Malmö Attractions

Malmö has transformed into a trendy city with modern architecture and a vibrant culinary scene since the construction of the Öresund Bridge. Sweden's third-largest city (approximately 320,000 residents) is linked to Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, by this famous bridge. This connection offers numerous travel opportunities, whether by ferry from Travemünde, by car through Denmark, or by plane.

I took the opportunity to explore the city of Malmö during my road trip to the North Cape. This multicultural city, home to residents from over 150 different countries, was my destination for a two-day visit. Which places are worth seeing? Here are the top Malmö attractions for an unforgettable weekend.

Are you visiting Malmö for the first time? Then let me share the must-see places and essential tips with you.

Here are the key attractions in Malmö listed at a glance:

The first highlight I spotted from afar while on the ferry was the Turning Torso in the ultra-modern district of Västra Hamnen. Standing at 190 meters, it is Scandinavia's tallest building, towering over everything in and around Malmö. The tower twists 90 degrees from bottom to top, just as its name suggests. I had to take photos of the Turning Torso from every angle.

The tower is a landmark of Malmö that you can see on any poster. The interior consists of offices and apartments and is not particularly spectacular for sightseeing.

The historic Old Town Gamla Staden is another important attraction in Malmö. A must-see when in the city center. It features key museums, numerous restaurants, cafes, and culturally interesting spots.

The most notable squares in Gamla Staden are Stortorget and Gustav Adolfs Torg. The shopping street Södergatan connects the two squares.

I particularly enjoyed the old Skåne half-timbered houses and the typical red brick buildings here.

Slightly smaller but charmingly beautiful is Lilla Torg. The old market square, with its stunning buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, is a highlight in the center of Malmö for me. Here, you will find beautifully uneven cobblestones alongside an ancient telephone booth. The square is also lined with numerous restaurants and cafes.

The oldest church and also the #oldest building in Malmö is St. Peter's Church (Sankt Petri Kyrka). This robust church in Gothic style reaches an impressive height of 105 meters. You can tour the interior of the church. The wooden altar and the many wall paintings in the chapel are impressive, but not a must-see.

Are you interested in the history of the city? Then you must visit the Malmöhus fortress, built in the Renaissance style. This structure, dating back to the 16th century, is one of the oldest fortifications in Scandinavia. Inside are two museums: the art museum, where you can learn everything about art in Malmö, and the natural history museum. There is a knight's hall and miniature models of the city of Malmö to see.

I did not go into either, so I can't comment on them. The weather was too nice, so I preferred to spend time in Slottsparken and Kungsparken.

Adjacent to Malmöhus are the parks: Slottsparken (Castle Park) and Kungsparken (King's Park). Since 1872, this green lung of Malmö has provided a wonderful opportunity for relaxation. The English garden, featuring many different tree species and plants from around the world, is a highlight, as is the windmill. Another attraction is the sculpture garden in the heart of the park.

In Malmö, you will also find a bathing beach due to its location by the Baltic Sea. In the district of Ribersborg, you will find the long Ribersborg Beach, fondly referred to as 'Ribban' by locals. Additionally, there is the popular Kallbadhuset featuring a sauna, café, and a restaurant. You can reach the beach in just a few minutes by bike from the center (walking or e-scooters that are available everywhere are also options).

Malmö Live is a newly developed cultural district adjacent to the Old Town. Here, you will find the Malmö Live Concert Hall, which lends its name to the area, as well as a hotel, many restaurants, and conference facilities.

You can visit the Malmö Live building for free. In the top 25th floor, there is the Sky-Bar Kitchen & Table with a fantastic view and atmosphere. The view comes at a cost, and the drinks are slightly more expensive than elsewhere in the city.

Malmö's most famous landmark is undoubtedly the Öresund Bridge (Öresundsbron). Since 2000, it has connected Malmö (Sweden) with Copenhagen (Denmark). You can cross the 7 km bridge and the 4 km tunnel by car or train.

The Öresund Bridge is the world's largest cable-stayed bridge for road and rail traffic. Unfortunately, the toll for crossing is not cheap. Depending on the type of car or RV you drive, the cost starts from 48 Euros. It is advisable to purchase a ticket in advance. If you cross the bridge multiple times, the BroPas may save you 50% on fees.

There are several viewpoints to photograph the bridge. Since I arrived by ferry, it was ideal for capturing all possible perspectives of the bridge from the water.

The 8 km long Öresund Bridge connects Copenhagen (Denmark) with Malmö (Sweden). Since 2000, you can easily and quickly transit between Copenhagen and Malmö. Since 2012, the bridge gained more fame through the TV series 'The Bridge,' which captivated millions of Germans to binge-watch episode after episode of this crime series. I'm also a fan of this series.

The best viewpoint for the Öresund Bridge is located directly in the marina at Limhamn. Coincidentally, it's right by the Limhamn Small Boat Harbor RV parking area, where I stayed.

The 45-hectare Pildammsparken is the largest park in Malmö. Situated south of the city center, it was established around a water reservoir system made up of several old ponds created for the city of Malmö in the late 17th century.

In the Margaret Pavilion (Royal Pavilion), you will find a café serving truly delicious cakes. In summer, there are free concerts and theater performances in the amphitheater. You can also just chill in the park and enjoy the sun in peace.

If you walk from Kungsparken towards the Malmö City Library, you will quickly understand why I am so fond of this building. Be sure to check out the interior. It is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in Scandinavia, and I believe it truly deserves this recognition. This light-filled building can compete with the beautiful library in Stockholm and even in Tromsø.

