Your guide to Gothenburg
Varmt välkommen till Göteborg!
This year, WindEurope welcomes you to Gothenburg, the largest port in Scandinavia, for the sixth edition of EoLIS – our wind turbine end-of-life seminar.
From the venue itself you can get a good view of our host city. Gothia Towers is the largest hotel in the Nordic countries, and one of the tallest buildings in the city. And from here you can take a 20-minute walk into the centre – or hop on one of the trams that will take you across the city and out to the nearby islands!
At 57°N, days in Gothenburg are short in December – averaging just 6 hours of sunlight. But with the seasonal atmosphere, and the glow of festive lights, it’ll feel all the more welcoming in that cozy Nordic way. So make sure to wrap up as you check out the sights, sounds and smells of Gothenburg!
God Jul! – the Liseberg Christmas Market
If you’re looking for Swedish festive joy, you won’t have far to go. Across the street from the EoLIS venue is Liseberg, Gothenburg’s 100-year-old amusement park. From 16 November this year it’ll be decked out in lights and stalls for its annual Christmas market!
Here are a few things to tick off your Swedish Christmas bucket list at Liseberg:
- Check out the different themed sections – a Medieval Village (with a special ice show), Lapland (ft. Santa’s grotto), and Rabbit Land (based on Liseberg’s rabbit mascot).
- Take a ride on Liseberg’s wooden rollercoaster, or go skating on the ice-rink!
- Check out the dozens of stalls – selling knitted items, Christmas gifts, jewellery, hot chocolate, scents, cheeses, gingerbread and more!
- Don’t forget to warm yourself up in front of the many open-air fireplaces!
Basic admission costs SEK 95 – or €8.30. Check out the Liseberg website for more info.
Turbines, textiles and tabletops – a hub of Nordic design
It’s no secret that Sweden has made a deep and enduring contribution to the world of modern design. Together with the rest of Scandinavia, they have championed a sleek form of minimalism, combining functionality and cosiness in a way that has become extremely popular the world over. Gothenburg, as Sweden’s gateway to the rest of Europe and beyond, blends an interesting mix of local and global aesthetic trends.
It makes sense then that Gothenburg is home to Sweden’s only museum specialising in crafts and design – the Röhsska Museum. With an impressive collection of some 50,000 artifacts, it showcases the history of craft, fashion and applied arts from across the world – from ancient Chinese archaeological artifacts to modern Scandinavian exhibits.
If it’s your own personal collection you’re after, you’ll find great examples of Swedish fashion and craft on sale in more than 25 shops across the city – check out the city website for more info!
Smaklig måltid! – Swedish Christmas treats
Whatever the season, Swedes take great pride in their pastries and sweet treats. Among other things, they’re an essential part of fika – the all-important mid-morning break for a coffee and pastry – which has become a hallmark of Swedish culture. But Christmas in Sweden comes with special goodies and treats that are usually the first sign of the approaching holiday.
Here are some iconic Swedish Yuletide treats to sample while you’re in Gothenburg:
- Pepparkakor – or gingerbread. This includes gingerbread cookies, and sometimes whole gingerbread houses covered with icing for snow and decorations.
- Lussekatter – or saffron buns. This s-shaped pastry infused with saffron is usually adorned with raisins, and is associated with the feast day of St. Lucy, the patron saint of light, on 13 December.
- Glögg – or mulled wine. Not a pastry, but absolutely central to Swedish Christmas. Spiced with clove, cinnamon and cardamom seeds – you can find alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. Definitely a good way to warm up on those chilly December evenings!
The Great Swedish Outdoors – Slottskogen Park
If you need a break from the urban hubbub of Gothenburg, you have plenty of options. South of the city centre you’ll find the city’s largest park, Slottsskogen, stretching for 137 hectares across three hills. As well as a place to rest and enjoy the fresh air, it’s also home to:
- Sweden’s only free-of-charge zoo – open all-year-round. Here you can see some of the native biodiversity of Scandinavia up-close – including Finnish forest reindeer, the Gotland Russ horse, Scania and Öland geese, Jämtland goats, Swedish yellow ducks and many other animals.
- Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum, the oldest museum in the city dating back to 1833. Exhibits include a Bird Gallery with everything from ostriches to humming birds, a Whale Hall including a 150-year-old 16-metre blue calf whale, and a Mammal Gallery, dominated by a giant African Elephant.
- The only public astronomical observatory in Sweden – with public lectures and free guides from Monday-Wednesday every week – and a chance to check out the night sky too!
Follow the event on: