Gothenburg
Shopping in Gothenburg: from Nordstan to Haga
Nordstan puts around 200 shops under one roof. Five minutes away, Magasinsgatan has Swedish design, vintage and coffee roasted around a courtyard.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
In short: shopping in Gothenburg
The best shopping streets in Gothenburg sit close together. Nordstan and NK have the chains and big brands, Magasinsgatan and Vallgatan have Swedish design, and Haga Nygata and Linnégatan have vintage and independent shops. You can cover it all on foot in a day. Our first choice is Clarion Hotel Post by the Central Station, right across the street from Nordstan.
Our first choice: Clarion Hotel Post. Check availability and prices at Clarion Hotel Post
Gothenburg is small enough to cross in a morning but big enough that you will not see it all. Flights land at Landvetter Airport, and the airport coach takes you to the Central Station, two minutes from the first shops.
We have divided the city into districts, so you know where to spend your time and where to stay.
Nordstan and Inom Vallgraven: chains and department stores
Nordstan has around 200 shops spread over eight blocks under one roof. You will find the big chains, the Åhléns department store, pharmacies and Systembolaget, the state-run off-licence. When the rain blows in from the sea, this is where you want to be. During Advent there is a craft and design market inside the centre.
Across the canal lies Inom Vallgraven, the old town inside the moat. The NK department store has Nordic design and international luxury labels, and the Arkaden arcade next door has Beyond Retro, a Stadsmissionen charity shop and Sephora. Kungsgatan and Fredsgatan are pedestrian streets lined with Swedish and international chains.
By the cathedral on Västra Hamngatan, Antikhallarna is an arcade of antique and vintage dealers. It is the place to hunt for French porcelain and old silver spoons between the chain stores.
Magasinsgatan and Vallgatan: Swedish design and coffee
Magasinsgatan is the street for anyone who wants to take home something they cannot buy at home. Artilleriet is one of the most talked-about interiors shops in Sweden, and Norrgavel sells Nordic furniture in natural materials. Aplace stocks second-hand clothes from well-known Scandinavian labels.
Round the corner on Vallgatan, Grandpa sells clothes, books and homeware. Nudie Jeans, founded in Gothenburg, has a shop and repair workshop nearby. Stop for coffee at da Matteo, which roasts its beans around a courtyard, or for lunch at Jinx Food Truck on the same street. More ideas in our guide to lunch in Gothenburg.
Haga, Linné and Majorna: vintage and independent shops
Haga is one of the oldest districts in Gothenburg, with cobbles and governor's houses, built with a stone ground floor and two wooden storeys above. Haga Nygata is the shopping street, with antiquarian bookshops, interiors shops and cafés where people queue for cinnamon buns on Saturdays.
Carry on west and you reach Linnégatan and Majorna. Vintage shops such as Fabriken and Alla tiders design sell furniture and design classics from the 1930s to the 1980s. Take the tram back to the centre if the bags get heavy.
Christmas shopping and Black Friday in Gothenburg
Black Friday falls on the day after American Thanksgiving, at the end of November, and many shops run offers all week. Nordstan and Kungsgatan are packed that day, so come early or shop on a weekday. Shops in the centre also open on Sundays.
Combine your Christmas shopping with the Christmas markets in Haga and Kronhuset or Christmas at Liseberg. Central hotels fill up early on Advent weekends, so book your room when you book your flight.
Good to know: tax free and payment
Tax free: Visitors who live outside the EU, including the UK, can reclaim Swedish VAT. Spend more than 200 kronor in a shop that is part of Global Blue. Ask for the form at the till and have it stamped before you leave the EU.
Customs: Check your home country's allowance before you fly. UK travellers will find the limits on gov.uk.
Payment: Swedish shops take cards almost everywhere, and many no longer accept cash.
Last checked October 2026 with Global Blue.
Where to stay for a shopping weekend in Gothenburg
Stay central and you can drop off your bags at the hotel between shops. All the hotels below are in the city centre, within walking distance of the shops, and all score highly with guests on Hotels.com.
Clarion Hotel Post
The old post office by the Central Station, designed by the architect Ernst Torulf, is now a hotel with 539 rooms. Nordstan is right across the street, so you can leave your shopping in your room before lunch.
