Over the Easter weekend of 2025, I had the pleasure of visiting Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden, for their opening day of the season. This was my first time visiting both the park and the city, and I travelled with a friend from London Heathrow to Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, arriving just as the park was opening its gates for the first time that year. What followed was a wonderfully refreshing weekend of theme park fun, great food, and a whole lot of charm.
A Warm Welcome
Despite arriving to massive crowds gathered at both entrances, we were impressed to see how smoothly the opening was handled. By the time we reached the gates, the majority of the crowds had already been let in – and we were greeted by senior park management handing out chocolates and bunny ears. A live marching band paraded around the entrance plaza, adding to the festive atmosphere and setting a high-energy tone for the day ahead.
This kind of celebratory opening felt worlds apart from a few of the UK theme park openings I’ve experienced this year, where the season can begin with a much quieter rollout and patchy ride availability. The unseasonably warm weather on our first day – with glorious sunshine and temperatures reaching 21°C – certainly lifted spirits, though the following days were noticeably cooler and often drizzly. Still, the warm welcome and attention to detail remained a constant throughout our visit.
First Impressions: Clean, Beautiful, and Full of Life
From the moment we entered, the park’s condition was striking. There were blooming flowers everywhere, clean pathways, and not a trace of graffiti.
Liseberg felt fresh, alive, and well loved across the board.
Grand Curiosa Hotel
We stayed at the Grand Curiosa Hotel, located at the park’s south entrance. Visually, the hotel is stunning – packed with character and whimsy, and perhaps most comparable to the Alton Towers Hotel in terms of its family-focused storytelling style. That said, it’s over 25 years newer and felt more polished in every sense.
Despite being a third of the price of a stay at Alton Towers over the same weekend, the hotel impressed on all fronts. The room, while slightly short on storage, was thoughtfully laid out with a curtained-off bunk area and a generously sized main bed. The public spaces were a standout: from the historic 103-year-old carousel in the lobby to the spiral slide, elegant bar areas, and plentiful seating that made relaxing easy, even at peak times.
Breakfast was included daily and served buffet-style in Saluhallen, the hotel’s largest restaurant. It offered a generous range of continental options, all to a very high standard, with clear labelling for allergies and dietary preferences. We also had dinner there one evening – a buffet including pizzas, pastas, roast meats, seafood, and Swedish classics like meatballs – for around £24 per person. Fantastic value and quality.
Afternoon “fika” at the hotel’s cake bar, Café Agnes, was another highlight. Fika – a Swedish tradition of pausing for coffee and something sweet – felt particularly special in such ornate surroundings. Agnes, the namesake of the café, is a fictional character who married into the Daler family. As the story goes, she was an intrepid world traveller with a passion for collecting oddities and curiosities. Her journeys brought back treasures from across the globe, which now adorn the hotel as if it were part museum, part adventure story. Her husband, Mr Daler, was a successful (albeit shady) businessman who supported her passion for discovery. Their fictional legacy forms the narrative backbone of the hotel’s whimsical theming, giving guests the sense they’re staying in a place built by collectors, adventurers, and dreamers.
Rides and Attractions: A Well-Rounded Line-up
Liseberg has a fascinating layout – the park is split between a flat lower section and a steep hill accessed by several long escalators. These escalators were often out of action (usually thanks to over-eager guests hitting emergency stop buttons), turning the journey to the upper section into quite the workout.
Still, it was well worth the climb for Helix, which turned out to be the highlight of the trip. This Mack multi-launch coaster still rides incredibly well, even a decade after opening. While the theming is minimal (comparable to Thorpe Park’s Hyperia), the length, variety, and pacing of the ride make it one of the best I’ve experienced.
We also loved Loke, an enormous Intamin Gyro Swing that was as thrilling as it was intimidating. With the same ride model coming to Pleasure Beach Blackpool in 2026, it was a great preview of what UK fans can look forward to.
Balder, the park’s Intamin wooden coaster, also made a strong impression. With a height of 36 meters and a top speed of 90 km/h, it offered some fantastic moments of ejector airtime – especially on the straight sections. While the corners lacked a bit of punch, the overall pacing and length gave it great re-rideability.
Valkyria, the park’s B&M dive coaster, delivers a different thrill altogether. At 47 meters tall with a vertical drop into an underground tunnel, it’s the tallest and longest dive coaster in Europe. Having previously only ridden Oblivion at Alton Towers, it was exciting to experience a ride that offered more than just the drop. Valkyria combines intense forces with graceful manoeuvres and smooth transitions, making it a real crowd-pleaser.