Do you have a little more time? Then you should take a day trip to Lund, Sweden's second-oldest university town. You can easily explore the city, home to 30,000 residents, in half a day to a day.

With the regional train from SJ.se, you'll be at Lund station in just 10 minutes. Locals love to go to Lund because the pubs and bars are cheaper due to the many students compared to those in Malmö.

If you've never been to Copenhagen, you should definitely prioritize a visit. The two cities of Copenhagen and Malmö are ideal for a combined exploration. If you arrive at Copenhagen Airport, that works out perfectly. Here, you will find my free Copenhagen travel guide with all tips & highlights.

The Skanör-Falsterbo peninsula offers over 40 km of white sandy beaches and colorful fishermen's huts for rent nestled among the dunes. If you want to enjoy a day by the sea, this is the perfect spot.

In both Skanör and Falsterbo, you can admire picturesque houses and enjoy the long beaches. As a popular vacation destination, there are many vacation homes, hotels, restaurants, and cafes available here.

I didn't just spend time at the beach in Skanör, but also in the dunes to see the many little pastel-colored bathing houses. These bathing houses were built to provide a changing area from bathing and to offer shelter from the sun and wind.

Stop by the Restaurant Badhytten right on the beach in Skanör.

You can take a really affordable city tour (especially on rainy days) with bus line 3 (the "ring line"). The bus loops around the downtown area of Malmö. The ideal starting point is the main train station ("Centralen").

Ideally, you should explore Malmö not just on foot but also change up your perspective by taking a boat tour through Malmö's Old Town canals. I participated in a guided tour with a guide, starting at the Märlaborn Bridge right across from the main station.

Alternatively, you can rent an electric motorboat from Book-A-Boat, which many locals choose to do. The canals were quite full until a sudden rain shower hit.

Here you will find my city map for Malmö, including all attractions, noteworthy places, and tips for dining, bars, and other highlights.

I recommend purchasing a combination of these two travel guides:

In general, the summer (June - August) is the most beautiful and warmest travel time for Malmö. Southern Sweden has an oceanic climate influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the warmth of the Gulf Stream.

Rainy days are rare in summer, with temperatures around 25°C. Especially in the summer months, the days are very long. You can expect around nine hours of sunshine, which is fantastic for sightseeing. From September, it rains occasionally, but the climate remains quite mild.

I visited Malmö in September and enjoyed a lot of sunshine with temperatures around 24°C. Since Malmö is by the sea, the weather is typically mild. In summer, you can swim in the sea, and in winter, you can visit the seaside saunas before taking an ice bath. Scandinavians are not deterred by sub-zero temperatures.

You can explore the main highlights of Malmö in one day. Ideally, two days are recommended for a more relaxed experience. If you plan to take day trips to Lund or Copenhagen, I suggest staying in Malmö for four to five days. A day trip to Skanör and Falsterbo also worth it.

Are you traveling by camper? Then check out my route through southern Sweden to the North Cape. Or simply take a look at the highlights in southern Sweden between Malmö and Stockholm.

The nearest airport is not in Malmö but on the other side of the Öresund Bridge in Copenhagen. Kastrup Airport is only 40 minutes away from Malmö by train.

I always check Skyscanner for the cheapest flights. For short trips, I always book direct flights. Generally, I avoid flights as much as possible.

You can reach Malmö from Kastrup Copenhagen Airport by train in 40 minutes.

If you are arriving by car or RV: No problem. You can either cross from the island of Fehmarn and take ferries to Denmark and the Öresund Bridge to Malmö, or you can do as I did and take a ferry directly to Malmö from Travemünde.

Book your ferry in advance on this website and compare prices.

From Hamburg, the train ride takes only six hours (Prices starting from 39.90 Euros Europe Saver Price). So Malmö is also quickly and environmentally friendly accessible by train from Germany.

Public transport in Malmö and the Skåne region is managed by Skånetrafiken. There are also special tickets that are valid for travel across the Öresund Bridge to Copenhagen.

Download the Skånetrafiken app on your smartphone before traveling. You can purchase tickets anytime through the app for buses and trains. Single tickets can be obtained from ticket machines at the station or on buses. For this, I recommend having a credit card for travel without foreign transaction fees.

Note: In the city buses in Malmö, you cannot pay with cash.

I skipped the bus with the nice weather and opted for a day pass for an e-scooter. It's wonderfully relaxed to ride around Malmö with one. There are many bike paths available for this. My tip: Day passes from Voi (a Swedish company) were the cheapest.

Malmö is among the most bike-friendly cities in Europe, alongside Copenhagen and Amsterdam. It has a fantastic network of bike paths. You can rent bikes everywhere. A bike tour along the coastal bike path is ideal. Passing Ribersborg Beach, all the way to the photo spot of the Öresund Bridge (where I coincidentally stayed at the RV parking area).

Bikes are available from Donkey, among others.

A contrast to the ultra-modern Västra Hamnen is the old town, Gamla Staden. Here many buildings over several hundred years old stand: Skåne half-timbered houses and Hanseatic-style houses made of dark red brick. Time and again, these buildings are integrated into modern glass winter garden constructions.

I was genuinely surprised by Malmö. I had no expectations and was thrilled by the many beautiful historical and modern buildings. For fans of modern architecture, Malmö is a must-see.

I will definitely return to Malmö.

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