Where to stay

Gothia Towers sits in the heart of Gothenburg’s event district, right next to Liseberg, and offers connecting rooms, social spaces with table tennis and shuffleboard, as well as a restaurant with panoramic city views. For those who want to stay close to shopping and dining, Elite Park Avenue is an excellent choice, with Avenyn’s restaurants and boutiques just outside the door, plus a pool and sauna for unwinding after a busy day.

Spar Hotel Gårda is a budget-friendly and central option with family rooms and games such as table tennis and billiards. Home Hotel Odin is within walking distance of the Central Station and Nordstan, offering cosy family rooms, a spacious lobby for relaxing together, and easy tram access to the charming streets of Haga.

ISO 20121 certified four star hotel

Gothia Towers

Four-star, ISO-certified hotel with 1200 hotel rooms and five restaurants.

Eco-certified hotel

Elite Park Avenue Hotel

Elite Park Avenue Hotel is a four-star hotel located on Gothenburg’s main boulevard, Avenyn. From here, you are close to the city’s wide range of restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Green Key-certified hotel

Spar Hotel Gårda

Affordable and comfortable accommodation in the eastern city center, only 20 minutes on foot from the central station.

ISO-certified hotel

Home Hotel Odin

A relaxed oasis right next to the central station.

Where to eat

Gothenburg offers plenty of trendy restaurants, brunch spots and cafés that suit every family member — and look great in photos too.

At Evolushi, you’ll find stylish sushi dishes that are as photogenic as they are delicious. Brunch is a favourite among both teens and adults, and places like Brunchoteket and Heurlins serve highly Instagram-friendly brunch plates that cater to every taste — don’t miss Heurlins’ incredible dessert table. For even more picture-perfect surroundings, head to Walk in the Park, where you step into a park-inspired indoor setting filled with plants and fairy lights, and can enjoy excellent pizza.

Brunch restaurant

Brunchoteket Linnégatan

Brunch all day, every day.

Inside a restaurant with dark red curtains and a orange plastic monkey standing beside a window.

ISO-certified bar and café

Heurlins

On the entrance floor of Hotel Draken, you will find this bistro, bar and cafe with street food from the sea, local drinks and elegant pastries.

Italian restaurant

Walk in the park

Restaurant with an outdoor feeling – indoors.

A building with a lot of flags hanging from it's roof.

Food market in historic settings

Lindholmen Street Food Market

Market with street food from all corners of the world in an old shipyard building. Choose dishes from the different cuisines and eat together in a unique historical environment.

For something bold and truly unique, stop by Café Husaren and try their famous Hagabulle – Sweden’s largest cinnamon bun and an absolute must-photo treat. If you want to combine good food with games and activities, STAR Bowling is a great choice. Here you’ll find bowling, darts, arcade games, rodeo and pentathlon challenges all under one roof. Keep in mind that there is a 20+ age limit on Fridays and Saturdays after 8pm.

Café

Café Husaren

Café famous for their enormous cinnamon buns.

Bowling

STAR

Entertainment Palace with bowling, shuffleboard and american food.

Adventure and adrenaline

Theme parks and adventure parks

Liseberg offers everything from high-speed roller coasters to games, challenges and funfair competitions – ideal for spending a full day together. If you’d rather test your fear of heights outdoors, Upzone Adventure Park is perfect, with high-ropes courses and ziplining through the treetops.

Amusement park

Liseberg amusement park

There is something for everyone at Liseberg, where you’ll find the most fun in Scandinavia. Forty-two rides and attractions offer thrills, spills and laughter for kids and grown-ups.

Two girls with helmets on climbing a high altitude trail

High-altitude trails in Gothenburg

Upzone Adventure Park

An adventure with ziplines and high-altitude trails for the whole family!

Escape rooms

Gothenburg has several escape rooms where you work together, think fast and challenge yourselves as a team. At Berengaria Escape Room you step into the largest escape room experience in the Nordics, while Game Over Escape Rooms offers themed adventures inspired by worlds like The Walking Dead and Haunted Mansion. For an experience similar to Fort Boyard, Prison Island is a great option, where you compete in teams to solve as many cell challenges as possible before time runs out.

Escape Rooms in Gothenburg

Escape rooms have grown immensely popular in the past few years and in Gothenburg there are lots of exciting options to choose from. Go looking for a stolen painting, escape from prisons and asylums, plan a diamond heist or defend yourself against zombies! Here’s a list of escape rooms for every taste and age.

Step into new worlds

If you’re after something a little different, Paradox Museum is filled with optical illusions, mind-bending rooms and playful installations – perfect for both laughs and brilliant photo opportunities. VR arenas like VR World take things even further, letting you step straight into entirely new digital worlds.

