Race Course

Gothenburg’s equivalent of New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park is called Slottsskogen. For nearly 150 years it has been an equally natural and scenic meeting place all year round for locals and visitors alike.

The 137-hectare park offers wonderful environments and areas for excursions, walks, games and recreational activities. In addition, one of Sweden’s oldest zoos is located in Slottsskogen. Every summer, thousands of music lovers gather in Slottsskogen to take in what the popular music festival Way Out West has to offer.

Immediately after the race start on Margretebergsgatan, at the height of the well-attended frisbee golf course, the runners turn into Slottsskogen and head towards Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum before turning back along Björngårdsvägen where they are greeted by an energy-consuming climb up Säldammsbacken.

Music and partners along the phase
Music: Bunt Munco
Partner: Fastighetsbyrån
Partner: Almondy
Music: Mingla
Music: Göta Lejon
Music: Kind Of Music
Music: Göteborgs Blåsarsinfonietta

The first settlement in Majorna began in the mid-17th century when Finnish sailors and Estonian soldiers settled here. Since 1868 the area is part of the city of Gothenburg. The cityscape largely consists of old governors’ houses and is a favorite part of the track among many runners as there’s always a great crowd here, and as the runners still have a lot of energy left in them.

Majorna, which is located between Slottsskogen and Göta Älv, has historically been characterized by a workers’ history but is today a popular and creative district rich in culture and food. Röda Sten Art Hall is the obvious cultural core in Gothenburg and offers a great variety of exhibitions, concerts and performing arts. The runners pass Röda Sten just as the climb across Älvborgsbron begins, after the runners have come through Mariaplan on the way from Slottsskogen, then past the governors’ houses along Ostindiegatan.

Music and partners along the phase
Speaker
Music: Yazanna
Music: TBA
Music: Blues Boosters

When you reach Älvsborgsbron bridge you have completed almost a quarter of Göteborgsvarvet and will begin the trip from the mainland over to Färjestaden on Sweden’s fifth largest island, Hisingen. The 900-meter long suspension bridge, which was designed by Sven Olof Asplund, was completed in 1966 and greatly facilitated the flow of traffic through Gothenburg.

When Älvsborgsbron was inaugurated it was Sweden’s longest bridge and it’s also almost 108 meters tall with a maximum sail height of 45 meters and a long suspension span of 418 meters. The width is 28 meters and there is room for six lanes for cars plus pedestrian and cycling paths. If you look to the right you can see Scandinavia’s largest port and the Gothenburg city center, while if you look to the left you can get a taste of the beautiful archipelago of the west coast. On a clear day you can see all the way to Vinga lighthouse.

Music and partners along the phase
Music: Skurk
Music: Dynamoes

Following Älvsborgsbron the runners are treated to nearly 10 km along the waterfront, on the Hisingen side. The first area after you have gone through the greenery in Färjenäs at the foundation of the bridge is Eriksberg. The area used to belong to the former industrial and shipbuilding group Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB, which was founded in 1850 and built large numbers of ships over the years. The 70-meter tall and 110-meter wide crane, which today is one of Gothenburg's most famous landmarks, made it possible to assemble ships of up to half a million tons.

Before Eriksberg began its transformation from an industrial complex to a modern residential area, the district was used for large concerts. When Ullevi was rebuilt in the late 80’s, world famous artists like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Michael Jackson, U2 and David Bowie all came to Eriksberg.

Götheborg, a famous Swedish ship which was built in the early 2000’s and designed to look as much as the original it was based on as possible, has for the last two decades been anchored at Pier Four in Eriksberg. The area also offers a fantastic view of Gothenburg, lovely walks and many nice restaurants.

Music and partners along the phase
Partner: ASICS
Music: Elie Sandberg
Partner: Prioritet Finans
Partner: Bauhaus
Music: Kungälvs Dragspelsklubb
Music: James At Last
Partner: Mix Megapol
Music: KulturAtom
Partner: ASICS
Partner: Cramo
Music: Radisson
Music: TBA
Music: DJ Human

When you are halfway through Göteborgsvarvet you are in Lindholmen, another old shipyard area that has been developed into a creative cluster for both Swedish and international IT, technology and media companies, but also for other companies and schools. Kuggen, an award-winning building designed by Gert Wingårdh, houses research projects and master’s programs hosted by Chalmers, among other things.

Until 1855 Lindholmen was an island separated from Hisingen and got its name because it was overgrown with linden trees, but the history of the area dates much further back. As early as in the 13th century there was a castle here which the Swedish king Magnus Eriksson later gave as a gift to Queen Blanka. Like Eriksberg, Lindholmen also has a rich shipyard history and at the end of the 19th century Lindholmen’s shipyard was Gothenburg’s largest workplace.

