Gothenburg Guide

Located on the southwest coast of Sweden, where the Göta River meets the North Sea, Gothenburg boasts the largest harbour in the whole of Scandinavia. Indeed, the city owes its entire industrial history to trade and seafaring, which have helped make it the vibrant urban centre we know today.

Modern Gothenburg retains links to this legacy through the presence of several global brands, including Volvo and Ericsson, which are still stationed here. But to say the city has moved on is an understatement, boasting as it does a vast array of cultural attractions as well as excellent nightlife opportunities including trendy bars, cafes and clubs. In a nutshell, Gothenburg blends old and new to create a city of authenticity and attractiveness.

How to get to Gothenburg

Gothenburg's Landvetter airport is located 25km east of the city centre and connects to most major cities across Europe.

The city also has a second airport, Göteborg City Airport, 9.3km from the city centre, which is smaller and mainly used by low-cost airlines. The easiest way to reach the city from either airport is by taxi, and the cheapest way is by airport bus.

Sweden's national railway company, Statens järnvägar offers frequent high-speed services between Gothenburg and Sweden's other larger cities, as well as Oslo in Norway. Gothenburg’s Central Station is situated in the heart of the city, on Drottningtorget Square.

Gothenburg can also be reached by ferry, with services running daily to and from Denmark, Germany and the UK, arriving into the Port of Gothenburg.

When to visit Gothenburg

Gothenburg is a fine all-year-round destination, with each season offering something different to visitors. The city comes alive in spring and summer, with large crowds flocking to Liseberg Amusement Park, while the city's main streets become full of people out enjoying themselves in the warm weather and sunshine, which last well into the evenings.

In the winter months, the city is occasionally snowbound and can be extremely picturesque if you get lucky with your timing. During this period there is also the opportunity to go skiing at several resorts around Gothenburg.

Things to do in Gothenburg

Activities and attractions

Gothenburg’s flagship attraction is Liseberg Amusement Park, which boasts a fairground, an entertainment complex and a cultural quarter. The park draws more than three million visitors a year who come to enjoy the array of activities including theatre and musical shows and a popular wooden roller coaster.

The day after a trip to Liseberg could be the time to kick back and enjoy the city’s reputation for stunning green spaces. Gothenburg’s Botanical Garden is one of the finest in northern Europe, covering an impressive 430 acres, and offering several walking paths from where to take in the park’s herb gardens, bamboo grove, Japanese garden, famous rock garden and greenhouses with orchids and other exotic plants.

If you have excess energy to spare, then definitely worth a visit is Maritiman, the world's largest floating sea vessel museum. For anyone interested in the city’s maritime and shipyard history, this museum provides a superb introduction.

Culture

Among the city's numerous museums, Gothenburg Museum of Art is one of the best, containing an excellent collection of modern Nordic art.

The Museum of World Culture brings global cultures together with a series of thematic exhibitions, designed to educate visitors about cultural differences and about our shared future.

Shopping

The largest concentration of shops in Gothenburg lies within the area of Vallgraven (the city’s moat), and Sweden's most famous shopping centre, Nordstan, is located here.

Nearby, along Vallgatan and Magasinsgatan, are several design, furniture and arts and crafts shops. For a lively market square, visit Kungstorget which includes the Saluhallen market hall, where all kinds of fresh foods are on offer. Exclusive fashion shops and art galleries line the city's main boulevard, Avenyn.

In the Haga old town and the bohemian Linné district just to the west, there are several arts and crafts, antiques and second-hand shops. To the north of Haga, near the Rosenlunds canal, the Feskekörkan (Fish Church) market hall attracts tourists and locals alike with its top-quality seafood.

For families

Universeum is a science museum that offers fun for all the family, presenting scientific information on technology, animals, rainforest and aquatic environments in a way that will appeal both to children and adults.

Eating out

Gothenburg's restaurant scene is something of a hidden treasure, but delve a little deep and visitors will find an array of excellent eateries, with fish and seafood restaurants in particular of the highest quality. 

Nightlife

The area around the main boulevard, Avenyn, has the greatest concentration of pubs, bars and clubs in Gothenburg. A slightly more bohemian atmosphere can be found in the bars and pubs in the Haga old town, as well as the Linné district.

There is an excellent selection of night clubs in Gothenburg, with perhaps the most famous being Nefertiti, which offers blues, jazz and world music

Day trips and excursions

Many visitors to Gothenburg enjoy trips out to the archipelago, which boasts pretty villages and beautiful islets.

There are also guided bus tours which cover most of Gothenburg's places of interest. The classic Gothenburg tour takes place on a ‘Paddan’ sightseeing boat and takes visitors along from Kungsportsplatsen square to the old moat and the canals from the 17th century before heading out into the harbour.

What’s on in Gothenburg

January – February

The Gothenburg International Film Festival is Scandinavia's biggest film festival, drawing over 100,000 visitors and showcasing more than 400 films from across the world.

February

Taking place at the Svenska Mässan Exhibition and Congress Centre, the Gothenburg Boat Show takes place over nine days and attracts over a hundred boating companies each year.

June

The Gothenburg Choir Festival is a celebration of choral music that takes places at various venues throughout the city.

August

The Gothenburg annual Jazz Festival is held at eight different venues throughout the city centre and features both international and local bands and artists.

The Gothenburg Cultural Festival offers concerts, entertainment and cultural activities, free of charge, at a number of venues across the city

November – December

Gothenburg is transformed into a Christmas wonderland with beautiful lights dotted throughout the streets from the harbour through the town centre, as well as Christmas markets, musical performances, seasonal buffets and local
traditions.