And of course, no visit would be complete without Lisebergbanan, the park’s iconic Schwarzkopf family coaster that weaves through the hillsides and attractions. Opened in 1987, it features multiple lift hills and long sweeping turns, giving riders a scenic and thrilling journey that still holds up decades later. It’s one of those classic rides that reminds you how good coaster design can be without needing inversions or launches.
A special mention also goes to Underlandet, a beautifully themed children’s dark ride. The level of detail was astonishing, and it was refreshing to see a park invest so much in a ride aimed at younger guests – something I wish we saw more of in the UK.
Kraftverket: Coming Soon
Although Kraftverket isn’t due to open until later in 2025, we were able to get a good look at the construction. The building, ride platform, queue line, and surrounding theming were all in place, but the ride vehicles and signage hadn’t yet arrived. Staff informed us the vehicles were en route from Huss and would be installed soon.
The ride is a brand-new model from Huss: the Break Dance 5, and will reportedly feature a custom lighting package designed to elevate the ride experience into something closer to an immersive attraction than a traditional flat ride. One standout feature is that the ride operator will be positioned in the centre of the ride platform – acting like a cross between a DJ and mad scientist – which adds theatricality and interactivity to the experience. Situated within the helix of Valkyria, the ride’s location is both compact and highly visible making it a prominent addition to the park.
What really stood out, though, was the openness of the site. Rather than hiding it behind walls, Liseberg allowed guests to view the area freely – a refreshing contrast to how new rides are often shielded from view elsewhere.
As with many elements at the resort, Kraftverket ties into the story of the Grand Curiosa Hotel. In this case, it continues the narrative of Agnes and her curious entrepreneurial spirit. According to staff we spoke with, the storyline imagines a family member of Agnes looking to earn some extra money by building a whimsical power station – hence the ride’s name. The ride will also feature a custom soundtrack composed by a Swedish composer, adding a bespoke layer of immersion.
Oceana: A Waterpark Reimagined
Just outside the park’s south entrance stands the construction site for Oceana, Liseberg’s forthcoming indoor waterpark. Originally scheduled to open in 2024, the project suffered a catastrophic fire that devastated much of the structure. In a bold and admirable move, the decision was made to rebuild, rather than cancel the project entirely.
During our visit, we could see progress well underway, with a new roof being installed. It was clear there’s still a long road ahead, and while no official date has been announced, a 2026 opening seems realistic. If the hotel is anything to go by, then Oceana is likely to be a world-class addition to Liseberg’s growing resort offerings.
Dining and City Delights
Inside the park, we didn’t eat too much, but what we had was excellent. We enjoyed chicken tacos and drinks for a very reasonable £8 – far cheaper than comparable theme park meals in the UK and of higher quality.
Outside the park, Gothenburg itself was a joy to explore. The Haga district was particularly charming, with cobbled streets, boutique shops, and delightful cafés. One of the most enjoyable ways to get around the city was via electric scooter. Unlike in many UK cities, Gothenburg’s infrastructure supports safe and easy scooter travel with clearly marked lanes and respectful traffic flow.
We also wandered through several of the city’s beautiful parks, making the most of the local greenery even during the cooler, damper days.
A Refreshingly Honest Experience
Perhaps the most refreshing part of Liseberg was that it never felt like the park was trying to wring every last krona out of you. From the free virtual queuing system to the friendly multilingual staff and excellent ride availability, there was a clear emphasis on guest experience over upselling. When rides went down, they returned quickly – and operations across the board were strong.
If there was one missed opportunity, it was merchandise. Major rides had limited offerings – perhaps a cap, a T-shirt, and a keyring – but not much else. With such strong ride and character branding, Liseberg could easily do more here.
We’d also like to extend our thanks to the Liseberg team for their generous hospitality during our visit. While we paid for two days of our park admission and our hotel stay, we were kindly granted free entry for one day, and were treated to a guided tour of the park and a behind-the-scenes visit to the Valkyria maintenance shed – an unforgettable experience.
Final Thoughts
Liseberg’s opening weekend left a strong impression. It’s a park that feels balanced – where thrills meet storytelling, and charm meets efficiency. If Kraftverket and Oceana are anything to go by, the resort’s future is only getting brighter.
Have you ever visited Liseberg? What did you think – or what are you most excited to try? Let us know via our social media channels!
