Gothenburg in 48 hours: Staying at Spar Hotel Majorna

Due to work, I found myself booking last-minute plane tickets to Gothenburg. Having visited Stockholm before and loving the atmosphere and the people, I was excited to experience another Swedish city. Now that I’ve been twice, I can confidently say—Swedish people are incredibly welcoming and helpful!

I was supposed to go there and fly back on the same day, but then I found myself wondering: "Can I make a weekend out of this?" So I started searching and I found a cosy family-run hotel in Majorna and reached out to see if they were open to a collaboration.

They responded quickly, we agreed on the details, and just like that, everything was set for our trip.

After a very quick light packing and a nearly completed list of places I wanted to visit, we headed to Gothenburg!

This post is a paid partnership with Hotel Spar Majorna. All the words are my own opinion and they didn't ask me to write anything specific, just my experience in their hotel.

Getting Around Gothenburg

We had only 48 hours to explore Gothenburg, which played in our favour isn't a massive city and it is an easy one to get around.

We mostly used the tram, which was super accessible and ran frequently. We took a couple of taxis, and here is an important tip I want to share with you: if you’re planning on taking a taxi from the airport to the city centre, download the Bolt app!

A regular taxi will charge you around £100, while Bolt offers the same trip for £50. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way!

But again, I think the best way to move around is using the tram. Our hotel was less than a 2-minute walk to one of the tram stations, so that was very convenient.

Staying at Spar Hotel Majorna

Spar Hotel Majorna is a charming spot, slightly tucked away from the city centre but well-connected by tram. We stayed for two nights, splitting our time between a twin double room and the beautiful penthouse suite as agreed in our collaboration.

The Double Room

The twin double room was bright, cosy, and had a well-sized bathroom. I would say that it is the perfect room for travellers who spend most of the day exploring, who want to stay somewhere affordable and want a comfortable place to sleep and recharge. I have to say the beds were very comfy!

The Penthouse Suite

The penthouse was a whole new level—literally an entire apartment to ourselves with a massive bath in the centre!

It was stylish, spacious, and filled with natural light. It also had a second bathroom with a shower, a small kitchen area with a coffee machine and kettle, and all the amenities you’d need for a luxurious stay.

The beds, again, were super comfortable. One other detail, in both rooms the temperature was just right—so many hotels tend to overheat at night, but this one got it perfect!

If you're looking for an affordable yet stylish stay, the double room is perfect. But if you’re after a more luxurious experience, I’d recommend booking the suite for at least one night as a treat!

The staff at Spar Hotel Majorna were incredibly warm and welcoming, making sure our stay was as smooth as possible. The cleaners, the people at reception, everyone had a smile on their faces and made us feel so welcomed, so I really wanted to make an emphasis on that.

As an extra information, the hotel is accessible for wheelchair users, there aren't any steps at the entrance and you just need to use the correct elevator depending on your floor.

We were grateful for the option of early check-in, especially after arriving early on Saturday morning, and the luggage storage service on our last day was a lifesaver, allowing us to explore without dragging our bags around. Again, all the service was very accommodating and happy to help with all our needs.

The lounge area was beautifully decorated and even had a shuffleboard game, a game I recently discovered and I really like! So that was a nice plus :)

One evening, we opted to have dinner at the hotel restaurant after finding nearby spots fully booked, and it turned out to be a great choice as well!

On our booking, breakfast was included, offering a generous buffet in a bright living room. It was a very relaxed setting with genuinely delicious food. On the weekends you can have breakfast till 12pm if you want to have a bit of a lay-in.

If you are interested on checking out this lovely hotel, see the details here:

📍Spar Hotel Majorna:https://www.sparhotel.se/en/our-hotels/spar-hotel-majorna

Exploring Gothenburg: 48 hours plan

With a limited time to explore the city, I checked my list of places I wanted to see during these 48 hours in Gothenburg.

One of them was Kafé Magasinet, a trendy café close to the Haga neighbourhood. It was busy and lively, with a great mix of people—families, group of friends, and even think we had a couple of a first date near us.

We had a light lunch there. The food was okay, but I’d recommend it more for a coffee or a drink (the coffee was amazing!).

We walked around Haga for a while and then it was work time. We worked with a local musician creating content, who after work took us to his local pub where there was some live music on during the evening —a hidden gem we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. I love unplanned moments like this!

The next day, after a lovely hotel breakfast, we set off to explore the city centre, just a 15-minute tram ride away.

We stopped at a cute café in the city centre called Brogyllen Hamngatan and had a delicious pistachio custard pastry—highly recommend it! It was the perfect place to warm up with a tea and chai latte.

We wandered to the port, snapped some foggy pictures, and walked through a huge shopping centre to escape the cold for a bit. I also wanted to visit the Palm House, even though I knew it was closed, hoping to take pictures from outside—but it was covered in scaffolding. No luck there!

For dinner, we stayed close to the hotel and ate at a Greek restaurant—a perfect choice after a long day of walking. We had to wait for a little while despite being Sunday evening ( Saturday was also very busy and we couldn't get a table) so I would recommend to book in advance if you can. Food was lovely and very filling!

Then, back to the suite for a candle-lit bath and a face mask. Absolute bliss!

Last day in Gothenburg

On our last day, after our last delicious breakfast at Hotel Spar Majorna, we left our suitcases at the hotel reception and we braved the pouring rain and ventured to Haga, the charming old neighbourhood.

I stumbled upon a beautiful second-hand clothing shop (there are so many in Gothenburg!) and, of course, had to stop for a Fika ( the Swedish name for a coffee break).

We cosied up in a lovely café called Caféva, which was busy with locals but felt very calm and peaceful to be in there. We shared a cinnamon bun which was very nice ( maybe we should have taken 2) with a chai latte and juice . Then it was time to head back to the hotel, pick up our suitcases and head to the airport, this time booking a Bolt!

Unfortunately, some places were closed on Sunday and Monday, limiting our options a bit, but we still had an amazing time!

The weather

It was cold, not going to lie—it’s low season for a reason. But so was the UK these days, so I didn’t feel much difference. It’s true that the week before had been -7 degrees; however, when we went, it was around 4-5 degrees. So, despite being cold, it wasn’t freezing.

We wrapped up well and decided to enjoy the city. The good thing about places like Sweden is that all the cafés and indoor spaces are very well insulated and warm. If you get a bit cold from your walk, you can just take a little break in a café, which will warm you up instantly. So, we didn’t really suffer from the cold too much—we came very well prepared!

One of the advantages of visiting Gothenburg in the low season was that the streets were quieter. You can walk around without crowds and see the true essence of the city—more locals, fewer tourists.

Some main attractions were closed, like the amusement park, but that wasn’t something I had planned on visiting anyway.

Recap: A Quick 48-Hour Taste of Gothenburg

List of restaurants and coffee places I recommend.

📍Kafé Magasinet https://kafemagasinet.se/

📍Brogyllen Hamngatan - Cafe in the centre here

📍 Olivens - Live music bar here

📍Taverna Efessos - Greek Restaurant https://www.efessos.se

📍Caféva - Cute cafe in Haga here

And of course, if you are looking for a hotel to stay, check out:

📍Spar Hotel Majorna: https://www.sparhotel.se/en/our-hotels/spar-hotel-majorna

And remember: always take a Bolt, not a regular taxi!

This trip was a short but sweet introduction to Gothenburg, and I already know I want to come back, perhaps next time during the summer season to experience a different side of the city.

Whether you’re looking for cosy cafés, hidden music spots, or a stylish yet affordable hotel—this city has so much to offer.

Have you visited Gothenburg before? Are you planning on visiting Sweden any time soon?