Gothenburg

Travel Guide
Gothenburg featuring a marina and a bay or harbour
With its wide streets and waterways, fascinating maritime history, seafood smorgasbords and many parks and museums, this easygoing city is well worth exploring.

The city’s cobblestoned streets and canals evoke comparisons to Amsterdam. This is no coincidence: Dutch immigrants were responsible for the fortification and layout of Gothenburg (Göteborg) because they established the city in 1621. The wide thoroughfares are compared to Parisian boulevards. Locals call their city “little London” because of its parks, cultural appeal and nightlife.

You can fly to Gothenburg in western Sweden, take the ferry from Frederikshavn in Denmark or make a canal cruise from the Swedish capital of Stockholm. Once there, getting around is easiest by tram, bicycle or taxi. Parking spaces in the compact city center are rare and expensive, but if you purchase the Gothenburg City Card you get free public transportation, parking and admission to attractions.

Near Gustav Adolf’s Square is the Kronhuset, the historic City Hall which is now a crafts center. Visit the nearby 18th-century City Museum (Stadsmuseum) with its Viking ship or the Maritime Museum and Aquarium in the port to learn about Sweden’s long seafaring history. Admire the church-like design of the Feskekôrka (Fish Market) and order fresh seafood.

A Poseidon statue towers over the city’s main hubs, Götaplatsen and Avenyn, which are hot spots for culture, shopping and nightlife.

Gothenburg is close to the Arctic Circle and it becomes a magical place when covered in snow. During the festive season, thousands of sparkling lights brighten the streets and Christmas markets.

The cold winters are dark, but the short summers have long daylight hours. Starting in June, alfresco restaurants and bars pop up and cruises operate on the Göta Canal. Visit Slottsskogen city park’s free zoo with Nordic animals around lunchtime to see seals and penguins being fed. Children will also love the rides in Liseburg Amusement Park.

To see a little more of Sweden’s southwest, drive to the ruins of Bohus Fortress in nearby Kungälv.

Gothenburg is regarded as a more relaxed and cheaper alternative to Stockholm and a good base for exploring Sweden’s western coastal archipelago.

Where to stay in Gothenburg

Skansen Kronan which includes heritage architecture and a city

Gothenburg City Center

Travellers choose Gothenburg City Center for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Göteborg Centralst Drottningt Station or Nordstan Tram Stop and check out top sights like Garden Society of Gothenburg.

Gothenburg City Center
Liseberg Amusement Park which includes street scenes and a city as well as a large group of people

Centrum

4.5/5(185 area reviews)

Museums, historical sites and theme parks highlight some notable features of Centrum. Make a stop by Liseberg Amusement Park or Universeum while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Sankt Sigfrids Plan Tram Stop or Liseberg Tram Stop to get around town.

Centrum
Universeum which includes a park

Heden

Travellers choose Heden for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Ullevi Södra Tram Stop or Scandinavium Tram Stop and check out top sights like Liseberg Amusement Park.

Heden
Fish Market showing a statue or sculpture and a river or creek

Inom Vallgraven

Travellers choose Inom Vallgraven for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Domkyrkan Tram Stop or Grönsakstorget Tram Stop and check out top sights like Kungsgatan.

Inom Vallgraven
Skansen Kronan showing military items, heritage architecture and château or palace

Haga

Well liked for its shopping and art galleries, Haga is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Skansen Kronan and Linnegatan, and jump on the metro at Handelshögskolan Tram Stop to get around the city.

Haga
Default Image

Hisingen

If you're spending time in Hisingen, check out sights like Backaplan or Volvo Museum and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Varmfrontsgatan Tram Stop or Temperaturgatan Tram Stop.

Hisingen
Gothia Towers & Upper House
Gothia Towers & Upper House
4.5 out of 5
Mässans Gata 24, Gothenburg
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is €103 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
€103
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Gothenburg. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,589 reviews)
"Super hotel"

Reviewed on 17 Mar 2024

Gothia Towers & Upper House
Clarion Hotel Post, Gothenburg
Clarion Hotel Post, Gothenburg
4.5 out of 5
Drottningtorget 10, Gothenburg
The price is €120 per night from 21 Apr to 22 Apr
€120
per night
21 Apr - 22 Apr
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Gothenburg. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3,171 reviews)
"This is a fantastic posh property right beside the main train station. Tons of restaurants and wine bars to check out nearby. Easy walkability, just look out for the cabbies!"

Reviewed on 8 Mar 2024

Clarion Hotel Post, Gothenburg
Jacy'z Hotel & Resort
Jacy'z Hotel & Resort
5 out of 5
Drakegatan 10, Gothenburg, Västra Götaland
The price is €113 per night from 3 Apr to 4 Apr
€113
per night
3 Apr - 4 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Gothenburg. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 2 indoor pools. Popular attractions Liseberg Amusement Park and Nya Ullevi ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (518 reviews)
"Must try pool"

Reviewed on 21 Dec 2023

Jacy'z Hotel & Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Waterfront Cabins
Waterfront Cabins
4 out of 5
12 Kvillepiren, Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Gothenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a terrace. Popular attractions Liseberg Amusement Park and Frihamnen are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (10 reviews)
Bra men otydliga instruktioner
"Väldigt bra dock otydlig information angående boendet. Tex husinformation, utcheckning och tillhandahållande överlag."

Reviewed on 24 Mar 2024

Waterfront Cabins
La Mare Resort
La Mare Resort
3.5 out of 5
7 Järnmalmsgatan, Brygga B, Gothenburg, Göteborg
Stay at this 3.5-star houseboat in Gothenburg. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina, and a sauna. Popular attractions Liseberg Amusement Park and Nordstan Shopping Center ...
9/10 Wonderful! (113 reviews)
"We weren't sure when we arrived to find ourselves in the middle of an industrial estate but once we'd settled in we really enjoyed our stay. It's about a 10 min walk to the tram - get yourself a day pass as it makes life so much easier and it even includes the ferries to the archipelago. The boat ..."

Reviewed on 31 Aug 2023

La Mare Resort
Hotel Torslanda
Hotel Torslanda
3 out of 5
Postflyget 7, Torslanda, Vastra Gotaland County
Stay at this 3-star golf apartment in Torslanda. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Volvo Museum and Volvo Cars Torslanda ...
9/10 Wonderful! (283 reviews)
"Great place, very helpful and friendly service"

Reviewed on 4 Aug 2022

Hotel Torslanda
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Gothenburg

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
71
" "5 - Excellent 48.96551724137931%
4 - Good
64
" "4 - Good 44.13793103448276%
3 - Okay
9
" "3 - Okay 6.206896551724138%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
" "1 - Terrible 0.6896551724137931%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
19 Mar 2020

Beautiful place very clean and loads of interesting places to see

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
27 Feb 2020

The city is nothing special to be honest, plenty of beggars on street corners just like most major cities these days. Once you go out to the islands, however, the scenery is beautiful similar to the Lake District.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
11 Feb 2020

It’s a small, very friendly, relaxing city. No crowds of stress. Lots of culture and great food.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
3 Feb 2020

Gothenburg is a beautiful city which great for exploring and visiting cultural attractions and dining out.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
20 Jan 2020

Brilliant wee City Break. I was well chuffed. 

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
18 Jan 2020

Great city, compact, safe, good food and bars, many swedes ;-), really good shopping opportunities, plenty to do for recreation. Will k=come back for the liseberg Park.