Tourist in Gothenburg - your complete guide

Accommodation is of course one of the most important factors when you're travelling. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels in all different categories and styles in Gothenburg. The stylish Hotel Pigalle in the city centre is a favourite for many. The individually-designed rooms ooze Parisian-style elegance and decadence. Just a few steps away, on lively Kungsportsplatsen, the Avalon Hotel has exciting architecture and interiors influenced by feng shui (don't miss the iconic pool on the rooftop terrace). If you want to stay right on the city's central boulevard, Avenyn, the Scandic Rubinen has elegant and well-designed suites in pared-back Nordic style. Their rooftop terrace, Ruby, serves up fabulous cocktails and magnificent views over the city. If you're looking for a romantic getaway, check into the Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg's former post office building. Modern architecture characterises the romantic suites and their weekend brunch is famous. Romance is also the watchword at the the glamorous Dorsia Hotel. 1920s decadence and "more is more" are the themes at this magnificently overblown fantasy world. The hotel's restaurant serves food from all over the world, or drop by for afternoon tea, all in the same extravagant style.

Art, fashion, history and shipping - Gothenburg's range of museums is extensive and has something for all tastes. At the magnificent Gothenburg Museum of Art you can admire classic Scandinavian and other European art, alongside exciting contemporary art. Right next door, the Hasselblad Foundation exhibits major photographic exhibitions. Just a short walk from the art museum on Götaplatsen is the Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft, which focuses on fashion, design and crafts from different periods. The Museum of World Culture, housed in a spectacular building, has exhibitions that tell stories from all the cultures of the world, and they regularly hold special events and workshops for both children and adults. If you want to find out more about the city, a visit to Gothenburg's City museum is a must - learn all about the history of Gothenburg over the past 400 yerars and how the city's future looks. The sea and the city's harbours are an important part of Gothenburg and at the Maritime Museum and Aquarium you can try out how it feels to steer a ship into harbour, check out the fascinating sealife and see what life was like in the dockyards.

Gothenburg has a fantastic restaurant scene, offering something for tastes and wallets. Pan-Asian Toso is famous for its top quality, Asian-inspired medium-sized dishes and unique atmosphere. If you're looking for Scandinavian flavours and grown-up luxury, book a table at Koka, one of the six restaurants in Gothenburg with a Michelin star. For a slightly more relaxed and rustic vibe, The Barn American/Swedish fusion restaurant is a great option. Burgers are taken very seriously here. If you want to experience Swedish food and snaps and a slice of Gothenburg's restaurant history, a visit to Kungsportshuset Matbar is recommended. Cellar restaurant Totale serves up locally-produced and organic produce, food is cooked over open fire and there's always a lively atmosphere. If you're looking for really great vegan food, head to Blackbird. Or want to try some really classic Gothenburg dishes? The prawn sandwiches at Heaven 23 are legendary and they're accompanied by fantastic views over the city. Are meatballs on your wish list? Berzelius and the classic budget alternative Café du Nord really know their meatballs.

As you may already have discovered, fika (taking a break for coffee and something to eat) is a strong tradition in Sweden and Gothenburg has a huge choice of cafés. Whether you're in the mood for a classic cinnamon bun, coffee roasted with nerdy precision or enjoying an alfresco break in leafy surroundings, the options are endless. At trendy Da Matteo, which has branches all around town, barista craft is taken very seriously. Bagel fans and New York aficionados should head to Jimmy & Joan's New York, just off Avenyn. The charming Haga district is packed with cafés; classic Café Husaren is home to the famous Haga bun, a gigantic cinnamon bun. If you're heading up to Slottskogen, Villa Belparc makes a nice stop-off. Sit in the large park gardens and enjoy a coffee lying in one of the hammocks or sitting on the jetty. For a traditional Swedish fika of coffee and cake, bag a pew at Gothenburg's oldest café Ahlströms Konditori. In Majorna, the vegan Crippas Café is a popular spot, both for fika and lunch. If you'd rather stay put in the city centre, you're guaranteed an excellent cup of coffee at the retro-trendy Viktors Kaffe.

