Getting around · Gothenburg · Sweden
Getting around Gothenburg
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Agnetagreen, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
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. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- GOT
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Västtrafik period tickets
Ways to get around
Tram
Trams run frequently through the centre and out to Slottsskogen, Liseberg, Saltholmen and Hisingen, and are usually the fastest way across town.
Buy a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket in the Västtrafik To Go app if you plan several journeys in a day.
Ferry
The Älvsnabben ferry crosses the river between Stenpiren and Lindholmen and Eriksberg, and archipelago ferries leave from Saltholmen, all on standard Västtrafik tickets.
Walking
Most central sights from Haga to Avenyn and the harbour lie within about 20–30 minutes' walk of each other.
Cycling
Styr & Ställ is the city bike-share scheme with stations across the centre, and many streets have separate cycle lanes.
Bus
Buses fill gaps in the tram network and serve outlying areas such as Delsjön; they use the same tickets as trams.
Tickets and passes
Västtrafik period tickets
24-hour and 72-hour tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app cover trams, buses, the river ferry and archipelago ferries within Gothenburg.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Marstrand | About 1 hour by bus and ferry | Bus to Marstrandsterminalen, then a short ferry crossing |
| Bohus Fortress in Kungälv | About 30 minutes by bus | Express bus from Nils Ericson Terminal to Kungälv |
| Varberg | About 45–60 minutes by train | Regional train from Göteborg Central |
| Alingsås | About 30–40 minutes by train | Regional train from Göteborg Central |
| Smögen | About 2 hours by car | Car, or bus with changes |
| Skärhamn and the Nordic Watercolour Museum | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Express bus to Tjörn, or car |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Gothenburg?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Gothenburg?
Tram: Trams run frequently through the centre and out to Slottsskogen, Liseberg, Saltholmen and Hisingen, and are usually the fastest way across town.