Pildammsparken
Roughly 45-hectare park south of the centre, around Pildammen pond, built for the Baltic Exhibition 1914. Avenues, wide lawns, and the blooming Blomstergatan make it the city's top excursion destination.
Sweden
Malmö
CityCulture
Malmö has a good 360,000 inhabitants, making it Sweden's third-largest city, and lies on the Öresund, about 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen.
by Felix Gillen
Malmö has a good 360,000 inhabitants, making it Sweden's third-largest city, and lies on the Öresund, about 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen. The old town around Stortorget and Lilla Torg, the Renaissance castle Malmöhus and the Turning Torso residential tower in the Västra Hamnen harbour district show the range of the city. More than a third of residents were born abroad, which is clearly noticeable in its markets, snack bars and restaurants.
Sights in Malmö
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Kungsparken
Romantic landscape park right next to Malmöhus Castle, laid out from 1869 and opened in 1872. Winding paths, old and partly exotic trees, and the canal make it a quiet place for a break.
Stadtbibliothek Malmö
The library connects "Slottet", a Renaissance-style building originally erected for the Malmö Museum, with the glass extension "Ljusets kalender" by Danish architect Henning Larsen from 1997. The bright reading room with a view of the castle park is freely accessible.
St. Peter's Church
Malmö's oldest church, a 14th-century Brick Gothic building with flying buttresses modeled on Lübeck. Worth seeing are the whitewashed interior and the painted Merchants' Chapel.
Turning Torso
The 190-meter-tall residential tower by architect Santiago Calatrava was completed in 2005. Its nine segments, twisted against each other, are the landmark of Västra Hamnen; the upper floors can only be visited on specific dates with prior booking.
Malmöhus
The 16th-century fortress is Scandinavia's oldest preserved Renaissance castle. Today it houses the Malmö Museum with city history, art, natural history, and an aquarium.
City walks in Malmö
Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.
Malmö: From Stortorget to Malmöhus Castle
From the Central Station, head to Stortorget with Karl X Gustav's statue, then on to Lilla Torg and its old half-timbered houses. After the Gothic St. Peter's Church, the path leads through Kungsparken and Slottsparken to Malmöhus Castle and the Malmö Live Concert Hall by the canal.
Stops (7)
Essen & Trinken
Market hall in a former warehouse building near the main train station. Around a dozen stalls offer ramen, falafel, fish, cheese, and pastries; ideal for a quick lunch.
Historic inn on Storgatan with dark wood panelling and classic Swedish home cooking. Relaxed atmosphere, often busy in the evenings.
Pizzeria with a wood-fired oven and wine bar in the Möllevången district. Neapolitan-style pizzas are baked at around 400 degrees, served with natural wines and cocktails.
Small ramen bar in southern downtown serving homemade noodles, broths, and Japanese beer. No reservations; expect a wait at peak times.
Food & Drink
Malmö's cuisine is internationally influenced, with prices lower than Stockholm's.
Falafel
Falafel is so widespread in Malmö that it is considered the unofficial city dish. Small eateries in Möllevången and around Triangeln sell them cheaply until late at night.
Möllevångstorget
On Möllevången market square, vendors sell fruit, vegetables, and spices most days. Around it are food shops from the Middle East and Asia.
Fika
The Swedish coffee break with cinnamon or cardamom pastries is everyday routine. Many Old Town and Davidshall cafés bake their own.
Culture and History
From Herring City to Bridge CityMalmö was a Danish trading city in the Middle Ages, sustained by herring fishing. The brick Gothic of Sankt Petri kyrka dates from this era, and the merchant houses around Lilla Torg from the following centuries of Danish rule. In 1658, the city fell to Sweden. In the 20th century, the Kockums shipyard shaped the cityscape until civil shipbuilding ended in 1986. With the Öresund Bridge (2000) and the redevelopment of the shipyard area into Västra Hamnen, Malmö reinvented itself.Cultural LifeModerna Museet Malmö and the Konsthall showcase contemporary art, while Malmö Live Konserthus presents classical and pop music. In August, the Malmöfestivalen city festival transforms the city centre for a week into an open-air stage with free admission.
Nightlife
Bar and bistro at Programmkino Spegeln on Stortorget, a meeting place before or after a film, and open even without a cinema ticket.
Nightclub on Södra Promenaden at the edge of the Old Town, with DJs and a dance floor on weekends.
Pub on Stora Nygatan with a great selection of draught beers.
Small wine and gin bar in Lejonpassagen near Stortorget, with a wide selection of gin and open wines.
Shotbar on Kalendegatan between Stortorget and Lilla Torg, offering an extensive shot menu.
Despite the name, it’s not a campsite: Camping is a bar with a restaurant directly on Stortorget, and in the evenings, a meeting point for drinks in the heart of the Old Town.
Irish Pub on Kalendegatan, a few steps from Stortorget, with draft beer and sports broadcasts.
On the Road in Malmö
The city center is best explored on foot or by bike. Rental bikes are available through the Malmö by Bike rental system. Green city buses cover all neighborhoods; the tram was discontinued in 1973, and there is no subway.Tickets can be purchased in the Skånetrafiken app or contactless by card on boardThe Citytunnel connects Malmö C, Triangeln, and Hyllie with the Öresund BridgeYou can reach Copenhagen Airport by Öresundståg in about 20 minutes; for entry into Sweden, you need a valid ID, which is checked at Hyllie stationMalmö Airport (Sturup) is located almost 30 km east and can be reached by Flygbuss
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Campgrounds in Malmö
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