"Goteborg - my second city" a Göteborg Travel Page by ClaireMcC

Goteborg will always be special to me - I first visited in 2004, when I overcame a lifetime fear of flying to go there as a surprise 21st birthday present! Then in 2005, I was on holiday there again when I received my degree results, it seems like fate keeps pulling me back there! My next trip will be in May 2006, and I can't wait! It is the only city in the world I would seriously live in other than my own, and for so many reasons. Firstly, it is a real city. By that I mean not a 'picture postcard' city with all the goings-on hidden from tourists, but a real, thriving city where you get a real sense of the actual place. Secondly, it's compact enough to get around on foot but the public transport is excellent. Third, it has probably the nicest attitude of any city I have ever visited. Read on...

I think probably one of the best things to do in Goteborg is just wander around at your own pace, stopping for coffee (the Swedish even have a verb for coffee breaks - fika) at a pavement cafe, taking the occassional tram trip. This way you will get a real feel of the layout of the city, which I would say is fairly easy to make your way around.
Liseberg is also unavoidable, though my favourite part was not the rollercoasters but the view from the top of the Tower - on a summer's evening it was breathtaking!
The Avenyn (Kungsportsavenyn) is something you have to do in Goteborg, though keep your wallet in your bag, everything is so expensive along here.
The Goteborg Passes are great value and include a trip on the Paddan boats, something I would highly recommend. The guides speak perfect English (and apparently German too) as well as Swedish and you see the city from angles you otherwise wouldn't.

I don't think there are any real downsides to going to Goteborg, though if you like alcohol in vast quantities it might not be a good idea thanks to the Systembolaget method of buying alcohol. Sweden is an expensive country to visit, particularly if you want to eat out and go shopping! There are ways round all of these problems though and I would recommend Goteborg to any traveller without hesitation. Cheap flights via Ryanair make it more accessible and cheaper than ever to go, just do it!