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Gothenburg Göteborg
Coat of arms
Gothenburg
Coordinates: 57°42′N 11°58′E / 57.7°N 11.967°E / 57.7; 11.967Coordinates: 57°42′N 11°58′E / 57.7°N 11.967°E / 57.7; 11.967
Country	Sweden
Province	Västergötland and Bohuslän
County	Västra Götaland County
Municipality	Gothenburg Municipality, Härryda Municipality, Partille Municipality and Mölndal Municipality
Charter	1621
Government
- Mayor	Anneli Hulthén
Area [1]
- City	450 km2 (173.7 sq mi)
- Water	14.5 km2 (5.6 sq mi)  3.2%
- Urban	198.16 km2 (76.5 sq mi)
- Metro	3,717 km2 (1,435.1 sq mi)
Population (2009)[2][1]
- City	507,330
- Density	1,127.4/km2 (2,920/sq mi)
- Urban	510,491
- Urban Density	2,576.2/km2 (6,672.2/sq mi)
- Metro	917,984
- Metro Density	247/km2 (639.6/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	www.goteborg.se

Gothenburg (Swedish: Göteborg; pronounced [jœteˈbɔrj]  ( listen)) is the second-largest city in Sweden (after Stockholm) and the fifth-largest amongst the Nordic countries. Situated on the south-west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 507,330 with 510,491 in the urban area and total of 917,984 inhabitants in the metropolitan area.^[1]

The City of Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. It is situated by the sea at the mouth of Göta Älv—the river running through the city—and is the largest sea port of the Nordic countries.^[3]

Gothenburg is also home to many students, as the city includes both the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. Volvo Cars was founded in Gothenburg in 1927.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 4 Culture 4.1 Architecture 4.2 Characteristic buildings 4.3 Music 4.4 Food and drink 4.5 Sports 5 Economy 6 Government 7 Demographics 8 Education 9 Points of interest 10 Transportation 10.1 Air 10.2 Sea 10.3 Rail and intercity bus 10.4 Freight 10.5 Public transport 11 Notable people 12 See also 13 Notes and references 14 External links

Name

The city was named after the Geats (Swedish: Götar varied: Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar), the inhabitants of Gothia, now southern Sweden—i.e. "Defense of the Geats".^[4] The river on which the city sits is the Göta Älv or Gothia River. Göta borg or Gothia Fortress is the fort on the Göta River, built to protect the port, which was created to be Sweden's commercial window to the west.

In Dutch, Scots and English—all languages with a long history of being spoken in the trade and maritime-oriented city—the name Gothenburg has traditionally been used for the city. The French form of the city name is Gothembourg. Gottenburg can also be seen in some older English texts. These traditional forms are now sometimes replaced with the use of the Swedish Göteborg, for example by the Göteborg Opera, Göteborg Ballet, Göteborg International Film Festival, and by the city itself (in English, the City of Göteborg). The U.S. Navy also refer to the city in English as Göteborg.^{[citation needed]} Effective February 1, 2008, however, Göteborgs universitet, previously designated as Göteborg University in English, changed to the University of Gothenburg.^[5] Other old variations in Swedish are Götheborgh, and the more common, Götheborg. One English text written in the late 15th century says the name as "Guthaeborg".

History

In the 16th and 17th century, the configuration of Sweden's borders made Gothenburg strategically important as the Swedish gateway to the west, lying on the west coast in the narrow area between the territories of Denmark-Norway. After several failed attempts, Gothenburg was successfully founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus (Gustaf II Adolf). The city was heavily influenced by the Dutch. Dutch city planners were contracted to build the city as they had the skills needed to build in the marshy areas around the city. The town was planned after Dutch cities to have canals like Amsterdam, and the blueprint for the canals of Gothenburg are actually the same as those used for Jakarta.^{[citation needed]} The Dutchmen initially won political power and it was not until 1652, when the last Dutch politician in the city's council died, that the Swedes acquired political power over Gothenburg.^[6] During the Dutch period the town followed Dutch town laws and there were propositions to make Dutch the official language in the town. Heavy city walls were built during the 17th century. These city walls were torn down after about 1810, because the development of cannons made such walls less valuable as a defense.

Along with the Dutch, the town also was influenced by the Scottish, who came to settle in Gothenburg. Many became people of high profile and one such person was William Chalmers, who donated his fortunes to create what later became Chalmers University of Technology. The Scottish influence can still be felt in Gothenburg in present day as names like Glenn and Morgan, which in the rest of Sweden usually are rare, are not uncommon in Gothenburg, and the use of a Scottish sounding "r" in the local dialect.^{[citation needed]}

The Gothenburg coat of arms was based on the lion of the coat of arms of Sweden, symbolically holding a shield with the national emblem, the Three Crowns, to defend against its enemies.

In the Treaty of Roskilde (1658) Denmark-Norway ceded the then Danish province Halland, to the south, and the Norwegian province of Bohus County or Bohuslän to the north, leaving Gothenburg in a less exposed position. Gothenburg was able to grow into an important port and trade centre on the west coast thanks to the fact that it was the only city on the west coast that was granted, together with Marstrand, the rights to trade with merchants from other countries.^[6]

In the 18th century, fishing was the most important industry. However, in 1731 the Swedish East India Company was founded, and the city flourished due to its foreign trade with highly profitable commercial expeditions to Asian countries.

The harbour developed into Sweden's main harbour for trade towards the west, and with the Swedish emigration to North America increasing, Gothenburg became Sweden's main point of departure. The impact of Gothenburg as a main port of embarkation for Swedish emigrants is reflected by Gothenburg, Nebraska, a small Swedish settlement in the United States.

With the 19th century, Gothenburg evolved into a modern industrial city that continued on into the 20th century. The population increased tenfold in the century, from 13,000 (1800) to 130,000 (1900). In the 20th century major companies that developed included SKF (est. 1907) and Volvo (est. 1926).

In more recent years however, the industrial section has faced a recession, which has spurred the development of new sectors such as increased merchandising, tourism and cultural and educational institutions.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, major protests occurred in the city during the EU summit and the visit by U.S. president George W. Bush.

Geography

Gothenburg is located on the west coast, in Southwestern Sweden, approximately half way between the capitals Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway. The location at the mouth of the river Göta älv, which feeds into Kattegatt, an arm of the North Sea, has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. Due to the Gulf Stream, the city has a mild climate and quite a lot of rain.^{[citation needed]}

The archipelago of Gothenburg consists of rough, barren rocks and cliffs, which also is typical for the coast of Bohuslän.

The Gothenburg Metropolitan Area extends to the municipalities of Ale, Härryda, Kungälv, Lerum, Mölndal, Partille, Stenungsund, Tjörn, Öckerö in Västra Götaland County, and Kungsbacka in Halland County.

Climate

Gothenburg has an oceanic climate according to Köppen climate classification. Despite its high northern latitude, temperatures are quite mild throughout the year and much warmer than places in similar latitude, or even somewhat further south, mainly because of the moderating influence of the warm Gulf Stream. During the summer, daylight extends 17 hours, but lasts only around 7 hours in late December.

Summers are warm and pleasant with average high temperatures of 20 to 21 °C (68 to 70 °F) and lows of 11 to 13 °C (52 to 55 °F), but temperatures of 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) occur on many days during the summer. Winters are cold and windy with temperatures of around -4 to 3 °C (25 to 37 °F), even though it rarely drops below −10 °C (14.0 °F). Winters are much warmer than other places in same latitude, and are not colder than either Canada and most of northern United States.

Precipitation is regular but generally moderate throughout the year. Snow mainly occurs from January to March. Snow cover occurs but usually does not remain very long.

