Travel guide · Sweden
Gothenburg travel guide
Canal-ringed port city of trams, seafood, fika and car-free islands
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Gothenburg is Sweden's second city and Scandinavia's largest port, laid out by the Dutch in the 17th century around a star-shaped moat and canals that still frame the centre. Green and yellow trams link the Liseberg amusement park, the boulevard of Avenyn, the wooden-and-stone houses of Haga and the riverside opera house, while a tram and ferry ride on the same ticket reaches the car-free islands of the southern archipelago. It is a relaxed, walkable city built around seafood, coffee breaks and big parks. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–August.
Key facts
- Country
- Sweden
- Best time to visit
- May–August
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- GOT
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Liseberg, Southern archipelago, Shrimp sandwiches and Haga cinnamon buns
Why visit Gothenburg
- Liseberg, one of Scandinavia's largest amusement parks, sits a short tram ride from the centre and turns into a large Christmas market in winter.
- The car-free southern archipelago islands such as Styrsö, Vrångö and Brännö are reached by tram and ferry on an ordinary public-transport ticket.
- West coast seafood is the local staple: shrimp sandwiches, langoustines, oysters from Bohuslän and the fish hall of Feskekôrka.
- Free green spaces are close to everything, from Slottsskogen's animal enclosures to the Botanical Garden and the Palm House in Trädgårdsföreningen.
- The fika culture of Haga, where cafés sell cinnamon buns the size of a plate, makes slow afternoons part of the itinerary.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Theme park · Johanneberg and Liseberg
Liseberg
Opened in 1923, Liseberg is one of Scandinavia's largest amusement parks, with landscaped gardens and roller coasters including the wooden Balder, the launched Helix and the vertical-drop Valkyria, plus a large area of gentler rides for small children.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- After dark
- Active
Neighbourhood · Haga
Haga and Haga Nygata
Haga Nygata is a pedestrian street of restored 19th-century landshövdingehus with cafés, interior and vintage shops on the ground floors.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
- Iconic
Experience · Inom Vallgraven
Paddan canal boat tour
The low, flat Paddan boats have toured the city's canals since 1939, leaving from Kungsportsplatsen, circling the moat and running out along Stora Hamnkanalen into the harbour.
- Time needed
- 50 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Iconic
- History
- Views
Island · Saltholmen
Southern archipelago islands
The car-free islands of the southern archipelago, among them Styrsö, Vrångö, Brännö, Donsö and Asperö, have granite rocks for swimming, small harbours and walking paths between wooden summer houses.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Castle · Haga
Skansen Kronan
This round stone fortress tower with a gilded crown on top was completed in the late 17th century on the Risåsberget hill to defend the city against a Danish attack that never came.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Park · Linnéstaden
Slottsskogen
Gothenburg's largest central park covers about 137 hectares of woods, ponds and lawns, with free animal enclosures where you can see elk, deer, seals and penguins, and a children's zoo in summer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Where to stay
Inom Vallgraven is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Inom Vallgraven
The old city inside the 17th-century moat, with canals, shops and the main squares
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and culture
Haga
Cobbled Haga Nygata, café terraces and restored 19th-century workers' houses
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and couples
Linnéstaden
Linnégatan's restaurants and bars between Haga and Slottsskogen
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Vasastan
Grand stone apartment blocks, the university and Röhsska design museum
What to eat
- Shrimp sandwich — A slice of bread piled high with hand-peeled west coast shrimp, egg, lettuce, mayonnaise, lemon and dill.
- Cinnamon bun — Swedish cinnamon buns are spiced with cardamom as well as cinnamon and topped with pearl sugar.
- Halv special — Gothenburg's signature hot-dog order: a boiled or grilled sausage in a bun topped with mashed potato, often with mustard, ketchup or shrimp salad.
- Langoustine — Norway lobsters from the cold waters of the Skagerrak are sweet and delicate, served boiled with bread and aioli or grilled with garlic butter.
- West coast oysters — Flat oysters from the Bohuslän coast north of the city are prized for their mineral flavour and grow slowly in cold, clean water.
- Pickled herring — Herring marinated in mustard, onion, dill or sherry sauces and served with boiled potatoes, sour cream and chives.
When to go
The best time to visit Gothenburg is May to early September, when days are long, the archipelago ferries run often and the sea is warm enough to swim in July and August. June and August are excellent all-round months; July is busy with Swedish holidaymakers. Late November and December are worth it for Liseberg's Christmas market despite short days.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Lengthening days, cherry blossom and the restart of Liseberg and the Paddan boats; still cold at night and in March often wintry. |
| Summer | June–August | Close to 18 hours of daylight in June, swimming off the archipelago rocks, outdoor festivals and the busiest, highest-priced hotel period. |
| Autumn | September–November | Quieter streets, autumn colours, the book fair and oyster season, with increasing wind and rain from October. |
| Winter | December–February | Short, dark days around freezing, softened by Christmas markets, Lucia, the film festival and low hotel prices outside the holidays. |
Getting there and around
Göteborg Landvetter Airport is about 25 km east of the city. Flygbussarna airport coaches run to the Nils Ericson Terminal by Central Station in about 20–30 minutes, with stops along the way; taxis take a similar time depending on traffic.
Central Gothenburg is compact and easy to walk, and Västtrafik's tram network, the largest in Sweden, links every district. The same tickets cover buses, the Älvsnabben river ferry and the ferries to the southern archipelago, bought in the Västtrafik To Go app or by contactless card on board.
Plan your days
Two days covers Haga, the canals, Avenyn, Slottsskogen and an evening at Liseberg. A third day is best spent island-hopping in the southern archipelago, and a fourth allows a trip to Marstrand or Varberg on the coast.
Practical information
- Currency
- SEK
- Language
- Swedish
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and of very high quality.
- Emergency number
- 112
- Tipping
- Service is included in Swedish restaurant prices.
Gothenburg is generally calm for visitors, but pickpocketing can occur in crowded places such as Nordstan, Central Station and busy trams. On the archipelago rocks, take care on wet stone and watch the weather before swimming.
Flights to Gothenburg
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Gothenburg?
Two days covers Haga, the canals, Avenyn, Slottsskogen and an evening at Liseberg. A third day is best spent island-hopping in the southern archipelago, and a fourth allows a trip to Marstrand or Varberg on the coast. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Gothenburg?
The best time to visit Gothenburg is May to early September, when days are long, the archipelago ferries run often and the sea is warm enough to swim in July and August. June and August are excellent all-round months; July is busy with Swedish holidaymakers. Late November and December are worth it for Liseberg's Christmas market despite short days.
+What is Gothenburg known for?
Liseberg, Southern archipelago, Shrimp sandwiches, Haga cinnamon buns, Trams, Canals and moat and Volvo. Liseberg, one of Scandinavia's largest amusement parks, sits a short tram ride from the centre and turns into a large Christmas market in winter.
+Is Gothenburg expensive?
Gothenburg is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Gothenburg?
No. Trams, ferries and walking cover the city and archipelago. A car helps only for touring the Bohuslän coast north of the city at your own pace.