Top Rated Attractions in Gothenburg

At this Museum you will learn about the history of the Volvo, from when it was founded by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson in 1927 until today. Volvo translates to "I roll" and is still the most common car brand in Sweden. The company sold their car division to Ford in 1999 and it's now owned by the Chinese, Geely Automobile. The company is also a leading manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment and other products. Various exhibitions are held in the museum featuring old and experimental cars, buses and a jet engine used by The Swedish Air Force. There is also a Volvo merchandise shop and a cafe in the museum.

Göteborgs Operan sports a main stage, a small stage, an elegant restaurant (with an excellent wine list and a menu separated into three acts), and various studios/workshops for everything from millinery and wig making to tanning and carpentry. High-tech methods co-exist with ancient painting methods and historical sewing techniques. Göteborgs Operan has its own choir, as well as a ballet company that has received a lot of acclaim.

Gothenburg's Backa Teater is very clear about the kind of audience it seeks to cater to. A theater known to entertain children, day-time shows are specially organized to accommodate them while the night shows understandably attract a more diverse audience. Resident musicians compose the music for every musical and drama held here, thus adding to the charm of this unpretentious little space. With a location in an old factory close to the ship-building yards, Backa continues to remain one of the city's firm favorites.

Universeum, the biggest science center in Scandinavia features seven floors of fun! Go to the rain forest and see frogs, cockroaches and an anaconda swamp, or maybe have a look at the section with venomous snakes. There's an aquarium with sharks and rays. In the technology department you can find a crime lab, walk in space and try your weather reporting skills. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as you can easily put aside a whole day for exploring this place. If you find yourself hungry there is a cafe on the ground floor.

Stadsmuseet is housed in a building commissioned by the Swedish East India Company in the eighteenth century. This museum of cultural history has collections of items gathered from Gothenburg as well as the rest of the world, from a wide variety of eras. On the last Sunday in every month between January and May, the museum organizes special family displays at 12:15p and 2p. In the spring, many of the Vetenskapsfestivalen (International Science Festival) events take place here.

The Skansen Krona fortress was built in 1641. The fortress' main purpose was to scare off the Danes, and it was also known as Juteskrämman (the Dane Scare). It was completed in 1695. Skansen Krona is built on a hill and therefore commands a grand view of the central parts of Gothenburg. The tower ornament is in the shape of a crown, hence the name (krona means crown). Today, the fort houses a military museum and is also used as a venue space for parties and weddings.