Car Hire Gothenburg Grafiska Downtown

Car Hire

Sweden’s second-largest city is home to Volvo, many professional sports teams and the Nordic region’s largest port. It is a friendly place for visitors, even more so than Stockholm, and is filled with museums and parks, and plenty of bars and restaurants. Gothenburg has an extensive transportation system and most attractions can be seen on foot, but car rental in Gothenburg Grafiska is the best way to get out of the city and explore the nearby castles, fortresses, bird sanctuaries and World Heritage sites, such as the rock carvings in Tanumshede.

Who to Book With
There are a few acclaimed car hire agents found along Gothenburg Grafiska, including Alamo, Europcar and National. Plenty of other depots can be found throughout the city though Grafiska’s great location makes it an ideal place to collect a car.

Best Time to Go
Although Sweden has a reputation for being a cold country, Gothenburg experiences mostly mild temperatures. The winter months of December, January and February are cold, but rarely see the mercury drop below -5°C. Summers are the most pleasant, and most popular and most expensive, times to visit. Rates also go up at weekends around Ullevi stadium and during big annual festivals.

Need to Know Essentials
Bring the following documents when collecting your vehicle:

- Your UK driver’s licence (both parts)
- A supplementary form of ID
- A valid credit card
- Booing confirmation, preferably printed

For more info read our FAQs.

Driving
Parking around Gothenburg Grafiska is expensive, as is parking in the rest of the city. If you purchase a Gothenburg pass, you will be able to park in some parts of the city for free though a congestion charge must be paid to enter the city by car. It is free to drive in the city between 18:30 and 05:59 Monday to Friday and at weekends. Still, it is not recommended to drive in Gothenburg city centre as traffic is common and there are plenty of narrow, one-way streets, but a GPS will help visitors to navigate.

Our guide to Sweden has more tips on driving here.

Transport

Gothenburg can be traversed by tram, bus and taxi though the compact city centre is easy to explore on foot. It is bicycle-friendly, with designated cycle paths all over the city. Styrsöbolaget ferries take walkers and cyclists across the river between Rosenlund and Lindholmspiren.

Trains
Gothenburg’s tram network is the largest in Scandinavia, with around 2,000 services each day. There are 13 lines in total, of which 12 are used and operated by Göteborgs Spårvägar. All lines pass through Brunnsparken, the main tram stop, with the exception of line 8. The city’s main railway station is Gothenburg Central Station, which operates both commuter and long-distance trains. Trains operated by SJ and Oresundtrain. Blå Tåget travel between here and Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Luleå and Umeå. There is also a luxury train that runs between this station, Stockholm and Uppsala. These trains are slower and more expensive than the fast trains but offer exceptional scenery. Västtrafik commuter trains run between Gothenburg Central Station and the city suburbs.

Buses
Västtrafik stombuss buses operate throughout the city, and between these buses and trams nearly every part of the city is accessible. Buses are numbered and connect with trams. Day passes, which are the best deal for visitors at just over £7, give access to buses, trams and ferries. Those planning on staying in Gothenburg for a few days can take advantage of a three-day travel card for around £15. Swebus, Eurolines and Nettbuss Express provide long-distance bus travel both in Sweden and to major cities in Europe, departing and arriving at the Nils Ericson Terminal.

Taxis
Taxis are expensive in Gothenburg as prices are not regulated. By law, all taxis must display their prices for travel in the day time, in rush hour and at night. Visitors should avoid using illegal taxis, which can be identified by their lack of metre.

Exploring

Gothenburg Grafiska is located right next to the E6/E20 that skirts the eastern edge of the city and connects it with the rest of Sweden. This makes it an ideal base for arranging car hire for scenic daytrips to attractions such as Tjolöholm Castle, Älvsborgs fortress and the ancient rock carvings in Tanumshede.

Recommended Drives

Route E6 – This road travels from Gothenburg to the amazing petroglyph rock carvings in Tanum, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site has around 600 panels that stretch for over 15 miles along what used to be the coast of a fjord. The scenic drive takes around 1 hour, 30 minutes though many visitors make a stop in Uddevalla along the way to visit the Bohuslän Museum and the Tureborg ruins.

Tjolöholm Castle – Some people may recognise the exterior of this Tudor style castle from the Lars Von Trier film Melancholia. The castle was built in the late 1800s and can be found on the picturesque Kungsbacka Fjord, less than a 40-minute drive south of the city. The fjord itself is a natural reserve that is home to over 240 bird species.

Lidköping – This small city can be reached in less than 2 hours along European Route 20 and is well worth the trip. The drive is extremely beautiful and a stop should be made in Alingsås to see its historical sites. Lidköping also has much to see, including the 13th century Läckö castle, the spectacular views of Lake Vänern from Kinnekulle’s mountain top and one of the country’s oldest churches.