Universeum

Universeum opened in 2001 next to Liseberg in a building by Gert Wingardh, and its organising idea is vertical: you take a lift to the top and work down, which puts the rainforest hall at the upper levels as a full-height space with free-flying birds, monkeys, sloths and a waterfall, kept warm and humid enough that visitors notice the change on entry. Below it are aquariums including a shark tunnel, a Swedish waters section, reptiles, and floors of hands-on physics, technology and space exhibits aimed at school ages. It is largely a children's destination, busy in holidays, and the combination of live animals and science centre makes for a long visit.

Background

Universeum works as a science centre, a zoo and a public aquarium at once. It stands on Evenemangsstråket, the avenue of events near Korsvägen and Skånegatan, which also takes in Scandinavium, Ullevi, Svenska Mässan, Liseberg and the Museum of World Culture. The building is split into six sections, each with experiment workshops, and some of them hold reptiles, fish, insects and other animals. The water displays include a 1400000 L Ocean Tank of sharks and other tropical fish, an aquarium 16 metres long with native sea fish, and a tank where visitors can touch rays. From time to time Swedish secondary school students get the chance to debate here with Nobel Prize-winners and professors.

Source: Wikipedia, "Universeum"

What you'll find

• A full-height rainforest hall - free-flying birds, monkeys and sloths.
• Aquariums and a shark tunnel - including Swedish species.
• Hands-on technology floors - physics, space, engineering.
• A top-down building - lift up, then walk down.

When to go

Year round; it is indoors. Three to four hours.

Practical notes

It is designed for children and busy with school groups. Tickets are expensive. The rainforest is hot and humid by design. Holiday periods are very crowded.

Nearby

Liseberg is next door; World of Volvo is alongside.

Key facts