Typical temperatures and precipitation for each month:^[7]

Climate data for Göteborg

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	1 (34)	1 (34)	5 (41)	10 (50)	16 (61)	20 (68)	21 (70)	21 (70)	16 (61)	12 (54)	6 (43)	3 (37)	11 (52)
Average low °C (°F)	-3 (27)	-4 (25)	-1 (30)	2 (36)	7 (45)	11 (52)	13 (55)	12 (54)	9 (48)	6 (43)	2 (36)	-2 (28)	4.3 (40)
Precipitation mm (inches)	61 (2.4)	40 (1.57)	49 (1.93)	41 (1.61)	49 (1.93)	59 (2.32)	68 (2.68)	75 (2.95)	80 (3.15)	83 (3.27)	82 (3.23)	72 (2.83)	759 (29.88)
Avg. precipitation days	17	13	14	12	12	12	13	14	15	16	17	16	171
Source: World Weather Information Service[8] 2008-01-06

Culture

The sea, trade and industrial history of the city is evident in the cultural life of Gothenburg. The greatest attraction in the city is the amusement park Liseberg (see Sites of interest). Another fact related to the industrial heritage of the city is that many of the cultural institutions, as well as hospitals and the university, were created thanks to donations from rich merchants and industrialists, for example the Röhsska Museum.

There are many free theatre ensembles in the city, besides institutions like Gothenburg City Theatre, Backa Theatre (youth theatre), and Folkteatern. On December 29^th, 2004, the Museum of World Culture was opened in Gothenburg, located near Korsvägen.

The Gothenburg Film Festival, held each year, is the largest film festival in Scandinavia.^[9] Similarly, the Gothenburg Book Fair, held every year in September, is the largest such event in Scandinavia.

Citing the Financial Crisis, in a move set to disappoint many in the Asia-Pacific region, IFLA has announced that Gothenburg will host the 2010 World Library and Information Congress,^[10] previously to be held in Brisbane, Australia.

Architecture

There are very few houses left from the 17th century when the city was founded, since all but the military and royal houses were built of wood.^[11] One example is Skansen Kronan.

The first major architecturally interesting period is the 18th century when the East India Company made Gothenburg an important trade city. Imposing stone houses with a Classical look were erected around the canals. One example from this period is the East India House, which today houses Gothenburg’s City Museum.

In the 19th century, the wealthy bourgeoisie begun to move outside the city walls which had protected the city when the Union of Denmark and Norway was still a threat. The style now was an eclectic, academic, somewhat over decorated style which the middle-class favoured. The working class lived in the overcrowded city district Haga, in wooden houses.

In the 19th century the first important town plan after the founding of city was created, which led to the construction of the main street, Kungsportsavenyn. The perhaps most significant type of houses of the city, Landshövdingehusen, were built in the end of the 19th century; three storey-houses with the first floor in stone and the other two in wood.

A very important period in the architectural history of the city was the early 20th century, when the National Romantic style dominated. Among the many monumental building erected the Masthugget Church can be mentioned.

And in the beginning of the 1920s, when the city celebrated its 300th anniversary, the Götaplatsen square with its Neo-Classical look was built.

After this the predominant style in Gothenburg and rest of Sweden was Functionalism which especially dominated the suburbs like Västra Frölunda and Bergsjön. The prominent Swedish functionalist architect Uno Åhrén served as the city planner here from 1932 through 1943. In the 1950s the big stadium Ullevi was erected when Sweden hosted the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

The modern architecture of the city is being formed by such architects as Gert Wingårdh who started as a Post-Modernist in the 1980s.

A further remarkable construction is Brudaremossen TV Tower, one of the few partially guyed towers in the world.

Characteristic buildings

The Gothenburg Central Station is in the heart of the city, just next to Nordstan and Drotningtorget. The building has been renovated and expanded numerous times since the grand opening in October 1858. In 2003 a major reconstruction was finished which brought the 19th century building in to the 21th century expanding the capacity for trains, travellers and shopping. Not far from the centralstation is Skanskaskrapan, or more common known as "The Lipstick". It's 86 meters high with 22 floors and coulored in red-white stripes. The skyscraper was designed by Ralph Erskine and built by Skanska in the 1980s as the headquarter for the company.

By the shore of Göta Älv is the Gothenburg Opera. It was done in 1994. The architect Jan Izikowitz was inspired by the landscape and described his vision as "Something that makes your mind float over the squiggling landscape like the wings of a seagull. The shape is inspired by the impressive landscape with the light and openness, to the concrete technical constructions of the port; the floating grace of the bridges; the obvious frame made from the strength, softness and grace of the hull of a ship, the seagull's wings and the flawless streamlined shape of a sail."

Feskekôrka, or Fiskhallen,^[12] is a fishmarket by the Rosenlundskanalen in the heart of Gothenburg. Feskekôrkan was opened on November 1, 1874 and the name comes from being compared with a church.

Music

Gothenburg has a rich music life—the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra is the best known when it comes to classical music. Gothenburg also was the birthplace of the Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg. Bands like The Soundtrack of Our Lives and Ace of Base are well known pop representatives of the city. There is also an active indie scene. For example, the musician Jens Lekman was born in the suburb of Angered and named his 2007 release Night Falls Over Kortedala after another suburb (Kortedala). Other internationally acclaimed indie artists include the electro pop duos Studio, The Knife, and Air France, dance group The Tough Alliance, songwriter José González and pop singer El Perro Del Mar as well as genre bending quartet Little Dragon fronted by vocalist Yukimi Nagano.

The city is also noted for being the centre of the heavy metal subgenre melodic death metal (sometimes even called "The Gothenburg sound"). Gothenburg metal is distinct to the traditional death metal due to its mixture of melody, harmony and extensive guitar solos. Often, keyboards and clean singing are incorporated (instead of using the traditional death metal growl vocal style). Gothenburg's own commercially successful At the Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity are credited with pioneering this melodic style, although first made by Michael Amott of Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, ex-Carcass and ex-Carnage. Another well known band of the Gothenburg scene is Soilwork, although they hail from Helsingborg. Progressive power metal band Evergrey also originate from the city as do power metal bands Hammerfall and Dream Evil.

The Metaltown Festival is a two day festival featuring heavy metal music bands, held in Gothenburg. It has been arranged annually since 2004, taking place at the Frihamnen venue. The most recent festival, 26–27 June 2009, included bands such as Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Opeth, Napalm Death, and Disturbed.

Food and drink

Gothenburg, with its location by the sea, is famous for the quality and variety of its seafood dishes. Various fish restaurants exist in the city, from low-class shacks to world-class eateries. The city also has a number of star chefs – over the past decade, seven of the Swedish Chef of the Year Awards have been won by Gothenburgers.^[13] A popular place to buy fish ingredients is the Feskekôrka ("Fish Church"); an indoor fish market which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic church. Five Gothenburg restaurants have a star in the 2008 Michelin Guide: 28 +, Basement, Fond, Kock & Vin and Sjömagasinet.^[14]

Sports

As in all of Sweden, a variety of sports are followed, including but not limited to ice hockey, football, basketball, and team handball. There is a varied amateur and professional sports clubs scene. Gothenburg is the birthplace of football in Sweden as the first football match in Sweden was played there in 1892. The city's three major clubs, IFK Göteborg, Örgryte IS and GAIS share a total of 34 Swedish Championships between them. IFK has also won the UEFA Cup twice. Other notable clubs include BK Häcken (football), Pixbo Wallenstam IBK (floorball), multiple national team handball champion Redbergslids IK, and three time national ice hockey champion Frölunda HC, Gothenburg has also a professional Basketball team Gothia Basket.

The city's most notable sports venues are Scandinavium (ice hockey), and Nya Ullevi (multisport) and the new-built Gamla Ullevi^[15] (football).

Gothenburg has hosted a number of international sporting events including the 1958 FIFA World Cup, the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, the 1992 European Football Championship, the 1993 and the 2002 World Men's Handball Championship, the 1995 World Championships in Athletics, the 1997 World Championships in Swimming (Short track), the 2002 Ice Hockey World Championships, the 2004 UEFA Cup final, the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, and the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships. Annual events held in the city are the Gothia Cup and the Göteborgsvarvet.

