Gothenberg

Gothenburg offers youth, vibrancy, and affordability in Sweden

Gothenberg has one of Europe's largest student populations, and a general joie de vivre permeates the atmosphere. Prices are mercifully cheaper than in Stockholm, and the informal, relaxed mood is immediately catching. Locals think Stockholmers are a bit snobbish, as aloof as Greta Garbo. But in Gothenberg, visitors are welcomed into local life and embraced with enthusiasm.

Though Gothenberg also still suffers from its early-20th-century reputation of being a dull industrial center, those days are long gone and it’s now a sprawling, youthful metropolis filled with some of the brightest and best-looking people in Europe.

The Göta River runs through the city, and boat trips here are delightful; you can even go island-hopping. Called the "gateway to northern Europe," Gothenburg is Sweden’s chief port and second-largest city. Canals, parks, and flower gardens enhance its appeal, as do a large number of museums, plus northern Europe’s largest amusement park. Gothenburg also is a convenient center for traveling to a spectacularly pristine archipelago with fishing villages, wildlife refuges, and several lovely vacation resorts.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.