Orientation
At the heart of Gothenburg and the first port of call for almost every visitor is Göteborgs Centralstation – the Central Station. Trains pull in here from across Sweden while buses (including services from the airports) stop just behind at the long glass building called Nils Ericsonsterminalen. Our guide to arriving in Gothenburg has more on both places.
From these stations it’s a short walk south to Kungsportsavenyen – usually referred to as Avenyn, or just ‘The Avenue’ in English. This is the city’s main thoroughfare, crowned by the imposing Konstmuseum art gallery and lined with glitzy but overpriced restaurants, which are generally worth avoiding.
A quick stroll south and east of here is Korsvägen, a busy intersection and one of the few places in the city with skyscrapers (well, there are three). The main reason for making a trip out here is to visit Liseberg – the best amusement park in Scandinavia, with fun rides in summer and a festive market in the run up to Christmas each year.
The commercial heart of the city and the best area for most kinds of shopping is just southwest of the Central Station, within the confines of the zigzag-shaped old moat. Kungsgatan, Magasinsgatan and Drottninggatan are all worth a look for independent shops while Nordstan, the big covered mall just north of here, has most of the well-known Swedish brands. Be warned, it’s perpetually busy at weekends.
The west end of the centre is the nicest area to explore on foot. Pretty Haga somehow managed to escape the wrecking balls that swung through Gothenburg during the 1950s and 60s, and has some of the best examples of traditional wooden houses; the ground floors of many have now been transformed into cafés.
Close by is Linnégatan (our pick for the most picturesque street in Gothenburg), which leads up towards two of the city’s best parks: Slottsskogen, where you’ll find a free ‘zoo’ home to lots of native animals, including elk and seals, and Botaniska Trädgården, home to neatly clipped lawns and, in summer, thousands of well-tended flowers.
Practical information
Car hire
The big car rental companies have bases at both of Gothenburg’s airports, and some also have an office on the parking lot outside Nils Ericsonterminalen, right in the city centre.
Gothenburg City Airport
Avis +46 319 261 95
Sixt +46 317 601 040
Hertz +46 318 037 30
Landvetter Airport
Avis +46 319 473 30
Budget +46 319 465 00
Europcar +46 313 892 020
Hertz +46 319 460 20
Sixt +46 30 131 990
Downtown
Avis, Södra Vägen +46 104 948 230
Europcar, Nils Ericsonsplatsen +46 317 501 530
Hertz, Kruthusgatan 1 +46 318 037 30
Sixt, Nils Ericsonsplatsen +46 317 601 040
Hospital
Gothenburg’s biggest hospital – with 24hr accident and emergency care – is the centrally located Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset
Blå Stråket 5, just off Per Dubbsgatan
+46 313 421 00
sahlgrenska.se
Internet access
You’ll find fast, free wifi at cafés, restaurants and hotels across the city centre. If you need a PC or want to print something, try Game Online, conveniently located near Järntorget.
Game Online
Pusterviksgatan 13
+46 311 351 71
gameonline.se
Fri–Sat 11am–6am and Sun–Thurs 11am–3am
Pharmacy
For anything much stronger than paracetamol you’ll need to make your way to a pharmacy. The biggest chains are Apotek Hjärtat and the former government monopoly, Apoteket. There’s a late-opening branch of Apotek Hjärtat close to the train station, within the Nordstan shopping centre.
Apotek Hjärtat Nordstan
Götgatan 12
+46 771 405 405
Daily 8am–10pm
Police
To report crimes head to Gothenburg’s main police station (24hr), which is just east of the train station. In an emergency dial 112.
Polisen
Stampgatan 28
+46 313 421 000
polisen.se
Tourist information
The main tourist office is right in the city centre, across from Saluhallen. There’s also a smaller information booth within the Nordstan mall.
Gothenburg Tourist Centre
Kungsportsplatsen 2
+46 313 684 200
goteborg.com