Gothenburg With Kids: Things to Do, Hotels & Itineraries

The undisputed under-the-radar family find of 2024 (when Becky first visited) has to be Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel. We know because so many of you have subsequently been, tried it for yourselves and reported back. Perched right beside Liseberg, it goes all-in on the fun for kids, but cast aside any preconceptions about ‘attraction hotels’. LEGOLAND Resort, this is not

To be completely honest, Becky booked the hotel without knowing the full picture and admits that, had she realised it was a ‘theme park hotel’, she probably would have looked elsewhere. So let’s all take a minute to thank her Type B personality for not doing her research properly – because not booking Liseberg would have been a huge loss for all of us

Yes, there is a giant twirly slide running from the second floor into the lobby and a fully functioning 1923 carousel in the restaurant, but the whole thing is done with considerably more style than you might expect. Think Mr Fogg’s meets a fantastical Victorian curiosity cabinet, rather than cartoon character tat. It’s wonderfully bonkers, but in a way that feels genuinely cool

And the family rooms are seriously clever. Our two-bedroom suite actually had two proper bedrooms – not a bedroom plus a couple of sofa beds shoved into the living room, as you so often get in European family hotels. The children’s bunk beds looked like they’d been converted from a Victorian train carriage, complete with wallpaper we’d quite happily nick for our downstairs loo. If you’re travelling with a bigger brood, there are rooms sleeping up to six or seven too

And crucially, the food is actually good. Breakfast was included in our stay, while the buffet dinner was much cheaper than we were expecting to pay in Sweden. Café Agnes is perfect for coffee, cake and ice cream, too. And the main restaurant is also where you’ll find that magnificent carousel, sitting in the middle of a huge glasshouse and providing excellent distraction at mealtimes

If you want to stay out in the archipelago rather than just visiting for the day, Styrsö is a brilliant option. Kusthotellet Styrsö is the island’s first hotel. The rooms are new, clean and spacious, many with sea views, and there’s a spa and restaurant on site. Or go full local-life and book an Airbnb. We’ve got two that have been personally visited and vetted by Tiny Travelship families, which means you can book knowing they’ve actually been tried and tested by parents rather than simply looking pretty in a listing

The first is in Grundsund, in the Bohuslän archipelago a little further north. It’s roughly 1 1⁄2-2 hours from Gothenburg by car, and the final stretch includes a short car ferry across to Skaftö, so you’ll definitely want your own wheels. This is the sort of place that makes you start Googling Swedish property prices before you’ve even left. The house has its own dock for swimming, a speedboat to potter around the islands, a gorgeous deck overlooking the water and a little sauna. There’s also a lovely sandy beach nearby where younger children can swim and go crabbing, plus kayaks to hire if you’re feeling adventurous

The second in Askim we’d particularly look at if you’re travelling with grandparents or another family, as it sleeps up to 6 guests across 4 bedrooms. You’ll be a short stroll from the beach, the garden has its own hot tub and the house is full of toys to borrow. You don’t need to worry about bringing your driving licence with this one – it’s a 2 minute walk to the bus stop, and there’s a frequent bus service running to the city centre 

Still deciding where to stay in Scandinavia? Have a browse of our best family-friendly hotels in the Nordics for more of our tried-and-tested favourites 

Liseberg

Liseberg is the headline act for families, and it’s right in the middle of Gothenburg, so getting there is ridiculously easy. Originally opened in 1923, it still has that lovely old-world charm, with beautifully landscaped gardens, loads of places to eat and enough rides and attractions to keep everyone from toddlers to teenagers happy. For little ones, Kaninlandet (Rabbit Land) is the place to head, with gentle rides, a big bouncy playground and plenty to explore before they’re tall enough for the more stomach-dropping stuff. As they get older, things ramp up considerably, with loads for primary-schoolers and proper thrill rides for tweens and teens

We visited with a baby, an almost-two-year-old, a three-year-old and a four-year-old, and even with that rather impressive collection of small people, there was more than enough to keep everyone entertained. If your children are rollercoaster enthusiasts, we’d allow at least a full day rather than trying to squeeze Liseberg in around the rest of Gothenburg. With younger children, though, you can easily split it up: do a morning, head back to the hotel for lunch, snacks or naps, then return later when everyone’s recharged. Being able to walk straight back to the hotel makes a big difference when someone has reached their limit

Top tips: the Duo Pass allows one child under 110cm and an accompanying adult onto the rides, although the adult can’t use the pass to ride alone. The child needs to be wearing the wristband though, so don’t do as we did and put it on yourself before wondering why you’re being turned away. Rookie error

One important thing to check before you book: Liseberg isn’t open every day of the year. The amusement park operates across three distinct seasons – summer, Halloween and Christmas – with gaps between them when the main park is close

Universeum

This is your rainy-day saviour. Universeum is so much more than a science centre, with a six-storey indoor rainforest, aquariums, Miniverseum for children aged 0-6 and loads of brilliantly hands-on exhibits. You can easily spend several hours here, and we’d allow a good chunk of the day if you want to see everything without marching everyone around at military speed

Slottsskogen

When everyone needs to run off some energy but you’ve already spent enough money for one day, head to Slottsskogen. Gothenburg’s enormous city park has a free zoo with Nordic animals including moose, Gotland ponies and penguins, plus playgrounds, waterplay spaces, pony rides and mini golf

The Southern Archipelago

This is where Gothenburg really earns its stripes. Jump on a tram, then a ferry, and before you know it you’re living your full Scandi summer fantasy. The southern islands are car-free and gloriously low-key, with Styrsö, Brännö and Vrångö all good options for a day of wandering, swimming and generally doing very little. Don’t expect endless stretches of golden sand, this is the Swedish west coast, so think smooth granite rocks, little swimming spots and gloriously clear sea

Haga

For something a little more cultural, head to Haga, one of Gothenburg’s prettiest neighbourhoods. Think cobbled streets, colourful wooden houses, independent shops and cafés, with pedestrianised streets that make it pleasantly easy with little ones

Paddan Canal Boat

For an easy win when everyone’s legs are getting tired, head down to Kungsportsplatsen and hop aboard the Paddan canal boat for a 50 minute guided tour through Gothenburg’s canals and historic harbour

For the best cinnamon bun: Café Husaren in Haga is a must-visit. It’s famous for the Hagabullen – an enormous Swedish cinnamon bun that is, quite frankly, bigger than your head

For brunch: Brogyllen gets our vote. It’s a Gothenburg institution for a reason

For seafood: Feskekôrka – literally the ‘Fish Church’ – is Gothenburg’s iconic indoor seafood market. It’s the place to try the city’s famous west-coast seafood

For an easy dinner after Liseberg: Liseberg itself has plenty of restaurants and cafés, but if you fancy something a little better than standard theme-park fare, head towards Gothia Towers, directly opposite the park. Take the lift up to Heaven 23, on the 23rd floor, and order the räkmacka – Gothenburg’s famous open-faced prawn sandwich

If you’re staying at Grand Curiosa and just cannot face another tram: there are plenty of very easy options within walking distance. Holy Cow on Södra Vägen does burgers and other crowd-pleasing options, while Bombay Street is a good shout for Indian food. These aren’t the restaurants you’ll necessarily be crossing Gothenburg for if you’re a serious foodie, but after a full day at Liseberg with small children, they’re easy, relaxed and require very little logistical faff

For seafood on Styrsö: Tångbaren sits right on the pier at Styrsö Tången, in what was once an old boat fuelling station. It has brilliant views over the water and serves tasty seafood, including a selection of oysters