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It’s through popular culture that the southern Swedish city of Malmo (Malmö) came to my attention. Those of you who have read my Best European TV series post will know that I’m a fan of The Bridge, the Nordic Noir series set in both Malmo and Copenhagen.
Malmo is the only non-capital city to have hosted the Eurovision Song Contest more than once. Ireland’s fourth win was in Malmo in 1992. And we discovered the best Eurovision presenter ever when Petra Mede hosted the second Malmo-based contest in 2013. Malmo hosted Eurovision for a third time in 2024.
And so I set off to visit Malmo with great expectations. And I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, the city exceeded those expectations. In this post, I list the top things to do in Malmo that should keep you occupied for a few days. First up, some geography…
WHERE IS MALMO
Malmo is a coastal city located in Skåne (pronounced Skaw-nah), Sweden’s most southerly region. Skåne is known as Scania in English. The Oresund Strait divides Malmo from the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The two cities are linked by road and rail via the colossal Oresund Bridge.
THINGS TO DO IN MALMO
Stroll around the Old Town
The TV series The Bridge doesn’t paint Malmo in the best light, both from a societal and architectural perspective. Fortunately, the Old Town (Gamla Staden) is nothing like the grey industrial landscapes showcased in the programme. Cobbled streets and squares filled with multi-coloured buildings make the Old Town a pleasure to stroll around.
The three squares in the Old Town are Stortorget, Lilla Torg and Gustav Adolfs Torg. Buildings worth checking out are Radhuset (Town Hall – pictured below left) and Sankt Petri Kyrka (St. Peter’s Church).
Visit Malmo Castle (Malmöhus Slott)
Malmöhus Slott dates back to the 16th century when Malmo was under Danish rule. It was initially constructed as a fortress and a temporary royal residence, but evolved to become a prison. It now houses museums, gift shops and restaurants.
View the Turning Torso
Malmo is equally known for its modern architecture and none more so than the Turning Turso, a 190 metre-high skyscraper that is not only Sweden’s tallest building but is visible for miles.
Located in the redeveloped North West part of the city, it is an engineering marvel as it twists 90 degrees from base to top. Up close, the building’s optics made me a little dizzy.
Do a Canal Tour
The Old Town is surrounded by canals on all sides. For a different view of the city, take one of the canal tours from Norra Vallgatan outside the central train station. Pedal boats are also available for hire.
Bathe/Swim in the Oresund Strait
If you prefer to be in the water as opposed to on it, head to Ribersborgs beach for a dip in the Oresund Strait, the stretch of water separating Sweden from Denmark. While the beach and the nearby park were perfect places to relax, I found the swimming area quite shallow.
Deeper but choppier swimming areas can be found along the coast north and south of Ribersborgs. Also in Ribersborgs is the Kallbadhus, an open-air bath and sauna.
View/Cross the Oresund Bridge (Öresundsbron)
Nobody fails to be impressed by the Oresund Bridge, Europe’s longest combined road/rail bridge. It links Malmo with Copenhagen and was the site of the first murder in the TV series. I travelled over it by train but the best view of the bridge’s structure is by bus/car.
From land, the bridge can be viewed from any of Malmo’s western parks but locals said the lookout point at Luftkastellet is the best place for an up-close picture.
Go socialising in Lilla Torg
Not only is the Old Town the best place for architecture, it is also the best place for socialising. Get your night off to a cracking start at one of the many bars on Lilla Torg. Drinks and food on this square are more expensive than elsewhere in the Old Town so bear that in mind if you plan to linger there.
Swedish cider is divine on warm evenings. For winter trips, Swedish vodka is flavoured with herbs and spices that aid respiratory problems.
Go Shopping
If you want to bring some of that glorious Swedish vodka home for medicinal purposes, takeaway alcohol is only sold in the government-run Systembolaget shops, of which there are only a handful in the city.
I normally don’t shop for clothes when on tour but I found Malmo had a good selection of stock to suit my tall frame.
Day Trips Elsewhere
Okay, I know this is a post on the things to do in Malmo. But given its location and outstanding transport links, Malmo is an excellent, stress-free base for visiting other towns and cities.
Ystad, Lund, Helsingborg and Skåne’s beautiful beaches are all within easy reach of Malmo by public transport. Regarding beaches, I did a day trip to the beautiful Falsterbo Strand. The train to Copenhagen takes 30-40 minutes so a day trip to Copenhagen would also be possible.
The Bridge Tour
This activity is probably for dedicated fans of the TV series but the TV series has inspired many tourists to visit the city, this blogger included. The Visit Skane website has a list of places where significant scenes were filmed.
MALMO TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Accommodation in Malmo
If using Malmo as a base to visit elsewhere in Skåne, the Old Town is the best place to stay for public transport links. Check out this comprehensive selection of places to stay.
Best time to visit Malmo
The summer months of July and August are glorious to experience Malmo and Skåne’s outdoor activities. Top temperatures during this time reach above 20C/70F with very little rainfall.
Getting to Malmo
Although Malmo has its own airport, nearby Copenhagen Airport serves more routes. You can get a train directly from Copenhagen Airport to Malmo Central Station.
The train from Stockholm to Malmo takes 5-6 hours. The train from Gothenburg takes 3-4 hours.
Getting around Malmo
The Old Town is easily walked. Central Train Station and the bus station on Centralplan are located immediately north of the Old Town. Skanetrafiken operates the local buses and trains. The information boards for buses on Centralplan is foolproof.
Arrivals Hall 