What is Borås known for?

Borås is sometimes referred to as the textile capital of Sweden. The city became the centre for Sweden’s textile industry several hundred years ago. These days, however, most manufacturing has moved abroad, but Borås remains the centre for textile design in Sweden. Many of Sweden’s leading fashion and textile companies are based in and around Borås and the Swedish School of Textiles leads the way in textile research and education.

In recent years, Borås has also earned a reputation as the sculpture capital of Sweden. There are sculptures by renowned Swedish and international artists placed all over the city. The largest attraction, literally, is the nine-metre-tall sculpture of Pinocchio by the American artist Jim Dine.

Borås has many parks and green spaces. To name just a few, we can recommend Stadsparken, Annelundsparken, and Ramnaparken, where you can find long walking paths, disc golf, and a boules court.

If you like outdoor recreation, you have definitely come to the right place! Borås has many such areas, e.g. Kypegården, Kransmossen, Rya Åsar and Ymer. There are many swimming and grilling facilities, jogging, skiing, and hiking trails, as well as outdoor gyms. In several of these areas, you can also fish, picnic, and play disc golf, boules, and beach volleyball. Storsjön and Kransmossen are wheelchair accessible.

Bars & Clubs

The university campus is located right in the city centre, which means that you are always close to fun nights out! Many nightspots have student discounts! At the Student Union's pub The Kårner, you can go to meals, themed parties, and After School.

Summer Thursdays

The City of Borås has evening city parties throughout the summer. Stortorget (the main square) is the setting of a free outdoor concert with famous Swedish artists such as Sabina Ddumba, Daniel Adams-Ray, Hoffmaestro, Loreen, and others.

The campus is right in the city centre, so there are many shops, restaurants, and cafés nearby with both indoor and outdoor seating – and many offer a student discount! And the university itself has several restaurants, salad bars, cafés, etc.

Several of the major gym chains in Borås offer student discounts. For those who want to visit other kinds of sports facilities, there are many pools, ice-skating rinks, climbing facilities including accessible sports facilities, track and field facilities, skiing centres, and much more. 

If you are interested in ball sports and other sports clubs, you can find organisations for floorball, skiing, football, orienteering, archery, and many others.

Borås Arena is the home stadium of the Elfsborg football team. The Student Union distributes tickets to members.

For those who want to watch basketball or ice hockey, check out Borås Basket and Borås HC. Both offer student discounts.

There are several places to go bowling or play shuffleboard and also arcades in Borås.

Want to see a film? Both the current films running and art house selections can be found in Borås. Prefer the theatre? Borås is known for its lively theatre scene. Stand-up comedy is also particularly popular in Borås. Live music (classical, jazz, you name it) can be experienced in many different settings. 

Textile Museum of Sweden

On the ground floor of the Swedish School of Textiles, you can find one of the leading textile museums in the Nordic countries, Textilmuseet (Swedish Textile Museum). See exhibitions, go to workshops, try on clothes, or even create some yourself in a creative environment surrounded by thousands of fabrics, clothes, and textile products. Free admission for students.

Abecita Konstmuseum

Abecita Popkonst & Foto (Abecita Poparts & Photo) has photography, graphic art, and a textile museum with works from both international and Nordic photographers and artists. With about 400 works with a focus on the breakthrough of pop art to date, the exhibition is unique in Europe. The museum also organises lectures with working photographers. Student discount.

Borås Museum

The open-air Borås Museum (Museum of History of Borås) is located in beautiful Ramnaparken; you can enjoy picnics, Christmas markets, Midsummer celebrations etc. Learn more about Borås’s cultural heritage or enjoy something from the café.

Hofsnäs herrgård/Torpa stenhus

Hofsnäs herrgård (Hofsnäs Manor) is a 16th-century manor house with a restaurant and café as well as cycling, hiking, boat rentals, swimming, and fishing. Nearby is Torpa stenhus (Torpa Castle), a former defence castle that is one of Sweden's best-preserved medieval structures.

Borås Zoo

This is one of Sweden's largest zoos. Borås Zoo was one of the first in Sweden to create natural environments for its animals where they can go free in large enclosures instead of in cages.

Mölarps kvarn

Mölarps kvarn (Mölarp’s Mill) is a well-preserved mill from the 19th century in surroundings rich with ancient ruins, burial grounds, and a cist.

Ramnakyrkan

Ramnakyrkan is a wooden church from the 17th century that today is part of Borås Museum.