From Landvetter Airport to the city centre

Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT) lies around 25 kilometres east of the city. There's no direct rail link, the fastest, cheapest and most straightforward way into the centre is the airport bus. Taxis and rental cars are the alternatives. We explain which option suits whom and what to watch for when buying your ticket. For the full picture on reaching Gothenburg in the first place, see the overview on Getting to Gothenburg.

The Flygbussarna airport coach

The Flygbussarna coaches are the standard way from the terminal into town. They depart from the airport at stop 1 in front of the check-in hall and terminate at Nils Ericson Terminal, right next to Gothenburg Central Station (Centralstationen). Boarding for departures to the airport is at gate 29, while arrivals from Landvetter come in at gates 31 to 33.

At peak times the coach runs roughly every 15 to 20 minutes, less frequently early in the morning and late at night. Free Wi-Fi is available on board. Journey time depends on traffic and realistically runs from around half an hour to three-quarters of an hour to Gothenburg C.

Stops along the way

You don't have to ride all the way to the terminus, the coach also calls at other central points en route:

• Korsvägen, a key tram and bus hub south of the centre, close to Liseberg, Universeum and the exhibition grounds. Handy if your hotel is in this part of town.
• Lindholmen, a modern district on the north bank of the river, home to a university and a tech quarter.
• Nils Ericson Terminal / Gothenburg C, the terminus at the central station, from where trams and buses reach every part of the city.

From Gothenburg C, public transport connects you onward with ease. For how the tram and bus network works, see the guide to getting around Gothenburg.

Tickets, prices and where to buy

Booking your ticket in advance is the cheapest option. The adult single fare costs 119 SEK booked online or via the app, or 139 SEK bought on board. Booking on the website or in the app saves roughly 10 to 20 per cent compared with buying on the bus. A single or return ticket is valid for 3 months from purchase and can be used on any departure on the route you booked, so you're not tied to a fixed time.

You can buy tickets in several ways:

• Online via the Flygbussarna website or the Vy Flygbussarna app, the cheapest option.
• At a ticket machine or kiosk at the airport.
• On board the coach, though card payment only, cash isn't accepted, and the fare is higher.

Handy for families, up to 2 children under 8 travel free with one paying adult (maximum 4 children per adult). Young people between 8 and 25 get a discounted youth fare. And usefully, the ticket includes 90 minutes of onward travel on Västtrafik's public transport network from the start of your journey, so you can carry on to your hotel at no extra cost.

Travelling at night

Even at very early hours, you're covered. On the Gothenburg C - Landvetter route there are night departures, around 03:00 and 03:50. These don't leave from Nils Ericson Terminal, however, but from Åkareplatsen, since the terminal is closed overnight (roughly 00:30 to 04:00). If you have an early flight, build in extra time and check the current timetable beforehand, as exact operating hours vary by season.

Taxi and car hire

Taxis wait outside the terminal and usually charge a fixed price (fastpris) into the centre, ask for it explicitly before you get in. Minitaxi, for example, quotes 450 SEK from Centralstationen (same price around the clock, 1 to 4 people) or 490 SEK from Centrum. A Swedavia airport surcharge of around 50 SEK may apply when departing from the airport. A taxi costs considerably more than the bus, but is convenient for families with a lot of luggage or at awkward arrival times.

Rental cars are available at the airport from around 400 SEK a day, though daily rates vary widely by season and provider. A car is worth it mainly for longer stays and trips beyond Gothenburg, such as along the Bohuslän archipelago coast. Within the city itself, a car is more of a hindrance, parking is expensive and the tram network is dense.

Which option suits you?

• Travelling alone or as a couple, with normal luggage, the airport coach is the clear first choice: cheap, frequent, and with free onward travel to your hotel included.
• Family or lots of luggage, a fixed-price taxi saves the hassle of changing transport, but costs several times as much.
• Planning trips into the surrounding area, a rental car opens up the coast and the hinterland, but is impractical within the city.

If you're planning to get the Gothenburg City Pass, note that the airport bus is not included. The pass covers admission to attractions, museums and sightseeing tours (for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days), but the transfer from Landvetter has to be booked separately. An alternative to Flygbussarna is the regular Västtrafik bus to the airport - potentially cheaper if you already hold a valid travel pass. Note, though, that Västtrafik travel passes are not valid on the Flygbussarna coach.