Gothenburg will host the XIII FINA World Masters Championships 2010.^[16] Diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and open water competitions will take place from July 28 to August 7. The water polo events will be held on the neighboring city of Borås.

Economy

Due to the Gothenburg's advantageous location in the centre of Scandinavia, trade and shipping have always played a major role in the city's economic history, and they continue to do so. Gothenburg port has come to be the largest harbour in the whole of Scandinavia.^[3]

Apart from trade, the second pillar of Gothenburg has traditionally been manufacturing, and industry which significantly contributes to the city's wealth. Major companies operating plants in the area include SKF, Volvo, and Ericsson. Volvo Cars is the largest employer in Gothenburg, not including jobs in supply companies. The blue collar industries which have dominated the city for long are still important factors in the city's economy, but they are being gradually replaced by high tech industries.

Banking and finance are also important trades as well as the event and tourist industry.^[3]

Historically, Gothenburg was home base of the 18th century Swedish East India Company and were from the founding of the city until the late 1970s a world leading city in ship building with shipyards as Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB, Götaverken, Arendalsvarvet and Lindholmens varv.

Government

Demographics

Gothenburg, like most Swedish metropolitan areas, has a large immigrant population.^[17] According to Statistics Sweden in 2005, there are 108,480 immigrants resident in Gothenburg,^[18] which is about 25% of the population, out of which 10% are from Finland and 9% from Iran. The Iranian population, as well as other immigrants from the Middle East (notably Iraq) and Somalia is concentrated in Angered (most notably Hjällbo and Hammarkullen), other suburbs in the north east (Bergsjön) and Biskopsgården, while other immigrants from Scandinavia, Southern Europe (notably Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Portugal, Italy and Greece) and Eastern Europe are far less segregated.

Education

Gothenburg has two universities, both of which started off as colleges founded by private donations in the 19th century. The University of Gothenburg has approximately 25,000 students and is one of the largest universities in Scandinavia^[19] and one of the most versatile in Sweden. Chalmers University of Technology is a well known university located in Johanneberg 2 km south of inner city, lately also established at Lindholmen in Norra Älvstranden, Hisingen.^[20]

There are also four folk high schools (Arbetarrörelsens Folkhögskola i Göteborg, Folkhögskolan i Angered, Göteborgs Folkhögskola, and Kvinnofolkhögskolan).

Gothenburg has some 25-30 high schools. Four of the more notable schools are Schillerska gymnasiet, Donnergymnasiet, Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet, Burgårdens Utbildningscentrum and Göteborgs Högre Samskola. There are also some high-schools connected to big Swedish companies. One is SKF Technical high-school (belonging to SKF) and Gothenburg's technical high-school (belonging to Volvo).

Points of interest

Gothenburg is a popular destination for tourists on the Swedish west-coast, and offers a number of cultural and architectural highlights.

The main boulevard is called Kungsportsavenyn (commonly known as Avenyn, "The Avenue"). It is about one kilometre long and starts at Götaplatsen — which is the location of the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the city's theatre, the city library as well as the concert hall— and stretches out all the way to Kungsportsplatsen in the old city centre of Gothenburg, crossing a canal and a small park. The Avenyn was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international architecture contest, and is the product of a period of extensive town planning and re-modelling.^[21] Avenyn has Gothenburg's highest concentration of pubs and clubs.

Scandinavia's second largest shopping centre, Nordstan, is located in central Gothenburg. Gothenburg's Haga district is known for its picturesque wooden houses and its cafés.

The Gothenburg Opera house was inaugurated in 1994, and is an architectural landmark situated right next to the Göta älv river. Museums include the Gothenburg Museum of Art, Göteborgs Konsthall, Röhss Museum, and several museums of sea and navigation history, natural history, the sciences, and East India. The Museum of World Culture^[22] was inaugurated in 2004. Aeroseum, close to the Göteborg City Airport, is a unique aircraft museum in a former military under ground Air Force base.

The Göteborg Botanical Garden^[23] is considered to be one of the most important botanical gardens in Europe with three stars in the French Guide Rouge. Next to the botanical garden is Gothenburg's largest park, Slottsskogen, where the Natural History Museum (Naturhistoriska Museet) is located. The park is also home to the city's oldest observatorie and a zoo.

The amusement park Liseberg is located in the central part of the city. Liseberg is Scandinavia's largest amusement park by number of rides,^[24] and the most popular attraction in Sweden by number of visitors per year (>3 millions). Located near Liseberg is a science discovery centre named Universeum.

One of Gothenburg's most popular natural tourist attractions is the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, which is a set of many picturesque islands that can be reached by ferry boat. Within the archipelago Älvsborg Fortress, Vinga and Styrsö islands are popular places to visit.

The Gunnebo House can be seen South of Gothenburg, in Mölndal. It was built in a neoclassical architecture in the end of the 18th century.

Transportation

Air

Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport is an international airport serving the Gothenburg region in Sweden. With 4.3 million passengers in 2006 it is Sweden's second-largest airport. It is operated by the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration (Luftfartsverket). It has connections with about 40 scheduled destinations, and is located 20 km east of Gothenburg.

Gothenburg's second international airport is Gothenburg City Airport formerly known as Säve Flygplats and Sweden's 7th largest airport.^[25] It is located within the borders of Gothenburg Municipality, about 15 km northwest of the city centre. In 2008, more than 850,000 flew from City Airport. In addition to commercial airlines, the airport is also operated by a number of rescue services, including the Swedish Coast Guard, and is used for other general aviation.

Sea

The Swedish company Stena Line operates between Gothenburg/Fredrikshavn in Denmark and Gothenburg/Kiel in Germany.

The "England ferry" (Englandsfärjan) to Newcastle over Kristiansand (run by the Danish company DFDS Seaways) ceased at the end of October 2006,^[26] after being a Gothenburg institution since the 19th century. DFDS Seaways' sister company, DFDS Tor Line, continues to run scheduled freight ships between Gothenburg and several English ports, and these have limited capacity for passengers and their private vehicles. There are also freight ships to North America and East Asia.

Rail and intercity bus

Other major transportation hubs are Centralstationen (Gothenburg Central Station) and the Nils Ericson Terminal with trains and buses to various destinations in Sweden, as well as connections to Oslo and Copenhagen (via Malmö).

Freight

Gothenburg is a logistic centre, with transports by train and truck from Sweden and Norway to Gothenburg harbour which is by far the largest port in Scandinavia with a cargo turnover of 36.9 million tonnes a year (2004).^[27]

Public transport

With over 80 km of double track the Gothenburg tram is the largest tram/light rail network in Scandinavia. The bus network, however, is almost as important. There are also some boat and ferry services. The lack of a subway is due to the soft ground on which Gothenburg is situated. Tunneling is very expensive in such conditions. There is also a commuter rail in Gothenburg servicing nearby some nearby cities and towns.

