From hometown hero to superstar

Håkan Hellström shot to fame, seemingly out of nowhere, in the year 2000 with his debut album Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg. Since its release, the beloved artist has had a motion picture made based on his music, played club gigs in New York and Berlin, set a new Nordic concert crowd record when he played at the arena Ullevi in Gothenburg 2025 (73 781), and has received numerous awards and accolades. Oh, and British megastars Coldplay even covered a bit of his hit single Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg during their Gothenburg gig (in Swedish, sort of).

Håkan Hellström performs at the arena Ullevi. Credit: Beatrice Törnros

Håkan Hellström was born and raised in Gothenburg and both the city itself and its thriving music scene in the 90s have had a significant impact on his music. A recurring theme throughout his music has been the city of Gothenburg. The late nights at indie clubs, trips to the beautiful archipelago and the scenic views of the city have all inspired well known lyrics. Håkan Hellström’s fame is such that many of the places he mentions become part of a fan pilgrimage of sorts. 

Gothenburg welcomes all Håkan fans with a warm heart with a guide to some of the many Gothenburg locations that feature in his music and what to do when you’re there.

A lilac bush in the foreground and older stone houses in the background.
Vasastaden is dominated by beautiful and well-preserved turn-of-the-century stone houses built between 1870 and 1920. Credit: Klara Hammerth/Göteborg & Co

Location: The neighbourhood Vasastaden

Vasastaden is a beautiful neighbourhood in the middle of Gothenburg. The main street Vasagatan is always bustling with life and the surrounding cityscape is made up mostly of stone houses dating back to around 1870–1920. The neighbourhood recurs several times in Håkan Hellström’s music. ‘Vasastan is like Chinatown’ is a catchphrase from the song Magiskt med tragiskt. The lush park Vasaparken behind the main building of the University of Gothenburg is the location where Håkan was yearning for love in the song Atombomb. And if you walk from the park along Vasagatan, you will soon pass the school Schillerska Gymnasium that Håkan sings about in Livets teater.

Vasastaden – campus life, art galleries and a tree-lined boulevard

The neighbourhood where student life meets the art world. The School of Business and Economics and University of Gothenburg are located in one end of Vasagatan and the Academy of Design and Crafts in the other. This means you will find great places for post-exam beers, as well as art galleries and great restaurants.

Outdoor seating on the street Andra Långgatan in Gothenburg.
The neighbourhood around the square Järntorget is a hub of Gothenburg’s cultural and nightlife. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: The streets Första långgatan och Andra långgatan

The bar-lined street Andra långgatan is located just a short walk from the impressive stone houses of the neighbourhood Vasastan and Jazzhuset.

Andra långgatan is one of the main night life hubs in Gothenburg and a favourite among thirsty locals and revelling visitors. The street is mentioned in Håkan Hellström’s song Kom igen Lena, and featured in the 2013 motion picture Känn ingen sorg based on his music. The parallel street Första långgatan is mentioned in the song Dom där jag kommer ifrån.

Grab a seat at one of the many bars on the street and sit and watch people come and go. You’re likely to hear at least one Hellström song.

Järntorget & Långgatorna – trendy and relaxed hub

The area around the square Järntorget, and especially the four parallell streets Långgatorna, is a hub for the alternative and relaxed life. Enjoy a drink with friends, grab a bite to eat or go for theatre or a gig.

A gravel road surrounded by trees and flowers in the park Slottsskogen in Gothenburg.
Azaleas belongs to the rhododendron genus and has become a hallmark of the park Slottsskogen through the lush and romantic valley Azaleadalen. Enjoy the colourful bloom during May and early June. Credit: Klara Hammerth/Göteborg & Co

Location: Slottsskogen City Park

Slottsskogen city park is a favourite among locals and when you see the vast green open spaces it’s not hard to understand why. The valley Azaleadalen where the azaleas bloom in May/early June is a popular spot in the park. In the song Valborg Hellström suggests that it’s so beautiful, it’s impossible not to fall in love when you’re there.

Slottsskogen city park also hosts the annual music festival Way Out West where Håkan has performed several times, along with several international superstars.

A gravel road surrounded by trees and flowers in the park Slottsskogen in Gothenburg.

