Gothenburg is lots of fun for kids and those who enjoy active holidays. There are adventure parks, amusement parks, well-equipped leisure centres and interactive museums galore. Liseberg Amusement Park is the largest of its type in Scandinavia and is the main kiddie attraction here, while walkers and cyclists are also well catered for.

Guldhedstornet
If you are in Gothenburg sometime between May and October, take the kids up to the city’s highest point, the Guldhedstornet. It lies within a water tower positioned at about 1,000 feet and offers fine panoramic views over the city and the Gota Alv River. You can get here by tram or bus and there is also a café up here. Phone: +46 31 820 009

Liseberg Theme Park
Liseberg is the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia and is one of Gothenburg’s best attractions. It features fun rides for all ages, including the much-hyped wooden rollercoaster known as the Balder. There are also more kiddie-friendly rides and merry-go-rounds as well as games and a stage that hosts concerts. The park is open seasonally. Phone: +46 31 40 0100; www.liseberg.com/Liseberg

Universeum
The National Science Discovery Centre for the Family, the Universeum, is one of Gothenburg’s most interesting museums for kids, with its simulated rainforest and other fun exhibits. Kids will love the way the tanks have been set up to show how aquatic animals live in their natural habitats. Phone: +46 31 335 6450; www.universeum.se  

Valhallabadet Leisure Centre
For rainy days, or perhaps if you are visiting Gothenburg in the winter, Valhallabadet is sure to keep you and the kids occupied. It is the city’s main leisure centre and comes complete with 10 swimming pools, including an Olympic-sized one, and a Roman bath. There is also a bowling alley here as well as massage, a gym, and eateries. Phone: +46 31 368 4524

Walking and Cycling
With its profusion of parks and outdoor areas, not to mention the mass of waterways, walking and cycling options in Gothenburg are immense. Some of the best walking can be had in the Haga area and right in the city centre, while cycle paths stretch far and wide. Most city highways have bike paths to boot and bikes can be rented at kiosks in the city centre.

There are loads of cultural activities to keep the more discerning visitor busy in Gothenburg. From a huge number of parks and gardens, to elaborate museums and ancient fortifications, you need not look far to be enthralled. Absolute musts are the Gothenburg Museum of Art for its Nordic works and the Botanical Garden in the summer.

Botanical Garden (Botaniska Tradgarden)
Gothenburg Botanical Gardens are located in the Linnéstaden district and are the biggest botanical gardens in Sweden. They show off thousands of species of plants and feature themed zones, including an arboretum, a fine Japanese garden, and even a wildlife area. Views of the city from the garden are fine. Phone: +46 31 741 1106.

Crown Keep (Skansen Kronan)
Formerly a prison and now a military museum, the Crown Keep is a fine hilltop fortification to the southwest of Gothenburg city centre. It was originally built sometime in the 1600s and served as a prison in the 1800s. The associated Lion Keep (Skansen Lejonet) lies in an industrial area and thus isn’t as atmospheric. Phone: +46 31 711 3033; www.eng.skansenkronan.se  

Gothenburg Museum of Art (Goteborgs Konstmuseum)
This brilliant museum is housed in a fine building between the theatre and concert hall and features a collection of Nordic art, as well as masterpieces by the likes of van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso. The Gothenburg Art Museum is often voted as being one of the best museums in the city. Phone: +46 31 612 980

Queen Christina's Hunting Lodge (Drottning Kristinas Jaktslott)
This is Gothenburg’s oldest stone house, dating from the 1600s. The ancient queen used to visit on occasion and it was nearly demolished in the 1970s but, luckily, was fully restored. The house interior is resplendent in stone and wood and features many fine antiques. Phone: +46 31 133 426.

Slottsskogen
This 272-acre park is Gothenburg’s largest and is ideal for a picnic on a long, lazy summer’s day. The park hails from the 1870s and is a beautifully wooded area with lots of opportunity for walking. It also features many attractions for kids, including animal enclosures, bird ponds, an aviary, and a children's zoo. Fun events go off in the summer and there is also a café and restaurants. Phone: +46 31 365 3700.

Volvo Museum
Gothenburg’s Volvo Museum is a must-see for any car enthusiast, with all things Volvo on display, stretching right back to the company’s founding in 1927. There are Volvo cars, Volvo buses, Volvo trucks, and Volvo construction equipment. The OV4 and the LV45 bus will appeal to lovers of old fashioned vehicles, while contemporary types will enjoy the sprightly prototypes. Phone: +46 31 664 814; www.volvo.com  

You won’t have a problem finding somewhere to eat in Gothenburg city centre as it is awash with all types of cafés and restaurants, from the best seafood restaurants to fast-food burger joints like McDonalds and a whole host of traditional Swedish eateries. Seafood in Gothenburg is particularly good and there are many high-profile seafood restaurants to choose from.

Gothenburg’s Linnegatan has the pick of the eating, running from Linneplatsen to Jarntorget. Avenyn has upmarket eating, while Haga district is one for cafés and the waterfront Fish Church fish market (Feskekorkan) is open daily. Gothenburg specialities to try include the West Coast salad, with its shrimp and lobster mix topped with roe and a Half Special, a West Coast salad on top of a hot dog.

Gothenburg’s shopping scene is mainly one of shopping centres. Nordstan, located next to Brunnsparken, is the main one in town and has the added bonus of being accessible directly from the central train station. Popular outlets in Nordstan include: Esprit, Vero Moda, H&M, Ahlens City, Nordic Design, and Rock. The nearby smaller Arkaden has a string of fashionable boutiques.

The shopping centre known as NK, on Ostra Hamngatan 42, has high fashion through international brand names, such as Audemar Piquet Dior, Paul Smith, YSL, and Patek Philippe. You will also find popular Swedish brands like Kosta Boda and Orrefors here. For food shopping, check out the Saluhallen indoor food hall.