Close to the rides: the top hotels near Liseberg, Gothenburg

Family hotels rarely give design this much room to play. At Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel in Gothenburg, theatrical interiors draw on imaginary journeys, historical references and the spirit of the neighbouring amusement park. Wingårdhs designed the 457-room building, while New Order Arkitektur and Yaam Art & Architecture developed a richly detailed world with children in mind. Rooms accommodate different family sizes, and the restaurants extend the sense of spectacle. The interesting achievement is how the hotel makes curiosity a design principle, giving adults plenty to notice while letting children feel that the place belongs to them.

The contrast is the point at Gothia Towers & Upper House in Gothenburg. One is a large hotel and meeting destination beside the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre; the other occupies the upper floors of its middle tower, with a more intimate approach to hospitality. Upper House rooms look across the city, while its spa includes a glass-bottomed outdoor pool suspended above the streets. Breakfast is served à la carte, and the wider complex puts restaurants and events within easy reach. Together, they offer an unusually clear choice between the energy of a major city hotel and a stay centred on space, views and wellness.