Notable people

See also

• Metropolitan Gothenburg
• Gothenburg archipelago
• East Indiaman Götheborg
• Largest European metropolitan areas
• Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits
• Tuve landslide

Notes and references

External links

• Goteborg.se - City of Gothenburg website (English)
• Göteborg travel guide from Wikitravel
• Goteborg.com - Gothenburg tourism portal (English)
• VisitSweden - VisitSweden's profile of Gothenburg (English)

Boroughs of Gothenburg Älvsborg · Askim · Backa · Bergsjön · Biskopsgården · Centrum · Frölunda · Gunnared · Härlanda · Högsbo · Kärra-Rödbo · Kortedala · Lärjedalen · Linnéstaden · Lundby · Majorna · Örgryte · Styrsö · Torslanda · Tuve-Säve · Tynnered Swedish Municipalities · Göteborg

Municipalities and seats of Västra Götaland County Municipalities Ale · Alingsås · Åmål · Bengtsfors · Bollebygd · Borås · Dals-Ed · Essunga · Falköping · Färgelanda · Götene · Gothenburg · Grästorp · Gullspång · Härryda · Herrljunga · Hjo · Karlsborg · Kungälv · Lerum · Lidköping · Lilla Edet · Lysekil · Mariestad · Mark · Mellerud · Mölndal · Munkedal · Öckerö · Orust · Partille · Skara · Skövde · Sotenäs · Stenungsund · Strömstad · Svenljunga · Tanum · Tibro · Tidaholm · Tjörn · Töreboda · Tranemo · Trollhättan · Uddevalla · Ulricehamn · Vänersborg  · Vara · Vårgårda Municipal seats Alingsås · Åmål · Bengtsfors · Bollebygd · Borås · Ed · Falköping · Färgelanda · Götene · Gothenburg · Grästorp · Gullspång and Hova · Henån · Herrljunga · Hjo · Karlsborg · Kinna · Kungälv · Kungshamn · Lerum · Lidköping · Lilla Edet · Lysekil · Mariestad · Mellerud · Mölndal · Mölnlycke · Munkedal · Nödinge-Nol · Nossebro · Öckerö · Partille · Skara · Skärhamn · Skövde · Stenungsund · Strömstad · Svenljunga · Tanumshede · Tibro · Tidaholm · Töreboda · Tranemo · Trollhättan · Uddevalla · Ulricehamn · Vänersborg  · Vara · Vårgårda Counties of Sweden · Sweden

Localities in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden Localities: Andalen  · Angered  · Asperö  · Billdal (part of)  · Björlanda  · Brännö  · Donsö  · Göteborg (part of) (seat)  · Gundal och Högås (part of)  · Hjuvik  · Kvisljungeby  · Låssby  · Mysterna  · Nolvik  · Olofstorp  · Rödbo  · Säve  · Styrsö  · Torslanda  · Trulsegården  · Tumlehed  · Vrångö

Localities in Härryda Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden Localities: Benareby  · Eskilsby och Snugga  · Göteborg (part of)  · Hällingsjö  · Härryda  · Hindås  · Landvetter  · Mölnlycke (part of) (seat)  · Nya Långenäs  · Rävlanda  · Rya  · Stora Bugärde  · Tahult

Localities in Mölndal Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden Localities: Göteborg (part of)  · Gundal och Högås (part of)  · Hällesåker  · Kållered  · Lindome  · Mölnlycke (part of)  · Tulebo

Localities in Partille Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden Localities: Göteborg (part of)  · Jonsered  · Kåhög  · Öjersjö

Administrative seats of Swedish counties (län) Falun • Gävle • Gothenburg • Halmstad • Jönköping • Kalmar • Karlskrona • Karlstad • Linköping • Luleå • Malmö • Nyköping • Örebro • Östersund • Stockholm • Sundsvall • Umeå • Uppsala • Västerås • Växjö • Visby

30 most populous cities of Sweden as of 2005, according to Statistics Sweden [1] 1. Stockholm 800,000 2. Gothenburg 510,500 3. Malmö 258,000 4. Uppsala 144,839 5. Västerås 107,000 6. Örebro 98,200 7. Linköping 97,400 8. Helsingborg 91,500 9. Jönköping 84,400 10. Norrköping 83,600 11. Lund 76,200 12. Umeå 75,600 13. Gävle 68,700 14. Borås 63,400 15. Södertälje 60,300 16. Eskilstuna 60,200 17. Täby 58,600 18. Karlstad 58,500 19. Halmstad 55,700 20. Växjö 55,600 21. Sundsvall 49,300 22. Luleå 45,500 23. Trollhättan 44,500 24. Östersund 43,800 25. Borlänge 39,400 26. Falun 36,400 27. Upplands Väsby 36,000 28. Tumba 35,300 29. Kalmar 35,200 30. Skövde 33,100

50 most populous urban areas in the Nordic countries  Denmark ·  Finland ·  Iceland ·  Norway ·  Sweden 1.  Stockholm 1,252,000 2.  Copenhagen 1,167,569 3.  Helsinki 1,027,635 4.  Oslo 876,391 5.  Gothenburg 510,500 6.  Malmö 258,000 7.  Turku 248,598 8.  Århus 239,865 9.  Bergen 227,752 10.  Tampere 209,748 11.  Reykjavík 195,000 12.  Stavanger 189,828 13.  Trondheim 160,072 14.  Odense 152,100 15.  Uppsala 144,839 16.  Oulu 137,370 17.  Jyväskylä 128,114 18.  Aalborg 122,461 19.  Västerås 107,000 20.  Fredrikstad 101,698 21.  Lahti 100,444 22.  Örebro 98,200 23.  Linköping 97,400 24.  Drammen 96,563 25.  Kuopio 91,845 26.  Helsingborg 91,500 27.  Kouvola 88,396 28.  Skien 86,923 29.  Jönköping 84,400 30.  Norrköping 83,600 31.  Pori 75,562 32.  Lund 76,200 33.  Umeå 75,600 34.  Joensuu 72,167 35.  Esbjerg 71,900 36.  Lappeenranta 70,210 37.  Gävle 68,700 38.  Kristiansand 67,547 39.  Hämeenlinna 66,257 40.  Borås 63,400 41.  Södertälje 60,300 42.  Eskilstuna 60,200 43.  Randers 59,842 44.  Rovaniemi 59,274 45.  Vaasa 58,607 46.  Täby 58,593 47.  Karlstad 58,500 48.  Seinäjoki 56,578 49.  Kolding 56,249 50.  Halmstad 55,688

From Wikitravel

Gothenburg [1] (Swedish: Göteborg, pronounced "Yeutebory") is the second largest city in Sweden with approximately 500,000 inhabitants (2008) in the municipality. It is situated on Sweden's west coast at the outlet of the Göta river. With over 60,000 students Gothenburg University is the largest in Scandinavia. Gothenburg has a reputation of being a friendly place, even more welcoming than the Swedish capital.

Understand

Gothenburg is a city founded in the beginning of the 17th century by the Swedish King, Gustav II Adolf. It was once the center of the Swedish ship-building industry but with rising competition from foreign ship yards, many of the dry docks had to close down. Much of the inner harbor area has changed from industrial ship building to high technology and education, representative of the general change in the city. Today Gothenburg has both international sporting events, concerts, and conventions as well as a small town feel.

Politically it is dominated by the Social Democrats (Roughly equivalent to the British Labour Party), and has been for many years, though Swedish politics is moving slightly to the right.

People

The working-class history is easily visible, for example in the harbour area. Traditionally there has been few fashion houses or posh cafeterias, but that has changed in recent years with the reconstruction of the indoor malls in the city centre and with the opening of quite a number of American-styled coffee shops. In the city centre, where the university is located, there are many students.

The dialect of the Gothenburgers is, for other Swedes, associated with cheerfulness and witty humour.

Tourist information

There are two tourist information offices in central Gothenburg - one in the Nordstan shopping center (next to the central train station) and one on Kungsportsplatsen about ten minutes walk from Nordstan. Gothenburg's official tourist website [2] is another source of information. They offer the Gothenburg City Pass which allows entry into many tourist attractions, grand houses, museums as well as offering free travel on trams and buses and free parking. Recently, this pass was made available to people's mobile phones making it not only the most cost effective means of sight seeing but also the most convenient.

By plane

Landvetter Airport (IATA: GOT) [3] is Gothenburg's main airport, located 25 km east of the city. About 30 airlines fly to Landvetter e.g. SAS [4], Lufthansa [5], KLM [6], Finnair [7], and City Airline [8].

There is a Flygbussarna [9] bus service from Landvetter into the city. It runs every 15-20 minutes, costs 80 SEK one way (150 SEK return), and the journey takes approximately 20-30 minutes. It stops at several locations (first stop near Liseberg; final stop: the Nils Ericson terminal). Be aware that the only method of payment for the ticket is by credit card.

