After landing and taking an airport bus to the city centre (highly recommended by the way, it was a really convenient way to get there), I got some brunch and spent the day wandering around the city streets. Gothenburg boasts a range of quirky and unique cafes and shops, and many of them were great to window shop in if you're not looking to buy many things, whether due to bag space or budget restrictions, and the streets themselves were the perfect subjects for my amateur smartphone photography.
To me, the city's architecture and transport are reminiscient of Edinburgh or York perhaps, with traditional-looking buildings situated in a vibrant, modern city, with rivers winding through the streets and trams running back and forth to take you wherever you want to go. It also has great connections to other cities, such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, if you were looking to spend longer exploring Scandinavia.
Gothenburg has a variety of attractions, including a large botanical garden (which I would recommend visiting during the summer...and not on a rainy day!) and the "Universeum", an indoor science centre, zoo, and aquarium all rolled into one. This is a fantastic way to let out your inner child as you make your way up and down a rainforest hall as you're surrounded by all kinds of birds, an interactive science zone full of interesting facts and stats, and an aquarium with a huge variety of fish and other marine life on display.
Of course, you can't visit Sweden without having fika - it translates to "coffee break", but really it's an excuse to try some classic Swedish desserts with a friend or family. I had something different each day, including the biggest cinnamon bun I've ever seen, a semla (a delicious almond and cardamom bun) and a chokladboll (a chocolate ball covered in coconut).
Even though I was only there for about two to three days, I feel like I spent a lot longer there. The thing I really like about Gothenburg is that it suits any kind of trip; whether you want to just look around the streets, visit museums and galleries, or try lots of different cafés and restaurants, it's a great weekend getaway that won't drain your money or your energy, but instead will give you a lot to do or see in a short amount of time.