A city break to Gothenburg with kids is fun! Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city and located on the beautiful west coast. Founded in 1612 by King Gustav II Adolf, the city soon became a commercial center in the fields of fish trade and shipbuilding. You have enough fun activities in town for families to enjoy yourself for at least a few days in this city. Last summer we visited Gothenburg with our family during our tour of Denmark and Sweden. Following our visit to this Swedish city, we list for you the best children’s activities in Gotëborg.
Best travel time Gothenburg with kids
The best travel time to visit Gothenburg with kids is from May through September. These are the summer months in Sweden and that is when the temperature is the highest. It is then between 15 and 22 degrees. In terms of rainfall, there is about the same amount throughout the year, so you don’t really have to take this into account.
July and August are the busiest months in the city because of the international vacations, and then the prices of accommodations in the city can also be higher than in the other months of the year.
Transportation to Gothenburg
KLM offers several direct flights a day to Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport. This airport is located 20 km east of Gothenburg. A bus leaves for Central Station every 15 to 30 minutes (travel time is about 30 minutes). We ourselves drove by car through Denmark to Sweden and on the way back took the Stena Line night boat from Gothenburg to Kiel (Germany).
The boat ride was a real experience for the kids, as there is all kinds of things for kids to do on the boat. Among other things, you have a play corner for kids here and also a children’s disco. Because the port is close to the center of Gothenburg, travel time to the boat was short and the next day you get back in the car on your way home rested.
Gothenburg is a compact city so many attractions are within walking distance of each other, or a short distance by streetcar. In Gothenburg, you’ll find cute little blue streetcars running throughout the city. The kids counted as many as 100 in 1 afternoon.
Children’s activities Gothenburg
#1 Gothenburg City Museum
You can go to several fun museums in Gothenburg with kids. We visited a total of two with our kids. The first family-friendly museum we visited was the Gothenburg City Museum. Located very centrally in the city, this museum is a fun museum about the city’s history. In the basement you will find the prehistory and Viking department, including Viking ship and treasures.
Later in the museum, you will learn more about the origins of the city, in which the Dutch also played a role. There is also an exhibition of various costumes and vintage cars. In the city museum you also really have a children’s area, where young kids in particular can play very well.
There are good translations in English at the exhibits, giving you excellent information at the museum. Kids are free and adults pay about 6 euros per person.
#2 Slottsskogen Park
The Slottsskogen public park is a whopping 137 acres and is located south of downtown Gothenburg. Inside the park you will find a free animal park. The animal park focuses on animals from the surrounding area: from elk and deer to sheep, goats, seals and geese. There is also a penguin sanctuary and a petting zoo: Barnens Zoo.
The park is large so you can also enjoy hiking here. From the animal park, we walk to playground Plikta. The playground is spacious and offers entertainment for kids of all ages. All types of playground equipment are available. The high slide and the climbing apparatus in the shape of a whale ended up being favorites, so kids couldn’t help but go here.
Around the playground are plenty of opportunities to sit and picnic. There are restrooms and a small stall where you can buy drinks and ice cream. We ended up enjoying ourselves here for a whole day. The park is always open and free to visit. You will find several parking options around the park. These do come with a fee. In the park itself you will find a kiosk, restaurants and restrooms.
#3 Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is Gothenburg’s oldest museum and is located on the edge of Slottsskogen Park. You’ll find lots of stuffed animals from around the world, including the Malm Whale, the only stuffed whale in the world. The kids feast their eyes here. From stuffed birds and fish to lions and elephants. They even find a stuffed meerkat, their favorite animal!
Kids have free admission at this family-friendly museum in Gothenburg, and adults pay about €6 per person.
#4 Ocean Bus
Super fun to do in Gothenburg with kids is the Ocean Bus! This amphibious bus takes you past the city’s main attractions in 55 minutes. You also dive into the water and see city in a different way. In addition, there is a lot of music on this bus. Especially with young kids, this is an easy and nice way to see the city.
Another way to see the city is by hop on hop off bus. These green double-decker buses take an approximately 50-minute tour of the city, stopping at various points of interest. It’s a way to see a lot of the city in a short time and with kids, of course, an easy way since you don’t have to walk yourself.
#5 Liseberg Amusement Park
Liseberg is one of the most famous amusement parks in Sweden and attracts millions of visitors every year. The park is located in the heart of Gothenburg. In addition to roller coasters and other cool attractions, you’ll also find a complete kids’ area called Kaninlandet (the rabbit land) with a playground, restaurants and attractions specially adapted for kids. Consider, for example, a mini free-fall attraction and a monorail.
There is also a lot of focus on theater and music. The various stages in the park host regular shows. you can easily spend an entire day here if you are in Gothenburg with kids.
#6 Marstrand
Bohuslän is Sweden’s westernmost province and contains a large archipelago with more than 8,000 islands and reefs. The coastline is known for its smooth rocks and picturesque fishing villages. But the province also contains many forests, meadows and beautiful natural areas. On a sunny day, we visit the island of Marstrand, which is about 50 minutes north of Gothenburg.
We parked our car in the harbor and sailed across in 2 minutes. The harbor holds hundreds of boats and the kids feast their eyes while we enjoy a delicious cup of coffee on the terrace at Bergs Konditori.