Gothenburg City Airport (IATA: GSE) [10] was previously known as Säve Airport. This is definitely in the 'small' category of airport, and you should expect to wait a while for your bags. It is closer to Gothenburg than the main Landvetter airport. The Flygbussarna [11] bus (cost SEK 60, return SEK 110) meets each flight, and takes you to the bus and train terminal in 30 minutes. Ryanair [12], Wizz Air [13] and Air Berlin [14] are the only airlines that use it.

By train

Trains from all different parts of Sweden arrive and leave from Centralstationen (tram Centralstationen/Drottningtorget). International train services include Copenhagen via the Öresund bridge, and Oslo. Information and booking of train tickets at SJ [15]. Check out Tradera [16] (Swedish only), an auctioning website, where train tickets can be purchased for very cheap several hours before the train departure.

By car

The roads E6, E20 and E45 pass through Gothenburg. If you come by car from Stockholm, you should take E4 to Jönköping, and then national road 40.

Approximate distances & travelling time:

• to Malmö (E6/E20 south): 300 km, 3 hrs
• to Oslo (E6 north): 320 km, 4 hrs
• to Stockholm (40 east, E4): 500 km, 5 to 6 hrs
• to Copenhagen (E6/E20 south): 317 km, 3.5 hrs

Be aware that parking in Gothenburg can be difficult and expensive, as free parking is rarely found. Prices per hour vary between 7 different zones and can be as high as 20 SEK per hour. Free parking is however included in the Gothenburg pass [17] if you happen to own one.

By bus

Several coach services operate in and out of Gothenburg including Eurolines [18], Säfflebussen [19] GoByBus [20] Bus4you [21] and Swebus Express [22]. Nils Ericsson Terminalen, located in connection with the central station, is the most common bus stop.

By ship

Stena Line [23] operates ships to/from Denmark (Frederikshavn) and Germany (Kiel). The terminals are situated near the city centre. Tramway stops: Masthuggstorget (Frederikshavn), Chapmans Torg (Kiel).

DFDS Torline [24] is a cargo line with limited passenger capacity. They can take a small number of passengers (and their car) to Gothenburg from Belgium (Ghent) and United Kingdom (Immingham and Tilbury).

Get around

Public transportation within Gothenburg (and the west of Sweden) is operated by Västtrafik [25] and consists of trams, buses and ferries. You can find more information about tickets and a journey planner on their homepage.

Västtrafik's ticket system

Since 1 December 2009 you cannot buy tickets from the driver on any buses or trams in the Västtrafik system.

1, 3 or 30 day ticket

Tourists and others planning to travel everyday are advised to buy a 1, 3 or 30 day ticket. A blue card called the Västrafik card is charged with ticket information. They are bought at from Västtrafik's service centres or from seven-eleven or Pressbyrån or some other stores. They cost 65 kr (1 day), 130 kr (3 days) and 435 kr (30 days) inside Gothenburg. One can also buy a torist card from the tourist office which is valid as a tram/bus ticket and for museum entrance fees etc.

Single ticket

If you only travel occasionally, you can either buy tickets at 7-eleven, the Västtrafik "Tidpunkten" customer service centers, the Pressbyrån shops, from the blue ticket machines on the trams - which accepts coins or major credit cards, or via sms if you have a Swedish mobile phone account. During daytime the cost is 25 SEK for an adult within the city zone (21 SEK with sms ticket).

Prepaid card

If you will be travelling more often it might be a good idea to buy a prepaid västtrafik card that also gives a discount. This card can be charged with 100, 200 or 500 SEK at a time until the card contains a maximum of 1500 SEK. In addition you must pay a 50 SEK deposit which can be used in part to pay for your trip, but if any of the deposit money is used, another trip cannot be made until you recharge the card again. If you return the card to a Västtrafik service center the deposit will be refunded to you.

If you travel within one zone a fixed price is deducted from your card, which is SEK 16.50 for an adult within the Gothenburg zone at the time of writing. If you travel across a zone border the journey will be more expensive. With the exception of the southern part of tram no. 4 (all stops from Krokslätts Torg to Mölndals Centrum) the entire tram system lies within the Göteborg municipality.

The card is used by touching it to one of the card readers in the vehicle when you board. If you intend to travel in more than one zone you must press the + button on the card reader before touching in and also touch the card to the reader when exiting the vehicle (otherwise, you will be charged for a journey to the terminal destination of the bus/tram). For tourists it's recommended you always touch in and out with the + button as the system will then always deduct the correct amount and you will not have to bother about the zones.

The Västrafik card can be bought from Västtrafik's service centres or from most convenience stores.

You can change freely between buses, ferries and trams 90 minutes after you first used your ticket. If you traveled in more than one zone the 90 minutes time will count from the time you disembarked in the last zone. When travelling between zones, remember to always touch in and touch out on each separate vehicle - otherwise you will be charged for each as separate journeys.

• Gothenburg public transport network map, including the major bus lines, the ferry lines and a small map with tram and Stombuss lines. [26]

By tram

Gothenburg has a famous network of trams that covers most of the city. With over 150 km the Gothenburg tram is the largest light rail network in Scandinavia. The network consists of 12 tram lines, 1 to 11 and 13, and every line except no 8 passes through the main tram stop Brunnsparken ('Well Park'). It is located one tram stop or a 2 minute walk from the train station, Centralstationen. The trams runs approximately every 10 minutes during daylight and once every hour at night, at weekends the night-trams run every 30 minutes. This and the boats Paddan (operating from Kungsportsplatsen) is the best way to see the city as they run above ground at a comfortable yet quick pace.

• Gothenburg tram and Stombuss network map [27]

By bus

Trams are the most efficient way to travel within the city centre, but if you'll planing to go further you'll need to go by bus. Bus lines heading in the same direction often departs from the same part of the city. No real equivalent thing to the tram stop Brunnsparken exists - they are divided into several "smaller" hubs, which you often reach by tram.

Please note that all passengers enter the bus through the front door where tickets are verified, exceptions are buses marked Stombuss (line 16 to 19) where every door can be used and ticket machines are placed next to the doors.

By ferry

Two ferry services run across the river; Älvsnabben is the regular ferry service with traffic every thirty minutes, and Älvsnabbare that only run between Rosenlund and Lindholmnspiren during work hours. Besides transport, this can be a good way to see the city from the river.

Ferries to the southern archipelago run from Saltholmen, with three different lines: Vrångö line, Brännö Rödsten line and the less trafficated Förö line. The service runs once an hour or less.

Styrsöbolaget [28] run the ferry services under licence of Västtrafik - you can still use the city public transport ticket. On their homepage can you find time tables and more information about the islands.

By taxi

There are several taxi companies, for example Taxi Göteborg (031-650000), Taxi Kurir (031-272727) and Minitaxi (031-140140). Initial fare from 35 SEK, and then from 10 to 14 SEK/km. Every taxi must have comparing prices well visible according to law, example: [29] and it's often placed in the window. No 1 is daytime, no 2 is rush hour and no 3 is for night time service, and then you see the initial fare, price per hour, price per kilometre and comparing prices for a typical journey.

Illegal taxis are operating, called "svarttaxi". They are generally cheaper, but a warning though: don't travel alone, as muggings and rapes have occurred involving illegal taxis.

By bicycle

Gothenburg has a nice network of bicycle paths, reaching all parts of the city. You can rent a bike from Cykelkungen [30] or if you are staying at a hostel they can often provide it for you. You can buy network maps at the tourist information centres, and you can find an online version below.

You can bring your bike on the ferries, on some trains but not on trams or buses. The service is free on Älvsnabben but cost 10 SEK on the ferries in the southern archipelago.

• Bicycle network map [31] Väst - West, Öst - East

By foot

With a compact city centre most sights are easily reached by foot, and it's a nice way to get around.

Popular walks around the city includes the nature reserve around the lake Delsjön, the park Slottskogen, the botanical garden, on any of the islands in the southern archipelago, or in the neighborhood Haga.

