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Cruises to Gothenburg

86 Reviews
Gothenburg (Photo:Alexei Novikov/Shutterstock)

About Gothenburg

The 203-foot tower of Masthuggs Church pierces the skyline of Gothenburg, the second-largest city in Sweden. Situated on the country's west coast, about halfway between Copenhagen and Oslo, this city of 543,000 is becoming a go-to destination on sailings in the Baltic Sea. In 2002, just five vessels carrying 2,400 travelers stopped there; now more than 100,000 cruise passengers on more than 50 ships disembark at this cosmopolitan university town.

The city is Goteborg in Swedish, pronounced "yur-te-borry." It might not be the port that inspired your dream trip to the Baltic, but it will likely be a pleasant surprise, and it's an easy place to wander on your own.

  • More about Gothenburg

  • Why go to Gothenburg?

  • Getting Around?

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Sirena
Sirena

23 Night
World Cruise

254 Reviews
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Holland America Rotterdam
Holland America Line's Rotterdam at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

14 Night
Taste Of Norway Scotland & Scandinavia

71 Reviews
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Holland America Rotterdam
Holland America Line's Rotterdam at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

7 Night
Scandinavian Fjords & Capitals

71 Reviews
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Riviera
Riviera

12 Night
Europe - Northern Cruise

731 Reviews
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51 Night
World Cruise

210 Reviews
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12 Night
Europe - Northern Cruise

24 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

78 Night
World Cruise

294 Reviews
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7 Night
Gems Of Scandinavia & The Low Countries

64 Reviews
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24 Night
World Cruise

210 Reviews
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12 Night
Europe - Western Cruise

1,190 Reviews
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12 Night
Europe - Western Cruise

2,704 Reviews
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27 Night
Canary Island Allure & Jewels Of The Baltic

225 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

11 Night
Europe - Northern Cruise

490 Reviews
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15 Night
Europe - Northern Cruise

753 Reviews
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12 Night
Western Europe Cruise

1,443 Reviews
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More about Gothenburg

Why go to Gothenburg?

Pros:

Sweden's second-largest city is home to impressive museums, pretty canals and Scandinavia's largest amusement park

Cons:

The primary cruise port for larger ships is in an ugly commercial area about a 25-minute ride from the city center

Bottom Line:

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.

Language?

Swedish is spoken in Gothenburg, but most people in the tourism industry speak English.

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.


Gothenburg Cruise Reviews
The Gothenburg Panorama excursion was a bus tour that went over the 3,060-foot-long Alvsborg Bridge and past some local landmarks. After a photo stop by the sculpture of the Greek god Poseidon created by Carl MillesRead More
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Happy Cruising Together
Gothenburg is the 2nd largest city in Sweden and the largest port in the Nordic region. We took a bus tour that had 3 stops and then walked around the gardens and shopping area.Read More
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Cruiserpaula
Walked off and toured on our own. Nice tour.Read More
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Arizona340
I had been here before so it was nice to show the family around. Shuttle bus required into town which is small enough to walk around and see the majority of it. Ship tied up beside the Volvo museum which we ended uRead More
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Mark-Wemyss

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