Gothia Cup 2027: things to do for parents and families

18 to 25 July 2027 · ConfirmedGothenburg, SwedenWorld's largest youth football tournament, about 1,700 teams

Teams at Gothia Cup play once or twice a day. Parents and siblings have hours between matches in Gothenburg: this guide covers half-day trips, things for kids, rainy-day backups and a night out for the parents.

Tours in Gothenburg Hotels for these dates Official site

Know before you go

Teams usually sleep in school halls with their coaches. Parents book their own rooms early: hotels near the main fields fill up a year ahead.
The opening ceremony at Ullevi stadium on the Monday evening is a highlight; parents need tickets.
Liseberg amusement park often has deals for Gothia participants: check the participant pages.

Airport to Heden and fields across Gothenburg

Göteborg Landvetter (GOT) is 25 km east; Flygbussarna buses reach the centre in 30 minutes.

Heden, the central field area, is walkable from the city centre. Other pitches are spread across the city on tram lines; Gothia participant cards usually include local transport.

Public transport directions to Heden and fields across Gothenburg

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	School halls and Majorna	Teams sleep in schools; parents look for apartments in Majorna and Linné.
Mid-range	Inom Vallgraven and Avenyn	Central, walk to Heden and the canals.
Splurge	Around Liseberg and Avenyn	Big hotels by the park and the main boulevard.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hotel Eggers
Mid-range: Clarion Hotel Post
Splurge: Upper House

Links search the nights from 17 July to 26 July. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual tournament week schedule for 18 to 25 July 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Free afternoon between matches

Most teams play once or twice a day. Two- to four-hour gaps are normal.

Family pickSouthern archipelago ferry and island walk Half day · Family · Low walking
Tram to Saltholmen, then ferries to Styrsö or Vrångö. Västtrafik tickets cover it.
EatMagazinsgatan Courtyard of restaurants

Rest day or knocked out early

The day to take the whole family out of town.

Full dayMarstrand island day trip Full day · Family
Fortress island 45 minutes north.

Siblings who are not playing

For younger brothers and sisters who are bored of the sidelines.

Family pickPaddan canal boat tour Half day · Family · Low walking
Low boats under the bridges; duck your head.
FreeSlottsskogen park with a free children's zoo.

Rainy day

Indoor backups for the whole family.

Rain or heat backupUniverseum science centre Half day · Family · Indoor
Rainforest, aquarium and science.
Rain or heat backupVolvo Museum.

Parents night out

When the coaches have the team for the evening.

After darkAvenyn and Andra Långgatan bars.
EatRöda Sten Konsthall café Riverside café under the bridge

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family · Low walking

Southern archipelago ferry and island walk

Tram to Saltholmen, then ferries to Styrsö or Vrångö. Västtrafik tickets cover it.

See times and prices

Half day · Family · Low walking

Paddan canal boat tour

Low boats under the bridges; duck your head.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Liseberg amusement park

Scandinavia's biggest amusement park in the city centre.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Kayak in the archipelago

Guided sea kayak tours.

See times and prices

Slottsskogen and its seal pool.
Universeum.
Liseberg.

Evening and day-trip tours

Full day · Family

Marstrand island day trip

Fortress island 45 minutes north.

See times and prices

After dark

Avenyn and Andra Långgatan bars.

8 tours worth booking for Gothia Cup

Tour	Length	Good for
Southern archipelago ferry and island walk	Half day	Families, Tired legs
Paddan canal boat tour	Half day	Families, Tired legs
Liseberg amusement park	Half day	Families
Seafood safari and shellfish tasting	Half day	Food lovers
Kayak in the archipelago	Half day	Families
Universeum science centre	Half day	Families, Bad weather
Marstrand island day trip	Full day	Families
Fika and food walking tour	Half day	Food lovers

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Feskekôrka Fish market in a church-like hall
Café Husaren Giant cinnamon buns in Haga
Saluhallen Indoor market for lunch
Magazinsgatan Courtyard of restaurants
Röda Sten Konsthall café Riverside café under the bridge

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Family · Indoor

Universeum science centre

Rainforest, aquarium and science.

See times and prices

Universeum.
Volvo Museum.
Maritiman ship museum.

Getting around on event days

Trams and buses run on the Västtrafik To Go app; tournament passes often include local transport.
Heden, the Gothia centre field, is walkable from the centre.

Day trips from Gothenburg

Marstrand: 45 minutes
Styrsö: 45 minutes by tram and ferry

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for Gothia Cup.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is Gothia Cup 2027?

The next edition is 18 to 25 July 2027.

How do I get from the airport to Heden and fields across Gothenburg?

Göteborg Landvetter (GOT) is 25 km east; Flygbussarna buses reach the centre in 30 minutes. Heden, the central field area, is walkable from the city centre. Other pitches are spread across the city on tram lines; Gothia participant cards usually include local transport.

Where should I stay for Gothia Cup?

For most visitors the best base is Inom Vallgraven and Avenyn: Central, walk to Heden and the canals.

What can we do between sessions at Gothia Cup?

Good short outings in Gothenburg include Southern archipelago ferry and island walk, Paddan canal boat tour, Liseberg amusement park. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near Gothia Cup?

Family-friendly picks: Southern archipelago ferry and island walk, Paddan canal boat tour, Liseberg amusement park. Slottsskogen and its seal pool.

How far is Heden and fields across Gothenburg from Gothenburg centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Heden, the central field area, is walkable from the city centre. Other pitches are spread across the city on tram lines; Gothia participant cards usually include local transport.

More events in Gothenburg

13 May 2027*Göteborgsvarvet (half marathon)
Gothenburg, SwedenMarathon 5 Jul 2027*Partille Cup
Gothenburg, SwedenYouth tournament 12 Aug 2027*Way Out West
Gothenburg, SwedenFestival

More Youth tournaments

21 Jul 2027*Schwan's USA Cup
Minneapolis, United StatesYouth tournament 26 Jul 2027Dana Cup
Hjørring and North Jutland, DenmarkYouth tournament 31 Jul 2027Norway Cup
Oslo, NorwayYouth tournament 19 Aug 2027*Little League World Series
Williamsport, United StatesYouth tournament 10 Feb 2027*Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
Quebec City, CanadaYouth tournament 21 Mar 2027*Dallas Cup
Dallas, United StatesYouth tournament

Everything we cover in Gothenburg