Experience Gothenburg

This text may be used freely if source is stated: www.gothenburg.com.

Gothenburg is a vibrant city with a charming and relaxed atmosphere. It has a great reputation as a clean, green and safe city with a friendly welcome for visitors. The compact city centre, built around the canals, offers everything a big city should and all within easy walking distance.

The Gothenburg City Card is a great way to experience the city. The price for a 24-hour card is 285 SEK for adults and 175 SEK for children (up to 17 years of age. Children under 5 do not need a card.) The price for a 48-hour card is 395 SEK for adults and 275 SEK for children. Cards can be purchased on-line at www.gothenburg.com or at the Gothenburg Tourist Offices. (* Free with the Gothenburg City Card).

Gothenburg Art Museum(Göteborgs konstmuseum) is considered to have the world’s finest collection of turn-of-the-century Nordic art (three stars in the Michelin Green Guide.) The museum is at the top of Avenyn, on Götaplatsen. The entrance hall also houses the Hasselblad Centre for Photographic Art. Open Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-18:00, Wednesday 11:00-21:00, Friday-Sunday 11:00-17:00. Closed Monday.

Interested in design? Röhsska Museumof Fashion, Design and Decorative Arts (Röhsska museet) is on Vasagatan, close to Avenyn. There are temporary exhibitions of work by the best Scandinavian designers. There is also the history of design from 1851 to the present day. Open Tuesday 12:00-20:00, Wednesday-Friday 12:00-17:00, Saturday-Sunday 11:00-17:00. Closed Monday.

Universeum Science Discovery Centre* combines science, technology and adventure. Follow the water from the mountains in the north down to the sea. There are big aquariums, a rain forest and plenty of hands on experiments. Open daily 10:00-18:00 during the low season and from 09:00-20:00 from 23 June until 12 August.

The Museum of World Culture* includes contemporary exhibitions seen from an international perspective, where controversial and conflict-filled topics are addressed. The ultra-modern building also houses a caf̩ and restaurant. Open Tuesday 12:00-17:00, Wednesday РThursday 12:00-21:00 and Friday РSunday 12:00-17:00. Closed Monday.

Röda Sten Art Centre*, is located inside a former boiler house at the entrance of the harbour by the Älvsborg bridge. The Centre hosts exciting contemporary art exhibitions as well as a café. The view over the harbour entrance is fantastic. Take the Älvsnabben harbour ferry to Klippan culture reserve and enjoy the fine views from the top deck.

There is a pleasant shopping area with design shops and many independent fashion stores – mainly street wear, in downtown Vallgatan/Södra Larmgatan, running from Kungstorget by the market hall down to the crossing with Magasinsgatan.

Liseberg Amusement Park* is the most popular tourist attraction in Sweden, attracting three million visitors annually. It is open for the summer season from mid-April to the beginning of October. There is also a Christmas Market from mid November, with many craft stalls, an ice rink and Santa’s World. The whole park is adorned with Christmas decorations and is illuminated by almost five million Christmas lights.

Take a tour of the harbour in the ferry Älvsnabben* The ferry criss-crosses the lively harbour from central Lilla Bommen to Klippan culture reserve by the harbour entrance. Enjoy the fine views from the top deck. The Port of Gothenburg is the largest in Scandinavia. See the Eriksberg district, with its new apartments, and the Lindholmen/Lundbystrand district, with its innovative office and educational buildings, Science Centre and IT University; all established on former shipyard land.

Paddan boats* offer a different way of seeing the sights of the city, from the old moat, the canals and the harbour. A guided tour takes you under 20 bridges, including the extremely low Osthyveln (cheese slicer) bridge. The tour takes about 50 minutes and the boats depart from Kungsportsplatsen from May to September. Please note that during high season free tours are only valid from 15.00 with the Gothenburg City Card.

Gothenburg Opera House (Göteborgs Operan), an exciting building opened in 1994, is situated by the waterfront in the central harbour. The Opera is renowned for its performances of modern works.

Stroll along the main boulevard Avenyn (Kungsportsavenyn), with all its restaurants, cafés, nightclubs and shops.

The old district of Haga- a culturally listed 19th-century district, with cobbled streets and a special type of three storey house construction, featuring one storey in stone and two in wood. Haga has an abundance of cafés, second hand and craft shops.

The Linné district with Linnégatan, popular amongst Gothenburgers as the city’s ‘Second Avenue’, with plenty of excellent restaurants, bars and cafés. The intersecting LÃ¥nggatorna, is a Bohemian yet trendy area of the city.

Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trädgårdsföreningen)*. A beautiful 19th century park laid out next the old moat. The park also boasts the Rose Gardens with 2,500 roses from 1,900 species and the Palm House, built in 1878 as a copy of the former Crystal Palace in London.

Gothenburg Botanical Gardens* (Botaniska Trädgården) is one of the largest botanical gardens in northern Europe and is considered to be one of the most beautiful. It is home to a total of some 20,000 plants in the gardens including the hothouses. The Rock Garden was given two stars in the Michelin Green Guide. Open until sunset. Tram numbers 1, 7, 8 and 13 stop at Botaniska Trädgården.

Saluhallen Market Hall. A food market with food from all over the world and some 40 shops. There are several good places to eat lunch/dinner. The building dates from 1889. The market hall is open Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00, Saturday 09:00-14:00 (15:00 in winter time). Please note, a major part of the Market Hall is being renovated during 2012.

Fish Market Hall (Feskekörka). Top-quality fresh fish and seafood on sale in a distinctive church like building dating from 1873. Restaurant Gabriel is open for lunch. The market hall is open Tuesday-Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-15:00.

Fish auction. The largest fish auction in Sweden. See all species of fish and seafood from the nearby sea. The auction is held Monday 07.00, Tuesday to Friday 06.30. The auction takes place at the central Fish Harbour. Trams 3, 9 and 11 westbound from city centre to Stigbergstorget, and from there five minutes’ walk.

Visit the nearby southern archipelago, which includes lively villages as well as inhabited islets in a beautiful setting. Take the No. 11 tram westbound to the ferry terminal at Saltholmen*. In the summer there are several boat excursions and both day and evening cruises. Departure from Lilla Bommen in the city centre.

www.gothenburg.com official visitor’s and events guide to Gothenburg, on-line booking of hotels and the Gothenburg City Card.