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Crime is not the first word that springs to mind when you arrive in gorgeous Ystad, Sweden. But that’s what brought Ystad to international attention and was my reason for visiting.
The crime I’m referring to is that of the fictional variety as Ystad is where Henning Mankell’s Inspector Kurt Wallander is based. In fact, Mankell couldn’t have picked a more unlikely place to set a series of books on crime.
WHERE IS YSTAD?
Skane (pronounced Skaw-nah) is Sweden’s most southerly region. Ystad is a port town located on Skane’s Baltic south coast. Ystad is south west of Malmo.
If you are not familiar with Swedish place names, gatan means street and torget means square.
YSTAD ATTRACTIONS
While I visited to pay homage to Inspector Wallander, Ystad town just melted my heart. Dating back to the medieval period, it is one of the quaintest towns I’ve visited.
St Knuts Torg
When exiting the train station, pop into the tourist office on St Knuts Torg for a map of the city and some information on guided tours. However, it’s a town you can easily walk around on your own initiative.
Wallander’s favourite café, Fridolfs Konditori, is on this square. It’s a plain establishment with limited but tasty pastries. It’s a must for the detective’s fans.
Stora Ostergatan
Take a right at St Knuts Torg and meander along the cobbled back streets to Osterportstorg. This square marks the east end of Stora Ostergatan, the town’s main street.
Even though the street measures approx. 400 metres, it took me about two hours to get from one end to the other. It is lined with half-timbered houses, cafes and shops. In fact, Pilgrandshuset on Stora Ostergatan is Sweden’s oldest half-timbered house.
Stortorget
At the west end of Stora Ostergatan lies Stortorget. The main building here is the brown brick Sankta Maria Kyrka (St. Mary’s Church). This square and the streets adjacent to it have an excellent selection of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Ystad Studios Visitor Centre
Inspector Wallander was brought to life in both a Swedish TV series and a UK English language remake. The indoor scenes of both the Swedish and UK versions were filmed in Ystad studios, as were the indoor scenes of The Bridge, the Malmo-based crime series.
The Ystad Studios Visitor Centre brings to life the interior sets of a number of TV series. Wallander and The Bridge were the programmes that I was familiar with. A number of Swedish films were also showcased.
The studios are located 3-4 km from Ystad centre.
YSTAD TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Accommodation in Ystad
I visited Ystad as a day trip from Malmo. But if you wish to stay in Ystad, booking.com has a comprehensive selection of accommodation options.
Best time to visit Ystad
Like all of Skane, July and August are the warmest and sunniest but accommodation fills up very quickly during the summer season.
Getting to Ystad
Ystad is easily reached by train from Malmo Central Station. The journey time is approximately 50 minutes.
Ferries operate between Ystad and Swinoujscie in Poland, and between Ystad and the Danish island of Bornholm.
Getting around Ystad
Ystad is small so is easily walked. Bring comfortable walking shoes as many of the streets are cobbled.
As Ystad Studios Visitor Centre is located 3-4 km from the town centre and I couldn’t locate a convenient bus route, a taxi may be required for the journey.
Finally, is Ystad worth visiting?
Yes. If you’re a Nordic Noir fan, then a visit is imperative. Ystad is a recommended day trip from Malmo. Locals told me that Swedish tourists use Ystad as a base to discover Skane’s south coast.
Arrivals Hall 