City in Västra Götaland County, Sweden
Gothenburg
Friendly, laid-back west-coast city with canals, a lively food scene and quick ferries to the car-free southern archipelago. Cheaper than Stockholm, rainy and quieter at night.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$1,990–2,990Comfortable, one person · kr20,000–30,000Details
- Value for money40/100Better value than 39% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMay–SepWarmest: Jul, 20°CDetails
- Air quality6 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2020) · Fairly cleanDetails
- Internet196 MbpsFixed broadband, Sweden medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableExcellent water from the Göta älv; refill freely and ask for free tap water in restaurants.Details
- LGBTQ+5/5Very welcomingDetails
- Solo travel4/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$80–149Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundUberWalkable centerDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessPractically cashless; cards and Swish work almost everywhere.Details
Where to stay in Gothenburg
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Haga | Cobbled lanes, cafés with huge cinnamon buns; central |
| Linné (Linnéstaden) | Bars, shops and local life; good value |
| Inom Vallgraven (Inner City) | Central, near the station and canals |
| Majorna | Alternative, relaxed and well located for the harbor |
Apps that work in Gothenburg
Ride-hailing
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp, Messenger
- SL: Stockholm transit tickets and journey planner
- SJ: Train tickets and seat bookings
- Taxis: Taxis set their own prices and can be expensive; use an app or ask for a quote. Trams and buses run late on weekends.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Sweden.
- Practically cashless Practically cashless; cards and Swish work almost everywhere. Some places refuse notes and coins.
- Currency: Krona (SEK). US$1 ≈ kr10.04 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: ATMs (Bankomat) are scarce but usually add no local fee; avoid Euronet and decline currency conversion.
- Tipping: Not expected. Rounding up or 5–10% for good table service is common; nothing at counters.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere; Swish needs a Swedish bank account and BankID, so visitors can't use it.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Schengen member: non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a face photo to the Entry/Exit System (EES) on first entry.
- ETIAS pre-travel authorisation isn't required yet and has no confirmed start date; check the EU site before you fly.
Emergency numbers
Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Comviq and Lycamobile prepaid SIMs sell at Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven and supermarkets; EU roaming rules apply to EU SIMs. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Sweden
Going to Gothenburg solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.