At a glance
- Best for
- Beaches, food, sea saunas, castles and easy day trips
- Airport
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH), about twenty minutes by train across the bridge, or Malmö Airport (MMX)
- Time needed
- Two to four days
- Best season
- May to September for beaches, autumn for apple harvest
- Getting around
- Walking, cycling, city buses and Skånetrafiken regional trains
- Good base for
- Lund, Österlen, Söderåsen and Copenhagen
Why go
Skåne feels different from the rest of Sweden. It was Danish until 1658, the landscape is flat farmland with beech forests and white beaches, and the climate is the mildest in the country. Malmö mixes a medieval old town with bold new waterfront districts and a population from over a hundred and fifty countries. Many travellers arrive through Copenhagen Airport, which is closer to Malmö than Malmö's own airport.
Malmö's main areas
**Gamla staden**, the old town, centres on Stortorget and the smaller **Lilla Torg**, a cobbled square of half-timbered houses filled with outdoor tables in summer. Malmöhus Castle and the green Slottsparken and Kungsparken are a short walk away.
**Västra Hamnen**, the Western Harbour, is a former shipyard turned into an eco district with the twisting Turning Torso tower and wooden sea decks where locals swim.
**Möllevången**, or Möllan, is the multicultural heart of the city, with a daily market, cheap eats, bars and the city's famous falafel.
Top things to do
Take a sauna and a cold dip at **Ribersborgs Kallbadhus**, an open-air bathhouse on a pier that is open all year. Walk or swim at **Ribersborg beach** with views of the Öresund Bridge. Visit **Malmöhus Castle** for history, art and an aquarium, and **Moderna Museet Malmö** for contemporary art. In August, **Malmöfestivalen** fills the centre with free music and food.
Lund
Lund, ten minutes away by train, is one of Scandinavia's oldest towns and home to a big university. Its Romanesque cathedral has an astronomical clock that plays at noon and three in the afternoon, and the open-air museum Kulturen shows old town houses and crafts.
Österlen and the south coast
Southeast Skåne, called **Österlen**, is a region of apple orchards, art galleries, fishing villages and long sandy beaches. Near Kåseberga, **Ales stenar** is a ship-shaped ring of standing stones on a cliff above the Baltic. Further west, **Ystad** has cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. Regional trains and buses reach these places, but in quiet seasons connections are limited.
Nature
**Söderåsen National Park** has deep ravines, beech forests and lookout points. The **Skåneleden** trail network crosses the whole province. On the Kullaberg peninsula in the northwest, cliffs drop into the sea and you can watch porpoises in summer.
Castles
Skåne has more castles and manor houses than any other Swedish region. **Glimmingehus** is a well preserved medieval stronghold, and many manors open their gardens and cafés in summer.
Food
Skåne is Sweden's larder. Try spettekaka, a tall spit cake, eel feasts in autumn, goose dinners around St Martin's Day in November, and local apples, cider and rapeseed. Malmö's falafel culture is famous across the country, and food halls like Malmö Saluhall make an easy lunch.
Crossing to Copenhagen
Trains cross the Öresund Bridge about every twenty minutes. You are moving between two Schengen countries, but Sweden has at times run ID checks on this route, so carry your passport.
When to go
June to August brings warm weather, beaches and outdoor life on Lilla Torg. Late spring is the time for yellow rapeseed fields across the farmland, and autumn brings the apple harvest in Österlen, with farm shops, cider and the Kivik apple market. Winters are mild by Swedish standards but grey and windy, so it is a better time for museums, food and Christmas markets than for the coast.
Questions about Malmö and Skåne
Should I fly into Malmö or Copenhagen?
Copenhagen Airport usually has far more flights, and the train from the airport to Malmö is quick. Malmö Airport mainly serves domestic and some European routes.
Do I need my passport to go from Malmö to Copenhagen?
Carry it. Both countries are in Schengen, but ID checks have been used on this route at times. Check the latest guidance before you travel.
Is Malmö safe?
The centre and areas visitors use are generally safe. Like other Swedish cities, some suburbs have seen gang-related crime that rarely affects visitors. Use normal city sense at night.
How many days do I need in Skåne?
Two days covers Malmö and Lund. Add one or two more for Österlen, the castles or Söderåsen.
Is Skåne good for cycling?
Yes. It is the flattest part of Sweden, with marked routes along the coast and through farmland. Malmö and Lund are both very bike friendly, with rental and city bikes easy to find.
Facts checked . Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so always confirm the latest with the official source.
