Hello from Gothenburg!

This hello is 3 weeks late, but honestly, it’s been busy and… interesting (for the lack of better a better word).

We have a few days of sunshine and blue sky last week, and even a stroke of luck as the heatwave said hello (fleetingly, before leaving us quicker than I’d expected). But the few warm days granted me the chance to explore the city in all its glory, and I have to say, Gothenburg is more beautiful than I thought.

I’d always thought I’d never like living in a big city, but Gothenburg might have just changed that. I’ve explored a few places in my first 3 weeks here, and while there are a lot more things the city has to offer, checking a few things off on the Gothenburg’s must-visit list is a good start.

So I’ll take you to a quick walk around Gothenburg, and for you who are planning to visit, please feel free to include this on your must-see list! 🙂

Haga

Haga, the old town, is where you can find traces of Gothenburg in the bygone era. With pebbled streets, cozy cafés and lovely little shops, and old buildings, this place has a charm on its own. Strolling along Haga is something that I always say yes too, and I usually end it with a fika in Café Husaren, which serves humongous cinnamon buns (it’s seriously huge, I usually eat it with 2-3 other people).

Hagakyrkan

Skansen Kronan

Just a short uphill walk from Haga, there’s Skansen Kronan, a fortress perched on a hill which overlooks the city. Sitting on the top of this fortress is a big crown, which is how Skansen Kronan got its name (kronan = the crown). In another part of the city, there’s another fortress called Skansen Lejonet, with a lion stands proudly on top of the tower.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of Skansen Kronan (I’m still asking myself why), but I do have a photo of the amazing view from this place.

The view of Gothenburg in the snow, taken last December in Skansen Kronan.

Järntorget

Järntorget (The Iron Square) used to be a place where all the irons were weighed before being shipped to places around the world. Now it’s a busy hub surrounded by pubs and cafes, and it’s only a stone’s throw away from Haga.

Järntorgsbrunnen (The Well of the Iron Square), stands grandly in the center of the square. At a glance, it looks just like another pretty fountain, but it was actually built with symbols and stories. Around the fountain, there are sculptures a ship on top of the fountain and 5 women around the well. These 5 women represent the 5 continents: Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America. It is said that Gothenburg aimed to be the hub for world trades, and this fountain paints this vision.

Järntorgsbrunnen

Feskekörka

Feskekörka, also known as the fish church, is actually a fish market. As the name suggests, the building is like a church, but apparently, it was never intended to be a church. Stepping inside, stalls with fresh seafood filled the building, and going here feels like shopping in a church. It’s a weird feeling, but not in a bad way!

Feskekörka is located on the edge of a canal, and on a sunny and warm day, it’s a lovely place to hang out to enjoy the sun.

The unique statues in front of The Fish Church.

Inside The Fish Church.

Kungsparken

Walking along the canal from Feskekörka to the direction of Kungsportsplatsen, you’ll find Kungsparken (The King’s Park) on the right side, across the canal. I’ve seen a lot of people having picnics here when the temperature was fleetingly warm last week, so I’m looking forward to going here in the summer with cold drinks, chips, and a book.

Götaplatsen

I just realize that I don’t have any picture of this square, except this photo with my parents when they visited a few weeks ago.

Götaplatsen is a square famous for being the cultural hub of Gothenburg, but there’s also one more thing it’s famous for: the naked Poseidon statue right in the center of the square. It’s surrounded by the City Library, Gothenburg’s Museum of Art, Gothenburg’s Concert Hall, Gothenburg’s City Theater.

You can climb the steps of the Museum of Art and have a view of the long avenue right in front of you, with the buildings in the background. It’s nice in the day as it is in the night.

Slottsskogen

This park is enormous, and maybe one would need a lifetime to explore every nook and cranny. I went here last weekend when Tough Viking was going on (it looked so much fun that I was almost tempted to sign up for it next year). We only explored a teeny tiny bit of it, and there’s obviously so much I haven’t seen, so I can guarantee I’ll come back here to see more of Slottsskogen.

Funny story, a bird shat on me just after this photo was taken. My sister was howling with laughter before offering me her camisole. I changed right there in the park (she said, “This is Sweden, no one would care.” And yes, nobody batted an eyelid).

The moment before a ‘parcel’ landed on my right arm. I posted the photos after the incident on my Instagram, @dixiezetha.

Gothia Towers

We went to Heaven 23 at Gothia Towers to celebrate my sister’s graduation, and the view from this place was just amazing. I remember sipping my wine and staring at the twinkling lights of the city below me, thinking, I can’t believe this is home now.

Obviously, this is not all that Gothenburg has to offer. There are Botaniska, Trädgårdsföreningen, and many other beautiful places in and around Gothenburg that I have yet to explore. I’ll show more of Gothenburg on this blog, so watch this space!

P.S. Please excuse the low-quality photos, they were all taken with just my phone (except the ones from Skansen Kronan). I’ll put more effort and bring my camera the next time I explore the city, because I sometimes feel my phone camera doesn’t do Gothenburg justice.