Budget-friendly tips for Gothenburg

3 savings tips prior to departure

Book your train ticket early

If you plan your trip at least a couple of weeks before your date of departure, you can find tickets from Oslo to Gothenburg starting from NOK 269.

Flexible on when you travel?

You’ll actually save thousands of kroner on your accommodation if you travel on a Sunday. Here’s an example: the gorgeous boutique hotel Bellora⁠External link costs around NOK 3 000 on Friday nights, but comes in at just NOK 850 on a Sunday. That’s the kind of travel budgeting tip everyone should know!

Hotels close to the city centre

When you travel by train with Vy, you arrive right in the heart of Gothenburg – it’s a special feeling to trundle your wheelie straight into the hotel upon arrival. While this may be Sweden’s second city, nothing is ever so far away that you can’t walk it – although remember that it’s also very easy and affordable to hop on a tram from the station. More on that and additional hotel tips in a moment. Keep on scrolling. 

3 great reasons to travel by train

Parking

Parking in Gothenburg can be expensive. That’s if you can find a spot – it can be difficult to find parking spaces in the city. 
‘Hotels rarely have more than a few spots and these always fill up quickly. Guests arriving by train avoid the stress and expense of parking,’ says Camilla Hannen, General Manager at the cosy Lorensberg Hotel.

Forget about expensive suitcases

You know, that suitcase that suddenly makes your cheap flight seem not-so-cheap. Or being ‘just’ over your baggage allowance and stung in your pocket? If you’re as bad at packing as I am, you’ll find the train is a fantastic solution. You can bring up to three suitcases, bags or backpacks. All you have to make sure is that the total weight is under 30 kilos – if it is, then it’s coming with you and at no extra cost! 

Save time!

Given that you can start relaxing the second you’re in your seat on the train, I’d like to venture that it makes your holiday longer! Instead of having to concentrate on driving and the road, you can get yourself a cup of coffee from the snack machine, recline your seat right back and perhaps finally bury yourself in that book you’ve been looking forward to…

Bonus: You’ll be saving the environment by taking the train. That can help give you an extra warm and fuzzy feeling on your trip.

3 luxury hacks on budget

Jacy’z

Jacy’z ⁠External linkis known as one of Gothenburg’s coolest hotels. Bagging a room here can be pretty pricey, but you don’t have to stay at the hotel to gain access to their stunning Pool Club. From SEK 195, you too can wrap yourself up in the hotels soft bath robes and slip your feet into the slippers – then take them off again when you go for a swim in their incredible pool floating above the city. PS: The light bites available at poolside are also surprisingly reasonably priced – and they taste heavenly. 

Hagabadet

There’s not much that gives you that luxe feeling quite like a thermal spa in a beautiful setting – in Gothenburg you’ll find a hidden gem that is worth the trip all by itself: Hagabadet⁠External link! While the pool at Jacy’z is full of people taking selfies, this is the place where you come as you are, you leave your phone in the locker, and you just enjoy yourself. They frequently run promotions on the cost of admission, you make sure to check out the offers on their website. PS: There are three Hagabadet locations – the pictures here are from the Haga location. 

Get an upgrade at the hotel

Who doesn’t want a better room than they paid for? Hotels have different policies when it comes to this, but it’s often the places that score highly in terms of staff and service that offer the best deal. There’s never any harm in asking. Send the hotel a friendly email when you make your booking and instead of writing ‘I want an upgrade’, you can include some preferences. If you mention that you’d appreciate a balcony, bath tub or a great view, then your chances of being assigned a really good room go up. 

3 tips on getting more for your money that everyone should know

Free events

Online at Goteborg.com ⁠External linkyou can find an event calendar where you can quickly filter the search using the ‘free events’ option. 

Bib Gourmand

Did you know that the Michelin Guide has its own app⁠External link? This makes it easy to find out which top restaurants have the best prices – they call this category the Bib Gourmand. 

The tram

The tram is easy to use in Gothenburg. You can actually buy your tickets through the Vy app – all you have to do is change the setting to Sweden. You can also download the Västtrafik To Go app to buy mobile tickets, or you can use debit or credit card to buy on board.

