Götaplatsen

Gothenburg's cultural square

Götaplatsen forms the grand finale of the boulevard Kungsportsavenyn and is the cultural heart of Gothenburg. The classicist square was laid out for the 1923 anniversary exhibition, marking the city's 300th anniversary (founded in 1621; the exhibition was postponed from 1921 to 1923 and opened by King Gustaf V on 8 May 1923). The 1916 competition was won by the architectural consortium ARES, made up of Sigfrid Ericson, Arvid Bjerke, Ragnar O. Swensson and Ernst Torulf.

The square itself is open access at any time and framed by the city's major cultural buildings: Göteborgs konstmuseum, the concert hall, the city theatre (Göteborgs Stadsteater) and the city library. 20 to 40 minutes is enough for the square on its own, it works less as a destination in itself than as the impressive gateway to the museums around the Avenyn.

Poseidon by Carl Milles

At its centre stands the imposing bronze statue Poseidon by sculptor Carl Milles, a muscular sea god holding a fish and a shell. The figure is roughly 7 metres tall and stands on a fountain basin about 120 centimetres high.

Contrary to popular belief, the statue is not from 1923: while the square and the art museum were built for the 1923 anniversary, the Poseidon was made only between 1927 and 1931 and unveiled on 24 September 1931 in front of around 20,000 spectators. Reactions were mixed at first, with the proportions in particular sparking debate. Today the figure is one of Gothenburg's landmarks and a popular photo spot by day and by night.

The cultural buildings around it

The square draws its character from the ensemble of buildings around it, which combine well into a full day of culture:

• Göteborgs konstmuseum anchors the head of the square and shows, among other things, Nordic art. Open Tue 11:00-18:00, Wed 11:00-20:00, Thu 11:00-18:00 and Fri-Sun 11:00-17:00 (closed Mondays). Day ticket 75 SEK, museum card 150 SEK; under-20s and students go free.
• The concert hall (Konserthuset) is home to the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. The box office is staffed weekdays 12:00-18:00 and Saturdays 11:00-15:00, plus three hours before concerts; it takes a break in high summer (27 June-9 August). The building has a restaurant, wine bar and foyer bars.
• The city library is free to enter and open weekdays 8:00-20:00 (self-service 8:00-10:00) and weekends 10:00-18:00, a good spot for a break.
• The city theatre (Göteborgs Stadsteater) opens around performances; there are no fixed daily opening hours without a show scheduled.

Visiting and practical info

Götaplatsen sits at the top of the Avenyn and is easy to reach, walk up the boulevard on foot, or take the tram to the Götaplatsen stop. The square feels most atmospheric at the end of a walk up the Avenyn: by day for photos of Poseidon, in the evening when the statue and facades are lit up.

From the cultural square it's only a few steps to the Röhsska museet, Sweden's museum of design and craft. The concert hall is accessible via a ramp from Stenhammarsgatan with a lift up to the entrance hall and box office. Toilets are available in the cultural buildings for their visitors.