24 hours in Gothenburg
By art and design promoter Ali Davoodi
Spend your morning at Fratelli Gridelli, an Italian cafe in central Gothenburg. Then slowly make your way to the city centre by passing the Röhsska Museum of art and design. Gothenburg is known for being the home to successful Swedish designers such as Nudie, so make sure to pop into clothes shops such as Grace, Broadway and Sons, Axel Arigato and my own accessory shop Miksajo on Vallgatan 14.
Afternoon
Tuck into lunch from the herring food truck on Magasinsgatan, and stop by the Hilda Nilsson cheese shop (dating back to 1907, it is packed with Gothenburg heritage) at the Saluhallen food court.
Before heading for that afternoon drink, take a moment to view my favourite Gothenburg building, which hosts the patisserie Brogyllen on Västra Hamngatan. Right next to it, in an old courtyard, is secret hideout Forssén & Öberg, which serves champagne to die for.
Evening
Before dinner at Bar Centro, you should take a bike ride along the shore of the island Hisingen for an urban safari in the industrial parts of the city. When the sun has set with the Gothenburg skyline as a backdrop, head straight to the neighbourhood of Linnéstaden to finish off your evening at my all-time favourite hangout, Pustervik.
Where to find it
Fratelli Gridelli, Tegnérsgatan 26
Röhsska Museum, Vasagatan 39 Grace, Kyrkogatan 31
Broadway and Sons, Korsgatan 7
Axel Arigato, axelarigato.com
Saluhallen food court, Kungstorget
Forssén & Öberg, Kyrkogatan 13
Bar Centro, Kyrkogatan 31
Pustervik, Järntorgsgatan 12
A week in West Sweden
By hotelier Ellika Mogenfelt
Start your week at my hotel Villa Sjötorp in Ljungskile. I would recommend anyone visiting us to take some time to just unwind. Borrow one of our bikes to explore the area, or just relax on the beach. Enjoy lunch at the neighbouring Mussel Bar and join the owner and skipper, Janne Bark, on his ocean expeditions, where you will catch and prepare your own mussels. On the second day, rent a kayak and paddle to Ulvesund, stopping at Växthuset, a greenhouse and vegetarian cafe serving dishes made from their own produce. Finish your day at the Villa Sjötorp restaurant, where the menu is based on locally sourced ingredients.
Days three to five
Make a road trip along the coast, and stop off at seaside resort Lysekil, where a visit to the salt water aquarium Havets Hus is a must. All species, over a hundred, are from the area. Continue to the island Tjörn for some cultural experiences at the Pilane sculpture park and the Nordic Watercolour Museum. The adjourning restaurant, Vatten, is great for lunch. Other stops on the way should include some local history at Bohuslän Museum and rock carvings at the Unesco world heritage site Vitlycke Museum. Continue your road trip to Uddevalla for a unique look at the shell banks that formed some 10,000 years ago.
Where to find it
Villa Sjötorp, Dirhuvudvägen 459 33, Ljungskile
Pilane sculpture park, Pilane gravfält, Klövedal
Nordic Watercolour Museum, Södra Hamnen 6, Skärhamn
Bohuslän Museum, Museigatan 1, Uddevalla
Vitlycke Museum, Vitlycke 2, Tanumshede
Five days in Skåne
By Michelin-starred chef Titti Qvarnström
Start off your Skåne adventure in Malmö. Even if it’s Sweden’s third largest city, everything is in walking distance. Enjoy a traditional fika; some excellent roasted coffee and a cinnamon bun at Kaffebaren, located on the buzzing square Möllan. A must for lunch is the famous Malmö falafel. Walk towards the spectacular views over the Turning Torso building, and on your way back pass the royal park in Fågelbacken and Malmö Castle. Finish your day with some seasonal cooking at The More Bistro inside The More Hotel. Or visit my restaurant Bloom in the Park.
Days two and three
Steer your route towards Höganäs and the Kullabygden area. Besides the area’s rich heritage of pottery, the gastronomy is thriving, with favourite picks including the Höganäs Saluhall and diner Garaget Bar, which serves South American food and has gigs in the evenings. For more food inspiration in the area, continue to Vikentomater, a tomato producer with a farm shop, which also invites a guest chef every Saturday. For a traditional fika in the same area visit the famous coffee house Flickorna Lundgren located in a red cottage surrounded by a lush garden. Before heading off to the idyllic city of Ängelholm make a stop at Mölle, a picturesque fishing village packed with local artists, including painters, glass blowers and potters.
Where to find it
Malmö
Turning Torso, Lilla Varvsgatan 14
Malmö Castle, Malmöhusvägen 6
The More Bistro, Norra Skolgatan 24
Bloom in the Park, Pildammsvägen 17
Höganäs and Kullabygden
Höganäs Saluhall, Bruksgatan 36
Garaget Bar, Bruksgatan 36
Vikentomater, Rågången 41
Flickorna Lundgren, Skäretvägen 19
Getting there
Sweden has never been more accessible; with a large number of direct flights from the UK and a maximum flight time of 2 hours, hopping to Sweden for a weekend break or a longer holiday is simple. You can fly direct to Gothenburg Landvetter Airport with SAS, British Airways, Ryanair or Norwegian. Malmö and Skåne are easily accessible via Copenhagen Kastrup Airport in Denmark – with flights provided by SAS, British Airways, easyJet and Norwegian – and then the Öresund bridge (20 minutes by train).
Discover the West Sweden Ellika Mogenfelt loves with Sunvil Discovery. Sunvil’s itineraries are ideal for taking boat trips along the stunning Bohuslän coastline and exploring picturesque villages.
Spend a weekend in Ali Davoodi’s Gothenburg with Expedia.
Get a taste of Titti Qvarnström’s gourmet Skåne with Taber Holidays and discover picturesque Ystad and explore the region’s scenic south-east coast. For outdoor experiences in Skåne and West Sweden, Nature Travels offers canoe and kayak packages and more.