• Skansen Kronan (Crown Keep) is a hilltop fortification, southwest of the city center, built in the 17th century. In the 19th century it served as a prison, and now houses a military museum. Its twin Skansen Lejonet (Lion Keep) unfortunately finds itself in the middle of a railroad and industrial area but guided tours are held the first and third Sunday of every month.
• Close to Skansen Kronan is Haga, a city district with picturesque wooden houses from the 19th century. Don't forget to explore the more bohemian Långgatan streets (Första, Andra, Tredje and Fjärde Långgatan) nearby.
• The indoor Fish Market, called "Feskekôrka" (Fish Church) because of the shape of the building, is located by the canal near the harbor.

• Gothenburg Art Museum (Göteborgs Konstmuseum), Götaplatsen, [32]. Housed in a magnificent edifice flanked by the theater and concert hall, it features a world-class collection of Nordic art. The adjacent Hasselblad Center [33] periodically holds public exhibitions, and the Art Hall (free entry) [34] features contemporary art.
• Gothenburg City Museum (Göteborgs Stadsmuseum), Norra Hamngatan 12, [35]. Covers the history of the city and region from prehistoric times to the present, with emphasis on the 19th-century Swedish East India Company, which was once housed in the building.
• Universeum, Södra Vägen 50 (Liseberg), [36]. A new museum focusing on the environment with an indoor rainforest, experiment workshop etc. (recommended)
• Museum of World Culture, Södra Vägen 54 (Liseberg), [37]. A cultural counterpart to the science-oriented Universeum, it's a museum of ethnography and anthropology, with a thoroughly contemporary approach. There are regular special events such as concerts, films, and lectures. Free entry to some of the museum's exhibits. Free entrance!
• Maritiman, Packhuskajen 8½, [38]. "The world's biggest floating museum of ships" consists of 19 boats of all sizes. The biggest attraction is the former military destroyer Småland.
• Maritime Museum, Stigbergstorget, Majorna, explains the maritime history of Gothenburg, West Sweden and of the fishing industry; has models of sailing ships. There is a lookout, in pillar of the "Seamans wife", just by the museum where you can view the harbour.
• Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Slottsskogen (Linnéplatsen), [39]. The oldest museum in Gothenburg includes a stuffed blue whale and is situated in Slottsskogen.
• Volvo Museum, Hisingen, [40]. Yes of course, in the home town of Volvo you can view the past and present models of the Swedish car.
• The Röhsska Museum, [41]. The national museum of Swedish design and applied art.
• Gothenburg Radio Museum, Anders Carlssons gata 2 (Götaverkens industriområde), [42].
• Kviberg Military Museum, [43] at the former Artillery Regiment at Kviberg shows guns and equipment of the Artillery and the Anti Aircraft Artillery. Opening hours: June to August, Tuesday and Wednesday 12PM-2PM. Rest of the year Tuesday to Thursday 12PM-2PM. First Thursday of every month except January 5PM-7PM.
• KA 4 Museum and the Fort of Oskar II. A museum at the former Coast Artillery Regiment at Käringberget. Irregular opening hours.
• Aeroseum, at Säve Depå [44], is an aircraft museum in a former military under ground Air Force base. It's located on the Hisingen bypass (Hisingeleden), at the opposite side of the airstrip to Gothenburg City Airport. Also home of the annual Göteborg Aero Show and other events.

• Gothenburg Cathedral, Västra Hamngatan. Built in 1815.
• Christinae Church (German Church), Norra Hamngatan. Built in 1748.
• Crown House (Kronhuset), Postgatan. Built in 1643-1655, and briefly home of the Swedish Parliament. It currently houses Göteborgs Musik, and the surrounding buildings are now cafes and crafts workshops.
• Oscar Fredrik Church, Värmlandsgatan. The largest and most well decorated church. Built 1893.

• Slottsskogen, tram stop Linnéplatsen, a big English garden close to the Botanical Garden and a popular spot for relaxing and picnics. Within the park you'll find the Museum of nature history, a observatory, a mini golf course, and a child zoo. Slottskogen is famed for its valley with over 60 different kinds of Azalea that blooms during early summer.
• Botaniska Trädgården (Botanical Gardens), Carl Skottbergs gata 22, ☎ +46 31 741 11 00, [45]. 9AM-sundown. Built in 1923, the botanical gardens has an area of 175 hectares and was selected as the most beautiful garden in Sweden in 2003. It contains a rock garden, arboretum and green houses, along with a restaurant and café. Don't miss the rare Easter Island tree. Free entrance, except for the greenhouse..  edit
• Trädgårdsföreningen, [46]. A picturesque garden in the city centre with a very nice collection of roses awarded with three stars in the Guide Michelin. No entrance fee during off season, otherwise 20 SEK.

• Gothenburg is the starting point of the itinerary 'Sixteen days in Götaland and Svealand'.

• Liseberg, [47]. The biggest amusement park in all of Scandinavia, with lots of different rides for all ages. Be sure to try Balder, the new wooden roller-coaster. Liseberg is the number one attraction, by number of visitors, in Sweden.
• The sailing ship Götheborg [48] has returned from China and will be available for visits in Göteborg from 4 of aug 2007. During the summer it will be on tour on the westcoast. Its wharf Terra Nova has closed but an exhibition about the project has opened at Eriksberg Pir 4 (Norra älvstranden).
• The Paddan tourist boats [49] run in the city canals and in the harbour.
• In summer, you can go canoeing in or walking around the lake Delsjön. Only 6 km from city center, it can be a good way to experience nature.
• Lisebergslinjen [50] is a vintage tram line that runs during summer from the central station to Liseberg. Prices: Adults 18 SEK, Children 9 SEK, Small children Free.
• Börjessons, [51]. Does tourist boat tours in the archipelago every day in the summer and is very popular.
• Southern Archipelago. For a low price one can visit the islands in the southern archipelago with regular passenger boats. These islands are car free and very picturesque. The boats go from the tram stop "Saltholmen". Note that it is difficult to park there. Tram tickets are valid on the boat too.
• Charter a Sailing Yacht sBoats.com [52] or yachtbooker.com [53] give you independent information on how to find a yacht charter in Gothenburg.
• Göteborg Opera House [54], at the Packhuskajen quay in central Göteborg. One of the world's most modern opera houses.
• The square at the top of Avenyn is the location of the magnificent Gothenburg Concert Hall and the city's drama theatre.
• Guldhedstornet [55]. May till October. At 300 meters above sea-level this is the highest point and the highest café in Gothenburg. Sitting inside with a panorama view, or outside on the balcony, you get a view of the downtown, the old and new harbors, the Göta Älv River, the sea (Kattegat), the archipelago, the suburbs and the hilly, forested areas surrounding the city.

Learn

Gothenburg is with over 60,000 students Scandinavia's largest university city.

• Gothenburg University [56]. In its current form since 1954, Gothenburg University offers higher education in a large number of areas. International students are offered both programmes and independent courses in English.

The Gothenburg University contains such faculties as:

• Gothenburg School of Economics and Commercial Law
• Sahlgrenska University Hospital (both hospital and medical school)
• Valand School of Fine Arts

• Chalmers University of Technology, [57]. Founded in 1829, Chalmers offers education in engineering and architecture. International students can apply for one of the almost 50 different master's programmes taught in English.

The Chalmers University of Technology is in Johanneberg 2 km south of inner city. It also contains faculties such as:

• Chalmers Lindholmen University College
• IT University of Göteborg

Buy

The main shopping center is Nordstan. It's located next to Brunnsparken and it is connected to the central train station. It has many outlets with international companies such as H&M, Esprit, Vero Moda and Swedish companies such as Åhléns City, Rock, Nordic Design etc.

Close to Nordstan is the smaller shopping center Arkaden, with a number of fashion boutiques.

