With the 2025 edition of Nordic Summit just around the corner, it’s time to spotlight the host city, Gothenburg. Whether you have a few hours to spare or a full day to explore, here are some tips to help you make the most of your visit.
FIKA Culture Explained
When visiting Sweden, you might want to get a taste of Swedish culture. Nordic Summit takes place in September, which means you’ll just miss the classic SEMLA buns, the joyful MIDSUMMER celebrations, and even the crayfish party known as KRÄFTSKIVA. But don’t worry, there’s one tradition that Swedes enjoy all year round: FIKA.
Here follows a few tips on FIKA places.
- Mr Cake Located at Stenpiren and with a slogan: “Life is short make it sweet”.
- Ahlströms konditori, Korsgatan 2, the oldest bakery café in Gothenburg, founded in 1901.
- Kronhusbodarna This place will take you back in time to the 18th century, visit the small shops and enjoy a fika.
- Fröken Olsson Founded 1984, serves afternoon tea on Thursdays.
- da Matteo Café and coffee roastery, known for its dedication to quality and craft. For all coffee lovers!
- Brogyllen Founded in 1962, it’s renowned for its handcrafted pastries, sourdough breads, and traditional cakes.
- Café Agnes Located at the Liseberg hotel, with the craziest pastries and the only café with an indoor ponny carousel (for kidz only unfortunately, but it’s a cozy place!).
- Steinbrenner & Nyberg Several locations in Gothenburg, with the biggest one at Östra Larmgatan. Has a (soup &) cake buffet Monday-Friday 11:00-14:30 and on weekends between 11:30-they close.
- Café Husaren The home of the Hagabulle, an oversized cinnamon bun that’s become a local legend. (See below).
Fika is more than just a coffee break. It’s a moment to slow down, connect, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, usually paired with something sweet. “Let’s go for a FIKA,” Swedes say, and they sit down for a chat. A classic fika often includes a cinnamon bun.
Speaking of cinnamon buns, our next tip is to visit Haga, one of Gothenburg’s most charming neighborhoods. There, you’ll find Sweden’s biggest (most likely at least) cinnamon buns. Yes, really. They’re legendary.
Visit the old, cozy HAGA area
Haga is one of Gothenburg’s oldest neighborhoods. Along Haga Nygata you’ll find lots of small cafés and shops. When it’s fika time, you can enjoy the big cinnamon buns at Café Husaren. is nearby. The old hilltop fortress Skansen kronan is also located in this area. You can take just a short walk uphill to enjoy the view over the city. Read more: https://www.vogue.com/article/gothenburg-haga-neighborhood-guide.
Enjoy the Parks
Gothenburg offers several alternatives is you want to experience some nature, have a walk or run.
Slottsskogen
Slottskogen is a big park with a mix between a planned park and natural forest. This park has free entrance and you can not only enjoy a long walk, you can also see moose, seals and pinguins all for free! You can take the tram there. Or walk. Or rent a bike. Some links: Zoo, Nature and History.
Trädgårdsföreningen
Trädgårdsföreningen is one of the best-preserved 19th century parks in Europe and just next door to Nordic Summit! No entrance fee.
Botaniska Trädgården
Next to Slottsskogen you can find the Gothenburg Botanical Garden. The famous handkerchief tree will not bloom in September, but you’ll be able to take a walk to the water falls and uphill for a city view. It also offers both a rock garden and Japanese dell. The park has an optional entrance fee of 30 SEK.
Enjoy the rides at Liseberg
Visit Liseberg for the roller coasters and take your community friends on a five-game challenge.
Visit Universeum
Universeum offers several experiences, from rainforest to reptiles and space trip. You can also visit Sweden’s largest visualisation dome Wisdome (tickets can be purchased without admission to Universeum). Read more here: https://www.goteborg.com/en/places/wisdome.
Explore the Gothenburg archepilago
If you have some more time to spend outside of the event, you could explore the Gothenburg achipilago and visit e.g. Styrsö. Trams go to Saltholmen and boats from there. Take the ferry to different small islands (free if you have bought ticket for the tram). E.g. Styrsö. Take a walk and have more Swedish fika. A little longer adventure.
Experience the PADDAN Tour
Take the Paddan boat tour in the city/canals, a real classic activity. Ducking under low bridges, guide tell history and dad jokes, did its first trip 1939. The tour takes approximately 50 minutes and costs 270 SEK.
Or take the Ocean Bus
An alternative to the PADDAN tour is to take the bus with a shark appearance! The Ocean Bus It leaves from the city center, takes you sightseeing in the city and jumps into the water near “Röda sten”. 330 SEK.
Visit Masthuggskyrkan for a view
Another place to visit for a view is Masthuggskyrkan. Spotted from both the PADDAN tour, and the Ocean bus, this old church is a landmark of Gothenburg.
What even more?
If you’re near Liseberg, you could always take the elevator up to Heaven 23 located at Gothia Towers for a city view (and a drink). Some other tips are the Maritiman museum, https://www.maritiman.se/, the Volvo museum https://www.worldofvolvo.com/ and the famous https://www.feskekorka.se/ which is not a church but a place where you can buy and eat fish!