Gothenburg: My Scandinavian Cool
We walked off into a city that feels like Copenhagen and Oslo had a baby who smiles more. The Feskekôrka fish church – literally a church-shaped market smelling of fresh shrimp and dill. We had lunch at the counter – räkmacka shrimp mountain on bread so high it needs a fork, eaten while fishermen unloaded the catch behind us.
In the afternoon we took the ferry to the southern archipelago – car-free islands, red boathouses, and sauna jumps into 18°C water followed by cinnamon buns. We went to Liseberg amusement park at golden hour – the wooden roller coaster Balder gave us butterflies and views over the entire city. The pros: genuinely Swedish without Stockholm prices or attitude. The cons: rain (it did), but Swedes just put on cute raincoats and keep smiling.
Getting Around Gothenburg
Ship docks 10-minute tram from city center – excellent public transport everywhere.
Positively Worded Word of Warning
Gothenburg's archipelago is pure magic – a light jacket for the boat ride makes island hopping even better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Gothenburg worth it?
A: The coolest, friendliest Swedish city.
Q: Best thing?
A: Feskekôrka + southern archipelago ferry.
Q: How long for islands?
A: 4–5 hours round-trip.
Q: Walk from port?
A: Easy tram ride.