10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Gothenburg

Join a local fisher on an oyster safari in the beautiful Bohuslän Archipelago. Tours depart from locations such as Hönö in the northern part of the archipelago or Lysekil which is located around 80 miles north of Gothenburg.

The adventure will take you out to a local oyster bed where you can help pick the oysters while learning a little more about them and how they live. Naturally you will also get the chance to help open them up and enjoy their bounty, often right on the water's edge.

At the experience-based Aeroseum, you will have the opportunity to build, restore and fly in virtual and sometimes even real-life aircraft and helicopters. Aeroseum is located about 7.5 miles outside of Gothenburg and can be reached by automobile or by taking the no. 35 bus to Granhäll and then walking the last little stretch.

Learn all about the development of aviation throughout history and get a closer look at warplanes with names like the Dragon and the Bolt. Get winched up onto a helicopter and find out what exactly a whooping cough flight was.

Today, Ragnhildsholmen Castle Ruins (Ragnhildsholmens borgruin) from the 13th century is a popular spot for day-trippers not just for its history but also for its rich plant and animal life. Ragnhildsholmen is located on the island of Hisingen, about 12 miles north of Gothenburg. Walk among the ruins and contemplate what remains of the arch construction in the courtyard or the northern gates.

Or if you're more interested in animals than in history, grab a pair of binoculars and watch out for birds such as the nightingale, the grasshopper warbler and the western marsh harrier. The area offers plenty to see all year round, but is most popular in the months of May and June.

The Volvo Museum is a proud showcase for the company's many automobiles, buses, machines, engines and other vehicles. It is located in Arendal, about 6 miles to the west of Gothenburg. Watch an animated video about Volvo's history, discover iconic models such as the Volvo 240, and marvel at groundbreaking innovations and imaginative concept vehicles. Take a break from all the action for a cup of coffee or an ice cream in the museum's café.

Round off your visit with a trip to the gift shop where you will find everything from clothes and books through to toys, scale models and classic advertizing posters.

The stately heritage building of New Älvsborg Fortress (Nya Älvsborgs fästning) was first built back in the 17th century and today is a place where you can soak up some historical atmosphere and watch dramatisations from days gone by. The fortress is located on Kyrkogårdsholmen in the Älvsborg Fjord by the mouth of Gothenburg Harbor, and in the summertime it can be reached by boat from outside the Lilla Bommen building in the city.

Learn all about how this well-preserved fortress was built, the important role it once played as a line of defense against the Norwegians and the Danes, and how it has served both as a storehouse and a penitentiary.

Visit the Old Police Station (Gamla polisstationen), which is now a museum, and check out the uniforms, helmets, swords, batons, handcuffs and small toy police automobiles. This tiny police station is located along one of the main paths through the Castle Park (Slottsskogsparken), just south west of Gothenburg city centre.

The station was built at the beginning of the 20th century and, up until the end of the 1930s, anybody who gotten a little too jolly could easily end up spending the night in one of its two cells. And because of its proximity to the harbor, there were quite a lot of jolly folk knocking about in the area, so space was often in short supply!

The Malm Whale (Malmska valen) is a 16 meter long and 25 ton blue whale which was beached outside Gothenburg around 150 years ago and an absolute marvel to behold. The impressive sea mammal is mounted at the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History (Göteborgs naturhistoriska museum) which is located just outside the Castle Park (Slottsskogen) toward the west of the center.

If possible, time your visit to coincide with Election Day or Walpurgis Night on 30 April when the whale's jaw is hinged open and visitors can climb inside this magnificent animal. Inside is a furnished salon where you can kick back on one of the wooden benches.

The well-preserved Gunnebo House (Gunnebo slott) is surrounded by lovely gardens and offers visitors the chance to learn about its history, take a stroll in the lovely surroundings or grab a bite to eat and a cup of coffee at its certified organic restaurant. Gunnebo House is located close to Rådasjön lake in Mölndal Municipality, about 6 miles south west of Gothenburg.

Discover elegant reception spaces in the state room and listen to fascinating anecdotes about the Gothenburgers of days gone by on a guided tour. Take a tour of the gardens and the orangery or learn about figures from Gunnebo's history during a lively dramatisation.

At the House of Emigrants (Emigranternas Hus), you can learn all about what life was like in 19th-century Sweden and discover why so many chose to leave for the promised land of America. House of Emigrants is located in the Custom House (Tullhuset), just over half a mile from Central Station. See how Swedish emigration over time is put into perspective and compared with immigration into the country today.

Take a step back in time on the Green Parrott, a reconstructed migrant ship, and experience what it feels like to step on board harbouring dreams of a better life. And read about what life was actually like for the almost 1.4 million people who took the step to emigrate.

A Secret Dinner Party is a great way to share experiences and make new friends on your trip. Sign up at thisisgothenburg.com and you will receive a dinner invitation with details on the date, time and approximate cost of the meal. But the location and identity of your fellow diners will remain under wraps right up until the big day.

Get to know new people and enjoy some delicious food in what will soon be the company of good friends – the perfect way to mix things up and forge new connections with interesting folk. Secret Dinner Parties are held weekly in Gothenburg.