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- Destinations
- Europe
- Sweden
- Gothenburg
Gothenburg
The second largest city in Sweden, and Scandinavia's most
important port, Gothenburg (or
Goteborg) is situated on the west coast of the country, at
the outlet of the Göta Canal which links Gothenburg to the Baltic
Sea, and indirectly to the country's capital, Stockholm.
Positioned on the Göta River, Gothenburg, or Göteborg, was
founded in 1621 by King Gustav II Adolf to secure access to the
Atlantic, but the city was settled and planned by Dutch merchants
who used it as their base for trade. The numerous canals and gabled
houses are evidence of this early influence. Shipping and commerce
have always been important industries in Gothenburg and the port is
the arrival point of hundreds of visitors a year.
Gothenburg is also a stunningly beautiful city with its
waterside location, green open spaces and fine architecture, and
boasts a wide selection of cultural establishments with no shortage
of theatres and museums. The main street, Kungsportavenyn, known
simply as Avenyn, is a hive of restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and
shops and is at the centre of life in the city. Gothenburg is also
well known as an event city, hosting major international events and
artists, yet despite its sophisticated feel it still maintains a
small town charm with its own special character, augmented by the
large population of the University of Gothenburg. In many people's
opinion, Gothenburg is more beautiful and entertaining than
Stockholm, and also provides a better understanding of the people
and the Swedish way of life.
Information & Facts
Climate
Gothenburg has an Oceanic climate with moderately cool weather
in summer and comparatively cool winter weather. Temperatures are
quite mild yet warmer than places further south due to the
moderating influence of the warm Gulf Stream. Summer daylight hours
extend to 17 hours, but last only around 7 hours in late December.
Summers are warm with average high temperatures of 72°F (22°C) and
lows of 55°F (13°C), but temperatures of around 77°F - 86 °F (25°C
to 30°C) can occur. Winters are cold and windy with average
temperatures around freezing, rarely dropping below 14°F (minus
10°C).
Getting Around
The compact city is easily navigated by foot, but a bus and tram
network also covers the city and is easy to use. The Älvsnabben
ferry provides services along the harbour and Padden boats tour the
canals. All public transport tickets are interchangeable and there
are a variety of travel cards available. There are extensive
parking facilities and motorists are advised to find a parking
space and explore the city on foot or public transport. The
Gothenburg City Pass is the most cost effective way of getting
around Gothenburg and of visiting the city's hot spots, offering
free travel on public buses and trams along with special discounts
and free entry to many museums and parks.
Language
Swedish is the main language, with Lapp being spoken by
the Sami population in the north. Most Swedes speak and understand
English. Many also speak German and French.
Money
The Swedish monetary unit is the Kronor/Krona or Crown (SEK),
which is divided into 100 öre. Banks exchange money during business
hours from Monday to Friday. At other times money can be changed at
airports, ferry terminals, post offices and Forex exchange offices,
which are open daily. There are numerous ATMs throughout the
country, most of which accept MasterCard and Visa. Travellers
cheques and most major credit cards are widely accepted for payment
throughout Sweden.
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last
Sunday in October).