Back when I was an undergraduate at university, if you fancied frolicking around Europe for a term or two, swapping a pint of beer for a glass of Aperol spritz (after squeezing in some time to study of course), you could sign up to a handy programme called Erasmus.

I had the chance to take part in this for a term abroad, and immediately signed up to go to Spain, picturing myself soaking up the sun in Madrid with a plate of tapas and notebook next to me. The reality was very different, however, when I was informed that I’d instead be going to Gothenburg in Sweden, a city I’d admittedly never even heard of. Initially unsure I even wanted to take part in the programme after finding out I’d be swapping the sights of Madrid for the Swedish city, headed to a part of the world I’d never been to before, I came to love this underrated destination and now find myself constantly recommending people go and check it out for themselves.

Scandinavia is known for its long, dark winters, but I was fortunate enough to go between March and June. While it was still chilly and gloomy at the beginning of March, the city completely transforms in the warmer months, making it perfect for spring getaway. 

I did much of the same that I usually did as a student in London — afternoons spent going vintage clothes shopping, evenings at bars with friends I’d met on Erasmus, hours spent in the University of Gothenburg’s library, but there were also a few new habits I picked up. 

The Swedish tradition of taking a break in the afternoon for a coffee and a baked good, which is known as fika, became part of my daily routine in the historical Haga district, but it soon became clear that it’s not just the cafe culture that Gothenburg does better than London.

Despite being Sweden’s second-largest city, the nature in Gothenburg was unrivalled. I lived a short bike ride from a forest complete with a lake and picnic benches with space for barbecuing, and weekends were often spent exploring the city’s archipelago and going for a wild swim in some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen. 

Gothenburg was an example that living in a city doesn’t mean you have to compromise on being close to nature, a foreign concept to a Londoner like me that's used to compromising on space whether I'm walking down the street or hopping on the tube. 

Outdoor space is highly valued, and even the bike lines were huge by comparison to the tiny slither of space cyclists in London are given on the road. 

While the Swedes are known to value personal space and privacy, and I quickly learnt to try and avoid sitting next to strangers on public transport, as a Londoner I appreciated the luxury of having so much space. 

Simply put, I'd describe life in Sweden’s underrated city as truly splendid. It had everything a city could need and more, and I could have happily spent another term living there, indulging in a daily fika and spending weekends exploring the many islands that make up the archipalego. 

Only a two hour flight from London, with flights in June currently as little as £45 from Stansted airport, a visit to what some describe as Sweden’s best-kept secret makes for the perfect weekend break.