Day trip to Borås

Street art and more

Borås might be a small town but it packs in a lot of different forms of artistic expression for you to explore on a day trip. Over the last few decades Borås has been transformed into a gigantic outdoor gallery. It started in 2008 with the nine metre high bronze sculpture "Pinocchio – Walking to Borås" by Jim Dine. Since then a sculpture biennale has alternated with the No Limit Street Art festival, and the town’s squares and building walls have been filled with art.

Well known international and home grown artists have been invited in, and the town has been decorated with everything from small sculptures to enormous murals. The artworks are accessible for both residents and visitors 24/7, all year round. You can explore the art around the town on a self-guided walk using a paper map which can be picked up in the Textile Fashion Center, in the same building as Textilmuseet, or navigate digitally using your mobile (digital map of public art in Borås). Naturally you can of course also book a guided tour.

Textilmuseet, the Textile Museum of Sweden, is another must. It’s one of the Nordic countries’ leading textile museums with a focus on design, fashion and the textile industry, and has one of Europe’s foremost collections of textile machines. Many exciting fashion retrospectives have taken place here, including of Balenciaga and Versace. A new permanent exhibition opened in May 2024 called Omstart Mode, about how we as individuals can help influence a sustainable textile future.  

At Abecita Popkonst & Foto you can explore three floors packed with around 500 works of contemporary and photographic art by a selection of international artists like Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Hamilton, Kiki Smith, Louise Bourgeois and Jim Dine.

Fika and good food

There’s a lot to discover in Borås so it’s nice to rest your legs and take a break every so often. Stop at cosy Café Viskan, right by the river of the same name, for a tasty breakfast, lunch or fika. Balthazar and the organic Fruits & Friends are also worth a visit – the former with great food and delicious patisserie made from scratch, with inspiration from French and Swedish classics, and the latter a health food mecca with nutritious salads, filling wraps and a wide choice of freshly pressed juices and lovely smoothies.

Later on in the evening when it’s time for dinner, there’s a varied selection of restaurants and bars to choose from. You could visit popular Vinci to enjoy some wonderful Italian food. If you fancy a sharing plate with Indian influences then head to Gujju. Both restaurants also serve delicious drinks in lovely relaxing settings.  

Boutiques and second hand shops

Borås is known as Sweden’s textile capital, thanks to its long history of textile production, and these days the town is a great place to go shopping, with well known chain stores located right next door to boutique shops selling unique ranges.

At Mariella you’ll find timeless design you’ll want to keep year after year. The shop, which is run by three generations of women, offers home furnishings for every room, with textiles, furniture and accessories. You’ll find everything here from designer cushions to lamps and art photography.

And don’t miss the gourmet delicatessen Cassise on Österlånggatan street, where you can enjoy freshly ground coffee, unusual teas, cheeses and luxury chocolate, Visit the shop and sample which cheeses and charcuterie products you want to buy to take home.

Stay the night

Did you run out of time trying to experience it all in a day? Stay overnight and extend your stay. Book a lovely stay in a hotel at Quality Hotel Grand, Borås or Comfort Hotell Jazz.

If you travel by car to Borås do car share with your group if you can. Information about parking can be found at parkeringboras.se