Itinerary:
DAY 1 - flight from Prague to Göteborg, Saluhallen, Domkyrkan, Haga, Feskekörka, Christmas market in Liseberg
DAY 2 - Delsjön, Christmas market in Haga
DAY 3 - Palmhuset, Gustaf Adolfs torg, Saltholmen, Slottsskogen, Göteborgsoperan, Jussi Björlings plats
DAY 4 - flight from Göteborg to Prague
DAY 1 - flight from Prague to Göteborg, Saluhallen, Domkyrkan, Haga, Feskekörka, Christmas market in Liseberg
We decided to get a pinch of Christmas mood and planned trip to Göteborg. Our main goal was to visit beautiful Christmas market in amusement park Liseberg. I have visited this market during my Erasmus studies, so I was curious if market is still that awesome.
We arrived to Göteborg after short flight in 11:30 a.m. It was welcome change flying with Norwegian than with Wizzair as we did last time. We got on the bus at the airport and headed to the centre of Göteborg and our hotel.
Our first stop in Göteborg was big indoor market Saluhallen, where we got a lunch. From there we continued through streets full of design and Christmas shops. Our walk took us around cathedral called Domkyrkan and also around "fish church" Feskekörka. It is not a real church, but place where fish and sea food is offered. Fish smell is not tempting for us, but smell of coffee that is completely different story. Haga quarter was the right place for our needs. The main street Haga Nygata is full of cosy cafés and design shops. It was "fika" time as Swedes would say! Time for coffee, kanelbulle and coconut cake. All tasted in cosy atmosphere of café Hebbe Lelle.
We waited until it got dark (it is not long wait in winter Sweden) and headed to amusement park in Liseberg. I have to say that it exceeded all expectations. The park is one big Christmas village like you see in fairy tales. Millions of lights everywhere around. All is tastefully decorated. Air is full of sweet smell from all the cookies being sold in stands on the main street. We don't know what to do with our eyes. It is hard to describe all the perceptions that surrounded us. Photos give at least a small idea how charming was the atmosphere we were part of. Of course we could not have missed mulled wine called glögg and cookie pepparkaka. We spent almost 4 hours in park and could not get enough of its Christmas spirit and shops full of Christmas decorations. But all fairy tales have the end and so did ours.
DAY 2 - Delsjön, Christmas market in Haga
We would like to taste a little bit of Swedish nature on Saturday, so we planned trip to Delsjön lake at the periphery of Göteborg. We jumped on tram that took us to Topelsgatan station. It was start of our walk to Delsjön lake. The path led us around miniature wooden chalets of different colours that are made in typical Swedish style. After a while we immersed into the forest. We chose narrow almost imperceptible path through mixed forest and we were lucky to be alone on the trail. Our path slowly connected to bigger path where we were encountering couple of locals jogging or having a walk.
When we finally reached our destination, typical Swedish lake scenery showed off. Dense mixed forest and huge flat rocks on the shore of the lake. We finished our walk around the lake in wooden chalet called Kaffestugan Lyckan where we enjoyed coffee and tasty waffles. After this refreshment we headed back to the tram station.
Tram took us back to known Haga quarter, where we stopped by to see local Christmas market. It was Saturday, so probably all people of Göteborg went to see this market and the main street was very crowded. But after we experienced Christmas market in Liseberg, this one seemed a little boring. To be fair Liseberg market set the expectations very high.
DAY 3 - Palmhuset, Gustaf Adolfs torg, Saltholmen, Slottsskogen, Göteborgsoperan, Jussi Björlings plats
We spent Sunday morning in Palmhuset. It is heated glasshouse with tropical plants. To look at all the greenery around was pleasant comparison with leafless winter trees outside. Also we were able to warm up a little bit. Palmhuset in Göteborg is very nice place with a number of benches offering view of green jungle around.
We continued to main square Gustaf Adolfs torg where we jumped on a tram towards Saltholmen. It is port at the periphery of Göteborg where all boats to Göteborg's archipelago depart. We didn't have enough time to explore small islands around Göteborg's coast, but Saltholmen has elevated viewpoint that offers beautiful view of the nearest islands. The scenery with black terrifying clouds was quite impressive. Strong wind and a little hailstorm didn't let us spend more time at this place and we were getting back to the centre.
We got off the tram at Slottsskogen. It is green park with a small zoo hidden at the heart of it. You can see elks, Gotland ponies, reindeers and other animals typical for Scandinavian nature. They live in quite big enclosures that resemble their natural environment.
Our last stop was Jussi Björlings plats with two famous buildings - Göteborgsoperan and building that is nicknamed "Lipstick" for its shape and red colour. It had already been after dark so there were no tourists and we could have enjoyed undisturbed view of shining port and ships.
DAY 4 - flight from Göteborg to Prague
It was cruel morning, because we had to wake up at 4:44 a.m. Fresh snow outside of our hotel surprised us. What a pity it didn't come earlier during our stay. Nevertheless we got the right Christmas mood anyway, so our mission was completed.
