9 and a half reason to visit Gothenburg

Islands, islets and red houses

So the Southern Archipelago in the flesh. Hop on a ferry and admire a typical Swedish countryside.

Islands like: Asperö, Donsö, Styrsö, Vrangö and Brännö, surprise by their gaunt landscape as well as typical Swedish wooden red buildings. It doesn’t matter which direction you choose, the last letter ö in the name is essential 😉

2. Take a walk along the dock

It’s worth taking a short walk along the dock, where you can visit floating museum.

3. Have a rest in the shade of palms

Palm House, located in the strict city center is a cultish meeting place. Certainly there’re a lot of reasons why, but the most important is that every palm in the severe Swedish climate is at a premium.

4. How about fika in the atmospheric Haga?

Haga in short can be described by cobbled streets, pastel, wooden houses, atmospheric cafes and antique little shops. Here in the center of a the city, you can feel a typical atmosphere from 19^th century and buy unique souvenirs. After shopping spree, take a coffee break called fika in Swedish. Nothing tastes so good with coffee like kannelbullar – cinnamon bun. Taste it in the famous Café Husaren, for sure you’ll be surprised…

5. Change the perspective

From the sea level climb the Skansen Kronan – rock stronghold from 17^th century and admire beautiful Gothenburg panorama.

6. Red lisptick

It’s actually called Lilla Bommen. It’s the most characteristic point in Gothenburg. It’s a skyscraper, which doesn’t resemble anything but Swedish called it red lipstick.

7.Drop into a bunker

Visit the Aeroseum – the former secret military base from the Cold War times.

It’s located close to the former Gothenburg airport, carved in a granite rock, several meters below the ground. Feel like a fighter pilot, seating behind the wheel and test yourself in the flight simulator.

8. How about a trip along Gothenburg canals?

Gothenburg is crisscrossed with canals which match perfectly with the rest of the city.

9. Fish only in the church

Where to go to eat a good fish in Gothenburg? Of course, to the Feskekôrka – fish church. It’s the biggest fish market in the city and called a church in view of its characteristic gothic façade. Although, the interior is much different than typical sacral one, the visit in this place will be for sure a spiritual experience for the fish lovers.

9 and a half reason for Surströmming

Surströmming is a famous Swedish fermented herring. You can buy it in supermarkets but it’s possible that you’ll have to ask for it the shop assistant (they’re usually stored in the storage room). We paid for this delicacy around 10€. Was it worth it? Well, to cut the long story short, if you want to break out of your comfort zone… don’t hesitate, just do it!

How does it smell? Maybe, let us present it graphically, imagine the long-term process of fermentation of the herring which is later put into the tin for further fermentation… The scale of this process is such a big that the tin has a typically convex bottom.

The taste is the same as the smell, I would rather not describe it in detail. But, to make matters worse, when you want to forget about this traumatic experience, after eating it, the awful smell of your own breath accompanies you for at least a few hours (much to the delight of other passengers travelling with you by public transport – we’ve checked it).

If you happen to like this delicacy, do not even think to transport it by a plane. The change of the air pressure may lead to explosion of the tin and the “marvelous herring aroma” guarantees emergency landing! Mind that even the process of opening it, pose a real challenge. Before all, in view of the possibility of the explosion and the terrible smell, never do it at home. According to the “safety procedure”, it should be done outside, preferably in the basin filled with water.