Park

Slottsskogen city park

Slottsskogen is a place for relaxation, recreation, and outdoor life – a wonderful spot for everything from jogging to cosy picnics.

The courtyard on the street Magasinsgatan in Gothenburg.
The neighbourhood around the street Magasinsgatan is full of life and activity. Many of Gothenburg’s most popular shops and restaurants are located here. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: The street Magasinsgatan

The area around the street Magasinsgatan used to be full of clubs, including one where Håkan Hellström unsuccessfully tried to impress a woman in the song Magasinsgatan. Today, it’s an area with trendy interior design and fashion shops well worth a visit, with just a couple of late night haunts left. Visit the inspiring shops around Magasinsgatan, not least Artilleriet, one of the most influential design shops in Sweden.

Interior of the design shop Artilleriet in Gothenburg.
Magasinsgatan – stylish shopping and cosy courtyards

Magasinsgatan is a given destination for shopping and coffee as well as eating out or grabbing a drink when the evening comes. Trendy shops, restaurants and bars all offer something special, no matter if it comes to barista skills, local clothing brands or restaurant decor.

Location: The quay Gullbergs kaj

The song Mitt Gullbergs kaj paradis describes Håkan walking along the docks of the quay Gullbergs kaj, one of his favourite spots in Gothenburg. The dock is home to rusty boats, debris and ships undergoing maintenance.

Exterior of the Feskekörka building in Gothenburg. Sweden.
The iconic Feskekörka fish market got its name thanks to its gothic church-like architecture. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: Feskekörka

The famous fish market Feskekôrka (the fish church) is located in the middle of Gothenburg. The building is inspired by gothic churches and offers fresh fish and sea food of the highest quality. Make sure you don’t miss it while in Gothenburg. Feskekôrka gets name-checked in Håkan Hellström’s song Tro och tvivel.

Exterior of the Feskekörka building in Gothenburg. Sweden.

Iconic fish market hall

Feskekörka

Feskekörka is one of Gothenburg’s most famous landmarks and attractions. In this famous fish market hall, visitors will find all the delicacies of the sea and several restaurants and bars.

Turn-of-the-century villas in a row along the water at Långedrag in Gothenburg.
Långedrag has welcomed bathers and summer residents since the mid-19th century. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: Långedrag

Tro och tvivel also takes us out to the tip of the Saltholmen peninsula and Långedrag, where Håkan sang about sitting with the pensioners, cursing the young people passing by.

Långedragsvärdshus by the water taken from above. The picture shows the outdoor seating and the large harbor.

Restaurant by the water

Långedrag Värdshus

The inn located in Långedrag harbour.

Marina on the archipelago island of Brännö in Gothenburg.
The island Brännö in Gothenburg’s southern archipelago is celebrated in the Håkan Hellström song Brännö serenad. Credit: Steampipe Production Studio AB/ Göteborg & Co

Location: Brännö

From Saltholmen, you can get a ferry to Brännö, the idyllic archipelago island that gave name to Håkan’s song Brännö serenad. Go dancing at the famous Brännö brygga, immortalized by singer/songwriter Lasse Dahlquist.

Archipelago island

Brännö

An island famous for its traditional summer dances and child-friendly beaches.

Vinga Lighthouse is a famous landmark in Gothenburg.
The island of Vinga is the westernmost of all the Gothenburg archipelago islands. The island is famous for its lighthouse and beautiful nature. Credit: Amanda Båmstedt

Location: Vinga

If you keep going further out in the archipelago you’ll eventually reach Vinga, the westernmost island of the archipelago. It’s also the island where famous composer and singer Evert Taube was born. Håkan is a big admirer of Evert Taube and the island of Vinga gets a mention in the jaunty Saknade te havs.

Visit the childhood home of Evert Taube, today a popular museum. You can reach the island with different boat tour operators.

Archipelago island

Vinga

A much loved island, famous for its lighthouse and scenic nature.

Bengans record store by Stigberget in Gothenburg..
Bengans record store by Stigberget. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: Stigberget

The square Stigbergstorget and the street Stigbergsliden are located in the western parts of the city centre, and mentioned in the song Zigenarliv dreamin’. From here you’ll be able to view the rolling street Karl Johansgatan and you’ll spot the bridge Älvsborgsbron in the distance. Discover the cosy area around the square, with its music scene, cafés and restaurants.

