Sight guide · Gothenburg · Sweden
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Paddan canal boat tour is an experience in Inom Vallgraven, Gothenburg. Allow 50 minutes; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Inom Vallgraven
- Time needed
- 50 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, history and views
- Best months
- April–May and September
About 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. Passengers duck as the boats squeeze under some very low bridges, and the guide explains the Dutch-built city plan.
Tip: Sit near the middle of the boat for the best view on both sides, and keep heads down when the guide warns of a low bridge.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 50 minutes.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Inom Vallgraven, the old city inside the 17th-century moat, with canals, shops and the main squares.
Best time to visit Paddan canal boat tour
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- April: 11°C (52°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- May: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- September: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-April the sun sets at about 20:22 local time (calculated for Gothenburg).
When to visit Gothenburg has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Gothenburg itinerary visits Paddan canal boat tour on day 3, together with Trädgårdsföreningen and the Palm House and Gothenburg City Museum.
- No. 3 of the 20 sights in our Gothenburg things-to-do list.
- A family favourite in Gothenburg with kids.
Near Paddan canal boat tour
Also in Inom Vallgraven, so you can walk between them:
- Trädgårdsföreningen and the Palm House — 1 hour, free
- Gothenburg City Museum — 1.5 hours, low cost
- Maritiman — 1.5–2 hours, mid-priced
If you like Paddan canal boat tour
- Skansen Kronan — Haga, 45 minutes
- Nya Älvsborg fortress — Göta älv estuary, Half a day including the boat
Staying near Paddan canal boat tour
Stay in Inom Vallgraven ($$$) to walk here: the old city inside the 17th-century moat, with canals, shops and the main squares. All areas to stay in Gothenburg.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Paddan canal boat tour?
Plan 50 minutes. With Trädgårdsföreningen and the Palm House nearby, it fits a half-day in Inom Vallgraven.
+Is Paddan canal boat tour free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Paddan canal boat tour?
April–May and September, the quietest of the good months. Sit near the middle of the boat for the best view on both sides, and keep heads down when the guide warns of a low bridge.
+Do I need to book Paddan canal boat tour in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Paddan canal boat tour good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Gothenburg. Gothenburg is one of the easiest Nordic cities to visit with children: Liseberg, Universeum, the free animals in Slottsskogen and a floating ship museum are all reachable by tram, and the archipelago gives safe rocky swimming in summer.