Malmö travel guide
Malmö Tourism | Malmö Guide
You're Going to Love Malmö
Malmo is the third largest city in Sweden and the largest in the Scania region. This bustling port city is perched on the very southern tip of Sweden, with Denmark's capital Copenhagen just across the Oresund bridge. The city was made famous by the cult crime TV series 'The Bridge'.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Malmö
1. The Cosmopolitan Atmosphere
Around one third of the city's population was born outside of Sweden, making it the country's most cosmopolitan city and resulting in some exciting ethnic food and atmospheric bars and cafes.
2. The Beach Life
Visit in summer and enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the city's Ribersborgsstranden beach.
3. Walking
Go to Stortorget Square and join one of the frequent walking tours of the city. The tours take around two hours and are free (you are expected to tip the guide.)
4. Relax in the Squares
The city center is built around three squares: Gustav Adolfs torg, Stortorget and Lilla torg. There is some good shopping here and there are sites such as Kockska Huset in the area. Lilla torg is great for hanging out in pavement bars and cafes.
5. Folklets Park
This is where the locals go to enjoy horse riding, sunbathing, picnics and the rides at the amusement park.
What to do in Malmö
1. Crossing The Strait
One of the biggest advantages when visiting Malmo in the South of Sweden is its close proximity to neighboring Denmark. Following route E20 takes you between Denmark's capital of Copenhagen and Sweden's third most populated city, Malmo. The Oresund Bridge was completed in 2000 and is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. Crossing over the Oresund Bridge is by far the most common way to get between these two Scandinavian countries, facilitating nearly 100,000 commuters each day as they travel by train, bus, and car.
2. A Step Back Into History
No trip to Sweden would be complete without paying tribute to Malmo Castle's strategic political significance within the ancient Scandinavian region. When the castle was originally built in the 15th century by King Eric Pomerania it was one of the strongest forts of the wide Danish kingdom, which comprised Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. After partially burning down in the 16th century, the structure was again fortified into the impressive fortress and Renaissance palace that can be seen today. Malmo Castle is considered a Swedish cultural heritage monument and is open to the public free of charge as a museum and educational center.
3. Stretch Out And Unwind
As far as European cities go, Malmo tends to feel more in touch with effortlessly incorporating the city's beautiful natural surroundings into its busy city tempo. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the sprawling 8.4 hectare English-style park located right next to Malmo City Hall in the heart of downtown. Here you will find several ponds, sprawling lawns, perfectly trimmed hedges, and tree lined boulevards where you can spend a relaxing day away from the tourist areas. The park is also home to several native ducks, geese, and swans, making a romantic sunset stroll that much more magical.
4. Become A Local
Pick up an original souvenir or just browse the many artisan stalls at Möllevångstorget Square's weekend open-air market. Here you can buy food, textiles, housewares, and more while supporting the sustainability of Malmo's local population. This area's demographic is popular among Middle East and Asian immigrants, adding an extra multicultural aspect to Sweden's third most populous city. Travel tip: the surrounding area of Mollan is also popular among locals for its affordable nightlife scene with many bars, restaurants, clubs, and performance venues located close to Möllevångstorget Square.
5. Dive In
Those visiting in the warmer summer months can join Swedish locals who flock to this 2 kilometer stretch of sandy beach for a refreshing dip just west of downtown. There are also several lawns available for visitors to have a picnic, play sports, or generally just enjoy being close to the seaside without having to commit to swimming. The truly brave who visit in the winter can also indulge in the local tradition of ice bathing, after which visitors can warm up at the nearby Kallbadhuset sauna with great views looking out to Oresund.
1. Crossing The Strait
One of the biggest advantages when visiting Malmo in the South of Sweden is its close proximity to neighboring Denmark. Following route E20 takes you between Denmark's capital of Copenhagen and Sweden's third most populated city, Malmo. The Oresund Bridge was completed in 2000 and is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. Crossing over the Oresund Bridge is by far the most common way to get between these two Scandinavian countries, facilitating nearly 100,000 commuters each day as they travel by train, bus, and car.
