Hiking tour at the Gotaleden in Sweden

Basic information and route guidance on the Gotaleden

71 kilometres of endless hiking enjoyment, near the city, but always on the go in the peaceful natural landscape of West Sweden. This long-distance hiking tour in Northern Europe has been impressing countless exercise-hungry Sweden-fans since 2020 and combines the best cuisine, culture and nature. Our walking holiday Gotaleden takes you in five days and three dreamy hiking stages from the Swedish port city of Gothenburg to the historical village of Jonsered, to Lerum, Tollered and finally to Alingsås, the final stage destination of this hiking tour and the home of the Swedish coffee break, also known as Fika. This hiking tour is assigned to our level of hiking ‘walking’ and runs over good hiking paths, forest paths and meadow trails. The daily hikes last between five and a maximum of seven hours and offer the perfect hiking break in Northern Europe. The Gotaleden is marked with blue metal signs in the city and a ribbon or smaller boards in the forest areas.

Our travel tip: Sweden is the perfect travel destination for active time in the fresh air particularly in the months from May to September. When the temperature in Central Europe hits the 30-degree mark, you can enjoy magnificent hiking weather in Sweden around 20 degrees.

Three hikers in the forest, mossy forest floor, tall trees

Jonas Ingman

Idyllic hiking trail along the Gotaleden

Jonas Ingman

Malin Skoog/imagebank.sweden.se

Three hikers in the green nature, brown wooden house

Jonas Ingman

Two hikers in the sunshine walking beside a river near a town

Jonas Ingman

Art and culture on a hiking tour in West Sweden

The route on the Gotaleden leads not only through picturesque natural landscapes, but also near villages and towns, which is why you will also experience plenty of cultural sights on this varied walking tour. Already at the start in Gothenburg many highlights await: whether strolling through the lovely shopping streets, past the wonderful alleys and canals, exploring the country's largest harbour, visiting the art museum, or on a sightseeing tour through the city – Sweden's second largest city is a cultural metropolis and home to numerous modern designers and artists. And those looking for that special adrenaline rush will find it at the Liseberg amusement park.

Another highlight awaits on the third day of our walking tour on the Gotaleden – Nääs Castle in Lerum which sits picturesquely above Lake Sävelången, about 25 kilometres northeast of Gothenburg. A guided tour of the castle gives you the opportunity to learn even more about the culture and discover one of Scandinavia's best-preserved castles from the 19th century. And: In this area, the flair of nature, big city and countryside unite particularly harmoniously – experience it for yourself!

Unique sand mill: What you should not miss during your walking holiday on the Gotaleden is the only water-powered sand mill in the world. The Hillefors sand mill awaits you on your second day's hike along the Gotaleden.

Two hikers cross a bridge in the green countryside

Jonas Ingman

Hands holding a plate, bread with crayfish, lemon slice and cucumber slice

Katrin Baath

Typical pastry in Sweden: Cinnamon bun Kanelbullar

Jonas Ingman

7 Tips for Gothenburg: Pleasure, Nature, and Hospitality

There are abundant opportunities to explore the culture, cuisine, and stunning nature in Gothenburg. We've curated some of the most delightful activities, attractions, and places for regional enjoyment for you:

Botanical Garden: The port city boasts abundant greenery and parks. The Botanical Garden, housing approximately 16,000 plant species, ranks among Europe's largest gardens and comes highly recommended.
Island retreat on the archipelago islands: After a brief ferry ride, you'll arrive at the picturesque archipelago islands. Life can be wonderfully enjoyed at the beautiful waterfront spots and in the charming restaurants.
Hospitality in Haga: In the Haga district of Gothenburg, you'll find numerous cafes and local shops that invite you to stroll and relax, reflecting the typically Swedish form of hospitality.
Sauna with style: In Jubileumsparken in Frihamnen, you'll find a sauna that is not just only open to all absolutely free of charge, but also stands out as a distinctive architectural feature. Situated directly in the harbor basin of the old industrial port, access is via a wooden bridge extending from the pier. Following your sauna experience, you can unwind by cooling off in one of the two floating pools – one filled with freshwater and the other with saltwater.

