This European city is getting a brand-new neighbourhood with a massive €100 million train station

One of the most underrated cities in Scandinavia is about to get easier to visit, as a brand-new train station is opening in the not-so-distant future.

Gothenburg is Sweden’s second city, but it’s often overshadowed by popular Nordic destinations like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and even the ultra-northern Svalbard. It’s our fourth favourite city break in Scandinavia (beating out both the Finnish and Swedish capitals) and is connected to dozens of islands, perfect for a summer sailing trip. 

The city might soon lose its ‘hidden gem’ status, though, owing to the construction of a brand-new neighbourhood and enormous central train station.

The station, costing just shy of €100 million to build, will be ‘close to everything the city has to offer and a little more’, according to its website. Engineering firm Peab has been awarded the contract to construct the space, which it hopes will be ready to open by 2027.

As well as a revamped modern look, Gothenburg Grand Central will have more than 7,000 square feet of retail space, with 1,400 square feet earmarked for shops and restaurants. Staff and the public will also have access to a rooftop garden, perfect for enjoying city views in the summer months. As if that wasn’t enough, it will also be ultra-sustainable, with building materials chosen because of their low carbon footprints.

A new city centre neighbourhood is being built in Gothenburg 

Grand Central is only one part of a wider masterplan to construct an entire new neighbourhood in the city centre called ‘Centralstaden’. Officials are calling this a ‘historic transformation’ for Gothenburg, which will bring in tourism and ‘create a new, vibrant district with a rich selection of offices, housing, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, services and culture’.

The goal is to ‘connect the city across the river and establish a new natural centre that is easy to reach’ by improving infrastructure and making the area a cool place to spend time.

‘Maybe you take a walk, have dinner, or just stroll around for a while… an environment that is characterised by its large and varied selection [of activities], with lots of life both inside and in-between the buildings.’ This includes new third spaces like parks and squares where people can meet and hang out.

Three new underground stations will also be constructed as part of the scheme: Grand Central, Haga, and Korsvagen. Existing trams and buses will also be seamlessly interlinked.

Here’s a first look at what Grand Central, and the broader Centralstaden community, could look like.

Did you see that a brand-new sleeper train linking three exciting European cities is launching next spring?

Plus: These are officially Europe’s friendliest cities, according to locals.