Big Bites, Bigger Coasters: A Full Day in Gothenburg
We were up bright and early for an 8:10 a.m. reservation at Saluhallen, the massive buffet restaurant right downstairs in our hotel. It had everything: fresh crepes, hot breakfast options, delicious wild berry yogurt, and endless coffee and juice.
After fueling up, we hopped on the tram to make it in time for our 10:30 a.m. Oceanbus tour—and it was absolutely worth it. The tour kicked off with a drive around Gothenburg while our hilarious guide filled us in on local history and fun facts. We saw statues of key historical figures, the university where one of Spotify’s co-founders studied, the site of major protests during George W. Bush’s visit, and a stunning rose garden that’s won a rare three-star Michelin rating. But the real excitement came when the bus drove into the water. We braced ourselves, splashed in, and suddenly we were floating—sailing around the harbor with views of islands and city landmarks from the sea.
The fun didn’t stop there. After we returned to dry land (and after a quick bus tire incident involving a large rock), we took the tram to Feskekôrka, Gothenburg’s famous fish market hall, which just reopened after a two-year renovation. The girls ordered the freshest fish sticks of their lives, while Chris and I enjoyed perfectly prepared white fish and salmon.
From there, I had one goal: Fika. We walked over to Haga again and found our way to Café Husaren, home of the legendary Swedish cinnamon roll, the kanelbulle. Paired with coffee, it was everything I hoped it would be—cozy, sweet, and very Swedish.
In the afternoon, we headed into Liseberg Amusement Park—and it definitely lived up to the hype. It’s known as one of the best amusement parks in Europe, and it didn’t disappoint. Aurie and Brooke tackled their first big roller coaster and crushed it! We also rode the log flume, Turbo, Tempus, and more—energy was high and lines were short.
By 7:30, we were ready to wind down. We had an 8:15 p.m. dinner reservation back at Saluhallen, and it was the perfect ending to the day. Another buffet, this time with even more options—including traditional Swedish sausages. Brooke ran up for a quick shower before dinner, and we all gathered for one final, delicious meal before heading to bed.
