Riverside & canals, Göteborg

The tramways in Gothenborg include also the Älvsnabben. This is a boat line on the river. Take it to get a completely new perspective on the city. It connects during the week Rosenlund and Klippan, on the weekend it continues to Lilla Bommen. As a single ticket is valid for 1.5 hours just take it both ways. You can stand outside and enjoy the trip. Price: 20 Skr.

PS: It is the small boat on the pic, of course :)

Another classic thing in Göteborg is the boat Paddan. It goes through the canals of the city, and also a bit out on the big river in the harbour.

The first trip went as early as 1939, when the first boat took just 12 passengers.
Today's boats have seats for 80 persons instead, and guided tours in swedish, english, german and french if I don't remember wrong.

From the boat you'll see big parts of the historic center of Göteborg, but remember to watch out for the low bridges, where you'll have bow to not hit your head.

Don't worry, the guide will tell you when to bow, and when it's safe... ;) But sometimes it feels so close to the bridge that you will bow anyway.

Every trip takes around 50 minutes, and costs 95 SEK (10 euro) for adults, 60 SEK for children (6-12 years old) and 250 SEK for a family (2+2).

Great trip during a warm and sunny day I can assure you. Not so nice when it's raining, but the boat's captain will then give you some rain ponchos. :)

Update! I was visited by a fellow VT-er this week (august 2005) and I took her on a Paddan-tour. Would have been nice, if it hadn't been raining 40 minutes out of 50... And for the maker of the Paddan homepage I just have one advice: If you don't have any rain coats to give to your guests, maybe you shouldn't write it on the page...?

Just a thought, that's all... ;)

Was a nice trip though, at least we could laugh at it when we got dry again, 4 hours later...

The boat leaves from Kungsportsbron, that you will find more or less in the middle of Avenyn. There you'll also buy the ticket for the trip.

Remember that during sunny summerdays it might be quite full in the boats, so make sure to get there in time. Up to four boats leaves every hour, and they goes from 30 April to 2 October.

If you have a predilection for combining hypothermia with limbo dancing you’ll surely love a December Padden Boat ride to the Liseberg Park. The combined height of the water and low bridges led to the rather amusing request to get down on the floor to avoid impending decapitation. By the time you arrive you will also no doubt be familiar with the Swedish condition known as ‘Träsmack!’

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This landmark in the City is impossible to miss :)

Big, in bold colours (red and white), chunky & sturdy structural shape & design.

It costs 30SEK per person to go to the top. The great thing about the views is that the little double-glazed windows can actually be opened to take unobstructed views.

By the way, the views are fabulous, taking in the various warehouses, buildings, harbour area, boats, etc.

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The bright red and white skyscraper of the Skanskaskrapen (the Skanska Scraper) is the most well known building in Goteborg. It is 83m tall and has 23 floors. It is commonly referred to by people from Gothenburg as Legohuset (The Lego House) or Läppstiftet (The Lipstick). It was built in the late 80s and you can take the elevator to the highest floor, where there is a café called Götheborgs Utkiken (The Gothenburg Lookout) where one can view the city with panoranic views of the harbour and river.

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At the quayside next to the Skanskaskrapen building at the Lilla Bommen complex is the Barken Viking ship. This tall masted clipper is a 100 year old Danish ship that sailed around the world trading. She is a 108m four-masted bark, in other words, all the masts have yard arms except the after-sail. Now its used as a hotel and restaurant.

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In the shadow of the majestic Älvsborg Bridge lies historic Klippan with its former Anglican Church and wooden quarters. A nice place for a stroll on a sunny day when you can observe river traffic and especially if you have enough money to eat at the famous fish restaurant Sjömagasinet (where Bono dines when in town...).

Paddan boats have been cruising the canals of Göteborg for years, and are much of a concept. I have taken their tours many times, and still find it great fun! The best part is the fact that you travel at a level lower than the rest of the city, so giving you a new perspective on it.

The Paddan boats cruise the canals and the moat surrounding the city centre and also ventures out on the Göta River, conditions permitting. During the tour, the guides will tell you interesting and sometimes odd facts about the city, its history and its people. The guides speak Swedish, English and German.

With Göteborg Pass you can even get a free ride, but even so, the price is medium level.