3 free experiences in Gothenburg

The Palm House⁠External link is well worth a visit. It’s open all year round and admission is free. 

Haga⁠External link is Gothenburg’s old town and is a charming place to stroll about soaking up the atmosphere.

Kungsparken⁠External link is right by the canal and next to the railway station too. It’s the perfect place to go for a leisurely walk. 

3 top restaurants with tasty prices

Human

Dinner at the city’s best restaurants can quickly add up. So why not treat yourself to a fancier lunch, and all for a much better price. Human⁠External link is the only place in the city offering Michelin-feted fine dining in the middle of the day. And here’s the best bit: it’s affordable! For just SEK 550, you will be served a festival of flavours that you are unlikely to forget in any hurry.

Bar La Lune

When food critic (and my pal) Mathias Steinbru says ‘you’ve got to go there’, well, you go there! Unsurprisingly, this was one of the highlights of the trip. Bar La Lune⁠External link you the feeling of being at a small bistro in Paris with its inviting atmosphere and its lovely team with their passion for food. Who would have thought that a grilled sardine sandwich could be such a memorable culinary experience? Well, it was absolute perfection. To top that, the bill made for pleasant reading too.

Cheri-Lee

Before my visit, I was worried this pan-Asian restaurant⁠External link in the city centre might be best for Instagrammability and vibes rather than its food. But oh boy did their kitchen deliver! Menu prices are surprisingly kind to your wallet too given just how cool this joint is. My bonus tip is to ask for the brunch menu, where the prices are even lower.

By the way, did you know that Gothenburg has been named the most sustainable city in the world for seven years in a row?

3 places to eat on a budget at Saluhallen

Banh Mi Shop

Saluhallen is a food hall⁠External link where the Gothenburg foodies. come together to enjoy tasty dishes made with local ingredients – all at great prices. On offer is everything from dumplings and oysters to Italian food. At the popular Banh Mi Shop you can eat delicious Vietnamese food. 

Hasselssons Macklucka

Hold onto your hat while Joachim and Otto at Hasselssons Macklucka⁠External link magically – seemingly in a whirlwind of rapid movements and pure enthusiasm – put together what is reputed to be the best sandwich in the city. Or a macka as they call it in Swedish. We were lucky to have booked out sandwich pick-up for 10:30, because just a few minutes later the line was winding its way around the place.

Bar Bulot

If you appreciate a little French finesse in a relaxed setting then pull up a stool at Bar Bulot⁠External link. The skilled, playful chefs work in close collaboration with local farms and producers and they love to explore a range of cookery techniques – new and old. Dishes include tartar on a waffle, and delicious cheese from local producer Hilda Nilsson. 

3 hotel recommendations for around NOK 1 000

Hotel Scandic Europa

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced and stylish hotel right in the city centre, we recommend Scandic Europa⁠External link. Here, you can enjoy a night for two – including breakfast – for just over a thousand kroner. The hotel also has its own indoor swimming pool, making it a great choice if you fancy a refreshing dip after a long day in the city.

Hotel Flora

This beautiful boutique hotel⁠External link is loved by its guests and scores particularly highly on location, staff, and service. Plenty of people also say you get a lot of hotel for your money. The popular food hall, Saluhallen⁠External link, is just a stone’s throw away. The tram stops right outside the front door and it’s also only a 12-minute walk from the train station. Double rooms start from SEK 1,500 and include breakfast. 

Hotel Lorensberg

It’s great to see that you can actually bag a hotel room this good for under NOK 1,000 a night. Everyone working there was really nice, and they showed us some super simple, clean and pretty rooms. Hotel Lorensberg⁠External link also has its own look with paintings by Lars Gillis adorning the walls. The tram stops nearby and it’s just 500 metres away from Liseberg. Singles are available from SEK 850 a night, including breakfast. 

Want to make your stay even cheaper than that? Check out Lisebergsbyn⁠External link which is one of the most affordable options in the city – and maybe even one of the nicest? While it’s on the outskirts of Gothenburg, it’s easy to get there on the tram and it only takes around 10 minutes from the city centre. They offer everything from a campsite and hostel to small cabins and basic hotel rooms. The mini cabins sleep four and have a dedicated kitchen which means you can save money by not eating out as much.