Eriksberg and Lindholmen have gone through some major transformations in recent years. Frihamnen, which is Gothenburg’s innermost port located between the new Hisingsbron and Lindholmen, has begun to follow suit. The area is intended to connect both parts of the river and let old and new meet. The first stage will be completed in 2040 and the entire area is expected to be completed in 2060. The idea is that 17,000 people will live and work here.

The area consists of Södra Frihamnspiren, Norra Frihamnspiren and Kvillepiren, though the former is better known as the Banana Pier as it, until the early 2000’s, was used for the import of bananas. The pier is still full of activity, movement and music as it’s frequently used during, among other things, Göteborgskalaset and other festivals, fairs, concerts and sporting events.

The ongoing construction of Jubileumsparken is the starting point for the development of the area and keywords are accessibility and inclusion. The activities and design of the park is in accordance with the wishes and desires of the local inhabitants.

Music and partners along the phase
Music: TBA
Music: Kiriaka

Hisingsbron bridge is a relatively new addition to Göteborgsvarvet as it was inaugurated 2021. The Hisingsbron made its debut in Göteborgsvarvet 2022. In the spring 2021 it opened to pedestrians, cyclists, cars and buses, and in the autumn trams also began travelling across the bridge. It was officially opened by King Carl XVI Gustaf. The new bridge has the same name as the original bridge that connected the mainland to Hisingen. The old bridge was in use from 1874 to 1968 and has now been demolished.

The new Hisingsbron is a lift bridge made of steel and concrete, has a total length of 1,380 meters and is about 40 meters wide. The top of the four pylons reaches 35 meters above the water. This makes it lower than the old Götaälv bridge, and as a result the runners have a little extra strength left in them when they take on the last stretch of Göteborgsvarvet.

Music and partners along the phase
Music: DJ Malice
Speaker

Just over a quarter of Göteborgsvarvet remains when you turn onto Östra Hamngatan and run past Gustaf Adolfs torg, Brunnsparken and Kungsportsplatsen, then onto Gothenburg’s classic parade street Avenyn, or Kungsportsavenyn which is the official name. Despite the fact that it’s a slight uphill climb it’s difficult not to have your energy renewed on this stretch. If you haven’t already realized it earlier in the race it will become clear on Avenyn that Göteborgsvarvet is a festival for the people. Multiple lines of spectators cheer you on during the stretch up to Götaplatsen. At the top awaits the statue of the sea god Poseidon, which you will run around.

Shops, restaurants, outdoor cafes, art exhibitions and nightclubs all fight for space on Avenyn, which attracts thousands of locals and tourists on a daily basis. Gothenburg Art Museum, Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg Concert Hall and Hasselblad Center are some of the cultural elements along Avenyn and its side streets.

Music and partners along the phase
Partner: STC
Partner: Vitamin Well
Partner: Boozt/ASICS
Partner: Parkster
Partner: Saferoad

You have about four kilometers to go when you pass Poseidon and turn into Vasastaden and Linné, on the way to the finish line at Slottsskogsvallen. Student life and the art world intersect in Vasastaden, where, among others, Gothenburg Business School, the University of Gothenburg and University of Design and Crafts are all located. The district is characterized by charming turn-of-the-century buildings and is a district for socializing, eating and drinking.

Linné is also a cozy and charming district with a nice neighborhood feel to it, and it has a wonderful pulse. Lots of cozy restaurants and cafes can be found in the district, as well as the classic Hagabion which combines cinema with a restaurant and bar.

Music and partners along the phase
Speaker
Music: GC Troops
Music: Betlehemskyrkans musikkår
Music: DJ Götes
Music: DJ Patheo
Music: Pedros
Music: Recycle
Partner: Run Academy

The last phase and the very last kilometer! When you run through the last portal, you also pass the intermediate station for 20 km. Only one kilometer left through Slottsskogen where your journey began.

The crowd of ​​people is thickening again and you will pass the Garmin Power Zone.

It can be a struggle the last bit, but after a fantastic effort, it is now time for you to run across the finish line in the arena of Slottsskogsvallen. The arena was inaugurated 100 years ago and before 2021, when the city of Gothenburg turned 400 years old, the area was refurbished to accommodate all fantastic runners.

Music and partners along the phase
Partner: Garmin
Music: TBA

You did itl! With a half marathon behind you, Slottsskogsvallen now welcomes you with the sound of cheers from the audience and bombastic music.

Well-deserved medal and bananas are waiting as usual at the finish line, and we also want to spoil all runners a little extra. Slottsskogsvallen and some area outside will turn into the Runners Zone, a place for recovery, snacks and drinks, finisher photo in our selfie station, massage.

Take in the moment, discuss the race with other runners or congratulate each other on a fantastic achievement.

Partners in Runners zone
Almondy
Vitamin Well
ProPud
Chiquita
Stjärnkliniken