Sportlov half-term holiday in Gothenburg - where to find fun things to do

There are plenty of charming parks and green spaces in Gothenburg where you can spend your holidays outdoors. Visit historic Slottsskogen, wander around the 19th-century Trädgårdsföreningen park or check out Gothenburg's botanical gardens. In the nature reserve around Delsjön you can also experience nature and even go tobogganing when the snow comes. The slope down towards the lake is especially popular with sledders.

If you're longing for the Mediterranean, head to Boulebar in the middle of town. This southern French-inspired indoor park has both boules courts and a restaurant. Bring the whole family for a brunch, dinner or lunch with French flavours and challenge each other to a tournament of the French national sport. Boules is suitable for all levels.

Bodyflight is a thrilling activity where you hover freely in the world's highest wind tunnel. Children from the age of three can test how it feels to fly here. You're given equipment and a safety briefing, then you simply soar.

Do your children love the beach and wish it was the summer holidays? Relax, it may be cold outside but you can still get a taste of summer - palm trees, sunbeds and 2,500 tons of sand await at the Beach Center. Challenge your family or friends to a game of beach volleyball on one of the 16 courts, play shuffleboard or have something tasty to eat under the palm trees in the Beach Cuisine restaurant.

Who doesn't love waffles...? Våffelcafé Soldattorpet at Skansen Kronan is a cosy little wooden cottage that serves freshly baked, crispy waffles and coffee in front of the open fire. The café is housed in a former soldier's barracks, where you can feel the echoes of the past and look out over Gothenburg.

Not a fan of the winter cold? Then maybe indoor activities are more your thing. Take a spin on the miniature golf course or throw some electronic darts at this sporty spot – fun for the whole family. Eat internationally-influenced dishes in the restaurant and for maximum cosiness, settle down by the crackling open fire.

Blå Stället cultural centre has an activity programme with something fun taking place every day. Children's activities include writing news articles, going to the theatre, carving wood and learning to make animated films. Some activities require pre-registration, but many are just drop-in.

You could easily spend the entire half-term week exploring the various exhibitions at the Museum of World Culture. Visit the exhibition on games of the world, which range from 4,000-year-old board games to today's digital games, philosophise about the big questions in the Existence exhibition, or play and learn in Together, which is particularly suitable for children aged 0-12 years

Combine work and play at the Universeum experience centre. Visit the Mathrix exhibition where you can tackle mathematical questions from a completely new perspective, go on a 3D journey into space, spy on the sharks in the aquarium or visit the lab in the Miniverseum. A fun destination for the whole family. It's a good idea to buy tickets in advance. 

This year, Aeroseum has an "Adventure at the North Pole" theme over half-term. Take part in the story of Salomon August Andrée's polar expedition at the end of the 19th century, join Flygarn on adventurous expeditions, listen as the guides talk about the polar bear, Helikopter 6 and the Ymer expedition. Open every day.

During the half-term week you can visit the Amusement Arcade at Liseberg, where once you've bought a game pass you can go bananas with four hours of free play on the various challenges. If your stomach starts grumbling after all the arcade games, air hockey and pinball, there are plenty of snacks to satisfy your hunger.

Visit the much-loved Swedish children's book character Alfons Åberg at Alfons Åberg Kulturhus, which organises fun activities throughout half-term that are especially suitable for younger visitors. Readings, theatre, a disco and a film workshop are just a few of the events on the schedule this year. The entire program and advance tickets can be found on their website.

If you enjoy bowling, why not visit one of the city's bowling alleys, which often offer other activities such as shuffleboard and VR as well. Or perhaps challenge the family to a triathlon or pentathlon with several different disciplines? At Star Bowling and Nordic Sportsbar, you can also combine some physical activity with a cosy American-style meal.

Let your creativity flow freely at Gothenburg Museum of Art, and get a unique bag take home with you. On Tuesday to Friday of half-term week, children aged 5-12 can, together with the museum's staff, draw inspiration from the colours and shapes of the artworks, and then design their own cloth bag, for a small material cost. There are also several colourful exhibitions to explore.

Why not take enjoy sportlov as it was originally intended, with some winter sports? Skiing and snowboarding are clear winter favourites, and even though Gothenburg itself can't guarantee snow guarantee, there are several slopes nearby that actually do. About an hour's drive from Gothenburg is Ulricehamn's ski resort, where the entire lift system is open and where you can also rent skis or boards. More interested in cross-country skiing? When there's snow in Gothenburg, you can head to the prepared cross-country tracks in Skatås.

Regardless of the amount of snow, ice skating's always a safe bet when it comes to winter sports in Gothenburg. There are several places in town you can get out on the ice and practice your moves. Some popular places to go ice skating are Rambergsrinken and Isdala ice rink in Kortedala. You can hire skates at all the locations.