Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, with 622,000 inhabitants as of 2009.
It is also the largest seaport in all of Scandinavia.
Also largest in Scandinavia is the University of Gothenburg.
Planned by Dutch engineers in the 17th century, Gothenburg as long been a bustling harbor city, but it relied on heavy industry through the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Economic and social problems have taken a toll on industry; however Gothenburg has now started to move towards the high tech sector, and is also become a very successful tourist destination.
Some of the more popular tourist activities include a boat trip through the southern Gothenburg archipelago; also Gothenburg boasts the largest amusement park in Scandinavia based on the amount of different rides.
Another must-see is Gothenburg's Botanical Gardens - it's amongst the most envied in Europe.
Gothenburg is bisected by the Göta Älv River.
The old part of the city features many canals, with 18th century merchant's houses lining them.
The famous Old East India House is one of them, and this has now become the Gothenburg City Museum.
There is a sea of culture in Gothenburg, with stations like Gothenburg City Theatre and Backa Theatre, along with many free theater ensembles.
Gothenburg opened the Museum of World Culture in December 2004.
Many architectural styles are to be found in Gothenburg starting with the 18th century Classical look.
Look for 20th-century national romantic style along with the neoclassical style of the 1920s.
Much modern architecture exists juxtaposed with these older styles.
The main street of Gothenburg is known as Avenyn (the Avenue).
There you will find a constant buzz of activity, whether it be shopping, eating, or socializing in any one of the many cafés and bars which Gothenburg is famous for.
Although the winters are not as severe in Gothenburg as inland, it is best visited in summertime when one can explore freely and enjoy warm weather.