2. A Step Back Into History
No trip to Sweden would be complete without paying tribute to Malmo Castle's strategic political significance within the ancient Scandinavian region. When the castle was originally built in the 15th century by King Eric Pomerania it was one of the strongest forts of the wide Danish kingdom, which comprised Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. After partially burning down in the 16th century, the structure was again fortified into the impressive fortress and Renaissance palace that can be seen today. Malmo Castle is considered a Swedish cultural heritage monument and is open to the public free of charge as a museum and educational center.
3. Stretch Out And Unwind
As far as European cities go, Malmo tends to feel more in touch with effortlessly incorporating the city's beautiful natural surroundings into its busy city tempo. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the sprawling 8.4 hectare English-style park located right next to Malmo City Hall in the heart of downtown. Here you will find several ponds, sprawling lawns, perfectly trimmed hedges, and tree lined boulevards where you can spend a relaxing day away from the tourist areas. The park is also home to several native ducks, geese, and swans, making a romantic sunset stroll that much more magical.
4. Become A Local
Pick up an original souvenir or just browse the many artisan stalls at Möllevångstorget Square's weekend open-air market. Here you can buy food, textiles, housewares, and more while supporting the sustainability of Malmo's local population. This area's demographic is popular among Middle East and Asian immigrants, adding an extra multicultural aspect to Sweden's third most populous city. Travel tip: the surrounding area of Mollan is also popular among locals for its affordable nightlife scene with many bars, restaurants, clubs, and performance venues located close to Möllevångstorget Square.
5. Dive In
Those visiting in the warmer summer months can join Swedish locals who flock to this 2 kilometer stretch of sandy beach for a refreshing dip just west of downtown. There are also several lawns available for visitors to have a picnic, play sports, or generally just enjoy being close to the seaside without having to commit to swimming. The truly brave who visit in the winter can also indulge in the local tradition of ice bathing, after which visitors can warm up at the nearby Kallbadhuset sauna with great views looking out to Oresund.
Where to Eat in Malmö
Ankara on Södra Förstadsgatan serves good Turkish cuisine from just kr79 for dinner. Bloom on Pildammsvägen offers modern Swedish food with a five course dinner costing kr695.
When to visit Malmö
Malmo has cold winters but enjoys activities like ice skating and ice swimming in the winter months. Summer is warm and dry and a good time to explore the city.
How to Get to Malmö
Plane
The nearest major airport is Copenhagen Airport, around 18 miles to the south. It has a good range of international connections. Regular trains run from the airport to Malmo city center, with fares from kr110. A taxi will cost around kr610.
Train
Malmo has excellent rail connections to other Swedish cities and international destinations. A single to Copenhagen Central will cost around kr190.
Car
Malmo is well connected by road, with the E6 running to Helsingborg, the E4 connecting Stockholm and the E20 running across the bridge to Copenhagen and on to mainland Europe.
Bus
Eurolines, Swebus and Grahundbus all run regular services to Malmo. A single from Copenhagen costs around kr35.
Airports near Malmö
Airlines serving Malmö
Where to stay in Malmö
The STF Hostel Malmö City on Rönngatan offers basic accommodation in a central location from kr225 nightly. The Marriott Renaissance Malmo Hotel on Mäster Johansgatan offers luxury rooms with classic style for kr1,100.
Popular neighbourhoods in Malmö
Möllevångstorget - is a vibrant, multicultural area in the city center, with lots of nightclubs, bars, Asian restaurants and a morning market selling fresh fruit and vegetables.
Gamla Väster - lies between Malmohus and Lila Torget and is an upscale area of galleries, designer stores and restaurants.
Davidshallstorg - is another prosperous area, with good shopping and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.
Where to stay in popular areas of Malmö
Most booked hotels in Malmö
How to Get Around Malmö
Public Transportation
Malmo has an excellent local bus service with green city buses running regularly. A day pass is kr65 and single journey kr22.
Taxi
Taxis are widely available and reliable. The starting fare is kr59 and then kr18 per mile.
Car
Malmo has a good local road network and car rental cost around kr500 per day.
The Cost of Living in Malmö
Shopping Streets
Malmo's main shopping streets are Sodergaten and Sodra Sodergaten, with an excellent range of international chains and smaller local stores selling everything from local crafts and pottery to designer label fashion.
Groceries and Other
A quart of milk in Malmo will cost around kr10.57 and a loaf of bread is around kr22.35.