After a day in the shops, the Skönhetsfabriken spa has pools and saunas for a supplement. The restaurant VRÅ serves Japanese-inspired food made with West Swedish produce. You can also book directly with Strawberry.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Clarion Hotel Post
The city from the 33rd floor
Clarion Hotel Draken stands on Järntorget, a tram stop away from Haga. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Clarion Hotel Draken
Draken rises above Järntorget with 474 rooms and a restaurant on the 33rd floor. The classic Draken cinema is inside the same building, and the hotel hosts screenings during the Gothenburg Film Festival.
Haga and Linnégatan are a short walk away, so choose Draken if vintage shops matter more than the chains. After the shopping, Obie Spa has a sauna, warm pools and an ice sauna. You can also book directly with Strawberry.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Clarion Hotel Draken
The roof terrace above Södra Hamngatan
Hotel Pigalle sits between Nordstan and NK. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hotel Pigalle
Hotel Pigalle on Södra Hamngatan is decorated like 1920s Paris, with bold colours and plenty of detail. The Michelin Guide has praised both the style and the rooftop restaurant.
The roof terrace is at its best in summer, but the bar is open all year. The hotel sits halfway between Nordstan and NK, so the next shop is never far away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Pigalle
Belle époque on Drottningtorget
Eggers has been a hotel since 1859. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hôtel Eggers
Eggers has been a hotel since 1859 and stands on Drottningtorget, a few steps from the Central Station. Its 70 or so rooms have stucco, real rugs and chandeliers, and no two are alike.
The restaurant and bar are styled on belle époque Paris, and the hotel holds the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Ask for a courtyard room if you want to sleep away from the square.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Eggers
Design on Grönsakstorget
Hotel Flora sits between Kungsgatan and Magasinsgatan. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hotel Flora
Hotel Flora stands on Grönsakstorget, between Kungsgatan and Magasinsgatan. It is a design hotel with a bright lobby and bar, and both Arkaden and Haga are a few minutes' walk away.
Choose Flora if the design shops on Magasinsgatan are the main reason for your trip and you want to pay a little less than at the biggest hotels.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Flora
Velvet and art on Trädgårdsgatan
Dorsia is five minutes from NK. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Dorsia Hotel & Restaurant
Dorsia on Trädgårdsgatan has just 37 rooms, and the art on the walls comes from the owner Thomas Peterson's own collection. The restaurant is pink, with velvet curtains and paintings hung frame to frame.
NK and Kungsportsavenyn are five minutes on foot. Choose Dorsia when the shopping trip is also a weekend you are treating yourself to.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dorsia Hotel & Restaurant
Our first choice for a shopping weekend in Gothenburg
Clarion Hotel Post
Clarion Hotel Post fills the old post office by the Central Station, right across the street from Nordstan. Check in, drop your bags and you are in the first shop two minutes later. After the shopping, the Skönhetsfabriken spa has pools and saunas, and the restaurant VRÅ serves Japanese-inspired food made with West Swedish produce. The hotel has 539 rooms, from compact doubles to large suites.
Frequently asked questions about shopping in Gothenburg
Where is the best shopping in Gothenburg?
The best shopping in Gothenburg is in the city centre, all within walking distance. Nordstan and NK have the chains and big brands, Magasinsgatan has Swedish design and interiors, and Haga Nygata and Linnégatan have vintage and independent shops. Start at Nordstan in the morning and finish in Haga, and you will see most of it in a day.
Can I shop tax free in Gothenburg?
Yes, if you live outside the EU, including the UK, you can reclaim Swedish VAT. The shop must be part of a scheme such as Global Blue, and you must spend more than 200 kronor. Ask for the form at the till and have it stamped before you leave the EU, at the airport or by customs. Check your home allowance before you fly.
When is Black Friday in Gothenburg?
Black Friday is the day after American Thanksgiving, always at the end of November. Many shops in Gothenburg run offers all week, and some start on the Monday. Nordstan is crowded that Friday, so arrive early. Central hotels fill up quickly that weekend, so book your room well in advance.
Are shops in Gothenburg open on Sundays?
Yes, most shops in central Gothenburg open on Sundays, usually with shorter hours than on weekdays. Nordstan, NK and the chains on Kungsgatan are open, while some of the small independent shops in Haga and on Magasinsgatan close or open later. Check opening hours for individual shops before you set out on a Sunday.
Where should I stay for shopping in Gothenburg?
Stay as close to Nordstan and the Central Station as you can, so you can drop off your bags along the way. Our first choice is Clarion Hotel Post, right across the street from Nordstan. Hôtel Eggers on Drottningtorget and Clarion Hotel Draken near Haga are good alternatives, and Dorsia suits a weekend when you want to treat yourself.