Day 1
Arrive in Gothenburg, a city with an inspiring street art scene, trendsetting shops, and vibrant neighbourhoods.
Start at Stenpiren bus terminal, from where you catch the ferry downriver. With the smokestacks of industry on the north bank and the more handsome historical architecture on the south; this will introduce you to the two sides of the city. Disembark at Alysborg Bridge and visit Roda Sten, a renovated boiler plant that is now an urban art space. Have a coffee on its harbour-front terrace while you are there.
Then explore the up-and-coming district of Majorna, where interior design stores and fashion boutiques sit alongside trendy bars selling Swedish craft beers.
By now, you should be hungry. Bhoga is a restaurant that sources all of its ingredients from the countryside around Gothenburg, which means that everything you eat here is a true taste of Sweden. Your hotel for the next 2 nights is the central 4* Radisson Blu scandanavia, Gothenburg.
Day 2
Your morning begins in Slottskogen Park, a place of forests, wooded trails, and occasional animal enclosures. Keep an eye out for elk, horned goats, and waddling Humboldt penguins.
Those with an interest in design and decorative arts should visit the Rohsska Museum, where the collection ranges from contemporary Swedish fashions to ancient Chinese ceramics.
Then head to the former shipyard at Frihamnen for some urban relaxation. Here, rising from the banks of the river, you will find Allmanna Baden, a two-storey corrugated-metal structure that houses a public sauna. There is a sandy beach and a saltwater plunge pool next door.
No trip to Gothenburg is complete without sailing to the city’s archipelago of car-free islands. Take the ferry to Styrso, which is renowned for its fishing, swimming spots, and opportunities for seal watching.
Day 3
Today, you head south to Halland Province for 2 nights in Halmstad. Enroute, the medieval Varberg Fortress is an hour’s drive from Gothenburg and offers lots to do. You can enjoy the views of the islands off the coast from the café on its ramparts. You can visit the museum with its 14th century Bocksten Man – a murder victim who was dug out of a nearby bog in 1936, complete with perfectly-preserved medieval clothing and a full head of red hair.
Falkenberg is a little further down the coast. One of Sweden’s most renowned gourmet destinations, it has beach-front seafood restaurants, farm-to-table restaurants that grow all of their own produce, and restaurants that are situated in vineyards and forests. Continue on to Halmstad and check-in to the 4* Best Western Plus Grand Halmstad for 2 nights.
Day 4
Today in Halmstad itself, allow some time to explore the historic castle and then devote the rest of the day to hiking or cycling. The town has lots of trails to choose from. There is the Kattegattleden, a 390-kilometre-long route that was voted the European Cycling Route of the Year in 2018. There is the 18-kilometre-long Prince Bertil’s Trail, which takes you from the seashore into deep forests. There are also the Möllegårds and Haverdals Nature Reserves to explore as well as the beautiful Danska waterfall and the Lynga sand dune.
Day 5
Today, we travel through the rolling hills and meadows of Skåne County towards Malmö, a city that combines the old-world charm of its medieval centre with a cosmopolitan culture.
Malmö’s Old Town is an island that is split in two: with the historical Gamla Väster district in the west and a revitalised industrial district in the east. Do not miss beautiful Stortorget, the city’s largest and oldest square. One block away is Malmö’s oldest building, Saint Peter’s Church, with its ceiling covered in fine medieval paintings. To experience the more modern side of Malmö, visit the redeveloped waterfront, where you will find Scandinavia’s tallest building, the Turning Torso, twisting its way skyward, and the famous Öresund Bridge, which connects the city to Copenhagen.
After a whistlestop trip around Malmo, you cross the Öresund Bridge to Copenhagen, a city consistently voted one of the world’s best cities. You will spend the next 3 nights discovering what makes it so special. You hotel in Copenhagen is the 4* Hotel SKT Annae.
Day 6
Today, The Freetown of Christiana is your first destination. Hippies started squatting on this former military base in 1971 and since then, it has been a place that lives according to its own rules. You will see signs of its independence everywhere from the vibrant displays of street art to its alternative clothing stores and organic cafés.
Next is the cultural quarter, home to attractions including the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, with its collection of ancient and modern art, and the National Museum of Denmark.
At Høibro, peer into the canal to see the underwater sculptures of Agnete and the Mermen. Stroll the waterfront promenade of Havnegade and cross over to Nyhaven, the most iconic spot in the city. Its canal-side restaurant and bars make it a perfect photo opportunity.
As night falls, visit the 178-year-old amusement park at Tivoli. This public garden lights up after dark and offers everything from rollercoaster rides to live performances and the excellent Tivoli food court.
Day 7
Start your day in Torvehallerne, Copenhagen’s wonderful food market, where you will find everything for a picnic.
Then rent a boat from GoBoat. These can be rented for one to three hours and they allow you to pootle around the harbour and the canals of the city at your own pace, eating your picnic lunch as you go.
When you return your boat, head to the harbour baths where you can enjoy a cooling dip in the water.
From there, make your way to Refshaleoen, a former industrial area that is fast becoming the hippest place in town. Its old warehouses are filling up with imaginative ventures. You will find modern art at Copenhagen Creative, a floating hot tub at CopenHot, and all sorts of bars and restaurants.
Before you make your way back to the city centre, be sure to visit the Little Mermaid on the other side of the waterway.
Day 8
Return home with memories of Scandinavia’s excitingly eclectic cities and stunning coastline.