Explore Gothenburg: Top Things to Do and See in Göteborg

With a diet relatively low in carbohydrates and rich in healthy fats, Sweden ranks among the top Nordic countries for life expectancy. The nation is frequently listed as one of the healthiest in the world, and a European Commission survey found Sweden has one of the highest shares of residents who exercise regularly.

Göteborg (Gothenburg), a port city on Sweden’s southwest coast, lies geographically closer to Oslo and Copenhagen than to Stockholm, yet it remains distinctively Swedish. The city government emphasizes green policies and sustainability; office workers observe the traditional late-morning fika (coffee and cinnamon buns); and Volvo, founded and headquartered in Göteborg for 90 years, remains one of the city’s most recognized employers.

Göteborg is growing quickly and expects its population to reach about 700,000 by 2035—an increase of roughly 150,000 residents. To accommodate this growth, the city has launched one of Europe’s most ambitious urban development initiatives, aiming to expand and revitalize the central area. Funded through a combination of public and private investment, the plan transforms neighborhoods along both banks of the Göta River by adding thousands of new homes, fostering startups and academic facilities, increasing green spaces and electric public transport, and repurposing former shipbuilding sites into lively waterfront public spaces.

Known as Älvstaden, or RiverCity Göteborg, this multiyear program aims to create long-term improvements for residents and visitors. The city is expanding electric bus service and adding ferry routes to connect riverside neighborhoods with each other and with the downtown. Volvo is also actively involved, recruiting residents to test-drive electric XC90 models on selected streets as part of autonomous driving research, and announcing plans to focus production increasingly on electric and hybrid vehicles beginning in 2019.

“Göteborg has a strong automotive industry and is the Nordic region’s logistics hub. One benefit is that we get involved early in testing next-generation technology,” said Stefan Eglinger, director of the Urban Transport Administration for the City of Göteborg. “Working with partners in ElectriCity allows us to learn and apply those lessons in our urban planning as Göteborg grows into an attractive large city. Tomorrow’s quiet, low-emission vehicles will make the city even more appealing to live, work and relax in.” ElectriCity is a cooperative effort that brings industry, research and the public together to develop and test sustainable public-transport solutions.

Founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus, Göteborg’s layout was influenced by Dutch, German and Scottish engineers; Dutch planners were hired to drain marshy land and designed parts of the city with canals and a grid that recall Dutch cities. Göteborg marked its 400th anniversary in 2021 with a year of celebrations and events.

CHECKING IN WITH JONAS THESSLUND

Senior Manager, Volvo Factory Delivery Experience

What is the secret to Volvo’s success as one of Göteborg’s major corporations?
Volvo’s roots and identity are closely tied to Göteborg. The company’s Swedish heritage shapes how its cars are developed and the company culture around caring for people and communities. Maintaining that Swedish identity is a source of pride and one reason Volvo remains a distinctive presence in the city and the global automotive industry.

What is the Volvo Factory Delivery Experience?
Customers who choose factory delivery in Göteborg pick up their new Volvo at the factory and can drive across Sweden or into neighboring countries before having the car shipped back to their dealer in the United States. The package typically includes two round-trip airline tickets to Göteborg, VIP transfers from the airport to the factory, a complimentary first night at a deluxe Göteborg hotel and two weeks of complimentary auto insurance for the new car.

Has the Factory Delivery Experience been successful?
Yes. As travel to Scandinavia grows, many visitors opt to collect their new Volvo in Göteborg and use it to explore the region. In one recent year, Volvo delivered 1,500 vehicles to U.S. customers in Göteborg, up from 1,000 the previous year. Volvo collaborates with Visit Sweden to design itineraries that begin in Göteborg and continue into West Sweden or elsewhere depending on visitors’ interests and trip length.

Things to Do in Göteborg

Trams, buses and ferries make it easy to get around Göteborg, and the Göteborg City Card offers free public transit, museum entries and shopping vouchers. Many visitors explore the city on foot or by bike, wandering through leafy Kungsparken, the cobblestone streets of historic Haga, and the canal-lined paths served by extensive bike lanes.

