Slottsskogen

Gothenburg's green lung

Slottsskogen is one of Gothenburg's largest, oldest and best-loved parks, a sweeping landscape of meadows, woodland, ponds and hills on the west side of the city. Unlike many attractions, there's nothing to pay here and no opening hours to work around: the park is freely accessible around the clock, all year. On sunny days the meadows fill with picnic blankets, joggers and families; in winter it's popular for sledging and walks.

The official source of information is the City of Gothenburg's page (goteborg.se/slottsskogen); there's no dedicated park website.

The free animal park

The biggest draw is Slottsskogens djurpark, one of Sweden's oldest animal parks. It's open year-round and free. On display are Nordic and exotic species:

• Elk (älg), the park's signature animal
• Gotland sheep (gutefår) and Gotland pony (gotlandsruss)
• Seals (säl) in the water enclosure
• 34 Humboldt penguins, kept as part of an international conservation breeding programme

If you want to see the animals at their most active, time your visit around the feedings: seals are fed at 14:00, the penguins around 14:20. Both draw a good crowd, so it's worth arriving a few minutes early.

For families: Barnens zoo

The park also has Barnens zoo (children's zoo), aimed at children, with tame farm and petting animals. It's open only in the summer season, daily from 24 April to 31 August, roughly 10:00 to 16:30, with free admission. Pony rides are also on offer in spring and summer. Outside the season, the children's zoo and ponies are closed, but the main animal park stays open year-round.

Natural History Museum & more in the park

In the middle of Slottsskogen stands the Natural History Museum (Naturhistoriska museet, Museivägen 10, near Linnéplatsen), Gothenburg's museum of natural history, with its own website (gnm.se). Admission has been free for everyone since 2018. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, hours are usually between 11:00 and 17:00, later on Thursdays; evening opening is dropped in high summer. Check gnm.se for current hours.

The park also has a bird pond, playgrounds and several cafés dotted around the grounds - handy for a break without having to leave the park.

Summer festivals

In summer, Slottsskogen turns into a festival stage. The biggest event is Way Out West, running 13-15 August 2026. Five stages between Linnéplatsen and Säldammsbacken host a programme of music, art and film, the festival is known for being entirely vegetarian. Parts of the park are fenced off on those days; if you're after peace and quiet, avoid the festival weekend.

Visiting & getting there

A relaxed visit takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on whether you just stroll through the park or also take in the animal park and museum. Slottsskogen is at its best from spring through autumn, and especially good for picnics in summer.

Getting there is straightforward: the nearest stop is Linnéplatsen, served by numerous tram and bus lines, with steps leading up into the park from there. The park is also easy to reach by bicycle.

Right next door is the Botanical Garden, a stand-alone attraction that pairs well with Slottsskogen for a green day out on the west side of the city. Families will find more ideas in our Gothenburg with kids guide, and our top attractions overview covers the must-see sights.