Götaland

Götaland is the southernmost of the three lands that make up Sweden. It is home to almost half of Sweden's population and probably even a larger share of its cultural and historical sights.

Provinces

Regions of Götaland

Blekinge (Karlskrona, Karlshamn, Olofström, Ronneby, Sölvesborg) Once part of Denmark, this province is known for gardens, the southern archipelago with rocky shores, and the base of the Swedish Navy since the 17th century.

Bohuslän (Kungälv, Lysekil, Munkedal, Orust, Sotenäs, Stenungsund, Strömstad, Tanum, Tjörn, Uddevalla, Öckerö) A rocky shoreline with Sweden's richest fishery, and a surviving maritime culture.

Dalsland (Åmål, Bengtsfors, Dals-Ed, Färgelanda, Mellerud) A quiet, forested province between lake Vänern and the Norwegian mountains.

Gotland (Visby, Fårö, Gotska Sandön, Karlsöarna) A sun-kissed island with limestone beaches and a spirit of independence.

Halland (Kungsbacka, Varberg, Falkenberg, Halmstad, Hylte, Laholm) A coastal land of windy beaches, and a 17th-century battleground in many wars against Denmark.

Småland (Kalmar, Jönköping, Växjö etc) A forested province, known for Astrid Lindgren's fairy tales, entrepreneurship, glassmaking, IKEA and a variety of Protestant churches.

Scania (Malmö, Lund, Helsingborg, Ystad, Österlen) Sweden's breadbasket and gateway to the continent. The province was part of Denmark until the 17th century, and has a distinct Danish heritage.

Västergötland This province is dominated by fertile plains, and said to be the cradle of the Geats, with ancient towns such as Skara. The largest city is Gothenburg.

Öland Sweden's second largest island with windmills and long beaches, popular during summer.

Östergötland Home to Saint Bridget of Sweden, and a rich tradition of engineering in Motala, Linköping and Norrköping.

Cities

• 1 Lund, a pretty university town with a large cathedral and Viking heritage
• 2 Linköping, birthplace of Swedish aviation industry
• 3 Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city and an important North Sea port
• 4 Halmstad, famous for beaches and golf courses
• 5 Jönköping, the capital of safety matches, nicknamed "Sweden's Jerusalem".
• 6 Kalmar, where a Scandinavian Union was forged in the Middle Ages
• 7 Karlskrona, base for the Swedish Navy
• 8 Malmö, third largest city in Sweden, connected to Copenhagen via the Öresund Bridge
• 9 Visby, the only city on Gotland is known for its preserved medieval city walls and church ruins

Other destinations

• 1 Blekinge archipelago, lesser known and less crowded than other Swedish archipelagos
• 2 Fårö, a barren island north of Gotland, known for its Ingmar Bergman connections
• 3 Gothenburg archipelago is easily reachable from Gothenburg
• 4 Karlsöarna, the second oldest natural reserve in the world, known for its rich bird life
• 5 Tanum, known for its UNESCO World Heritage rock carvings
• 6 Vadstena, home of Bridget (Birgitta), Sweden's best-known saint
• 7 Visingsö, an island in Vättern
• 8 Älmhult, birthplace of IKEA and Carl Linnaeus
• 9 Österlen, a beautiful area on the western coast of Scania, home to many artists and writers

Understand

Götaland is the southernmost of the three Lands of Sweden. Officially it also covers Scania and Gotland, which are however separately treated in this travel guide.

Götaland was the homeland of the Geats, Götar, who have been associated to the legendary Goths, one of the tribes that sacked the Roman Empire in the 5th century.

Scholars disagree whether Uppland or Västergötland was the cradle of Sweden. The oldest known city in Götaland is Skara, where Sweden's first bishop, Thurgot, was installed in 1014.

The first king known to rule both Svealand and Götaland was Olof Skötkonung, who ascended the throne around AD 995.

As the waters brought people together, and the forests divided people, Götaland was centered around lakes Vänern and Vättern; as Värmland was originally part of Götaland. Denmark used to rule Skåne, Blekinge, Halland and Bohuslän, while Gotland was independent.

Sweden and Denmark fought a dozen of wars during much of the 16th and 17th centuries. Much of Götaland was ravaged, and Sweden threw the Danes off the Scandinavian peninsula, and has since then been the dominant Nordic country.

Talk

The dialects of Götaland differ slightly from standard Swedish; the southern ones have a touch of Danish. Most people in Götaland, except the elderly, speak fluent English.

Get in

The busiest international airports in or near Götaland are Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, Malmö-Sturup Airport, Copenhagen Airport and Nyköping-Skavsta Airport. Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen can also be considered.

Most trains between Malmö and Stockholm call at Älmhult, Alvesta, Nässjö, Mjölby, Linköping and Norrköping.

Get around

Public transport is provided at county level; see public transport in Sweden.

See

Natural sceneries differ between the forests of Småland, and the Bohuslän archipelago with its fishing villages.

Itineraries

• Göta Kanal

Do

These provinces give great opportunities for hiking and water sport, even near the cities.

Stay safe

Weather in Götaland is warmer and wetter than northern Sweden. Temperatures far below zero are rare. Wildlife accidents with boars, deer and moose are common, see driving in Sweden.