Röda Sten Konsthall occupies a restored industrial building on the Göta River and presents strong contemporary art exhibitions alongside a waterside restaurant. Other attractions include the Göteborg Museum of Fine Art, Göteborg City Museum, The Radio Museum and the Volvo Museum, as well as numerous design and art galleries.

Göteborg is known for hip cafés, eclectic shops and scenic parks where locals picnic in summer and ski in winter. Start with coffee and pastries at da Matteo Cafe & Bakeri, especially the location near Magasinsgatan’s boutiques and food trucks. The city’s culinary scene spans a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, many seafood-focused venues, and lively late-night bars in Haga’s Tredje Långgatan, popular with university students. Rooftop bars at hotels such as Bellora and Scandic Rubinen offer attractive sunset views.

Explore regenerated neighborhoods north of the river by ferry to Lindholmen, then follow the waterfront urban trail by bike or on foot. The distinctive red Kuggen building at Chalmers University of Technology (built in 2011) is a good starting point for a self-guided walk.

For a day trip or overnight getaway, drive an hour to the Bohuslän coast, an archipelago of some 8,000 islands stretching toward the Norwegian border. The region offers rocky shorelines, pine forests, fjord-like lakes and charming villages like Skärhamn, home to the Nordic Watercolour Museum, or Klädesholmen, where the Salt & Sill floating hotel provides sea-facing rooms and a dining deck over the water.

In Fiskebäckskil, Gullmarstrand Hotel features deluxe rooms and a heated outdoor pool with views across Gullmarsfjorden. For a seafood experience, try a mussel safari followed by a meal at The Mussel Bar in Lyckorna, Ljungskile. Unique small-scale lodging like Lådfabriken—an artfully restored fish-box factory—offers intimate rooms, vibrant interiors and sweeping sea views near the coastal village of Edshultshall.

Göteborg Info to Go

Göteborg Landvetter Airport lies about 17.5 miles from downtown (roughly a 20–40 minute drive) and is reachable by car rental or Flygbussarna airport coaches. Trains from Stockholm run hourly to Göteborg Central Station (about 3.5 hours). Seasonal ferry service connects Frederikshavn, Denmark, with Göteborg.

Göteborg: Just the Facts

Time zone: GMT +2
Phone code: Country code +46, city code 31
Currency: Swedish krona
Key industries: Automotive, finance, environmental technology, education, tourism and hospitality, information and communication technology, logistics, medical technology and maritime industries

Coming and going:
U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. U.S. passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay.

Official language:
Swedish is the official language; English is widely spoken.

Where to Stay in Göteborg

AVALON HOTEL — With 101 well-designed rooms, free Wi-Fi and a breakfast buffet, this feng shui-certified hotel suits leisure and business travelers. Highlights include a rooftop pool adorned with thousands of mosaic tiles. Kungstorget 9

RADISSON BLU RIVERSIDE — Located on the river’s north bank near conference facilities and offices, this hotel is a short ferry ride from the city center. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, breakfast, a fitness and wellness center, and parking. Lindholmspiren 4

SANKT JÖRGEN PARK HOTEL — A sports and business hotel about 15 minutes from downtown offering guestrooms, suites, conference facilities, a spa and fitness center, an 18-hole golf course, multiple dining options, free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Knipplekullen 8-10

Restaurants in Göteborg

RESTAURANG GABRIEL — Set on the mezzanine of the historic indoor fish market Feskekôrka, this restaurant showcases fresh lobster, crab, shrimp, salmon, oysters, herring and a signature fish soup. Lunch service only; reservations recommended.

SALT & SILL — This floating hotel and restaurant on the island of Tjörn is popular for its sea views and excellent seafood. Outdoor and indoor seating are available; reservations advised. 471 51 Klädesholmen, Tjörn

SJÖMAGASINET — Led by chef Ulf Wagner, this Michelin-recognized riverside restaurant near downtown features seasonal menus that may include wild salmon, poached cod, terrines and lobster dishes. Reservations recommended. Adolf Edelsvärds gata 5