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Sweden‘s second city is a lively seaside city with a stunning archipelago within easy reach. A city great for shopping and culinary experiences, appreciated for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
It’s easy to get around in Goteborg, since most sights as well as hotels are within walking distance in its concentrated city centre. The main boulevard, Avenyn is a high-spirited entertainment area, with numerous nightclubs, restaurants and bars. On top of Avenyn is the Goteborg Art Museum, which features one of the world’s finest collections of Nordic 19th and 20th century art. Here is also the Goteborg Concert Hall, home to Goteborg Symphony Orchestra appointed Sweden’s national orchestra.
Gothenburg is one of Europe’s top culinary destinations. The city currently boasts five Michelin-starred restaurants; Sjomagasinet, 28+, Fond, Basement and Kock & Vin, but the quality of food served in restaurants across the city, not just at these celebrated eateries, is very high.
Thanks to Gothenburg’s coastal location, fresh fish and seafood often feature on the menus. And as West Sweden’s cold waters produce some of the best quality fish shellfish in the world, they are some of the star attractions in Gothenburg’s foodie scene. The best quality raw ingredients, local organic produced and sourced, contribute to the complete dining experience. Typical Swedish cuisine for the 21st century is a fusion of traditional Nordic cooking combined with new flavours and ideas from throughout the world.
There are lot’s of cafes as well as a lively music scene, much thanks to all students at the city’s two Universities. The city is also great for shopping along its central pedestrian streets, offering an exiting mixture of independent shops and modern warehouses, galleries and arcades.
Goteborg is a favourite host to major events. The arenas are located in the very city centre with all hotels and restaurants within easy walking distance. In 2006 Goteborg hosted the European Athletics Championships and there are annual events as the Gothia cup, football tournament attracting some 30 000 young players from all over the world, for a week in mid July.
Other annual events include the Goteborg International Film Festival in February, the Goteborg Culture Festival in mid August and the Way out West music festival taking place in Slottsskogen central city park. This summer also sees two large open air concerts at Ullevi Stadion, with AC/DC in June and Madonna in August. In mid November Goteborg becomes the Christmas city, with designed city lighting along a three kilometer stretch from the central harbour, along the main boulevard Avenyn to Liseberg park where Scandinavia’s largest Christmas market takes place.
The city of Goteborg was founded in 1621, and it was from the beginning an international trading city. The first city council had members from both Holland, Germany and Britain. Since part of the city was on laid out on marsh land, Dutch engineers were brought here to plan the city, with a network of canals. Today still remains the old moat and some parts of the canals as the main harbour canal.
Goteborg has a proud maritime history, already in the 15th and 16th century home to the Swedish East India Company, then in the 1950s and 60 the city was a world leader in ship building. Now new modern urban areas are established on former ship yard land. For todays visitors the sea and the archipelago are accessible year-round and easy to reach. To explore the city archipelago it takes only a half hour ride by tram and then another half hour on the archipelago passenger ferry. To feel the atmosphere in the lively central harbour, the passenger ferry offers a nice trip criss-crossing beween the southern and northern shores, from the central quay by the opera house to the harbour entrance.
Goteborg is located equally close to the Scandinavian capital cities: Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. The surroundings offer nature experiences along the rocky coastline north with its picturesque fishing villages, the wilderness with forests and lakes north east and in the historic cultivated land east.
Some facts and figures:
- 500,000 inhabitants
- A waterfront Opera House
- A leading museum for fashion, design and decorative arts
- An annual Film Festival, the largest public one in Scandinavia
- Liseberg amusement park, attracting 3 million visitors
- A leading football team, IFK Goteborg
- 60,000 students and 2 Universities
- The largest port in Scandinavia
- The world’s best quality oysters
- 1,000 islands
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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