Saluhallen, Kungstorget, is a charming indoor food hall.

NK (Östra Hamngatan 42) is the more expensive type of shopping center. International brand names such as Paul Smith, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Dior, YSL and Prada share space with equally well-known Swedish brands - for instance the crystal manufacturers Orrefors and Kosta Boda.

• Bengans, Stigbergstorget 1, [58]. A big, famous Swedish record store with lots of records, old and new, in all kinds of genres. You will find something to buy here, no matter if you're a record collector, hipster, or chart music fan. They also have a cafe.

• There is a regular bus service to Ikea and other "big box" warehouses just outside the city.

• Every year in February, the town is invaded by cinema buffs for the annual Gothenburg Film Festival [59]. The festival, which is growing every year, is now one of the major Scandinavian movie festivals.
• Göteborgskalaset (now called Kulturkalaset) takes place annually in August. City-festival featuring musical performances, a wide array of foreign food booths and lots and lots of beer. Massive public drunkenness and under-aged intoxication has made the city council consider to cancel the whole thing. If you stay off the absolute city-centre like the Avenue (Avenyn) you may find interesting parties and activities though.
• VROM (Volvo Rendezvous for Owners & Members) [60] - an annual meeting for Volvo enthusiasts.
• Since 2007 Gothenburg has its own Pride festival called HBT-Festivalen [61].
• Göteborg Aero Show [62] - Sweden's major annual air show, attracting tens of thousands spectators every year

• Once a year during the summer, football playing youths from more than 50 countries take part in Gothia Cup, the world's biggest football tournament with over 1,000 teams.

• Göteborgsvarvet, [63] is half a marathon (21 km) which is run in May in central Gothenburg once a year, with more than 30,000 participants.

• On weekends during season Ullevi stadium hosts soccer games featuring one or two of the local teams IFK Göteborg, Örgryte IS or GAIS. The fourth major team, Häcken, plays at Rambergsvallen.

• At Scandinavium hockey stadium the local team Frölunda Indians plays games every week during season.

• On occasion you can see wrestling [64] on different locations in Gothenburg.

Eat

The main restaurant street in Gothenburg is Linnégatan running from Järntorget to Linnéplatsen. It has a high concentration of good restaurants of all kinds in the low to moderate price range.

Most restaurants offer lunch menus ranging 60-80 SEK, mostly they are served between 11:30 and 14:00.

• Andrum, Östra Hamngatan 19A. Tasty and healthy vegetarian/vegan buffet.
• Maharani Första Långgatan 4, Indian food in a cozy atmosphere. Starters for 30-40 SEK and main courses for about 110 SEK.
• Mingeling Berzeliigatan 7, Chinese food in a trendy place with a nice panda bear on the shop sign.
• Japan Shop Kungsgatan 9C, small, unassuming place with good, cheap sushi. Mains 50-75 SEK.
• Salwa's Falafel Express / Sunset Falafel Kungstorget. Very nice falafels are to be found in two mobile stalls. A falafel is 30 SEK.
• Alexandra's Soup Kitchen Saluhallen. This small soup kitchen located in Saluhallen at Kungstorget delivers a wide range of Greek food. Among the most popular dishes is the excellent lentil soup served with fresh bread (35 SEK).
• Feskekôrka. The fish market is not only a nice tourist attraction, but all fishmongers offer fantastic fish dishes to take away at low low prices (50-60SEK). Make sure you try the fish soup sold at the last booth, under the restaurant.

• Gyllene Prag, Sveagatan 25 (Sveaplan). Cheap and wonderful Czech restaurant with good beer in generous helpings. The breaded cheese is a classic, and you won't be hungry again for at least a week.
• Pasta e contorni, Nordensköldsgatan 21. Italian.
• Etc, Etc comes in two flavours - "Etc Grande" at Kungsgatan 12 and "Etc" at Vasaplatsen 12 where the later is smaller and cozier but doesn't serve quite as many. Serves fantastic pasta in various flavours. [65]
• 12-52, Linnégatan 52, [66]. Modern food with excellent service. Main courses for 150-250 SEK.
• Pasta Etc., Kapellgatan 12, [67]. Italian. Main courses for 78-185 SEK.
• Lilla Torgets Vinkrog, Lilla Torget 3, [68]. Cozy atmosphere in an old (wine?) cellar. Serves house-baked bread with the meals.

• Restaurang Sjömagasinet, Adolf Edelsvärdsgata 5, +46 31-775 59 20. Excellent (and pricey!) fish restaurant at Klippan. [69] Earned a star in the Michelin Guide Rouge.
• Restaurang 28+, Götabergsgatan 28, +46 31-20 21 61. Earned a star in the Michelin Guide Rouge.
• Hos Pelle, Djupedalsgatan 2, +46 31-12 10 31.
• Basement, Götabergsgatan 28, +46 31-28 27 29. Earned a star in the Michelin Guide Rouge
• Restaurang Fond, Götaplatsen, +46 31-81 25 80. Earned a star in the Michelin Guide Rouge
• Kock & Vin, Viktoriagatan 12, Tel: +46 31-701 79 79 (email:info@kockvin.se), [70]. Swedish and French cuisine with a warm, welcoming atmosphere in cozy bistro style. Earned a star in the Michelin Guide Rouge.
• Thörnströms kök, Teknologgatan 3, Tel: +46 31-16 20 66. Excellent international cuisine, despite the comparatively low prices (main courses at SEK 200-250).

After Work

Every Friday, some pubs and restaurants have After Work specials with a free buffet and happy hour prices in the bar.

• Rumpanbar, Linnégatan 38b, [71]. Ölpacket (2 beer and buffet) 58 SEK, good food and always full, age limit 23, starts at 4PM (be on time).
• Tres, Lindholmspiren 5, [72]. Buffet costs 33 SEK, beer 33SEK, small buffet but delicious food, starts at 4PM.

Drink

In the summertime there are outdoor serving along Avenyn and Linnégatan.

You can pick up the free Nöjesguiden and Djungeltrumman magazines in various stores to read more about Gothenburg's nightlife. They are only available in Swedish though.

• The Rover, Andra långgatan 12, close to Järntorget, is a freehouse known for its knowledgeable staff. Specializes in Swedish micros on tap and US micros on bottle. Has Gothenburg's second largest selection of whisky (according to local newspaper G.P.), including the Swedish brand "Mackmyra".
• Ölhallen 7:an, Kungstorget 7, +46 31-136079. One of the best places for good beer, and the only traditional "Beer-hall" left in the city. It is situated next to Saluhallen.
• Kellys, Andra Långgatan 28. Cheap beer. Lots of vegan food. Mixed crowd of middle-aged regulars and young people.
• Sejdeln, Andra Långgatan 28. When Kellys is packed Sejdeln is a perfectly adequate option, it's right next to Kellys and has even cheaper beer and roughly the same clientele.
• Kings Head, Andra Långgatan. On this street well known for its cheap pubs and porn stores, this pub is an alternative for those who wants to spend time in a little more sophisticated environment. The clientele is more well adjusted in this place.
• Dancin Dingo, Australian pub on a street parallel to Avenyn. "Let's put another shrimp on the barbie!"
• Ölrepubliken. Previously Delirium Cafe. A good selection of beers on tap with a bias toward british and belgian beers, this pub is an excellent alternative to the mid centre locations. Found not far from Kronhusbodarna a couple of hundred meters from Nordstan.
• Bitter Linnégatan 59, one of the best bars in town if you want drinks rather than beer.
• The Bishops Arms A chain of English pubs. In Gothenburg it's located at Kungsportsavenyn 36 and Västra Hamngatan 3. Good selection of beer on tap and fine single malt whiskey. A bit pricier than other pubs.
• Rockbaren A traditional rockbar located in a parallel street to Avenyn, just across from Dancin Dingo.
• The Rose & Crown, Kungsportsavenyn 6, Tel: +46 31-10 58 27. English pub showing live sports.
• Jamesons Pub, Kungsportsavenyn 32, Tel: +46 31-18 77 70. Swedish pub with live music.

