(edit title) Gothenburg in Lonely Planet top cities to visit Pity there's no flights! Options

[skogsbo]

Do they offer reserved seats on that train?In the past, I found that even travelling first class is also often full.Its not an X2 is it? - I am talking about the same train th ... (show full quote)

Do they offer reserved seats on that train?
In the past, I found that even travelling first class is also often full.
Its not an X2 is it? - I am talking about the same train that is used for common folk to go over the bridge. ... (hide full quote)

I've never really considered this, we just head north from CPH, perhaps the booked/open seating hasn't triggered in my head, because we've always got a seat. It is sometimes quite full, especially over the bridge, but beyond that it always thins out quickly.

Sometimes 1st class is very cheap and the free (sometime naff) coffee, more than makes up the cost difference anyway.

Yes, you can reserve seats on the Öresundtåg. You then have the power to kick whoever is sitting in your reserved seat number out of their seat.Another alternative is to take ... (show full quote)

Yes, you can reserve seats on the Öresundtåg. You then have the power to kick whoever is sitting in your reserved seat number out of their seat.
Another alternative is to take the Öresundtåg to Malmö and then switch to the XJ2000 train from Malmö to Göteborg. Not much faster, but much more comfortable. ... (hide full quote)

Yeah, despite less stops, both trains must run at a similar track speed, as their overall times vary little.

If you fly via Copenhagen then get off the plane and stay there. Gothenburg is nice but it's no Copenhagen.

Either way I've flown from both Glasgow airports, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Stanstead, Heathrow and Manchester at various stages to most Swedish airports, I would still rank going via CPH as a viable route. The fact that trolley distance from the train to baggage check is minimal, is an incentive alone when travelling with kids. Plus they have a great kids play zone. We spent 8hrs stuck beyond passport control, with 2 kids, whilst flying with Ryan Air from GBG and won't do that again. Even if things go wrong, you can always rebook the next train, over the phone from the UK, once you know you are delayed, or if mega delayed, just get over the bridge and hotel it in Malmo (much cheaper than CPH area).

[oddsock]

Currently, there is no SJ service on the West Coast Line, only the Öresund trains (Öresundståg). I travel with the latter regularly, although on the South Main Line towards Al ... (show full quote)

Currently, there is no SJ service on the West Coast Line, only the Öresund trains (Öresundståg). I travel with the latter regularly, although on the South Main Line towards Alvesta. For me, they are fine for a journey of a few hours, although they can get crowded at times. It is quite convenient to be able to take them directly from Copenhagen airport to wherever you are going in south Sweden. ... (hide full quote)

SJ goes from Malmö to Göteborg, but via Hässleholm. Takes similar amount of time (perhaps 15-20 mins less actually), but the train is much more comfortable.

Also handy if you miss the train from CPH to Göteborg... just take the next train to Malmö and see what earlier options there are from there.

When the tunnel is finished and they have upgraded the entire west coast line, the SJ trains from Malmö to GBG will be quite quick.

[Willy]

SJ goes from Malmö to Göteborg, but via Hässleholm. Takes similar amount of time (perhaps 15-20 mins less actually), but the train is much more comfortable.

No they don't anymore. If you don't believe me, try finding one here

http://tidtabell.resplus.se/tidtabell/100_tag100.pdf

or at sj.se.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

SJ cancelled the route last year since it was not profitable.

[byke]

Birmingham to GBG is opening up I read.

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php...eg&region=2

[staycold]

Hey,

I'm originally from Stoke on Trent so not far away from Manchester, the best and cheapest (important for me at the minute ) is flying from Stansted to city airport, you can get flights for 129kr each way and if you drop on offer time you can get them without paying for online check in or taxes.

It is lengthy journey but if you book in advance you can get the fast virgin pendelino train to euston, takes just over 2hrs, then the coach to Stansted.

As there are no direct flights you could be waiting round in an airport all day anyway, this probably takes the same or if not slightly less time and can be a fraction of the price if you book early.

But yes I hope someone does add more direct routes soon because it's becoming a pain!

[Hisingen]

Visit Gothenburg ? ? ?
Only if you have a well-filled wallet. And maybe if you come from the Australian Ticket system manufacturer and can decypher the payment system on the rusty new Italian trams or the buses that might be running with faulty door seals. Parking is scarce and expensive, building work makes many areas almost no-go areas. The airports are a distance outside the city, and travel to and from them is being made more complex and expensive.
Once upon a time there were regular ferries from the UK - Wilson Line, Svenska LLoyd, Tor Line and latterly DFDS, but all are now history I am even surprised the Ryan Air still flies in. But then O'Leary must find some who want to use his airline to visit Sweden.
It was perhaps worth a visit once, but nowadays Göteborg is a city in decline I fear. The heart has been torn out of the city, and there has been no replacement.

