Gothenburg and West Sweden - Christmas breaks and new tours
Here’s an overview of inspirational new holiday ideas and travel news - from a festivity-filled break in Gothenburg to new walking trips in Dalsland’s lake district, hotel openings and plans to expand the famous Shellfish Journey.
Gothenburg the Christmas city
Feel festivity levels soar with a winter break in Gothenburg, only a short two-hour flight from London. Mixing a warm sense of tradition with contemporary Swedish design, the highlight of Gothenburg the Christmas city includes...
Liseberg Christmas market
Decorated with five million twinkling lights and 700 Christmas trees, Liseberg Amusement Park’s Christmas market is Scandinavia’s biggest. It features 80 rustic market stalls selling arts and crafts, as well as seasonal foods such as traditional Swedish marinated herring, roasted reindeer served by Sami reindeer herders from Lapland, dressed in their fascinating and highly-decorated traditional costumes, marzipan pigs and traditional mulled and spiced wine, known as glögg. There’s also a sparkling ice skating rink for onlookers and participants alike to enjoy and Christmas sing-alongs to add to the festive vibe. Open from 16 to 25 November on weekends (Friday to Sunday) and then daily from 30 November to 23 December, entry into Liseberg Christmas Market costs 90 SEK (£8) pp.
Sample festive break in Gothenburg:
Three nights’ B&B at the Hotel Elite Park Avenue costs from £527 pp (two sharing), including flights (Heathrow) and private transfers. To book this festive package, visit sunvil.co.uk.
Or head to Sweden’s west coast
Experience your most relaxing winter break yet at the traditional Swedish guesthouse, Villa Sjötorp, in Ljungskile (less than an hour’s drive north of Gothenburg). This cosy coastal retreat offers a taste of tradition, too – it’s a large gingerbread-style former family house, set amidst mature trees and lawns overlooking the sea and nearby islands. Guests can enjoy coffee, glögg and ginger snaps on arrival, perhaps followed by an exhilarating walk along the shoreline before tucking into a special nine-course feast at the Taste of West Sweden-accredited candle-lit restaurant. One night’s accommodation with breakfast costs from £159 pp (two sharing), including refreshments on arrival and the festive feast. Flights and car hire extra. Visit villasjotorp.se/eng.
Previewing 2013 - new holiday ideas, events and openings
Self-guided walking trip in Dalsland’s lake district – new for 2013
Dalsland is a hiker’s dream, with its accessible walking trails and spectacular landscape of glittering lakes and deep forests – all just an easy 2.5 hours’ drive north of Gothenburg on uncrowded roads. Discover this unspoilt region on a new self-guided walking trip, where guests can set off on a selection of mapped walks every day – choose from gentle 5 km walks to more challenging 20 km hikes. Base yourself at a lakeside guesthouse, offering top-notch local cuisine and canoes for adventures on the lake. Trips range from five to seven days – eg four nights’ B&B costs £300 pp (two sharing), including detailed maps of hiking trails and free canoe hire. Car hire and flights extra. Visit naturetravels.co.uk.
Journey along Sweden’s west coast – new for 2013
Take in the highlights of West Sweden’s sublime coastline on a new nine-day holiday that explores Styrsö island, Ljungskile, Fjällbacka and Lysekil. Relax and dine at top-quality charming guest houses along the way, including two nights at the Taste of West Sweden-accredited Bryggan Hotel and restaurant, set by the pretty harbour in Fjällbacka (the Swedish equivalent of Midsommer Murders’ village setting). Guests can choose to substitute one of the nights in Fjällbacka for a stay on the Weather Islands, the rugged and beautiful westernmost part of Sweden, if preferred. The trip costs from £1,495 pp (two sharing), including eight nights’ B&B accommodation, flights (London) and car hire. Visit simplysweden.co.uk.
Radisson Blue Riverside Hotel to open in Gothenburg in March 2013
Gothenburg’s newest hotel, the Radisson Blue Riverside Hotel, will open its doors on 18 March 2013. Boasting an idyllic waterside location with harbour views on the banks of the Göta River at Lindholmen, the modern hotel features 265 stylish rooms and The Cuckoo’s Nest restaurant, offering both international and local dishes. It also features a spa and fitness centre with an indoor pool, sauna, gym and three Jacuzzis, one of which is outdoors, on the rooftop. One night’s B&B in a double room will cost from £45 pp (two sharing). Visit radissonblu.com/riversidehotel-gothenburg.
The Shellfish Journey expands, from spring 2013
West Sweden’s famous Shellfish Journey will be bigger than ever in 2013, with more seafood safaris available throughout the year. The Shellfish Journey – offering visitors the chance to learn how to catch and cook lobster, mussels, oysters, crayfish and prawns - is usually limited to the autumn/fall period, kicking off at the start of the lobster season (the first Monday after 20 September every year). But, due to popular demand, still more educational and mouth-watering seafood safaris will be introduced, meaning trips will be available for a longer period from spring 2013. Further information, packages and prices to follow.
Gothia Towers hotel to add 59 new rooms, summer 2013
The four-star Gothia Towers hotel, located in the heart of Gothenburg directly opposite the Liseberg Amusement Park, will feature 59 additional luxurious rooms and suites in the summer of 2013. This will be in addition to its current 704 rooms, with plans to increase its room count to a total of 1,200 at the end of 2014, once a third tower is added to the complex. Guests can admire far-reaching views of the city from the hotel, as well as enjoying local cuisine at its two restaurants, Heaven 23 and Restaurant West Coast, which serve the finest seafood fresh from the Gothenburg coast. Visit gothiatowers.com.
Gothenburg to host World Food Travel Summit, September 2013
Building on its claim to fame as Culinary Capital of Sweden 2012, Gothenburg has been chosen as the host city for the World Food Travel Summit (21-24 September, 2013). To be held at the Clarion Hotel Post, 500 delegates from the food, beverage, travel and hospitality industries worldwide will gather to discuss the increasing consumer focus on food and the environment. Gothenburg is the perfect destination to host such an event, recognised as it is for the wealth and quality of its natural produce. Visit worldfoodtravel.org/world-summit-2013.
For more information about visiting West Sweden and Gothenburg, go to westsweden.com and gothenburg.com.
All prices subject to availability and correct at the time of publication.