Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sweden – Gothenburg – Fjallbacka
100% customisable for you
Rise and shine, Sweden’s wild west coast is calling your name. Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge for some complimentary nibbles ahead of departure. Flights to Gothenburg take around two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to devour a healthy chunk of your holiday read while you’re in the air.
When you land, grab your bags and meet your private driver to be whisked away into the heart of the city, where you’ll check in for two nights at a charming hotel. Then, settle in, freshen up and head out in search of seafood.
You'll likely have some downtime before dinner this evening, spend it perusing our detailed Dossier of the best places to eat, drink and shop in Gothenburg. Spoilt for choice? Oour trusty Concierge will be on hand to point you in the right direction.
Make like a local this morning with a spot of fika (coffee and cake). Then, hit the streets to start exploring this colourful, charming and culturally rich city.
Start with a visit to the historic Haga district, home to Gothenburg’s old town. Among the quaint cafes lining the streets, you’ll find a ravishing example of neo-Gothic architecture in the 19th-century church and its 165ft bell tower. Those travelling with an art lover should also duck inside to see some spectacular ceramic paintings.
Then, scale Risasberget Hill to gaze out over the shipyards, city centre and river from a 17th-century fort. A 20-minute walk from here, there’s Kronhuset, one of the oldest buildings in the city. Once a defence tower, it’s now surrounded by shops – time for some retail therapy.
Afterwards, immerse yourself in nature at the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, where you can stroll through the Japanese Glade and Rhododendron Valley. Eyes peeled: 12,000 plant species populate these pretty pastures. There’s also a cafe where you can indulge in your second (or even third) fika of the day. It’d be rude not to.
After breakfast this morning (more coffee and cake, anyone?), collect your hire car and hit the road for the one-hour-and-30-minute coastal drive to Fjallbacka, passing a series of seriously scenic landscapes along the way.
When you arrive, park up, grab your bags and check in to your next home away from home – a rural retreat far removed from the bright lights of Gothenburg.
Having poked around your suave new digs, enjoy a succulent seafood lunch before venturing out to wander between the colourful clapboard houses and clusters of boats that make up this quintessentially Swedish fishing village.
Come evening, tuck into another delicious dinner (along with some winning wines) before retreating to your hotel and sinking into bed.
Today, it's time to sing for your supper – or, more accurately, lug for your lunch. After breakfast, make your way to the lovely harbour town of Lyckorna, where you’ll hop on a boat with some local fishermen for a trip to a mussel farm in the sheltered waters of the sea fjord.
Once here, mussel in (sorry) and learn all about the life cycle of blue mussels, sometimes referred to as ‘true mussels.’ Having acquired some super niche knowledge about the mussel life cycle, return to dry land and head to Lyckorna’s historic bell tower to cook and eat your ocean bounty. For seafood fanatics, it doesn’t come much better than this.
Pretty hard to follow that one. So, leave the dinner decisions to our Concierge this evening and prepare to round out your day with another delightfully decadent meal.
To make the most of your last full day on Sweden’s wild west coast, sample island life with a trip to the Koster Islands, a beautiful bundle of islets near the Norwegian border. Hop in the car and drive 45 minutes north to the port town of Stromstad to catch the ferry, which takes just under an hour.
This car-free archipelago is a lovely place for a scenic stroll, and there are a number of well-marked trails on the main islands of North and South Koster. Each trail ranges from two to four miles and takes in the harbours, the forest and the coastline (where there are some fab spots to take a dip).
In the afternoon, take the ferry back to the mainland and return to Fjallbacka. Depending on the time of year, you can either enjoy a final seafood fling of crayfish, mussels, oysters and prawns, or – from the first Monday after the 20th of September – outstandingly fresh lobster. Is it too on the nose to say the world is your oyster?
Thanks to late evening flights from Gothenburg to the UK, there’s time to luxuriate in a leisurely start this morning. Tuck into a bountiful breakfast spread before enjoying some more walking, cycling or even kayaking in the lead up to lunch.
With your hunger sated and your time maximised, strap in for the gentle two-hour drive back to Gothenburg Airport this afternoon. Here, return your hire car, breeze through security and slip away to the lounge for some peace and quiet before your flight. The journey home takes just over two hours, giving you plenty of time to stew in the success of your Scandi sojourn – and maybe even start dreaming up your next one...
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