[HenryPollard]

I understand that if you've lived there, the decline of the city since the 90s has been massive.

But to the tourist, it's still a fantastic little city with great nightlife, nice architecture, welcoming natives and plenty of parks.
I know that in a few decades, it won't be an attractive place- with the Nordstan area slowly joining the city's no-go areas. I choose to enjoy the place while it lasts.

[Hisingen]

You quote the decline from the 90's. I was meaning from the 70's. Too much of the city's character has been demolished and replaced by - well nothing that will go down in history. So much of the new stuff is just ordinary at best and downright pathetic at least. I like to remember the city as it was, not what it has become - just another big town.

[intrepidfox]

Visit Gothenburg ? ? ?Only if you have a well-filled wallet. And maybe if you come from the Australian Ticket system manufacturer and can decypher the payment system on the ru ... (show full quote)

Visit Gothenburg ? ? ?
Only if you have a well-filled wallet. And maybe if you come from the Australian Ticket system manufacturer and can decypher the payment system on the rusty new Italian trams or the buses that might be running with faulty door seals. Parking is scarce and expensive, building work makes many areas almost no-go areas. The airports are a distance outside the city, and travel to and from them is being made more complex and expensive.
Once upon a time there were regular ferries from the UK - Wilson Line, Svenska LLoyd, Tor Line and latterly DFDS, but all are now history I am even surprised the Ryan Air still flies in. But then O'Leary must find some who want to use his airline to visit Sweden.
It was perhaps worth a visit once, but nowadays Göteborg is a city in decline I fear. The heart has been torn out of the city, and there has been no replacement. ... (hide full quote)

You quote the decline from the 90's. I was meaning from the 70's. Too much of the city's character has been demolished and replaced by - well nothing that will go ... (show full quote)

You quote the decline from the 90's. I was meaning from the 70's. Too much of the city's character has been demolished and replaced by - well nothing that will go down in history. So much of the new stuff is just ordinary at best and downright pathetic at least. I like to remember the city as it was, not what it has become - just another big town. ... (hide full quote)

100% correct

But to the tourist, it's still a fantastic little city with great nightlife, nice architecture, welcoming natives and plenty of parks. I know that in a few decades, it won ... (show full quote)

But to the tourist, it's still a fantastic little city with great nightlife, nice architecture, welcoming natives and plenty of parks.
I know that in a few decades, it won't be an attractive place- with the Nordstan area slowly joining the city's no-go areas. I choose to enjoy the place while it lasts. ... (hide full quote)

Henry i hope you you are joking. Göteborg is a dump for tourists. One visit is enough for anybody. What is there? Liseberg and Avenue which cost a fortune or Femmanhuset. During the summer it´s a massive building site.

Going back to the review that Lonely Planet did. Did anybody know that the Kommun (Göteborg & Co) sponsored their luxury trip!

[HenryPollard]

100% correctHenry i hope you you are joking. Göteborg is a dump for tourists. One visit is enough for anybody. What is there? Liseberg and Avenue which cost a fortune or Femma ... (show full quote)

100% correct

Henry i hope you you are joking. Göteborg is a dump for tourists. One visit is enough for anybody. What is there? Liseberg and Avenue which cost a fortune or Femmanhuset. During the summer it´s a massive building site.

Going back to the review that Lonely Planet did. Did anybody know that the Kommun (Göteborg & Co) sponsored their luxury trip! ... (hide full quote)

Tourists who return to GBG tend to stay away from Liseberg and Avenyn. The real heart of the city is Järntorget.

Andra Långgatan is a big attraction for the younger crowd. This part of the city's bar/club scene is akin to what Berlin was in the 90s. If you're under 30 and can afford it, I can scarcely think of a better place to be in Northern Europe.
The New York Times agrees http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/trave...goteborg-t.html

For a city of its size, it has an great range of museums and art galleries and also, you can't deny that the surrounding nature is quite picturesque. The archipelago on a summer's day is damn near heavenly.

As I've admitted above, the bad areas of the city are increasing rapidly and I know it's in the nature of this forum to moan about everything Swedish, but it's still largely a pleasant place to be.

I've introduced 5 friends to Sweden in recent times, all of them have since returned to Gothenburg, often ignoring the stuffier atmosphere of Sthlm.