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Gothenburg AIC 2010

General Information

Brief history of Gothenburg (Göteborg)

Trade, shipping and international contacts have characterised Gothenburg ever since it was founded in 1621. In 1731, the Swedish East India Company began trading with the east. In the 19th century, Gothenburg became industrialised, largely due to the arrival of Scottish and English businessmen. Modern-day Gothenburg, with its wide boulevards, parks and stone buildings, was built towards the end of the 19th century. The shipyards grew large in the 20th century, but declined at the end of the 1970's and are now transformed into residential areas and offices for people to enjoy the harbour atmosphere.

Visas

Nationals in the majority of countries outside the European Union require a visa to visit Sweden and the other Schengen countries. A list of countries whose nationals require a visa for entry into Sweden and further information can be found on the official website of the Swedish Government (opens in new window).

Airports

Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
Landvetter Airport is located 19.6 km east of Gothenburg and it is the main international airport. There are several ways to get to and from the airport, including:
Taxi: A taxi rank is located outside the international transit hall. Taxi companies include Taxi Göteborg (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 65 00 00), VIP-taxi (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 27 16 11), and Taxi Kurir (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 27 27 27). We suggest you enquire about the fare in advance. Some taxis have fixed rates to Gothenburg city centre.
Limousine: Scandinavian Limousine (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 794 2424) offers limousine services but they must be pre-booked.
Bus: The airport bus service, Flygbussarna, operates between the airport and Nils Ericson Terminalen (next to the Central Station). Journey time is 30 minutes and an adult ticket costs SEK 80 one way. Timetables are available at the Information Desk at the airport. More information is published on the Flygbussarna website: www.flygbussarna.se.

Göteborg City Airport (GSE)
Göteborg City Airport is Gothenburg's second airport and it is located 15 km northwest of Gothenburg city centre. There are several ways to get to and from the airport, including:
Taxi: Taxi fares are approx. SEK 320 from the airport to the Central Station in Gothenburg and SEK 400-600 to Landvetter Airport. Night fares are more expensive. To book, call Taxi Göteborg (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 65 00 00), VIP-taxi (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 27 16 11), or Taxi Kurir (Tel.: +46 (0) 31 27 27 27). We suggest you enquire about the fare in advance.
Limousine: Limousine services can be booked through the airport traffic office.
Bus: The airport bus, Flygbussarna, operates between the airport and Nils Ericson Terminalen (next to the Central Station) in the city centre. Timetables coincide with the schedule of all regular Ryanair and Wizz Air flights. Journey time is approx. 25 minutes and an adult ticket costs SEK 60 one way. Buses depart from the airport 45 minutes after the scheduled flight arrival and depart from Nils Ericson Terminalen about 2 hours before flight departure. More information is available on the Flygbussarna website: www.flygbussarna.se.

Money

Sweden's currency is the krona. There are a hundred öre in one krona. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. You can use the card on buses and trams, for taxis and shopping. The chip and pin is the most common method.

Cash machines (bankomat) are common and accept major credit and debit cards. They can be found in the main shopping centres, the airport and in main streets such as Kungsportsavenyn.

If you buy an item in Sweden worth more than SEK 200, and you are flying out of the European Union, you are eligible for a VAT refund. Present the goods (unused and with the price tags attached), your passport and ticket/boarding pass, Global Refund receipt and the shop receipt to customs at the airport. For more information, please visit www.globalrefund.com (opens in new window).

Tipping

Ten per cent of the restaurant bill or taxi fare is the usual and is appreciated.

Opening hours

Attractions
09.00 or 10.00 to 17.00 or 18.00

Banks
Monday-Friday 09.30-15.30; large city branches: 09.30-18.00

Shops
Monday-Friday 10.00-18.00 or 19.00, Saturday 10.00-16.00; malls: also Sunday 12.00-16.00 

Foreign exchange

Forex is the largest foreign exchange company and is located at the airport, Kungsportsavenyn 22, the Central Station, Nordstan Shopping Centre, and Kungsportsplatsen.

Electricity

Sweden uses 220V AC, 50Hz. Laptops from United States using 110V only will need a transformer.

Travellers with disabilities

Most hotels have good disabled facilities, with top-end establishments providing access to all areas, including swimming pools and spa facilities. Public transport means pose few problems and most trams often have one carriage which is low enough for wheelchairs.

Tourist information

Tourist information can be found in the following locations:

Main office: Kungsportsplatsen 2, +46 (0) 31 61 25 00, www.gothenburg.com (opens in new window) 
Branch office: Nordstan Shopping Centre, +46 (0) 31 61 25 00

Emergency numbers

To call an ambulance, the police or fire brigade, simply call 112.
Main police station: +46 (0) 31 114 14 (24 hours)

Medical services

Emergency healthcare
Capio Axess Akuten, Södra Allégatan 6, +46 (0) 31 425 00 50, www.capioaxessakuten.se (opens in new window) 
CityAkuten, Nordstadstorget 6, +46 (0) 31 10 10 10, www.cityakuten.se (opens in new window) 
Sahlgrenska University Hospital, +46 (0) 31 342 10 00, www.sahlgrenska.se (opens in new window)

Emergency dental care
Tandvården Göteborg, Akuttandvården, Odinsgatan 10, +46 (0) 31 80 78 00

Transportation

Taxi
We recommend that you use one of the following taxi companies:
Taxi Göteborg: +46 (0) 31 65 00 00
VIP-taxi: +46 (0) 31 27 16 11
Taxi Kurir: +46 (0) 31 27 27 27

Tickets for trams and buses
There are several ways to buy tickets. In the area of Gothenburg, Mölndal and Partille, you cannot buy tickets from the driver. Instead you need to buy your ticket from newsagents such as PressbyrÃ¥n, 7-Eleven or where the Västtrafik sign is displayed. You can also buy tickets by text message (if you have a Swedish mobile phone operator) and via credit card on board (one way). If you are going to travel several times you can by a short-term top-up card. This card enables you to travel wherever you want within specified areas, and as much as you want, within one or three 24-hour periods. They are valid on all Västtrafik vehicles, including all trains except the X2000. For more information on trams and buses, please visit www.vasttrafik.se (opens in new window).Â