Gothenburg brings together coastal landscapes, hiking trails and museums. Its natural areas range from forests and mountains to lakes, valleys and farmland; there are also trails of varying lengths and cultural sites with distinct themes. This lets you get to know the city through nature, design, art or history, depending on your interests.
Landscapes and trails around Gothenburg
Gothenburg has 17 nature reserves. They help protect valuable natural areas and places for outdoor recreation over the long term. The variety of landscapes is also evident outside the reserves: alongside the coast are forests, mountains, lakes, valleys and farmland. The Gothenburg archipelago adds beaches, nature reserves and walking trails, all a short journey from the centre of Gothenburg.
Activities in the archipelago include seal safaris, fishing trips, swimming and boat excursions. The southern islands can be reached via the ferry terminals at Saltholmen or Stenpiren. If you plan to use this connection, check the ferry timetable before your visit.
The hiking trails also vary in route and scale. Bohusleden is one of the best-known hiking trails in the Gothenburg area and covers a wider region, passing through several municipalities. Signaturled Göteborg consists of six selected stages of the southern Bohusleden and runs along the outskirts of Gothenburg. These descriptions offer different perspectives on Bohusleden: one on its wider route, the other on selected stages close to the city.
The 99-kilometre Gotaleden connects Gothenburg and Alingsås. Its first stage starts in central Gothenburg and passes through Delsjön Nature Reserve. The historic Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv is 120 kilometres long and runs along the Göta Älv river. Their total lengths and routes provide a concrete comparison without implying that the trails follow the same kind of route.
Museums, design and culture
The Gothenburg City Museum is housed in Ostindiska huset, a building dating from the 1750s. At the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the art spans the 15th century to the present day, with a focus on Nordic art. The collection is presented in museum displays and temporary exhibitions, complemented by educational activities.
The Röhsska Museum opened in 1916 and is Sweden’s only specialist museum of design and crafts. Its exhibitions explore historical and contemporary design and crafts, in both temporary and permanent displays. Guided tours, lectures and creative workshops add to the programme. Kulturnatta has been held in Gothenburg for more than 30 years and is another facet of the city’s cultural life.
A garden visit can also offer a different perspective on Gothenburg: with the Botaniska app, you can take self-guided walks through the Gothenburg Botanical Garden. As app features may change, check what is currently available in advance. At the Gothenburg Rosarium, the Gothenburg branch of the Swedish Rose Society tends and renews the species roses.
Seasonal experiences and nature in the city
Liseberg amusement park is open for three seasons: summer, Halloween and Christmas. As its seasonal operating schedule may change, it is worth checking the current dates before your visit. The rainforest at Universeum is an educational setting featuring species involved in conservation programmes. So, alongside trails and landscapes, Gothenburg offers seasonal activities and places to learn about nature.
The facts offer different ways to decide which aspects of the city you would like to focus on: the Museum of Art’s Nordic art collection, design and crafts at the Röhsska Museum, the nature reserves or routes through varied landscapes. Gothenburg can thus be explored as a cultural and nature destination, without having to combine individual trails, museums and seasonal activities into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Billdal, Nödinge, Säve, Hisings Kärra, Torslanda, Donsö, Fiskebäck, Styrsö.
Return to the main travel overview: Gothenburg.
