Where to stay

Stay inside the canal ring that encircles Gothenburg City Centre, also known as Centrum, for a trip focused on sightseeing. This neighborhood has the highest concentration and the widest choice of accommodations, with everything from budget beds to luxurious five-star hotels. There's also good shopping, particularly around Inom Vallgraven. The city's event district is in Heden, a convenient choice for those wanting to stay close to the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre or concerts at the Scandinavium arena. Heden's Universeum Science Centre is great for little ones, while art lovers should check out the contemporary gallery Göteborgs Konsthall.

No trip to Gothenburg is complete without a sticky cinnamon bun for "fika," the great Swedish coffee-and-cake-break tradition. Find some of the best cafés and numerous cozy bistros in the neighborhood of Lorensberg, just south of the city center. A few aparthotels here are perfect for visitors hoping to live more like locals. To the east, stay in Linnéstaden, sometimes known as Linné, for the laid-back and ever-changing restaurant scene, especially along the main boulevard Linnégatan. Be sure to sample the city's famously fresh seafood and local beers. Alternatively, book a room in Centrum to be within easy reach of many of the city's favorite dining options.

The big museums for history buffs are the Museum of Gothenburg and the family-friendly floating Maritime Museum in Gothenburg City Center. Accommodations nearby also include the city's best heritage hotels, some of which have been owned by single families for more than a century. Book a room in Haga, southeast of the center, to see a different but still traditional side to Gothenburg, with quaint cobblestone streets, renovated wooden houses, and independent boutiques. To the northeast, Gamlestaden was founded before Gothenburg's current center. Stay near the industrial buildings and abandoned factories that are now being taken over by vintage stores and craft breweries.