Gothenburg
From Imakoopedia
Gothenburg, called Göteborg [Yutheboori] in Swedish, is the second largest city in Sweden.
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Understand
Göteborg is a city founded by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf, and was once the center of the Swedish ship-building industry. In 1970, with rising competition from foreign ship wharfs, many of the docks had to close down. Still, the working-class history is easily visiable. There are comparatively few fashion houses, or posh cafeterias. Politically it is dominated by the social democrats, and has been for many years.
Get in
By plane
Landvetter Airport located 15 minutes by car east of Göteborg. There is also a bus service from Landvetter terminating at Nils-Ericsson terminalen (cost SEK 70). If you take Ryan Air you will find yourself at something looking a bit like a bus stop, by the name Säve, also called "Göteborg City Airport". There is an airportbus there as well.
By train
From Centralstationen (tram Centralstationen/Drottningtorget)you can catch trains to all different parts of Sweden. There is also a service to Copenhagen via the Øresund bridge. to get more info and book tickets, visit http://www.sj.se
By ship
Stena Line operates ships to/from Denmark (Fredrikshavn) and Germany (Kiel). The terminals are situated at Jaegerdorffsplatsen (Kiel) and Masthuggstorget (Fredrikshavn). See http://www.stenaline.se for more info.
Get around
Tram
The main tram hub is Brunnsparken, where you can catch trams to all parts of the city.
Bus
http://www.vasttrafik.se to check timetables
Taxi
Several companies, for example Taxi Göteborg and Minitaxi. Another option are the many illegal taxis ("Black Taxis"), which are generally cheaper. A warning though: don't travel alone, as several robbings and rapes have occurred.
See
Do
Liseberg - the biggest amusement park in all of Scandinavia, with lots of different rides for all ages. Be sure to try Balder, the new wooden roller-coaster.
Universeum - a new museum, focusing on the environment, with an indoor rainforest, experiment workshop etc.
Visit the beautiful southern archipelago. Take tram 11 to Saltholmen, and then one of the ferries to Styrsö, Köpstadsö or any of the other islands. Here you can swim in the ocean, buy ice creams and maybe eat at the restaurant on Styrsö.
Take Älvsnabben (from Järnorget) over the river to island Hisingen, and visit the Götheborg III wharf. Here they are building a replica of a ship that sailed to China in the eighteenth century. There has been some controversy over this project, and the date for the actual travel has not yet been set, but it is fascinating to watch the shipbuilders build the ship, using only eighteenth century methods.
Buy
If you're looking for traditional Swedish craft, go to Slöjdforum at Götaplatsen. Visit Saluhallen at Grönsakstorget for fine fresh produce, good food and lots of foreign herbs, teas etc. Feskekôrka ("The Fish Church") has all kinds of fish, oysters, crabs and crayfish. The only place where you can by spirits (apart from restaurants) is at Systembolaget, which has outlets scattered across town.
Eat
Good restaurants include: Sjömagasinet, excellent (and pricey!) fish restaurant at Klippan. Gyllene Prag, cheap and wonderful Czech restaurant with good beer in generous helpings. The breaded cheese is a classic, and you won't be hungry again for at least a week. Located at Sveaplan.
Drink
For good beer, one of the best places is Ölhallen 7:an, the only traditional "Beer-hall" left in the city. It is situated next to Saluhallen.
Sleep
There are several big hotels, for example Sheraton, Riverton and Radisson/SAS. The smaller Hôtel Eggers is highly recommended. Budget alternatives include the STS hostel at Stigbergsliden, and the Kärralund Camping.
Get out
There are several different clubs in Gothenburg, with a wide array of music styles. For (indie)pop, try Haket at Masthuggstorget. Often arranges theme nights, with music, videos and even drinks featuring a certain artist. Other places include Trädgår'n and Nefertiti (EBM, House), Cockpit (gay), Sticky Fingers (Rock) and Uptown/Studio One (Reggae)
Events
Every year in February, the town is invaded by cinema buffs for the annual Gothenburg Film Festival. The festival, which is growing every year, is now one of the major Scandinavian movie festivals. See http://www.filmfestival.org for more info.
External links
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