From the port, we walk the 5-kilometer red hiking trail that goes around the entire island. We clamber up and immediately have a wonderful view of the coast and the many islands off the coast. The route then passes through the Trollskogen forest and finally arrives at the cliffs on the west coast of the island overlooking the Skallens lighthouse.
Some parts are a tough climb for the kids, but they love scrambling over the rocks and searching for rocks, and we enjoy the breathtaking views.
Marstrand’s biggest attraction is the mighty Carlstens Fortress, which dates back to the mid-17th century and towers over the island. Explore the fort on your own or with a guided tour. From here you also have beautiful views of the island and the surrounding area. In Marstrand harbor you will find several stores, cafes and restaurants. We enjoy a delicious ice cream after the walk and then get back on the ferry to the other side.
#7 Stångehuvud Naturreservat – Lysekil
Stångehuvud Naturreservat west of Lysekil is an hour and 40-minute drive from Gothenburg. Especially the kids find it a long car ride but we found it very worth it!
At Stångehuvud, which has been a nature reserve since 1982, the Bohus granite has its southernmost outcrop. The granite, formed some 920 million years ago, was highly sought after by quarrying companies in the second half of the 19th century. For nearly 50 years, granite was mined in parts of Stångehuvud.
Near the Pinneviksbadet (beach) we park the car and start a hike from here. The hike is marked with blue posts and then changes to white stripes. Soon we see the “red” rocks. What a beautiful area this is and we just keep taking pictures! We clambered up to the white beach house on the mountain to enjoy the view.
Along the way, we picnic on one of the many huge rocks. The kids love scrambling over the rocks and searching for rocks. In about 3.5 kilometers we walk around the reserve. Near the parking lot, the kids had already seen a beach so after walking we put on our swimming trunks and swam in the sea and played on the beach. A restroom and beach tent can be found at the beach.
#8 Tjörn
The west coast has many beautiful islands and towns and unfortunately we cannot visit all of them. On our last day of vacation, we choose to drive to the island of Tjörn (this is about a 45-minute drive north of Gothenburg).
Our first stop on Tjörn is a viewpoint on the south of the island. In the town of Rönnäng we park our car by the church. We have to look for a while to find the trail but eventually we find it, which is hidden between 2 houses. We scramble to the top. What a beautiful view of the coast of Tjörn and the castle of Marstrand (where we were before).
Our next stop : Sundsby Säteri. We hiked the 3.2-kilometer yellow trail here with our kids. The trail starts out flat and is a kind of shell path. An easy walk, the kids think. But soon we are going up and the scrambling begins. Along the way we encounter some trolls and the kids find another frog.
And then the biggest challenge of the route begins: passing between large rocks, over rocks, under rocks and a considerable steep climb down. The kids love it! Upon returning, I see on the information board that this trail is medium to strenuous, oops! There are several hiking trails for different levels here.
After walking, we did earn some treats. By car we drive a little further and end up at the Sundsby Säteri restaurant. A nice place with a cozy terrace surrounded by several red Swedish houses. You will find a restaurant as well as a bakery and an ice cream parlor. We opt for a delicious Swedish fika! What a wonderful ending to our vacation.
Other children’s activities Gothenburg
In addition to the children’s activities in Gothenburg described above, you can do even more in the city. We briefly list some of the other children’s activities in Gothenburg below.
#9 Universeum: This is a science museum dedicated to the universe. Kids can discover a lot here regarding nature and the body, and you will also find a lot of animals. In addition to the animals, you have many interactive exhibits here and kids can also just enjoy playing here.
This is also a great children’s activity in Gothenburg if the weather is a little cooler and you still want to do something. For more information, check out Universeum’s website.
#10 Världskulturmuseet: this museum is in the same location as Universeum and therefore these two family-friendly museums are great to combine if you are taking a city trip to Gothenburg with kids. Kids can learn about all kinds of cultures from around the world here.
#11 The Garden Society of Gothenburg: this is a beautiful city park, where you can have a great walk with kids in Gothenburg. You have beautiful trees and plants here and it is possible to have a bite to eat and a drink in this city park.
Family-friendly restaurant Gothenburg
You can have great food and drink in Gothenburg with kids. You have plenty of family-friendly restaurants you can go to in the city. We list some of these family-friendly restaurants in Gothenburg below.
You have lots of international restaurants in the city, including several Indian restaurants. Examples of well-reviewed Indian restaurants in Gothenburg include Indian Masala, Bombay Street and Daawat Masthugget.
And Deli Haga: for lovers of vegetarian food, this restaurant is a good option. This is a great place to take kids downtown for a healthy lunch. You can choose the dishes yourself from the counter, which means you can also eat quickly with kids.
Magazzino: this is a popular Italian restaurant in Góteborg serving pasta and pizza. The desserts will also delight kids. There may be a line at the door of the restaurant at busy times.
Family-friendly hotel Gothenburg
Gothenburg is a big city and you can also spend a great night here with the family. We list some of these family-friendly accommodations in Gothenburg below. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Linnéplatsens Hotell & Vandrarhem
Middle class accommodation: Scandic Europa
Luxury accommodation: Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Gothenburg.
About the author: Sanne, Dimitri, Melle (7) and Vigo (5) toured Denmark and Sweden. You can follow this family on their Instagram page Sanne_travel.
