Gothenburg with Kids on a Budget: Best Free and Cheap Family-Friendly Activities
- minna
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Whenever I speak to people about Sweden they always say how expensive it is and while it can be expensive there are so many ways that you can enjoy a trip to Gothenburg on a budget with your family. As a local who grew up here, I know exactly how to experience the best of the city without overspending so this guide covers the best free or cheap activities which will keep the kids entertained whilst not breaking the bank.
Completely Free
Slottsskogen Park and the Free Zoo
Slottsskogen is Gothenburg's largest city park and it contains a zoo with no entry fee. The zoo features moose, reindeer, seals, penguins, and a summer petting zoo with goats, sheep, and pigs alongside pony rides. I actually did my school work experience here at fourteen and have been taking my daughter back since she was a newborn!
Also in Slottsskogen is the Plikta playground, which is easily the largest and best playground in Gothenburg. Right next door is the Natural History Museum, which is free and contains the only mounted blue whale in the world. You can easily spend a whole day entertaining your kids with these three activities which get them outdoors, enjoying nature and learning.
Haga Nygata and the Old Town
Haga is Gothenburg's beautiful old town lined with 19th century wooden houses painted in the traditional Swedish colours. It is completely pedestrianised, meaning children can walk freely without anyone worrying about traffic. It's a great way to walk around and take in the shops and there are plenty of cafes if you want to have a quick fika (the concept of having a coffee, sweet treat and slowing down)
The Gothenburg Archipelago
These are the islands I grew up on and I love going back whenever I'm home. If you're visiting as a family they make a perfect day trip or a really special place to stay overnight. You can enjoy walking nature trails on the islands, swim in the sea and go crabbing from the jetties or bring a picnic and find some of the smooth granite rocks to sit on whilst enjoying the view. The islands are easy to reach and you can get to them using a standard 90 min Västtrafik travel ticket. Take tram 11 to Saltholmen, and then catch the passenger ferry to whichever island you choose. For a full guide on the islands read here: Gothenburg Archipelago with Kids: A Local Guide
Trädgårdsföreningen (Garden Society Park)
One of the best preserved 19th century parks in Europe, Trädgårdsföreningen is free to enter and sits right in the city centre near the canal. In summer, the beautiful Rosarium features thousands of roses. The Palm House is an elegant cast iron greenhouse from 1878 housing tropical plants. There is a great playground, a lovely cafe, and there is plenty of space for children to run around and burn off energy.
Mushroom Picking in the Gothenburg Forests
In late August and September, the forests around Gothenburg are full of chanterelles. Chanterelles are bright golden yellow and are a great beginner mushroom because they cannot be confused with any poisonous species however, make sure you look at some field guides before picking and consuming to make sure you have identified the right mushrooms. Put on some good shoes, pack a picnic, and head straight into the forest. Whilst a Swede never revelas their best mushroom spots, the beautiful forests around the Delsjön reservoir are a good starting point.
Askimsbadet Beach
If you are visiting in summer and want a beach that is neither the archipelago nor a busy tourist attraction, Askimsbadet is just fifteen minutes by bus from Järntorget. It features a great sandy beach, large grassy areas ideal for a picnic, a long pier, a lovely cafe, and outdoor showers. The water by the beach is shallow, which makes it absolutely perfect for young children. My daughter went into the sea for the very first time at Askimsbadet at six months old!
Very Cheap (Under 120 SEK)
Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet (Maritime Museum and Aquarium)
Entry costs just 70 SEK for adults, and children enter for free. The museum has been recently renovated so the facilities are clean and spacious featuring a fantastic aquarium with Nordic sea creatures and tropical reef fish, highly interactive exhibits, and an actual submarine you can walk through!
Stadsmuseet (Gothenburg City Museum)
Entry is free for children or fully covered on the Museum Card and the Go City Pass. Located right in the city centre near Brunnsparken, it features interactive history exhibitions, full scale ships, and a brilliant Children's Museum on the top floor with a small slide, foam building blocks, and a tram to pretend drive. There's a lunch area with tables, chairs and a microwave which is perfect if you have a packed lunch.
Gunnebo House and Gardens
About 15 minutes by car or 30 minutes by public transport from the city in Mölndal, Gunnebo is a stunning 18th century estate with beautiful formal gardens and a working organic farm. There is a fantastic playground near the kitchen gardens, resident farm animals, and a nearby lake with easy water access on hot days. Entry to the vast gardens and parklands is completely free, while the specific house tours cost extra.
Universeum Science Centre
Included fully in the Go City Pass or purchased individually at around 275 SEK per adult (free for children under three). This is the one Gothenburg attraction I would put in the absolute must do category for families with young children. It is a vast indoor science centre featuring a huge tropical rainforest with monkeys, a full ocean tunnel where you can watch sharks, and a dedicated mini science zone perfectly designed for toddlers. You can even walk inside the human body here!
The Paddan Canal Boat Tour
Included fully in the Go City Pass or approximately 195 SEK per adult (children under seven travel free). This is a fantastic 50 minute guided tour through Gothenburg's canals and harbour. The boats are designed low enough to pass safely under the city historic bridges with only centimetres to spare! With a toddler, the short tour length is highly manageable.
Alfons Åbergs Kulturhus
Entry is approximately 135 SEK per child with an accompanying adult. This is an interactive play centre based entirely on the beloved Swedish children's book series. You can explore Alfons' house, participate in fun creative activities, and watch a short live performance. It sits directly next to Trädgårdsföreningen park, making for a brilliant combined day out.
The Go City Pass
The Go City Gothenburg All Inclusive Pass starts from £41 and covers 20+ local attractions on a 1, 2, 3, or 5 day basis. It includes family-friendly activities such as Universeum, the Paddan canal boat tour, the Sjöfartsmuseet, and the archipelago boat tour.
If you intend on doing a few of these activities then here is some of the maths that make it worth buying: Universeum costs around £21 per adult, the Paddan tour costs around £15 per adult. So if you are doing both plus one or two museums, you have easily already covered the cost of a one day pass for an adult!
Buy your Go City Gothenburg All Inclusive Pass here (Use code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 for 5% off via the GetYourGuide app.)
Where to Stay on a Budget
The most budget friendly option in a convenient neighbourhood is Linnéplatsens Hotell & Vandrarhem in the Linné area. Although the name says hotell it is a hostel so bear that in mind. It's a five minute walk from Slottsskogen, with prices from around £45 per night. Private family rooms are readily available, and cots are available on request at this hostel.
If hostels aren't your thing and you want some more amenities, or if you want to read about one of the best and most memorable hotels your kids will love then look for the red pins in the map below and check out my full neighbourhood by neighbourhood guide with excellent options at every price point: Where to Stay in Gothenburg with Kids
Final Thoughts
The absolute best things here are largely free: the zoo, the islands, the parks, the beach, and the beautiful forests in autumn. Whereas the paid attractions that are worth paying for are mostly covered by the Go City Pass. My favourite activity is still to heading out to the islands and spend the whole day swimming and climbing on the rocks.
For a complete guide to what to do across a full weekend, read Weekend in Gothenburg with a Toddler: A Two Day Itinerary. For all the other activities you could possibly do as a family read Top 10 Things to Do in Gothenburg with Kids: A Local’s Guide
