Historic City Centre
Hotel Draken
Completed in 2023 and designed by Erséus Arkitekter, Hotel Draken has quickly become a prominent feature of Gothenburg's cityscape. The 33-storey tower rises 104 metres above Järntorget and connects to the area's strong cultural history, with the classic Draken cinema as its neighbour.
At the very top, a restaurant and sky bar await, offering expansive views over Gothenburg, the harbour, and the city's rooftops. With its panoramic lifts, central location, and distinct profile, Hotel Draken has become a new place to discover the city from above.
Haga
Just west of Gothenburg's city centre lies Haga, one of the city's oldest and most beloved districts. Haga was founded in the mid-17th century as Gothenburg's first suburb by order of Queen Christina. The name comes from the pastures, or "hagar", that once stretched across the area.
Today, Haga is known for its cobblestone streets, small shops, and cosy cafés. Along Haga Nygata are the well-preserved "landshövdingehus" – a building style unique to Gothenburg. The houses, with a stone ground floor and two wooden upper floors, were built during the 1800s to comply with fire safety regulations of the time and also to offer affordable housing for the city's growing population.
Haga is also one of Gothenburg’s most appreciated spots for a fika (a coffee and cake break). There is a wide selection of cafés and bakeries, where the well-known Hagabullen has become a symbol of the neighbourhood. During the warmer months of the year, the street fills with outdoor seating and a lively city life that attracts both Gothenburgers and visitors.
Skansen Kronan
Skansen Kronan rises above the rooftops of Haga and is one of Gothenburg's most well-preserved historical landmarks. The fortress was built between 1687 and 1700 to strengthen the city's defences and was designed by Erik Dahlbergh, one of Sweden's foremost military engineers. It was equipped with 23 cannons, but despite its imposing defences, Skansen Kronan was never used in battle.
The walls, up to five metres thick, are built of granite, gneiss and diabase and bear witness to the advanced defensive technology of the time. Over the centuries, the building has had several different functions, including as a prison, emergency housing during periods of rapid population growth, and later as a military museum.
The fortress takes its name from the large crown adorning the roof. The first wooden crown was erected as early as 1699 and has since been replaced, but the characteristic crown is still a well-known feature of Gothenburg's city skyline today.
Today, Skansen Kronan is a popular visitor attraction. Although the building's interior is often used for private events, the area around the fortress is open to the public. From the heights, there is a vast view over Haga, the city centre, the river Göta älv, the harbour, and Gothenburg's ever-growing skyline – one of the city's best places to experience both its history and landscape.