Quick Guide to Gothenburg
The first thing you'll notice about Gothernburg is its calmness: you won't really find traffic jams, overcrowded pavements or any real sense of urgency here. Everything seems to stride along in a laid-back manner. This is epitomised by the locals, who all seem to speak perfect English and have a kind spirited demur.
Just because there's a laid-back atmosphere, it's no way an indication it's a sleepy city. There's plenty to do, whether you want to visit one the many museums, go for a stroll in one of the huge open parks, that usually come equipped with free zoos and ridiculously cute animals such as penguins and deer's. If it's nightlife you're looking for then there are plenty of funky bars and nightclubs in the main partying area: Avenyn. Whilst you'll find a selection of quaint shops dotted along the cobbled streets waiting to be explored.
Fab holidays for:
An alternative to Stockholm, Chilled-out vibes, Maritime fun
Main Airports:
Landvetter and Gothenburg City Airport
Did you know?
Gothenburg is actually called Goteborg in Sweden.
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What to Do in Gothenburg
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- Liseberg
- The biggest amusement park in all of Scandinavia has lots of different fun rides for people of all ages. Balder is a wooden rollercoaster and is the main attraction at the park, it has been voted the best wooden rollercoaster in the world. It's 118 foot high and hits speeds of 56 miles per hour.
- Universeum
- Visit this science centre with seven floors to explore. There are animals to see as well as experiments and challenges to try. There are different aquariums which are some of the biggest in Europe and include eight different kind of sharks - the largest is the sand tiger shark. The main highlight is surely the indoor rainforest, which includes birds, monkeys, sloths and lizards.
- Gothenburg Museum of Art
- There's a strong collection of Nordic and international artwork that dates back to the 15th century. Some of the artists with work on display include: Albert Edelfelt, Ernst Josephson, Carl Larsson and Edvard Munch. There are a number of lectures and workshops at the museum, that give you a greater insight to the works on display.
- Maritiman
- See the floating maritime museum which has 13 ships to explore. There's even a submarine, so you'll have the chance to go underwater and experience what life was like onbaord a submarine. Another highlight is Jagaren Småland - the largest warship in Scandinavia.
- Skansen Kronan
- This hilltop building was used as a prison during the 19th century and then a museum in the 20th. Today it's a restaurant and conference facility. Stop by the old army barracks next to it and enjoy one of the ice creams from the ice-cream parlour. You can also enjoy panoramic views of the harbour.
Saving Money in Gothenburg
To save a few pennies on lunch, take a wander down to the Feskekorka fish market. This isn't only the perfect place to buy some of the freshest fish to cook yourself, but many of the traders also offer incredibly cheap fish takeaway that can rival any expensive restaurant. There are also great inexpensive eateries around Kastellgatan and Karljohansgatan. There are a handful of comfortable, clean and well-equipped hostels around Stigberget, which are a great alternative to the more expensive hotels in Gothenburg. If you are planning on taking in the more popular attractions, then it could be well-worth investing in a Gothenburg City Card, which will give you entry into 27 of the city's tourist hotspots at a massive discount.
When to Go to Gothenburg
Music fans should definitely make a beeline for Gothenburg in early August, as the Way Out West festival, one of Europe's biggest pop music festivals is held at the Slottsskogen every year. Previous headliners have included The Arctic Monkeys, Paul Weller and Kanye West, and WOW is well worth making the trip for all on its own. If you are thinking of renting a boat and enjoying the beautiful Gothenburg coastline during your Sweden holdiays, bear in mind that August is both the warmest and wettest month, so a holiday in May or July is a much better idea.