Fish indulgence at the Göteborg Feskekörka: After several years of renovation, all seafood enthusiasts can look forward to the reopening of the Feskekörka fish market hall in spring 2024.
Sweet break at Gothenburg's oldest pastry shop: Be sure not to miss Ahlströms Konditori, founded in 1901. They still craft to this day authentic classic delicacies on-site, hand-baking each one to perfection. Take your pick from traditional sweets, sandwiches featuring regional ingredients, or indulge in the renowned Cortina cake, a delightful combination of cream, nuts, marzipan, and pistachios. With such a wide array of options, every gourmet is sure to find their ideal treat here.
The world's largest cinnamon roll: Indeed, in Gothenburg, you can try the world's largest cinnamon roll. At Café Husaren, this truly oversized specialty, also known as "Hagabullen," is served.

Magnificent gourmet spots on the Gotaleden

Hiking on Gotaleden one aspect lies front and centre – enjoyment. This is what awaits you on the picturesque hiking routes in the countryside and when exploring the cultural highlights worth seeing - and of course when feasting in Sweden's wonderful gourmet addresses and restaurants. And there are a lot on the way from Gothenburg to Alingsås. On the second day from Lerum to Tollerad, for example, a particularly sustainable lunch break awaits you at the former Garveriet tannery in Floda, with a focus on regional products and fresh pastries from the stone oven. And for the next hiking break, or a cosy picnic, you will find a small shop selling regional products, for example, vegetables, pastries, cheese and sausage.

A real experience for the tastebuds and eyes awaits in the restaurant Aludden Providore in Lerum. Situated in the middle of a park, sustainable delicacies of West Swedish cuisine are served here – a dreamlike view of Lake Aspen is included. What you shouldn’t miss at the end of your hiking tour is a famous coffee break in the Fika capital of Alingsås. Here many cosy cafes with traditional sweets, such as the Swedish cinnamon bun Kanelbullar. Here, for example, you can try this traditional way of life at Ekstedts Bagerie & Café and choose from a diverse selection of sweet specialities and pastries. Another example is Nygrens Café, which also serves Swedish fika while you relax and reflect on this wonderful hiking tour. Whether discovering Swedish coffee culture or enjoying a sustainable lunch break, the cuisine of Sweden is guaranteed to enchant you!

SWEDEN’S SWEETEST TREAT AT HOME: KANELBULLAR RECIPE

We have a recipe for traditional Swedish cinnamon buns, Kannelbullar, for you so you can enjoy the taste of Sweden at home. Have fun baking and enjoying!

Ingredients (for approx. 6 to 7 buns)

500g spelt or wheat flour, 1 block of fresh yeast or two packets of dried yeast, 250ml milk or milk alternative (e.g., almond milk), 40g golden sugar, 60g melted butter or coconut oil, 1 egg, a pinch of salt, 1 tsp cardamom

For the filling:

40g sugar, 40g melted butter or coconut oil, 2 tsp cinnamon

Optional: 1 egg for brushing, pearl sugar for decorating

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Crumble the yeast into the lukewarm milk and stir to dissolve. In a mixing bowl, mix the sugar, flour, butter, egg, cardamom and a pinch of salt. Then add the milk and yeast mixture and continue to mix until you have a smooth dough. Leave the dough to rise in a covered bowl in a warm place for one to two hours until it has approximately doubled in size. For the filling, mix the melted butter with the cinnamon and sugar. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle and coat with the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Roll up the dough from the long side, cut off equal-sized pieces (about 4 centimetres) and place on a baking tray. Brush with egg if desired and sprinkle with hail sugar. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until golden and enjoy the taste of Sweden!

Recipe for Swedish cinnamon buns Kanelbullar