta Älv, the river that runs through Gothenburg. It is a fun, free activity to do on a sunny day. An interesting note is that John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, likely got his name from this mountain, hence the reason why Sam refers to this place as "Rambo Mountain."
Gothenburg Botanical Gardens (Botaniska Trädgården)
Botaniska is where we took our engagement photos and is also a great (and free) place to spend the day. Here, you will find a wide variety of plants from all over the world. In June when the wedding will occur, the flowers and trees will be in full bloom.
Horticulture Society (Trädgårdsföreningen)
One of Mbali's favorite places in the city! Trädgårdsföreningen is somewhat similar to Botaniska in that it houses a wide variety of plants and trees. Trädgårdsföreningen also has a greenhouse where other types of plants are grown. Given its proximity to the Central Station, it is a quick (and free) visit.
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers is the reason why Sam came to Gothenburg way back in 2014: he received a PhD position here and his life has never been the same since. Chalmers has two campuses: one in Johanneberg and one in Lindholmen. Sam worked at the Johanneberg campus and is the address given here. Sights to see here include a giant propeller and the painted logos of the various schools within Chalmers. The restaurant in the student union building (Kårhuset) has good food at reasonable (i.e. student) prices and is also where you can pick up some Chalmers and Sweden memorabilia.
Gothenburg Museum of Art
This museum contains works by acclaimed artists from the Renaissance to modern day. The entrance, Götaplatsen, is also worth a visit to be able to see the iconic Poseidon statue. After a visit to the museum, we recommend walking up the main avenue of the city, Avenyn, towards Kungsportsplatsen.
Gothenburg City Museum
The museum about the area's history from 12,000 years ago to the present day.
Stena Line Denmark Ferry Terminal
The Stena Line Ferry will take you from Gothenburg to Fredrikshavn in northern Denmark. If you have a few extra days in the city, we recommend taking a short trip via ferry to Fredrikshavn. The ferry ride lasts about 3 hours each way and food, drinks, and activities are available on board. In Fredrikshavn, you will find sandy beaches and a relaxed atmosphere to hang out. See our photo gallery for a picture of us on one of the beaches in Fredrikshavn. While it is possible to make a day trip out of this ferry ride, we recommend to stay a night or two. We also recommend making the journey north to Skagen/Grenen, the northernmost point in Denmark, to see where two seas meet.
Delsjön
Delsjön is a lake just to the east of Gothenburg. It has places for hiking, swimming, boating, and barbecuing among other activities. It is reachable with public transportation.
Feskekörka
Feskekörka is Swedish, specifically Gothenburg Swedish, for "fish church." It gets its name because of the building's resemblance to a neo-gothic church. Fishing is also one of Gothenburg's oldest trades. Inside, you can find fresh fish for purchase if you want to cook it yourself, or you can purchase already cooked meals.
Slottsskogen
Slottsskogen, meaning literally "Castle Forest," is one of the most popular parks in Gothenburg. It features large grassy areas, forests, and hills topped with lookout points. Slottsskogen also has one of Sweden's oldest zoos, which is open the whole year and free to visit. Some of the animals include elk, goats, seals, penguins, and sheep. We will arrange our Midsummer picnic here on 21 June 2024. Please see the tab "Schedule of Events."
Gothenburg Museum of Natural History
This is a free museum! Exhibitions include whales and African elephants and a pavilion of geology and various minerals.
Travel to any of the Scandinavian Capital Cities: Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo
Gothenburg is sometimes referred to as “the center of Scandinavia” as it is located equidistant from the three Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), and Oslo (Norway). If you have extra time in your itinerary, we recommend to visit any one or all of these cities. Alternatively, as we mentioned in "How to Get to Gothenburg" under the "Travel Information for Guests" tab, a neat travel "hack" to get cheaper flight tickets is to fly into any of these cities then take the train to Gothenburg. There are direct train and bus rides from the Gothenburg Central Station with the journeys lasting about 3-4 hours one way. This is also a great way to see the countryside!
Bee Kök och Bar
We went here on our first date! "Kök" is Swedish for kitchen and is pronounced a lot like "shook". Bee Kök och Bar has a very friendly and welcoming vibe with a wide variety of drinks and food. There is outdoor seating along a nice pedestrian path. Later in the evening, the bar opens up a dance floor.
Vapiano
We went here on our second date! Vapiano has a nice selection of Italian food for reasonable prices.