Transportation and getting around
This information explains how to travel to and within the Gothenburg region.
Travel to Gothenburg
Gothenburg lies on the west coast of Sweden and has great connections to the rest of Europe. You can easily travel here by train, bus, ferry, or airplane.
Please travel sustainably! If you stay on the ground as much as possible, you not only help the environment, you also see much more of the country on your journey here. For example, you can fly to Copenhagen and take the train from there to Gothenburg.
The closest airport to Gothenburg is Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT). You can travel to and from the airport with the shuttle bus company Flygbussarna. They have different stops in the city, but the main one is the Nils Ericsson Terminal, which is Gothenburg’s largest bus terminal. Conveniently, the terminal is linked to the Gothenburg Central Station.
Getting around in Gothenburg
It is easy to travel both within Gothenburg and in the surrounding region. The municipality-owned company Västtrafik is responsible for public transportation in the whole region. This includes busses, trams, commuter trains, and ferries. Their website offers information about fares and routes as well as a real time travel planner. If you have a smartphone, the Västtrafik app is a must-have.
The public transportation in the region has good coverage and runs often, making it easy for you to commute even longer distances. Because of this, many people working in central Gothenburg choose to live in the suburbs or the surrounding cities.
Please note that you can’t buy tickets from drivers on buses, boats, or trams. Instead, you need to buy your tickets in one of the following ways:
- Use the app Västtrafik ToGo. The app accepts major debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Visa Electron. At present, the app does not accept cards issued in the USA, Canada, or Australia;
- At a vending machine on the tram. Only card payment is available (buses don’t have vending machines);
- In a shop displaying the Västtrafik logo, such as Pressbyrån or 7-Eleven.
Please note: Card payment is king in Sweden, and most often you will find difficulties trying to pay in cash.
Walk – or bike
When travelling within the city, you can often choose to go by bike or simply walk. You don’t even need your own bicycle. Use rental bikes called Styr & Ställ located at specific areas all around the city. For a minor fee, you can use the bikes even on a daily basis.
Where is the University located?
We are a city university with campuses and facilities all over the city of Gothenburg.