Another fast-paced option is Laserdome, where you can run off some energy and compete in neon-lit arenas. When it’s time to slow the pace, head to Universeum, home to everything from rainforest environments and aquariums to space exhibits and Wisdome – Sweden’s largest 360-degree dome for immersive visual experiences. Nordstan also houses Activate Nordstan, an interactive game and activity centre where physical and digital games are combined in challenges for both groups and families.

Two people appear to be aboard a spaceship and are walking around in a white, illuminated cube that rotates.

Museum

Paradox Museum Gothenburg

A museum of fascinating paradoxes, illusions and interactive experiences.

Two people are laughing together while one of them is wearing a VR headset in a room with blue lighting.

VR-arcade

VR World Gothenburg

Explore new worlds through virtual reality.

Indoor activity centre

Laserdome Sport Center

Science museum

Universeum

Welcome to 9,000 m2 of adventure

Three girls playing an interactive game.

Activity centre

Activate Nordstan (opening soon)

Activate Nordstan is an interactive game and activity centre in Gothenburg where physical and digital challenges meet in exciting game experiences.

Shopping

Shopping is a favourite activity for most teenagers, and Gothenburg is perfect for all kinds of shopping. At Hede Outlet, you can pick up branded clothes at great prices, while Nordstan and Femman are centrally located, bringing most shops under one roof. In the same area around Fredstan and Arkaden, there is also a wide range of stores such as Sephora and Normal, as well as the second-hand favourite Beyond Retro. Nearby, NK also attracts visitors with trendy brands.

Shopping centre

Nordstan

Large shopping mall close to the central station.

Shopping mall

Arkaden

More than 20 fashion and design stores.

Department store

NK – Nordiska Kompaniet

One of Sweden´s most famous department stores.

vintage clothing

Beyond Retro

Right in the city centre, you’ll find Sweden’s largest vintage store. Beyond Retro offers over 15,000 pieces, from Levis jeans to 90s branded sportswear.

The city also offers a wide range of second-hand shops for teenagers looking for something unique and sustainable. Erikshjälpen in Rosenlund is one of the largest and best-stocked stores in the city, while Björkåfrihet in Linné is restocked daily with retro-inspired items. Right in the city centre, Stadsmissionen is perfect for quick finds during a shopping trip, and at Järntorget you’ll find Myrorna, a classic for both clothing and accessories.

Charity shop in central Gothenburg

Erikshjälpen Rosenlund

Spacious second-hand store on the street Rosenlundsgatan, offering clothing, household items and home decor. New items are added daily.

A selection of second hand clothes at Björfrihet in Linné.

Vintage store in Linné

Björkåfrihet Linnégatan

Second-hand and vintage shop offering retro fashion and curiosities. From clothes to books and home décor- there’s something new to discover every day.

Second hand shopping

Myrorna

A multi‑storey second‑hand shop at Järntorget filled with clothes, furniture and finds galore. A paradise for anyone who loves vintage, bargains and sustainable shopping.

For the active teenager

If you’re travelling with a teenager who loves to stay active, Gothenburg offers plenty of opportunities to play sports, compete, and take on challenges together.

Activities all year round

At Gokartcentralen, you can challenge each other on the go-kart track, and there’s also 4D VR with wind, heat, and vibrations that take your adventure to a whole new level. If you want to stay longer, there’s shuffleboard, arcade games, and billiards, and the central location makes it easy to combine with other activities.

If you want to try something that builds both strength and teamwork, indoor climbing is a great option. At Klätterdomen in Gothenburg, you can climb together with an instructor, and for a day trip, Grepp in Lerum is a popular choice. For a more relaxed competition, Slice offers family ping pong on Saturdays.

Go kart

Gokartcentralen

Centrally located indoor go-kart track.

Climbing

Klätterdomen

Gothenburg’s largest indoor climbing centre.

Climbing gym in Lerum

Grepp

Expansive and family-Friendly climbing gym in Lerum, just outside Gothenburg

Bar & pingis

Slice

Table tennis, pizza and bar at Kungsportsplatsen in central Gothenburg.

Outdoor activities

When the weather allows, there are plenty of outdoor activities for families with teenagers. Challenge each other on the 18-hole football golf courses at Rävgården, or try disc golf and adventure mini-golf in Slottskogen. If you want to get even closer to nature, several places offer kayak rentals, allowing you to explore Gothenburg from the water. For paddling right in the city centre, you can try Plums Kajakuthyrning, just a stone’s throw from the central station.

Popular minigolf course

Slottsskogens Äventyrsgolf

This adventurous minigolf course is one of Sweden’s most visited facilities. Challenge your friends on one of the two different courses.

Canoe and kayak rentals

Plums Kayak Center

Classes, guided tours and kayaks for rent on a central location.

