If you like harbours, Gothenburg is the place to be. It has the only harbour in Sweden that usually doesn't freeze over winter, and even though it's not the thriving industry it used to be, the harbour still plays an important part in city life and atmosphere. This is reflected in the excellent Gothenburg maritime museum, where you can look around on about 15 ships and boats.

But it's not all fish and ships in Gothenburg. There's also plenty of shopping, culture and night life going on. It has some nice 17th century architecture. Gothenburg got its city rights in 1621 and was built by Dutch immigrants. This explains the gabled houses and the Amsterdam-style canal around the old centre. Walk around in the Haga part of town and see the many small but charming shops and Gothenburg,Pubs & Bars. Take in some culture in one of the many museums. Art, history, natural science, armies, you name it, Gothenburg has a museum about it. And of course no visit to Sweden would be complete without a trip to the Volvo museum.

When you've seen enough culture for the day, you can visit the Liseberg amusement park, the largest of it's kind in Scandinavia. Situated right in the centre of town, it has entertained millions of people since 1923. You can ride the roller coasters or see popular artist perform.

Though not as beautiful and entertaining as Stockholm  Gothenburg has more than enough to offer to keep you occupied for a while.

Getting There:
Getting to Gothenburg is quite easy. It's located on the west coast of Sweden an can be reached by land, sea and through the air.

Ferries run daily to and from Denmark, Germany and the UK.

You can't say you've really seen Sweden if you didn't experience a fabulous cruise on the legendary Cota Canal. This enormous waterway expands for miles and miles and goes at least across ten lakes and one inland sea. Steam ships defeat this 'Blue Ribbon of Sweden' in order to give the visitors a good view of the surroundings, comprised of meadows, old villages, castles and convents. It's a charming way to get from Stockholm to Goteberg (and the other way around of course).

Trains arrive at Central station (Drottningtorget square) from destinations troughout Sweden. Gothenburg can be reached by air from most major cities within Europe.

Göteborg Landvetter airport is around 25 km east of the city. There are buses from the city centre to Landvetter every 15 minutes, and the journey takes about 20 minutes.

Getting Around:
Gothenburg is not very big and can easily be seen by foot. However, if you prefer getting around a bit more comfortable, there's plenty of alternatives. Busses and trams go through the entire city.

To get to Eriksberg and Lindholmen, there's the Älvsnabben riverboat from Lilla Bommen, and boats to the southern archipelago go from Saltholmen. Tickets can be purchased from Tidpunkten, from the bus/tram driver, or from Pressbyrån newsagents.

For further information, visit the Västtrafik website at www.vasttrafik.se.

Practical Information:

Tourist Information

Göteborg Turistbyrä
Kungportsplatsen 2
tel: 031-100740
fax: 031-132184
Opening hours:
Jan.-April and Sept.-Dec.: Mon.- Fr. 9-17; Sat. 10-14
May: Mon.- Fr. 9-18; Sat.- Sun. 10-14
June 1-15 and Aug. 16-31: Mon.- Sun. 9-18
June 16 - Aug. 15: Mon.- Sun. 9-20

Turistbyrå Nordstan
Nordstadstorget
tel: 031-150705
Opening hours:
Mon.- Fri. 9.30 - 18; Sat. 9.30 - 15
Both are closed on Januari 6, Good Friday - Easter, May 1, November 6, December 25, 26 and 31.

Göteborg Card
If you really want to make the most of your visit to Gothenburg, it might be worthwile to get a Göteborg Card. This will give you:

Free parking in city parking places. Free local public transport: tram, bus, archipelago boat and train. Free admission to Liseberg. Free boat-trip to the Elfsborg Fortress. Free admission to the following museums: Natural History Museum Stadsmuseet (City Museum) Konstmuseet (Art Museum) Röhss Museum Maritime Museum Varying special offers, ranging from discounts at restaurants, theatre and sightseeing tours to shopping vouchers.

The Göteborg Crad can be bought at tourist offices, hotels, hostels, camp sites, museums, the Liseberg Park, central train station, etc.

Prices
adults: SEK 95/day
children under 17: SEK 50/day (max. 3 children cards sold per adult card)

Emergencies
In case of emergencie, call 112 or 90 000. This will get you an ambulance, the police or the fire brigade.

Nightlife:
The varied night life is one of the reasons that Swedes consider Gothenburg the most popular city in Sweden. Especially in summer, when the streets and sqares are transformed into giant outdoor bars and restaurants, Gothenburg is a great place to go out. You can sample food from all over the world, including of course Swedish specialities, in one of the many restaurants. You can go dancing all night in a club, enjoy a quiet drink in a small café, or take your chances in a casino.