Gothenburg, Sweden — Where to Go
Gothenburg Sightseeing Overview
A good start for a sightseeing trip in Gothenburg would be to take a bus or taxi up to Ramberget, the city's highest point at 86m (262ft) above sea level. It offers magnificent panoramic views of the whole city and the harbor.
The most popular attraction in Gothenburg (indeed in the whole of Sweden) is Liseberg Amusement Park, a vibrant combination of fairground, entertainment complex and cultural quarter. Of particular note among the city's many museums are Gothenburg Museum of Art , which boasts a great collection of modern Nordic art; the Universeum, which houses a rainforest, an aquarium and several interactive science exhibits all under one roof; and the Museum of World Culture, which was voted museum of the year in 2009.
Gothenburg is a city of green spaces, and the Gothenburg Botanical Garden is one of the finest in Northern Europe, with an impressive variety of plants and trees.
Situated by the sea, Gothenburg has plenty of great fish and seafood to offer, and one of the best places to buy it is at Feskekörka (Fish Church), a church-like building well worth a visit, as it houses several shops selling the most delicious and fresh seafood.
Maritiman, the world's largest floating sea vessel museum, is also recommended, as it gives a lively introduction to the city's close links with the sea. Visitors to Gothenburg should also consider a trip out to the archipelago with its pretty and lively villages and beautiful islets.
Gothenburg Tourist Information
Gothenburg Tourist Office
Kungsportsplatsen 2
Nordstadtorget
Tel: (031) 368 4200.
Website: www.goteborg.com
The Gothenburg tourist office staff help out with booking of accommodation and tickets for sightseeing trips and excursions. They are also helpful with all kinds of information about the city. Souvenirs, books and maps are available as well.
Gothenburg Sightseeing
The Gothenburg Pass (Göteborgspasset) can be bought at Gothenburg's tourist information centers, hotels and youth hostels (or in advance at www.goteborg.com). It gives free admission to attractions and museums as well as to several sightseeing tours by bus or boat. Free parking and free use of public transport are also included. Two different passes are available, one for 24 hours and another for 48 hours.
Gothenburg Sightseeing
The Gothenburg Pass (Göteborgspasset) can be bought at Gothenburg's tourist information centers, hotels and youth hostels (or in advance at www.goteborg.com). It gives free admission to attractions and museums as well as to several sightseeing tours by bus or boat. Free parking and free use of public transport are also included. Two different passes are available, one for 24 hours and another for 48 hours.
Key Attractions in Gothenburg, Sweden
Liseberg Amusement Park
Liseberg is Scandinavia's biggest amusement park and the most popular tourist attraction in Gothenburg and in Sweden. It attracts more than three million visitors annually and offers a great variety of entertainments, from theater and musical shows to swings and rides (including the famous roller coaster with a structure of wood). The summer season lasts from late April until early October. The park is open daily from mid-May to late August. It opens again in November and December for a charming Christmas market.
Örgrytevägen/Korsvägen, 402 26 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 400 100.
Website: www.liseberg.se
Opening hours: Varying times (Apr-Oct) - check website for details.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Gothenburg Museum of Art
This art museum, located by Götaplatsen at the southern end of Gothenburg's main boulevard (Kungsportavenyn), has a great collection of Nordic art from the last couple of centuries, including works by Anders Zorn, Carl Larsson and Edvard Munch as well as more contemporary exhibits. The permanent exhibition also includes works by Picasso, Monet and other international masters. The Hasselblad Center for Photographic Art and Gothenburg Art Hall are located in the same building.
Götaplatsen, 412 56 Gothenberg
Tel: (031) 368 3500.
Website: www.konstmuseum.goteborg.se
Opening hours: Tues and Thurs 1100-1800, Wed 11-2100, Fri-Sun 1100-1700.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Gothenburg Botanical Garden
The foremost botanical garden in Northern Europe in terms of biodiversity, Gothenburg Botanical Garden includes some 16,000 species. It covers a total area of 175 hectares (ca 430 acres) and is criss-crossed by walking paths. A truly stunning park, it contains herb gardens, a bamboo grove, a Japanese garden, an arboretum with woodland plants from all over the world, a deservedly famous rock garden and greenhouses with orchids and other exotic plants.
Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22A, 413 19 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 741 1100.
Website: www.gotbot.se
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600.
Admission charge: N (Y for the greenhouses).
Disabled access: Y.
Feskekörka
A wonderful market hall for fresh seafood in Gothenburg, Feskekörka (the name comes from the local dialect and means ‘the Fish Church') is highly recommended for fish lovers. It opened in 1874 and got its name because of the shape of the building, which looks like a church. There are several shops and a lunch restaurant inside, and the quality and variety of fish and shellfish on offer are top notch.
Rosenlundsgatan, 411 20 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 612 500.
Website: www.xn--feskekrka-57a.se
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Maritiman
The world's largest floating sea vessel museum, Maritiman in Gothenburg's harbor consists of 19 different vessels - ships, boats, barges and a submarine. All of the exhibits have their own particular points of interest, and the museum also offers a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era in Gothenburg's maritime and shipyard history.
Packhuskajen 8 ½, 411 13 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 105 960.
Website: www.maritiman.se
Opening hours: Fri-Sun 1000-1800 (Apr); Daily 1000-1800 (May-Sep); Fri-Sun 1000-1600 (Oct).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Universeum
A hugely impressive science museum and scientific center for the whole family, Universeum presents scientific and technological topics in such a way as to appeal to both children and adults. Some sections deal with technology, while others present rainforest and aquatic environments as well as live animals. This Gothenburg museum offers a fascinating insight into ecological and environmental issues.
Södra vägen 50, 400 20 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 335 6450.
Website: www.universeum.se
Opening hours: Daily 0900-2100.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
The Museum of World Culture
This Gothenburg museum brings the world's cultures together and to life in a vibrant exhibition space. The museum hosts a variety of thematic exhibitions and aims to educate visitors about different cultures and cultural differences and about our common global future. The concept and exhibitions alike are thought-provoking and interesting, and the museum, Gothenburg's most visited, was voted ‘Museum of the Year' in 2009.
Södra vägen 54, 402 27 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 632 730.
Website: www.varldskulturmuseet.se
Opening hours: Tues and Fri-Sun 1200-1700, Wed-Thurs 1200-2100.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Further Distractions
Röhsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts
This is Sweden's national museum of design and handicrafts. Its permanent exhibitions include a fascinating display of the history of Western interior design as well as an impressive section focussing on Chinese and Japanese art and design. There is a café and design shop in the museum.
Vasagatan 37-39, SE-400 15 Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 368 3150.
Website: www.designmuseum.se
Opening hours: Tues noon-2000, Wed-Fri noon-1700, Sat-Sun 1100-1700.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Crown House (Kronhuset) and Crown House Courtyard
The Crown House is the oldest house in Gothenburg, built in 1654. Originally a storehouse for the Swedish artillery, it was also the place where the four-year-old son of King Karl X Gustav was proclaimed King Karl XI in 1660. Today it is home to Göteborg Wind Orchestra, a professional brass band. The courtyard is a living handicraft center with several traditional shops and workshops; a glassblower, a goldsmith, a clockmaker and a chocolate are all based here.
Kronhuskvarteret, Gothenburg
Tel: (031) 611 491.
Website: www.kronhusbodarna.nu
