From Kiel to Göthenburg – The perfect idea for a two-day trip with a Swedish accent!

Are you looking for an idea for a short but intense trip full of Scandinavian experiences? A ferry trip from Cologne to Göthenburg in Sweden is an excellent option for a two-day trip, which will allow you to get to know a new city and return with unforgettable memories. And this is the plan of our trip:)

Day 1

Our adventure begins in the port city of Kiel, Germany. From here Stena Line offers ferry connections to Göthenburg, Sweden. The cruise from Kiel takes about 14-15 hours. This connection is operated by Stena Line and is a typical night crossing. Ferries usually leave Kiel in the evening (around 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and arrive in Gothenburg the next morning (around 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).

Book your ferry tickets in advance, most conveniently at https://www.stenaline.de/. You can take your own car to the ferry or use the connection as a passenger. During the cruise, many facilities and attractions await us for people of all ages. We can have a delicious meal, drink or do shopping in duty-free stores or just relax in our cabin to reach the port in full strength to explore Göthenburg 🙂

From the port of Göthenburg, you can reach the center by car or tram, which goes directly from the terminal. The first place to visit is the charming Haga district, which impresses with its wooden buildings from the 19th century. Walking along the main promenade of the Haga Nygata, it is worth visiting the traditional Swedish cafés „fik”, where you must try the huge cinnamon buns „hagabullar”, and look into boutiques with handicrafts and antiques. We will end the first day with a dinner at the port, choosing the characteristic Feskekôrka market building, where we will eat fresh seafood, or at the Göta restaurant, which offers Swedish specialties such as blueberry meatballs or fresh fish.

Day 2

Our second day of stay will start with a visit to Liseberg – Scandinavia’s most famous amusement park, which impresses not only with attractions, but also beautiful gardens and a unique atmosphere. Among the best attractions you will find a modern Helix roller coaster, a wooden Balder considered one of the best in the world, AtmosFear – a 116-meter tower and a historic carousel from 1923. Another place on our map is the Götaplatsen area, where the most important institutions of the city are located: the Göthenburg Art Museum with works by Picasso, Monet and Rembrandt, the symbolic Poseidon Fountain by Carl Milles and Konserthuset – the headquarters of the Göthenburg Symphony Orchestra. While in here, it is worth going for lunch and try „dagens lunch” – an economic way to get to know the local cuisine. Then we will take the tram to the Saltholmen marina, from where we can take ferries to the picturesque islands of the Göthenburg archipelago, such as Brännö or Styrsö, offering quiet walking paths, beaches and typical Swedish architecture. Coming back, it is worth to stay in the Nordstan district – the largest shopping center in Scandinavia for the last purchases of Swedish souvenirs such as Marabou chocolate or textiles with traditional patterns.

On an evening cruise we return to Kiel, Germany, relaxing and resting on board the ferry and admiring the evening sea views and reminiscing our stay in Sweden.

A two-day trip from Kiel to Göthenburg is an excellent way to have a short city break. Whether traveling alone, with friends or family, Gothenburg has something to offer everyone – from amusement parks to museums to the calm islands of the archipelago. Certainly everyone will return from here with the luggage of Swedish memories and – perhaps – plans for another visit to this unique region of Scandinavia…;-)

More information about the timetable can be found at: https://www.stenaline.de/