Gothenburg (Goteborg) lies on the southwest coast of Sweden and is the country’s second largest city. Presiding over a fine harbour, it has been called the ‘Natural Gateway to the West’ and is one of beautiful waterways that include canals, rivers and lakes, and features many fine museums and attractions.

The city of Gothenburg is akin to Amsterdam with its network of canals and has more parks than any other Swedish city. The main part of the city centre lies on the river and really is nice to have a wander around on foot or by tram. The harbour area is one of shops and cafés and really comes alive of a night with its restaurants and bars, but is great any time of day for people-watching.

Key attractions in Gothenburg include the Avenyn (Avenue) and Gotaplatsen Square, two major city thoroughfares; the Maritiman Floating Museum; and the lofty Guldhedstornet from which to discern it all. Among Gothenburg’s other museums are the brilliant art museum (Goteborgs Konstmuseum); the fun Universeum; and the Volvo Museum.

Kids will really take to the Liseberg, Sweden’s largest amusement park, and the Valhallabadet leisure centre, while the beautiful Gothenburg Botanical Gardens provide perfect respite amid a bustling city. Leisure options in Gothenburg are also good, with fine walking and cycling on offer, as well as boating on the lakes, while Avenyn has a great café culture and underground heated pipes. The Nordstan is perfect for ardent shoppers, a massive shopping and pedestrian mall.

Gothenburg is also within reach of outstanding countryside and coastal areas and if you have a car you will not be disappointed by the sights on offer. The Bohuslan Coast lies to the north and is sublime, while the Swedish Riviera of Halland lies to the south. Closer to home is the Gothenburg archipelago, a fine collection of islands that includes Branno, Styrso, and Vrango.

The variety of accommodation in Gothenburg is staggering, with everything from hostels, guesthouses and budget motels to the finest luxury hotels. The Gothenburg Convention Centre in the heart of the city has a good choice of hotels, as does Hamngatan towards the harbour. Make sure you book Gothenburg hotels online ahead of time for decent discounts and availability.

Getting to Gothenburg is made easy by the large Landvetter Airport and smaller Gothenburg City Airport; the latter is served by budget airline Ryanair. Airport buses and taxis run to the city from both airports. Hire cars can be pre-booked online. Trains and buses also come in from major centres while Stena Line ferries make regular crossings from North Jutland and Harwich, England.

Gothenburg is surprisingly mild due to its relatively low latitude positioning in relation to the bulk of frigid Sweden. Summers are short but sweet – from June to August – and it is warm enough to swim in Gothenburg’s surrounding lakes and along the nearby coast.

September sees the beginning of autumn and the tourist numbers and temperatures drop off although days are still long and sunny. You may be able to pick up a hotel bargain if you book ahead for autumn and spring digs. Winters are pretty chilly and feature short days and freezing nights.