• Kontiki Slottsskogen, Storängsgatan 2, ☎ 031-821182, [73]. 17.00 to 1.00. Restaurant, bar, club near the Gothenburg Botanical garden. 90-200 SEK.  edit

• Taverna, Mariaplan (mariaplan). Clazy after work joint in bohemian area. Night club weekends.  edit

Clubs

There are several different clubs in Gothenburg, with a wide array of music styles.

• Haket, Masthuggstorget/Första Långgatan 32. Indie pop/goth. Often arranges theme nights, with music, videos and even drinks featuring a certain artist. Hosts Monochrome [74], a long-running Goth club the first Saturday every month. Haket is also a restaurant and bar, with an excellent selection of microbrewed beers.
• Trädgår'n - EBM & Synthpop, house
• Nefertiti - House, jazz, northern soul
• Sticky Fingers, Kaserntorget 7, +46 31-7010717 [75]. Young rock fans flock to Sticky Fingers for live bands and clubs.
• Uptown/Studio One - Reggae.
• Peacock Dinner Club - House.
• Gretas - Drottninggatan 35. The biggest gay nightclub in the city, with 2 dancefloors playing schlager, pop, 80s, 90s and disco downstairs, as well as house and r'n'b upstairs.
• Lounge - Trendy bar and night club.
• Nivå - Avenyn 9. Has five pulsating floors playing dirty funk till 5AM.
• Deep - A commercial and house scene reigns supreme at Deep (Avenyn 15), which attracts an older crowd.

Cafés

Gothenburg has a vast array of cafés practically everywhere. In the district Haga (near Järntorget) you can find a lot of nice cafés.

• Guldhedens vattentorn. A little nice café placed on top of an old water tower. You get a good view of Gothenburg and around. Take Tram 10 to Doktor Sydows Gata, or a bus 42, 52 to Syster Estrids Gatan. During January and February only open on Saturday and Sunday.

• Bar Centro, Kyrkogatan 31. Small Italian-style espressobar, takes coffee very seriously.

• Ethels, Linnégatan 72. A charming family-run café that also offers warm sandwiches and soup if you wish to have something savoury.

• Cafe Skåne Nämndemansgatan, Mölndal. This cafe is situated outside Göteborg in Mölndal. 24hour open, 6 days a week(closed Saturday nights). Here you don’t sit and read trendy fashion magazines and pay €5 for a caffè latte. Instead you eat big sandwiches cheap and pay 1.5€ for a tasty (but not so trendy) coffee.

Sleep

Budget

Many Youth Hostels only offer their lowest prices to members of STF or IYHF.

• Slottsskogen Youth Hostel, Vegagatan 21, +46 31-42 65 20, [76]. Open 24 hrs. Popular among travellers. Free Internet. Prices start at 135 SEK for dorm beds. Situated in the lively Linnéstan - an area with a lot of pubs, restaurants, cafés etc. Tram stop: Olivedalsgatan (tram 1,2,6 and 13).
• Vandrarhem Stigbergsliden, Stigbergsliden 10, +46 31-24 16 20, [77]. Located close to the Stena Line boat terminal to Denmark. Prices start at 150 SEK.
• Kärralund Camping Youth Hostel. Located 2.5 km from Liseberg amusement park, the prices start at 345 SEK (one time entry to Liseberg included during summer) but they are a lot higher during peak months.
• The Tourist Bureau just off Avenyn organises an excellent private home B&B service.

• Hotel Riverton, Stora Badhusgatan 26, +46 31-750 10 00 [78]. Hotel, restaurant and Sky bar with a beautiful view of the harbour. Close to the Casino. Shopping and restaurants just around the corner.
• Scandic Europa, Köpmansgatan 38, [79]. Also near the train station.
• Hôtel Eggers, Drottningtorget, +46 31-333 44 40 (fax +46 31-333 44 49) [80]. Located right by the train station, with nearly 150 years of history.
• Hotel Gothia Towers [81]. Scandinavia’s largest hotel, with top class rooms and four popular bars and restaurants. Gourmet restaurant Heaven 23 is on the 23rd floor with an unbeatable view of Göteborg.
• Novotel Göteborg, Novotel Göteborg is a modern hotel with all services and facilities, and is located at the entrance to the Port of Gothenburg.
• Hotel Royal, Drottninggatan 67, [82]. A classy, centrally located hotel that was founded in 1852.
• Hotel Poseidon, Storgatan 33, [83]. A family owned, 49-room hotel perfectly located in the city center. Trams stop a block away at Vasaplatsen and the popular Kungsportsavenyn is just a few blocks in the other direction. Wireless internet is included as well as a great breakfast.

• Elite Plaza Hotel, Västra Hamngatan 3, +46 31-720 40 00. Five star hotel where the rock stars sleep after giving a concert in Gothenburg.
• Elite Park Avenue Hotel, Kungsportsavenyn 36-38, +46 31-727 10 00.
• Radisson/SAS, Södra Hamngatan 59-65, +46 31-758 50 00 [84]. Near the central train station.

• Göteborg Monthly Magazine, [85]. Your English Guide to Göteborg.
• Djungeltrumman, [86]. Events all over Sweden.
• The Local, [87]. Sweden's News in English.
• Goteborg Company, [88]. Göteborg's Tourist Board.

Stay safe

Most crimes against tourists are crimes of opportunity, such as pick-pocketing, bicycle theft, auto theft, and auto vandalism. As always, do not leave valuable items in your car or in a cloakroom, and watch your bag in crowded places. Most shops and all major taxi companies accept credit and debit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash.

Religious services

Roman catholic churches:

• Kristus Konungen, Parkgatan 14, [89]. Holy mass: Sa: 11:30AM, 4:30PM (Span.), 6PM, 7PM (Polish); Su: 9:30AM, 11AM, 1PM (Pol.), 4PM (Croatic), 7PM; M-F 8AM, 11:30AM, 6PM.

Church of the anglical community:

• st. Andrews church, Hvidfeltsplatsen 2, [90].

• Near Gothenburg is the beautiful southern archipelago. There's a resident population on most islands, so ferries run all year. Private cars are not allowed. Take tram 11 (or 9 in summer) to Saltholmen, and then one of the ferries to Styrsö, Köpstadsö or any of the other islands. Here you can swim in the ocean, buy ice cream and maybe eat at the restaurants on Brännö, Styrsö or Vrångö. Be warned that the tram is packed with people on sunny summer days, especially when the 9 doesn't run, and going by car isn't better since you are unlikely to find a parking place. The ferries, however, usually make extra tours such days.

Styröbolaget provide a folder [91] with more information about the islands.

• Älvsborgs fortress (Älvsborgs fästning) from the 17th century was built on an island to protect the city from being attacked from the sea. Tourist boats [92] make the trip regularly during summer.

• Vinga - the last outpost before the sea and the place where Evert Taube (a famous Swedish poet) grew up.

• Gunnebo House and Gardens, in the neighbour municipality of Mölndal, is a large 18th century wooden mansion built in the neo-classical style with Rococo interiors set in a Baroque park. [93]

• Tjolöholm Castle, in Kungsbacka municipality south of Gothenburg, is an anacronistic Tudor castle built in the years around 1900 for the Scottish-Swedish merchant and factory owning family Dickson, one of Gothenburg's many generous donors (they founded Gothenburg's first public library and built decent homes for the families of their factory staff).

Routes through Gothenburg

Oslo ← Kungälv ←	N  S	→ Kungsbacka → Malmö
Malmö ← Kungsbacka ←	W  E	→ Alingsås → Stockholm
Karlstad ← Trollhättan ←	N  S	→ → Frederikshavn

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Proper noun

Gothenburg

1. A city on the west coast of Sweden, in the province of Västergötland. The second-largest city in Sweden.

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