Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg is a cool, gritty place, home to neoclassical town houses, leafy parks and pretty cobbled streets – not to mention some of the best beer and seafood in all of Scandinavia.
And there’s no shortage of great places to stay in Gothenburg, either: from traditional Swedish cottages to high-ceilinged apartments from the turn of the century.
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If you’re heading to Gothenburg, it’s also worth considering staying by the coast, especially during in summer. There are some lovely summer cottages where you can leap into the sea from your own jetty, yet still be in the heart of the city within half an hour.
And, with good public transport and a great network of cycle lanes, it’s an easy trip into the city from your waterside retreat or country cottage. Here are seven of the coolest Airbnbs in and around Gothenburg!
This stylish loft space
From the outside, it feels like you’re staying in a pretty white-washed, traditional villa dating from the 1900s, but inside this apartment is all about stylish loft-living.
The top-floor apartment has high-beamed ceilings, wooden floors and an open-plan living space with a contemporary wood-burner to hole up in front of on winter evenings.
In summer you can enjoy the villa’s wooden sun decks, or chill out in leafy garden – it’s an oasis of calm after a day in the city.
There are bus stops nearby and you have access to your own parking spot if you need it, though you probably won’t – it’s a quick tram ride from here to most of Gothenburg’s main sights.
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This huge apartment with three balconies
Within easy walking distance of the city centre, this huge apartment in a beautiful old building has light and airy rooms and three balconies.
The high-ceilinged rooms are mostly painted white, and decorated with an elegant Swedish chic minimalist style. The balconies look out over a leafy courtyard on one side and a quiet street on the other.
This 19th-century apartment in the city centre
Light, spacious and airy, this apartment is on the top floor of a beautiful 19th-century house in the centre of the city.
Close to the leafy Vasaparken, it’s also just a short walk from Gothenburg’s lively shopping, restaurant and bar district and from the city’s main sights.
The apartment is beautifully decorated combining stylish modern décor with the building’s original features including cornicing and gothic-style windows that look out over the city’s rooftops and streets.
This city studio with a country vibe
This cosy studio is in a quiet residential area but still just a 15-minute walk from Gothenburg’s main shopping streets in the centre of the city.
In a traditional Swedish red-painted house, it’s simple but comfortable with warm ethnic-style décor. Guests also have use of a table and chairs in the leafy garden, where you can chill out after a hard day’s sightseeing.
The transports links are good, with several bus stops and bike rental nearby – and there’s also free parking if you’ve got your own car.
This classic villa by the sea
You can’t get much more Swedish than this traditional clapboard villa with sea views and a pretty garden.
Inside it’s all wooden floors, bleached wood walls and simple Swedish furnishings, while outside there’s a lovely sun patio and old stone walls.
It may be a stone’s throw from the sea, but it’s also just 20 minutes from the centre of Gothenburg by bus. Or, of course, you can do what some of the locals do and cycle into the city in around 40 minutes.
Either way, it’s a great place to relax year-round. In winter you can cosy up in front of the open fire and escape the cold, while in summer, grab your costume and it’s just three minutes to a great bathing jetty.
This stuga (cottage) in the country
Hjalmars Cottage is a pretty red-painted wooden cabin surrounded by woods and greenery, just 500 metres from the sea. It has a large garden with a pond, and the rocky outcrops that loom behind it give great views over the coast.
And while you feel like you’re staying in a cabin in a woods, you’re only a 12km bike ride from central Gothenburg along one of the area’s most beautiful cycle paths, which follows the coastline for some of the way.
Calm and cosy, this little cabin makes a good escape from a busy day’s sightseeing in the city and is also ideal for exploring the nearby Amundön Island nature reserve.
This villa with a private pool
And if you’re staying in Gothenburg with a big group of friends or family, this large villa with its own pool and sauna ticks all the boxes. Sleeping 12, it’s a great place to combine a relaxing holiday with some city sightseeing.
Near the Slottskogen park and Gothenburg’s Botanical Gardens, it’s in a central location an easy tram ride or walk from the centre of the city.
But with plenty of space, a large garden, two balconies, a pool, sauna and even an art room with paints provided, you may never get around to leaving the house.
See also:
Travel guide to Gothenburg
The best islands to visit in the Gothenburg archipelago
Day trips from Gothenburg
