Hisingen Island

Address: Hisingen island (part of Gothenburg), Västra Götaland County, Sweden

Hisingen is a large island in Västra Götaland County that forms the northern part of the city of Gothenburg. It accommodates a mix of residential districts, industrial zones and port facilities and is an integral part of the Gothenburg metropolitan area.

Key areas include former shipyard and marina developments, large industrial sites such as the Volvo plant and residential suburbs with parks and local services. The island is traversed by major road connections and linked to central Gothenburg by bridges and tunnels.

Settlement and industrial expansion accelerated in the 19th and 20th centuries as Gothenburg’s port and manufacturing sectors grew, and Hisingen remains an important node for shipping and industry within the region.

Geographically the island sits in the estuary of the Göta Älv river within Gothenburg municipality and is immediately adjacent to the city centre across the river.

• Transport links: The island is integrated into Gothenburg’s urban area and connected by bridges and tunnels; public transport links run frequently to the city centre.
• Industry and population: Contains a mix of heavy industry, port facilities and residential neighbourhoods, including major employers such as automotive and shipbuilding-related businesses.

What to See#

• Eriksberg: Eriksberg is a redeveloped former shipyard on the western shore with a marina, residential blocks and preserved industrial cranes from the shipbuilding era.
• Torslanda (industrial area): Torslanda hosts major automotive industry facilities including the Volvo Torslanda plant, an important local employer and industrial area on the island’s northwest coast.
• Residential districts and connections: Backa and other northern residential districts provide suburban housing, parks and ferry and bridge connections to central Gothenburg across the Göta Älv.

Hisingen is the large island/district immediately north of central Gothenburg. It is connected to the city by several bridges (including the new Hisingsbron) and is reached by local Västtrafik buses and trams from Göteborg Central; by car it’s only a few kilometres from the city centre across the bridges (a short drive). Local public transport timetables on Västtrafik give the best routes to specific parts of the island.

• Use Gothenburg's public transport (trams and ferries) to reach different parts of Hisingen - districts like Eriksberg and Backa are well served and easier to explore without a car.
• Plan to explore waterfront redevelopments (Eriksberg quay and Klippan) off‑peak; weekends can be busy with locals, while weekday mornings and late afternoons give quieter access to riverside views and converted shipyard sites.
• Renting a bike or following a mapped tram plus short walks lets you hit varied neighborhoods quickly - Hisingen is large and spread out, so focus on one area (e.g., Eriksberg) per visit.