9 Boat Tours in Gothenburg, With the Price and the Catch

1.Archipelago cruise with guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,002 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $47Our pick

Board at Lilla Bommen for a 2.5-hour guided cruise through Gothenburg Harbor, past Älvsborg Fortress and out among the southern archipelago. M/S Carl Michael Bellman or M/S S:t Erik provides indoor seating, open decks, toilets, and a café. Commentary is given in Swedish and English.

“We were a group of 10 who booked and enjoyed this trip. Boat had a lovely interior with food and drink available and the deck had plenty of seating for travellers too. The staff gave a good safety briefing, and informative updates at key points of our trip. The captain was happy to talk through the more complex details of navigation, and also showed us some seals he had seen on a trip the previous day. Crew were friendly and took a few group shots for us. A really worthwhile thing to do while in Gothenburg! So glad we did this.”

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2.City Canal Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 470 reviews · 50 min · from $30Best value

See Gothenburg from its canals to its harbour on the classic 50-minute Paddan cruise. Guides such as Viktor, Harold, Clara, and Anna mix city history with humor as you pass under 20 low bridges. The open boat has no roof, so bring layers and expect stairs, tight bridge clearances, and weather-dependent comfort.

“Very good little cruise the tour guide was very informative and so funny!”

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3.Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the River Säveån

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 60 reviews · from $39

Start at Kungsportsplatsen and cruise Gothenburg’s narrow canals, harbor, and the leafy Säveån River aboard an open Paddan boat. Your live guide speaks Swedish and English, pointing out landmarks, local history, birds, and the river’s unusual wildlife. Guide Victor has been praised for his humor and easy switching between languages. Bring a cushion for the firm seats.

“A lovely way to get to know Gothenburg from a different perspective. Thanks Victor form making it even more memorable ☺️”

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4.Self Drive Electric Boat in the Canals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 1 to 6 hours (approx.)

Take the helm of a 12-seat electric boat at Snäckan on Christina Nilssons gata and guide your group through Gothenburg’s historic canals and central waterfront. No boating license is needed. You receive written instructions, an activation code by phone, cushions, life vests, and a digital guide. Bring drinks, snacks, and your dog.

“One star is even too high for the service of this company. Extremely unwelcoming and rude. No instruction given at all and was told to “read the email” when asked for help. Customers who arrived after us were given a proper introduction and briefing whilst we were ignored which led me to believe his attitude was racially motivated as I am a black woman. Upon return, he was nowhere to be found and we were left to park and tie the boat back up to shore as beginners. Do not bother wasting your money on this.”

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5.Gothenburg city center: Electric selfdrive boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 50 reviews · 1 - 2 hours

You steer a comfortable electric boat through central Gothenburg without a boating or driving license. A simple dockside activation, life jackets, blankets, drinks, snacks, dogs, and a digital guide with more than 30 stops make this a relaxed private outing for up to 12 people.

“Wat een geweldige ervaring! Een boot huren en door Göteborg varen is echt een superleuke manier om de stad vanuit een ander perspectief te ontdekken. De route is goed uitgestippeld en gemakkelijk te volgen, zelfs als je geen ervaring hebt met varen. Alles was goed geregeld en duidelijk uitgelegd. Absoluut een aanrader voor wie Göteborg op een unieke en ontspannen manier wil verkennen!”

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6.24 Hour Hop On–Hop Off Bus and Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 37 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Explore Gothenburg by double-decker bus and open sightseeing boat for 24 hours. The bus has audio guides in six languages, while the boat is live-guided in Swedish and English. Start near Avenyn at Stora Teatern or Kungsportsplatsen, then hop off at Liseberg, Feskekôrka, Haga, Lilla Bommen, Eriksberg, and more.

“Kombi zwischen Bus und Schiff was prima, die Haltestellen sind etwas schwer zu finden. Dafür ist der Busfahrer ordentlich und ruhig gefahren (nicht wie in Oslo, Busfahrer mit Bart besser meiden). Die Dame auf dem Schiff zur Erklärung was super, echt empfehlenswert. PS. öffentliche Toiletten sind in Göteburg Mangelware, bei Cafes gibt es häufig nur 1 Toilette für M / F / D und die muss noch bezahlt werden (Kreditkarte)”

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7.24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $40

Take Gothenburg’s Paddan boat from Kungsportsplatsen and follow the canals toward Lilla Bommen, Eriksberg, Feskekörka, and the open harbor. Live commentary is offered in English and Swedish. The boat ride takes about 80 minutes, while your ticket remains valid for 24 hours after voucher exchange. Bring a raincoat.

“A pleasant boat trip with clear and interesting information given by the tour guide in English and Swedish.”

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8.Private Boat Ride in Gothenburg with pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $120

You’ll be collected at your Gothenburg hotel by Emo Tours Sweden, driven to Lejontrappan, and taken on a private one-hour boat ride. Expect Gustav Adolfs Square, Christinae Church, Lilla Bommen, the fish church, free water and snacks, plus a return ride to your hotel. The tour runs in English.

“Our private tour was fun and enjoyable. Our guide answered all of our questions and more. It rained a little but nothing could dampen our spirits on this tour. Highly recommended.”

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9.Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 8 reviews · from $39

Sail from Lilla Bommen in Gothenburg to Vinga, a rocky island with coastal paths, a famous lighthouse, and open water for swimming. The live commentary is given in Swedish and English. The crossing takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes each way, with roughly one hour to explore on your own. Lunch is not included.

“Generally a good experience altough you should know (ecpecially if you're from abroad) that it is not possible to pay the entrance fee of 50 SEK for the museum and the lighthouse with credit card. It is only possible to pay with cash or swish. Read more”

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