Checking out the local bar scene is on many visitors' agenda, and there are plenty of bars in Gothenburg - everything from stylish cocktail bars to specialist beer bars and delightfully unpretentious budget bars. Bon Bon Bar is known for its well-blended cocktails, as is popular Familjen, where innovative ingredients include bacon vodka. If you prefer bubbles, you should head for Champagnebaren Forssén & Öberg, where the iconic French drink can be enjoyed in one of the city's cosiest inner courtyards. For beer nerds, Brewers Beer Bar is a must-visit. With a huge range of microbrewed beers, many of them local, served alongside stone-oven baked pizza, their two bars have quickly become favourites. Haket is another popular spot among beer aficionados. The bar has the largest selection of beers in the city, is expressly HBTQ-friendly and serves tasty pub grub. The area around Järntorget, particularly Andra and Tredje Långgatan, is one of the city's most popular bar areas. This is Gothenburg's cultural hub with a constantly buzzing bar life. If you're looking for cheap beer, head for Sejdeln and Dansken. At Kafé Magasinet and Tacos & Tequila one street away, the prices are slightly higher and the crowd slightly older, but the atmosphere's just as lively.

When you're on holiday you want to stretch your days out as far as possible, and the same goes for the nights. Experience Gothenburg's buzzy nightlife and strut your stuff into the wee hours. Avenyn, the city's central boulevard, is packed with clubs and is a natural meeting point for anyone looking to party. Glamorous Push from the Stockholm-based Stureplan group always draws a big crowd. As does the more house music-oriented Lounge(s) right next door. Nearby you'll also find the popular Yaki-Da, which has a lively house-party feel over four floors with different music styles in the various rooms. They often book big names. The city's more alternative types generally stick to the western part of the city, where popular spots include the legendary club and concert venue Pustervik on Järntorget.

Great shopping is an important part of many people's holiday experience, and Gothenburg has something for everyone shopping-wise. As well as the huge Nordstan shoppig mall, the nearby areas around Brunnsparken and Kungsgatan are classic shopping destinations. If you'd rather explore smaller design shops, head to Grönsakstorget and Magasingatan. You'll find iconic Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios there, along with cool Scandinavian concept store Grandpa. Gothenburg has something of a reputation as a denim city and several well-known jeans brands, such as Dr. Denim Gallery and Nudie Jeans Co., are based here. If you're on the hunt for stylish shoes, Lester Store sells high-quality leather shoes and boots, while Sneakers Corner stocks the latest sneakers in a cool concept store. som satsar på coola sneakers och en unik shoppingupplevelse bland arkadspel. Haga Trätoffelfabrik & Läderaffär is the place to go if you're looking for classic Swedish clogs.

Scandinavian design is famous all over the world. Gothenburg has a wide selection of inspiring concept stores selling cool interiors details and furniture. The best-known is design temple Artilleriet, which represents both well-known brands and new design talants. Right next door is The Kitchen, run by the same owners and with a similar aesthetic but with an emphasis on kitchens. Linnéstan is another neighbourhood worth visiting for anyone interested in interior design. Charming Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör specialises in lighting and stylish details created by small-scale producers. A few streets away is the popular Svenssons i Lammhult Järntorget, which sells carefully curated designer furniture from a large range of designers and brands. There's something for everyone at Tell Me More in Haga, even if you haven't got much space in your luggage. The emphasis is on gorgeous interiors details, such as candle holders, which will give your home a little lift.

Everyone plans their holidays differently, some enjoy sightseeing while others prefer to discover new cities on their own. Of course you can always do both, and a short sightseeing tour is often a great way to learn more about a city and see sights you might otherwise miss. In Gothenburg, the famous Paddan canal boats are a classic way to experience the city. If you want to see Gothenburg from the sea, there are several options: the historic Strömma Skärgårdsbåtar have several trips to various historically significant spots and the M/S St Erik takes guests out to sea while enjoying a generous seafood buffet. If you'd rather stay on land, Stinsens Sightseeing takes visitors to different parts of town on their charming red trains.

There are masses of exciting things to do for both adults and children when visiting Gothenburg. Naturally, the city's amusement park and pride and joy Liseberg tops the list for many. The numerous rides and attractions and fun atmosphere draw in crowds of all ages. Another must-visit in this seaside city is Maritiman, a maritime museum where you can experience life on a battleship or go onboard a submarine. Children can join the museum mascot Virvelina for nautical adventures. Slottsskogen is Gothenburg's central green space and there are lots of activities just for children, many of them free. At Barnens Zoo you can stroke goats and rabbits, or try out pony riding. Kids from all over town meet up at Plikta Parklek, a fantastic outdoor playground. At the Trädgårdsföreningen, just a stone's throw from the central train station, you'll find Alfons Åbergs Kulturhus, where you can meet Alfons, a beloved Swedish children's book character, see a theatrical performance and much more.