Gothenburg grows with exciting new world-class experiences
Sweden’s second city is one of Europe’s fastest growing regions. Exciting new world-class venues, hotels and attractions are being built right now. This urban development is taking place with sustainability as a guiding principle.
The city is Sweden’s heart of innovation and industry, with examples including the development of the Swedish ES-19 electric plane from Heart Aerospace and a new battery factory being established by Northvolt and Volvo, as well as a life science cluster.
• By 2024, the city will have increased its hotel capacity by almost 3,000 new hotel rooms, representing a 20% increase compared to before the pandemic.
• The number one tourist attraction in Sweden, Liseberg amusement park, will be opening its Grand Curiosa Hotel experience hotel in 2023, with Liseberg’s new water park, Oceana, opening the following year.
• In spring 2023, Sweden’s national science centre Universeum will unveil Wisdome, a new visualisation dome that will be the biggest in the county, with a 360° screen featuring advanced visualisation technology.
• World of Volvo is a brand new experience centre, which will open in the heart of the city in 2024 and become a Gothenburg landmark. The current Volvo Museum will be integrated into the new attraction, albeit in a new form.
• Gothenburg has received great international attention for its sustainability work. The city is the Leadership Award Winner in the Global Destination Sustainability Index 2016–2021. In 2020, the European Commission named Gothenburg the Capital of Smart Tourism, and in 2021 Lonely Planet named Gothenburg “best sustainable city stay”.
• The city is working towards a transition to a fossil-free transport system and testing within Gothenburg Green City Zone. Northvolt will establish a new battery factory in Gothenburg.
• Gothenburg’s food scene continues to sizzle and after last year’s amazing figure of 40 new restaurant openings despite the pandemic, there’s more to come. Innovative new restaurants and craft breweries are opening at a fast pace.
New hotels
A number of new hotels have opened in Gothenburg in recent years, with several more coming this year and in the next few years.
Scandic Göteborg Central, opens on 14 June 2022
In June 2022, Gothenburg will gain 451 new hotel rooms when Scandic Göteborg Central opens its doors. The hotel features a Nordic colour scheme, with space for conferences and events for up to a thousand guests. The large glass building is located next to the new bridge Hisingsbron, with views across the river Göta Älv. Craft brewery Poppels will also be opening a new restaurant and city brewery here.
Clarion Hotel the Pier, opens in autumn 2022
Geely’s new campus “Uni3 by Geely” is building a new hotel on Lindholmen, operated by Nordic Choice Hotels. The hotel opens in autumn 2022, and will be an international meeting place at the heart of the Lindholmen innovation cluster, situated right by the water and offering views of Gothenburg’s inner city. The hotel will have 254 rooms, two restaurants and bars, conference rooms and a wellness centre.
Jacy’z, opens in November 2022
ESS Group’s biggest venture to date, Jacy’z Hotel, opens in November 2022. The 100-metre tall skyscraper in Gårda will be home to 230 rooms and three restaurants with different focuses, including classic American. The hotel will be topped by an Asian-style sky bar and the Social Dinner Club restaurant, featuring an LA vibe. There will also be a Miami-inspired pool club on the 28th floor. In addition, the hotel will offer conference rooms and a combined theatre and concert venue.
Clarion Hotel Draken, opens in 2023
At over 100 metres high, the building can be seen across Gothenburg. Here, Clarion Hotel Draken will open in late 2023. With its central location on Järntorget and views across the river Göta Älv, the hotel will boast 474 rooms, three restaurants, a roof bar, conference rooms, a gym and a spa.
Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel, opens in 2023
The new hotel will be the most imaginative family hotel in Sweden, completely unlike anything you have experienced before, with the emphasis on encouraging children’s love of adventure. There will be 457 rooms and a restaurant with 790 seats, an outdoor dining terrace and a roof-top bistro.
Clarion Karlatornet, opens in autumn 2024
The hotel is part of what will be Sweden’s tallest building, at 75 storeys and 245 metres tall. The lower section will house 300 rooms, a restaurant, a gym and an observation deck. Karlatornet is close to Lindholmen Science Park.
Exciting attractions and experiences!
A world-class experience area in the heart of Gothenburg will be complete in 2024.
