Sweden does not currently use the euro as its currency and has no plans to replace the krona in the near future. Anyone planning a long stay or who takes up employment opportunities in Sweden should consider applying for a flexible international bank account to allow easy transfer of money in different currencies.
Kungsportavenyn,
or simply “The Avenue” is a kilometre long street that was built
as a result of an architectural competition in 1870 and where you
will find the Gotaplatsen with such cultural interests as the Museum
of Art and Gotenburg library.
The avenue stretches all the way to the
Kungsportaplasen in the old town centre and also has the
Tradgardsforeningen park in the area. This is considered to be the
popular entertainment centre and has the highest concentration of
pubs and restaurants in Gothenburg.
The Haga, is the
picturesque old quarter of Gothenburg and is dominated by old style
wooden buildings, chic café bars and boutique shopping. Today it is
an area much gentrified, betraying its working class roots.
Renovation in the 1980’s led to the creation of a slick centre
within the heart of the city where once had been a district with a
less than savoury reputation.
Gothenburg Botanical
Gardens covers 145 hectares of beautifully preserved natural
beauty and has been recognised on a number of occasions in the
European Most Beautiful Garden Competition. Opened in 1923, it has
around 16,000 species of plants and trees and such wonderful sections
as the Rhododendron valley and the Japanese Glade. There are also its
marvellous greenhouses, which house over 4,000 varieties of rare and
exotic plants.
Lisberg Theme Park
is the most popular attraction of Gothenburg and is the largest such
park in Scandinavia, seeing over 3 million visitors annually walk
through its gates. The park is full of thrilling rides like the log
flume, Balder wooden rollercoaster and the speedy Lisebergbanan ride.
Island Fortress of
Alvsborg is another of Gotenburg’s great attractions, this 17th
century fort, situated on the seaward approaches to the city was
built to protect the population from the Danes. During the 18th
century it was used as a prison and finally fell into disuse and
eventually handed over to the people of Gothenburg. Today you can
walk its grounds, explore the dungeon and enjoy delicious snacks in
the café and lovely views from the ramparts.