Why go to Gothenburg?
Sweden's second-largest city is home to impressive museums, pretty canals and Scandinavia's largest amusement park
The primary cruise port for larger ships is in an ugly commercial area about a 25-minute ride from the city center
There's plenty to see in town. But an excursion to the nearby Gothenburg Archipelago is worth a trip, too
Getting Around?
Once you've arrived into downtown Gothenburg, there's a variety ways to get around: the hop-on, hop-off bus (currently 195 Swedish krona or about $25USD), traditional open-top paddan canal boats ($165 SEK or $20USD) and an old-fashioned trolley ($110 SEK or $15 USD).
But there's no need to spring for any of those in compact Gothenburg, since it's easily covered on foot. Armed with a tourist map -- we like the color-coded one called "The Best of Gotheburg in One Day" -- use the green swath of Tradgardsforeningen (park) as a visual reference point, and explore neighborhoods like the Haga and Aveny districts and the Inner City.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
The Swedish krona is the unit of currency. For up-to-the-minute rates, check www.xe.com or www.oanda.com. Denominations of paper krona are 20, 50, 100 and 500. Amounts below 20 krona are settled with coins.
Where You're Docked?
If you dock at Quay Skandia, where the largest ships go, your first reaction is likely to be "Ugh." It's an unattractive industrial zone of oil drums and container ships. But a 25-minute shuttle ride, offered gratis by many cruise lines, gets you into the attractive city center. Other local cruise ports include Freeport, just five minutes from the heart of town, and Arendal, about a 20-minute ride into the city. Tip: There's no reason to be the first one off the ship if you're exploring on your own, since the city doesn't really get going until 10 a.m.