Liseberg’s Oceana water park, opens in 2024
Liseberg’s Grand Curiosa experience hotel will be ready in 2023, with the new Oceana water park – with its unique theme, inspired by the history of Gothenburg and the East India Company – opening the following year. The water park will include 6,000 m² of indoor swimming space and 4,000 m² outdoors, as well as northern Europe’s most exciting water attractions. Everything from quiet indoor sandy beaches to thrilling water slides.
Wisdome at Universeum, opens in 2023
The outside of Universeum’s visualisation dome is now complete, and has already become a local landmark. Wisdome will be Sweden’s biggest visualisation dome, giving visitors the chance to experience immersive 3D experiences in 8K resolution. The dome has a capacity of 150 seated visitors, is made from wood and was designed by Sweden’s leading architect, Gert Wingårdh.
World of Volvo, opens in 2024
World of Volvo can best be described as an ‘experience centre’ – a world-class meeting place with a sharp focus on sustainability. The building itself is made from wood, and was designed by renowned Danish architect Henning Larsen. With its position south of the Liseberg amusement park, Volvo will be moving closer to the city with a 22,000 m² five-storey venue including event halls, a roof terrace, a restaurant and a bistro. Volvo buyers will also be able to pick up their new cars here. World of Volvo will incorporate the Volvo Museum, albeit in a new form.
New restaurants
Melody Club, opened March 2022
At Melody Club, the focus is less on the food and more on Gothenburg’s – and maybe even Sweden’s – coolest karaoke experience. The restaurant and bar promise sparkling cocktails and brilliant food inspired by the world’s clubs and bars. Bold flavours, textures, playfulness and a feast for the eye are the cornerstones of all the dishes.
Moreno Pizza, the world’s largest pizzeria, opened in April 2022
In an old 1940s cinema, in the trendy district of Majorna, Göteborgsfamiljen has opened Moreno Pizza – said to be the world’s largest pizzeria, with three wood-fired pizza ovens built in, 20 pizza chefs and seating for 350 guests in the restaurant and 300 in the bar. Impressively, the rooftop Biergarten has space for another 1,000 people.
Signum, opens in May 2022
Chef Thomas Sjögren, who already runs several restaurants in the region, is now opening a new fine-dining restaurant at Hällsnäs Hotel, 15 minutes outside Gothenburg. Seafood is the common thread running through Signum’s 18-course tasting menu, with a focus on local produce. The kitchen staff are a highly qualified bunch, with chef Markus Pettersson and sous chef Hampus Fors both alumni of 28+, which has held its Michelin star for 31 years.
Bulot, opens in May
Internationally renowned chef Gabriel Melim Andersson and Emil Bjelke are opening their new restaurant Bulot on Norra Hamngatan in May. They work closely with local producers and growers, and sustainability is close to their hearts. Can’t wait until May? Then head for trendy Bar Bulot, the pop-up version in the city centre’s main food hall, which is now becoming permanent and will soon have a new outdoor seating area too.
Poppels, opens this summer
Poppels craft brewery in Jonsered, outside Gothenburg, makes some of Sweden’s most popular beers. Last year they opened a restaurant next to the brewery and this year they’re opening a brand new city brewery in Platinan on the river Göta Älv, the same building that will house the Scandic Göteborg Central hotel. In addition to the brewery, they’re also planning a bar and restaurant on site.
Gurras/Postgatan 16 – opens in August
Stureplansgruppen is expanding with its first year-round restaurant in Gothenburg. Headed by restaurateur Gustav Trägårdh, the restaurant will be called Gurras, although its working title is currently the same as the address – Postgatan 16. The venue will accommodate around 65 seated diners and 25 at the bars. The kitchen will be completely open, serving a menu with inspiration from all over the world.
Fish Church, re-opens in 2023/2024
The historic and unique Fish Church fish market hall, built in 1874, has been fully renovated and will reopen in 2023/2024. As well as selling fish, there will also be a restaurant, a wine bar and an oyster bar. The architecture of the building is inspired by Norwegian stave churches, hence its name.
Read more about the restaurant scene.
https://www.goteborg.com/ – The official visitor’s guide to Gothenburg