District Guide

One of the best ways to see Gothenburg is from the window of a tram. The trams run all over town and move slowly enough for you to get a proper look at the city. Another alternative is to walk, of course. Gothenburg is a fairly small city, so the distances involved are perfectly manageable. Brunnsparken, in the town centre, is a good place to start out on your walk. All trams stop here, so it is easily accessible. The shopping center Nordstan and the shopping streets Kungsgatan and Fredsgatan are located nearby.

If you walk up Östra Hamngatan, you will notice that the street name changes after a while, to Kungsportsavenyn, or just Avenyn for short (that’s how the locals refer to it as well). At the end of the street, you will find yourself at Götaplatsen, a major source of local pride for many Gothenburg residents. In the centre of the square, there is a statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, and Götaplatsen is also home to Stadsteatern (Gothenburg’s largest theatre), The Concert Hall and the magnificent Museum of Art which also houses the Hasselblad center, a museum for photography . Close to the intersection of Götaplatsen and Avenyn, you will also find The Municipal Library and Lorensbergsteatern. Liseberg, the local amusement park, is also located in the immediate vicinity and they offer all of the customary attractions for both adults and children.

If you choose to walk up Kungsgatan rather than Östra Hamngatan from Brunnsparken, you will soon find yourself by Järntorget. The neighborhoods which border on this square, Haga and Linnéstaden, are very nice. Haga used to be the main residential area for the working class. It was until recently a bit on the shabby side, but it has since been renovated. The old-fashioned style still remains, however, and is evident in the low wooden houses and the narrow cobble-stoned alleys. There are a lot of nice small cafés and shops in Haga. The architecture of the buildings in Linnéstaden is quite different from Haga. In Linnéstaden, the buildings are primarily built of stone and they are much taller. This district is home to some of the most popular restaurants in town. Another area which is quite similar to Linnéstaden is Vasastaden, close to Avenyn.

At the end of Linnégatan, the main street in Linnéstaden, you will find yourself at Linnéplatsen. This is the place to head towards if you want to see Gothenburg’s largest public park, Slottskogen. The park is the perfect place for sun-bathing, having a picnic or just taking some time out for a little rest and relaxation. Slottsskogen is also home to the 70-yearold Observatory and The Museum of Natural History. Towering up above Slottskogen, on the hill Masthuggsberget, you will see the district known as Masthugget.

On cool summer evenings, the setting is perfect for a nice quiet stroll down by the harbour. Have a look at the ships, like Barken Viking or the naval ships, or admire the impressive new opera house. The harbour really brings home the realization that Gothenburg is located by the ocean. There are many maritime places of interest and getting to them is easy. Just take the tram to Saltholmen and then perhaps a ferry to one of the islands in the southern archipelago.

On the other side of the river Göta älv, you can see the district called Hisingen. This is actually a very large island. It is quite heavily populated, and many industries have their factories and administrative facilities here. At Eriksberg, by the Hisingen harbour, Ostindiefararen Götheborg is docked. This is an exact replica of an 18th century ship, a popular and interesting attraction for both locals and tourists.

There are also a lot of interesting destinations outside of the city limits. The biodynamic gardens known as Lärjeåns trädgård are located in the suburb of Angered. This is an excellent place to buy organically grown vegetables, and why not enjoy a cup of coffee at the café while you’re at it? If palaces and castles are your thing, a visit to Gunnebo slott makes a nice day trip. This 18th century palace is located in Mölndal, just outside of Gothenburg. Or you might enjoy Nääs slott in Tollered.

There is a lot on offer both in the city of Gothenburg itself and in the surrounding communities. Whether you are mainly interested in nature, history, culture, architecture, entertainment, good food or shopping, you will find it all right here on the beautiful west coast of Sweden.

   Copyright © 1999-2009 wcities.com all right reserved