Spa and relaxation

Looking to treat the whole family with some luxury? A visit to a spa could be just the thing, and Gothenburg offers several options. Sankt Jörgen Spa provides a peaceful environment just outside the city centre and welcomes guests from 13 years old when accompanied by an adult. For teenagers aged 15 and up, Upper House Spa is a great choice, with its spectacular glass pools and stunning views high above the city. The same age limit applies at Arken Hotel & Art Garden Spa, making it easy to relax together. Obie Spa at Draken near Järntorget has a modern vibe and welcomes guests from 16 years old, as does Hagabadet in the city centre, a convenient option to combine with dinner out.

Nordic Swan Ecolabelled spa hotel

Sankt Jörgen Park

The resort hotel Sankt Jörgen Park is located just outside central Gothenburg. Here, you can enjoy the signature spa ritual, a spacious pool area, golf course, a range of activities, and several restaurants offering varied dining experiences.

5 star spa

Upper House Spa

A luxurious spa high above the city with breathtaking views of Gothenburg, soothing pools, saunas and treatments. Relaxation right in the city centre.

Spa hotel certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel

Arken Hotel & Art Garden Spa

Arken Hotel & Art Garden Spa is a spa hotel that combines relaxation, nature and proximity to the sea. It offers a mobile-free spa experience, seasonally inspired food and a family spa during the school holidays – just 15 minutes from central Gothenburg.

Spa

Clarion Obie Spa

Clarion Hotel Draken’s own spa.

Spa & gym

Hagabadet

An iconic oasis in the heart of Haga, with a focus on quality of life. Enjoy warm baths, yoga, saunas and training in a historic setting from 1876.

Nature and day trips

If you want to get away from the city, a trip to the archipelago is one of Gothenburg’s top nature experiences, easily accessible and packed with things to do. Swim, relax and soak up the sun, enjoy a spa visit, or have a delicious meal right by the sea.

archipelago with people standing on a cliff next to a light house when the sun is going down.

The northern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago

Just a short trip from central Gothenburg, the tranquillity of the archipelago awaits. The northern part of the archipelago offers everything from coastal villages to untouched cliffs and secluded coves. With short distances between the islands, it’s easy to plan a tour, even over a weekend. Here’s a guide to the ten islands that make up the northern archipelago.

The southern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago

Curious about what the islands in the southern archipelago has to offer? If you’re looking for good food, impressive outdoor experiences and relaxation then this is the place to go. Get inspired and explore the different islands in our guide.

On warm days, you can cool off and explore beneath the surface of the sea. At Hummerviken on Öckerö, you can dive among seaweed, fish, and crabs – all you need are swimwear and a snorkel. Another option is to follow a snorkel trail, where small buoys mark an underwater route with information about life beneath the waves. One such trail is at the Amundön bathing area, which is also a fantastic destination above water, with cliffs, ladders for swimming, a beach, and lovely walking paths.

Nature area

Stora Amundön

Nature area with swimming, hiking and snorkeling trails.

Archipelago island

Öckerö

Öckerö is both an island in the northern part of the Gothenburg archipelago and the name of the municipality that includes ten inhabited islands.

A crowded arena with people watching a horse show. — Credit: Johan Lilja

Events

Gothenburg is a lively city all year round, and for families with teenagers there’s often something extra to look forward to. The Gothenburg Horse Show draws audiences of all ages at the start of each year with world-class competitions and performances. In the summer, Way Out West fills Slottskogen with music, performances, and an incredible atmosphere, welcoming teenagers aged 13 and up when accompanied by an adult.

Equestrian competitions

Gothenburg Horse Show 2026

Scandinavium

18Feb

Feb18

People in summer clothes on a sunny day during Way Out West 2022.

Music festival

Way Out West 2026

Slottsskogen city park

13Aug

Aug13

Keep an eye out for the city’s recurring events, such as Göteborgskalaset, where concerts, food, and activities spread across central Gothenburg every late summer. Liseberg’s concerts also often feature artists that appeal to a younger audience – perfect for teenagers experiencing live music, perhaps for the first time.

A massive crowd fills Götaplatsen during an outdoor concert. People stand packed in front of the stage, with the city’s iconic buildings—such as the Art Museum and the City Theatre—surrounding the square. The day is clear, and the whole area buzzes with a lively festival atmosphere.

Free and open to everyone

Göteborgskalaset 2026 – Gothenburg’s City Festival

Gothenburg

27Aug

Aug27

Amusement park

Liseberg amusement park

There is something for everyone at Liseberg, where you’ll find the most fun in Scandinavia. Forty-two rides and attractions offer thrills, spills and laughter for kids and grown-ups.

Klätterdomen

More like Klätterdomen

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