Stigberget – vibrant cultural scene and green restaurants

The area surrounding the square Stigbergstorget teems with local music, outdoor areas, and historical surroundings. Once a neighbourhood just outside the city centre, the square has now transformed into a meeting place for those seeking to immerse themselves in Gothenburg’s thriving food and cultural scene.

Location: The arena Gamla Ullevi

Sports are a big part of Gothenburg and the city hosts several professional teams in many different sports, among them football. Håkan Hellström was a promising young player for the green and black-striped GAIS, and he still supports the club. GAIS has adopted the song Gårdakvarnar och skit as their anthem, and it’s played when the players enter the pitch of the home stadium Gamla Ullevi.

Drone footage over Gamla Ullevi arena.

Football Stadium

Gamla Ullevi arena

Football has been played at Gamla Ullevi arena since the early 1900s. Generations of locals have gathered here to cheer on their teams and experience unforgettable matches.

Two people are sitting at the pier under the bridge Älvsborgsbron in Gothenburg.
From the jetty at Röda sten you have a good view point towards Hisingen. Credit: Happy Visuals/Göteborg & Co

Location: Hisingen

The northern part of Gothenburg, Hisingen, gets a mention in När lyktorna tänds. It’s a rather large island and home to many great spots. Go up the hill Ramberget, from where you’ll get a splendid view of the Gothenburg skyline and the river Göta älv. Go for a walk along the waterfront from Lindholmen to Eriksberg or head to the neighbourhood Kvillebäcken and check out all the tasty treats at the market hall Kville saluhall.

Eriksberg & Lindholmen – riverside innovation and experiences

The former ship-yard district on the northern banks of the river has been transformed into wide-stretched quays, new residential areas, restaurants, cafés and theatres. Go for a stroll along the water and see some of the newest neighbourhoods in town, while feeling the breeze from the river.

Kvillebäcken – foodie heaven in a bohemic atmosphere

More and more people are discovering the neighbourhood around Kvillebäcken in Hisingen, where genuine food from Peru, the Balkans and the Middle East is mixed with charming vintage shops and cosy cafés. In ‘Kville’ you will find a bohemic atmosphere – like in Berlin’s Neukölln or New York’s Williamsburg – and the tram journey here, with a dazzling view from the bridge Hisingsbron, is an attraction in itself.

Location: The street Nordhemsgatan

Head to the neighbourhood of Linnéstaden and position yourself at the intersection of Nordenskiöldsgatan and Nordhemsgatan. From here, you’ll have a clear view of Gothenburg’s steepest street – famously sung about by Håkan Hellström as the one ‘that leads up to heaven’.

Drone image looking over the streets and buildings of Linné
Linnéstaden – vibrant nightlife and turn-of-the-century buildings

Linnéstaden, commonly known as Linné, is a laid-back neighourhood with plenty of local charm. By day a tempting mix of independent shops and cafés and by night a bustling borough with eateries and bars.

Götaplatsen with the statue Poseidon and Gothenburg City Theatre.
Götaplatsen, known for the statue Poseidon by Carl Milles, is home to several cultural institutions – such as the Gothenburg City Theatre, the Gothenburg Museum of Art, and the Gothenburg Concert Hall. Credit: Peter Kvarnström/Göteborg & Co

Location: The main boulevard Avenyn

The song 2 steps from paradise from 2010 inspires to a Hellström-esque experience: lace up a pair of skates and cross Gothenburg’s main boulevard Avenyn. Maybe towards the suare Götaplatsen where you can take a lap around Poseidon and then visit one of the many the cultural institutions here – the Gothenburg City Theatre, the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the Gothenburg Concert Hall, and the Gothenburg City Library.

Avenyn – Gothenburg’s main boulevard

Kungsportsavenyen, commonly known as Avenyn, stretches from the bridge Kungsportsbron by the canal to Götaplatsen and the Museum of Art, the City Theatre and the Concert Hall. The main boulevard is busy all day until late.