As Sweden's second largest city and ancient port town, Gothenburg is a vibrant, bustling place. Its city centre — littered with Michelin-star restaurants — is easily explored on foot and has a renowned music scene and a bohemian coffeehouse culture. Best known is the Liseburg amusement park, dating back to 1923, and the largest of its kind in Scandinavia. In time for British Airways' new route to Gothenburg, we reveal ten great reasons to visit the city.
1. Have a swanky stay at Avalon
Harmony reigns at Sweden's only feng shui-certified hotel. As a Design Hotel, it has the prerequisite funky interiors - swathes of light wood, splashes of colour and a rooftop pool. Look out for the new outdoor restaurant due to open in spring next year. avalonhotel.se
2. Go explore in Slottsskogen Park
Shed the travel dust with a stroll through this huge park, where there's tons to explore: a zoo, a Swedish heritage area, a playground
and acres of land. goteborg.se/slottsskogen
3. Feast your way around Fond
Modern showstopping Scandinavian cuisine using as many locally produced ingredients as possible is the idea behind this award-winning restaurant. fondrestaurang.com
4. Get a round in at Krakow
This cosy Polish restaurant gets packed nightly with locals who adore the tasty Eastern European beers and Polish dishes such as
potato pancakes topped with beef ragout. +46 (0)31 20 33 74
5. Fish out a dish at Sjobaren Haga
This seafood restaurant is found in Haga, one of the oldest and most charming parts of the city. It serves freshly caught fish at affordable prices in rustic surroundings. Try the fish soup (£8), a wonderful lunchtime treat. sjobaren.se
6. Refuel at Le Petit Cafe
This pastel-coloured café serves an awesome breakfast and the best coffees. And you'll be hard-pressed to move from the comfy chairs and sofas. +46 (0)31 13 20 85
7. Splurge at Nudie Jeans Company
In recent years Sweden has arrived on the fashion radar, and hipster denim brand Nudie hails from here. Visit their flagship store and stock up on the must-have label. nudiejeans.com/vallgatan
8. Chill out at Hagabadet
Float your troubles away in the main pool at this gorgeous Jugend-style public bath. There's also a spa for typical Swedish treatments and restaurant so you can make a day of it. hagabadet.se
9. Drink and be merry at Bjorns Bar
Great wines by the glass and an assortment of gourmet bar snacks such as duck liver, oysters and fine cheese has earned this tiny cellar bar a loyal following. kockvin.se/bjorns-bar
10. Dance the night away at Pustervik
There's always something shaking at this 'culture' club: discussions, dance, edgy live music, poetry readings and, of course, the popular ping-pong disco nights. pusterviksbaren.se
From next month, BA flies to Gothenburg from London Heathrow. Visit ba.com.
