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Posted on 08/19/2025 3:09:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Seven things you didn’t know about Gothenburg – Sweden’s maritime, cultural and sustainable powerhouse… From the Nordics’ largest port to Liseberg’s rollercoasters, discover Gothenburg’s history, innovation and coastal charm.
Stockholm might steal the limelight, but Sweden’s west-coast powerhouse, Gothenburg, is quietly running the table. It’s bigger than many capitals, home to the Nordics’ largest port, and boasts Sweden’s top tourist attraction. Add in its Dutch-built canals, sustainability leadership, and archipelago escapes, and you’ve got a city that refuses to play second fiddle.
1. The biggest non-capital in the Nordics
With nearly 600,000 people in the city and over 1.1 million in the metro area, Gothenburg outmuscles every Nordic city that isn’t a capital. Its mix of maritime heritage, cutting-edge design, and cosmopolitan buzz makes it a heavyweight on the regional stage.
2. Gothenburg isn’t really called Gothenburg
Locally, it’s Göteborg (yuh-teh-bor-ee if you’re feeling brave). The English “Gothenburg” stuck thanks to centuries of trade, and after some branding flip-flops, it’s the official international name again.
3. Sweden’s biggest tourist attraction is here
That crown belongs to Liseberg, the amusement park that’s entertained visitors since 1923. Its wooden rollercoaster Balder is a global favourite, and its Christmas market is pure Nordic magic.
4. The Nordics’ largest port
The Port of Gothenburg has been Sweden’s gateway to the world since the 1600s. Today it’s a hub for millions of containers and passenger ferries, and it’s leading the way in green shipping.
5. Built on Dutch know-how
Founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus, modern Gothenburg was designed by Dutch engineers. The city’s canals echo Amsterdam’s, but with a distinct Swedish twist.
6. Volvo country – and future mobility hub
The first Volvo rolled out here in 1927. The brand’s truck and bus innovations still happen in Gothenburg, alongside electric aviation breakthroughs from Heart Aerospace.
7. Sister city to Chicago
Since 1960, Gothenburg and Chicago have shared cultural, educational, and business exchanges – the only Nordic-US city pairing of its kind.
3 Bonus facts about Gothenburg:
Sustainability world champion
Lonely Planet called it the world’s most sustainable city break in 2021. It’s topped the Global Destination Sustainability Index five years running, issued the world’s first green bond, and is working towards a zero-emission centre.
A two-part archipelago The southern islands are car-free havens, while the northern ones welcome vehicles via ferry. Both have Viking heritage and postcard-ready coastal scenery.
Trams with a story
Gothenburg’s blue-and-white trams began as horse-drawn carriages in the 1800s. Now one of Europe’s largest networks, it still runs heritage vehicles for nostalgia-filled city tours.
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3 things I didn’t know:
1) There is a city named Gothenburg
2) It’s in Sweden
3) Some people call it the Chicago of Europe
What’s their murder rate?
Chicago or Chicongo?
Really. I wouldn’t want to be compared to Chicago for any reason.
Chicago is NOT even the "SECOND CITY" ( after NYC! ),of the GothenUSA...it hasn't been for well over FIFTY YEARS!
So is Gothenburg a city full of illegal aliens,does it have extremely high crime, and has had a ONE PARTY LEFTY, CORRUPT mayor for over the past 100 years?
Thanks for posting!
As a (part-time) resident of Gothenburg, this article doesn’t do the city justice! It has been a wonderful city to live in for 25 years now. Yes it has its problems - like Muslim and East African immigrants, but it is a very livable city.
A great walking city. Great museums. Great harbor. Plenty of things to do.
And in the summer, 22 hours of daylight at its peak.
I am so happy I chose a place in the center of town, it is my escape from American hustle and bustle even though I work harder there than anywhere else.
Dagnabbit! You beat me to it.
8. Muslims make up 10% of the population.
Chicago’s big on history, innovation and charm?!?
The author likes saying “sustainability.”
Sounds like a woke hellhole.
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Gothenburg died.
He must not been to Chicago lately.
I have a hard time believing any Swedish is a crime ridden toilet like Chicago. They need to import more africans and muslims if they want to compete.
We camped in Göteborg in early July, 1962, as part of a trip by car through Scandinavia. In those days, Swedes were still driving on the left side of the road, but we managed to go by car from Helsingborg to Stockholm, then over to Oslo, and finally back to Sweden, where we caught a ferry to Denmark.
It never got dark at night. Russians who live at the same latitude call that time of the year the White Nights.
It never got dark at night. Russians who live at the same latitude call that time of the year the White Nights.
I remember that movie, with Mikhail Baryshnikov.
3 things I didn’t know: 1) There is a city named Gothenburg 2) It’s in Sweden 3) Some people call it the Chicago of Europe4) Its cold most of the year, day and night, ;-)
“7 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘the Chicago of Europe’”
Number 8: No more Swedes there.
On history...YES, on inventions...only so so ( the first sky scrapper,for example ), but “charm”...NOT NOW!
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