Gothenburg Travel Essentials

Gothenburg has an oceanic climate, with average temperatures ranging from -1°C in winter to 17°C in summer. Daylight ranges from 18 hours in summer to only 6 hours in winter.

• Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 10 rainy days per month.
• Expect snowfall between November and March.
• July-August is the best time to travel to Gothenburg for good weather, and is the peak tourist season, with hotel and flight prices rising accordingly.
• June and September are great times to visit Gothenburg. The weather is fine, and you can get good deals on hotel rooms and flights.

• Languages:
  Primary: Swedish
  English is also widely spoken in Gothenburg 
• Plug types: C and F
• Electricity: 230 V
• Currency: Swedish krone (kr)
• International dialling codes: +46 31
• Emergency telephone number: 112

Göteborg-Landvetter Airport

Göteborg-Landvetter Airport is the main airport serving Gothenburg. It sits 20 km east southeast of the city centre. It features 1 large passenger terminal, where you’ll find a good choice of dining and shopping options. Facilities such as free Wi-Fi and currency exchange services are also at hand. There are several transfer options to reach central Gothenburg:

• A taxi takes around 25-35 minutes. It’s a fixed rate, but always ask the driver before to get in. The taxi ranks are right outside the Arrivals hall.
• Flygbuss Airport coaches take around 30-35 minutes. Bus stops are right outside the check-in hall.
• Car rental agencies can be found in the multi-storey car park opposite the terminal.

Gothenburg City Centre is compact and can easily be explored on foot. Landmarks and attractions like the Botanical Garden, the Queen Christina's Hunting Lodge and Feskekörka – a famous indoor fish market – are within walking distance of each other. You’ll also find a great choice of dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment options in central Gothenburg. For longer journeys, there’s a good choice of public and private transport services at hand.

Gothenburg has an efficient public transport system run by Västtrafik. It includes bus, tram, and ferry networks, which all use the same ticketing system. Västtrafik covers the entire Västra Götaland county.

• The county is divided into zones. Gothenburg and the immediate vicinity belong to a single zone.
• A single journey ticket is valid for 90 minutes.
• 1-day and 3-day tickets are available.
• Tickets can be purchased at Västtrafik counters and in Pressbyrån, Ica and 7-Eleven outlets.
• A convenient way to purchase tickets is to download the Västtrafik To Go app.

If you plan to visit many attractions, the Gothenburg Pass gives you free admission to over 30 museums and places of interest, as well as free hop-on hop-off bus and boat tours. You can even add an optional Travelcard which gives unlimited use of public transport.

• 1-day, 2-day, 3-day and 5-day Gothenburg passes are available.
• Passes can be purchased online or in various hotels in Gothenburg. When purchased online, they can be sent directly to your smartphone, shipped to your home or picked up at one of the collection desks in the city.

There are many taxi companies that operate in Gothenburg. Registered taxis bear yellow number plates. You can hail a cab on the street, and you can easily find cab stands outside hotels and near the main attractions and shopping areas.

• As taxi prices are not regulated, they can be expensive.
• You can also call companies such as Taxi Göteborg (031 65 00 00), Minitaxi (031 14 01 40) or PM Logistik AB (031 54 70 70), just to name a few.
• Always check that the metre is on before the taxi starts.

Styr & Ställ is the bike-sharing scheme in Gothenburg, which is a very bike-friendly city. There are over 60 docking stations across the city.

• To use a bike, you need to purchase a 3-day pass. Passes can be purchased at docking stations with credit card terminals.
• The first 30 minutes of each ride are free. You just need to bring the bike back to a station, wait 2 minutes, and take it again for 30 minutes to avoid any additional fare.

Summerburst Festival

• What: One of the largest contemporary music festivals in Scandinavia, Summerburst showcases famous DJs from all around the world for 2 days.
• When: June
• Where: Ullevi Stadium

International Science Festival

• What: Expect workshops and activities covering most science topics, from social science to natural science and technology.
• When: April
• Where: 30 locations throughout the city

Gothenburg Culture Festival

• What: Gothenburg Culture Festival showcases a wide range of shows and events, including music, literature, theatre, street performance, handicrafts and more.
• When: August
• Where: All around Gothenburg