Sight guide · Gothenburg · Sweden
Visiting Universeum
Next to Liseberg, Universeum is a science centre with a multi-storey indoor rainforest where birds and monkeys move freely, an aquarium with sharks and rays, reptiles and hands-on science and technology halls.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Erik031, Public domain
Quick answer
Universeum is an aquarium in Johanneberg and Liseberg, Gothenburg. Allow 3–4 hours; it is expensive. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Aquarium
- Area
- Johanneberg and Liseberg
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, rainy day and nature
- Best months
- May–July
About Universeum
Next to Liseberg, Universeum is a science centre with a multi-storey indoor rainforest where birds and monkeys move freely, an aquarium with sharks and rays, reptiles and hands-on science and technology halls. It is the city's main rainy-day option for families.
Tip: Start in the rainforest when doors open, before school groups arrive, and work down through the ocean tanks.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3–4 hours.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Johanneberg and Liseberg, the amusement park, the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre and Chalmers campus.
Best time to visit Universeum
Universeum is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- June: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- July: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- May: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Gothenburg has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Gothenburg itinerary visits Universeum on day 1, together with Liseberg and Götaplatsen and the Poseidon statue.
- No. 8 of the 20 sights in our Gothenburg things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in gothenburg on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Gothenburg.
- A family favourite in Gothenburg with kids.
Near Universeum
Within walking distance of Universeum (straight-line distances):
- Götaplatsen and the Poseidon statue — about 0.6 km away, 30 minutes, free
- Skansen Kronan — about 2.0 km away, 45 minutes, free
- Haga and Haga Nygata — about 2.0 km away, 1–2 hours, free
If you like Universeum
- Slottsskogen — Linnéstaden, 2–3 hours
- Gothenburg Natural History Museum — Slottsskogen, 1–1.5 hours
- Trädgårdsföreningen and the Palm House — Inom Vallgraven, 1 hour
Staying near Universeum
Stay in Johanneberg and Liseberg ($$$) to walk here: the amusement park, the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre and Chalmers campus. All areas to stay in Gothenburg.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Universeum?
Plan 3–4 hours. Götaplatsen and the Poseidon statue is about 0.6 km away in a straight line, so the two fit a half-day.
+Is Universeum free?
No, it is expensive. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Universeum?
May–July for the most comfortable weather. Start in the rainforest when doors open, before school groups arrive, and work down through the ocean tanks.
+Do I need to book Universeum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Universeum 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.