Malmö holidays

How to reach Malmö

• Flight time: There are no direct flights to Malmö, but Copenhagen Airport is conveniently located, with easy connections across the Øresund Bridge. Flights to Copenhagen from London generally take around 2 hours.

• Transfer time: From Copenhagen Airport, Malmö is just 20 minutes away by train across the Øresund Bridge. Alternatively, taxis take around 30 minutes.

• Price: The train from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö costs about £10 for a single ticket, while a taxi ride can cost around £50–£60.

Best time to visit Malmö

This will depend on what you want to do during your Malmö holidays; the weather is likely to influence your decision.

• March to May: March sees the light slowly return after a long, dark winter. May is a lovely month to visit, particularly for exploring the city’s natural spaces. Temperatures rise from 5°C in March to a comfortable 13°C by May, and the days gradually lengthen to 8–10 hours of sunshine.

• June to August: Much longer days and warm temperatures characterise Malmö’s summer months - and it’s the ideal time to indulge in the city’s beaches where the sea reaches swim-friendly degrees. Temperatures range from 18°C to 22°C, with mild evenings perfect for alfresco dining. Rainfall is light, around 50–70mm and there’s plenty of sunshine, averaging 10–12 hours daily.

• September to November: Glorious colours indicate that autumn has arrived; it’s a good time to indulge in the city’s cultural attractions. Temperatures drop from around 15°C in September to around 6°C by November, and daylight hours begin to shorten to around 6–8 hours.

• December to February: With fewer crowds and the excellent Christmas market in full swing, December is a wonderful time to visit Malmö. Although milder than elsewhere in Sweden (temperatures between 0°C and 4°C), there may be snow in January, while days are short, around 5–6 daylight hours.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Swedish is the official language, though English is widely spoken throughout the city.

• Local habits and customs: On meeting, friends of both sexes usually hug rather than kiss each other. In more formal situations, people shake hands while saying their name. Nude lake swimming and sunbathing are common practices across the country. If other people are around, show them consideration, but you’re unlikely to meet opposition. Haggling over prices is not the done thing.

• Health and safety: Gothenburg is very safe, and medical care is excellent. British nationals can take advantage of Sweden’s health system, for which you’ll need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which can be obtained for free.

• Currency: Sweden uses the Swedish Krona (SEK). Cards are widely accepted, with cash rarely used.

• Getting around: Although the city centre is easy to walk around, with its central squares and streets all interlinked, you’ll need to use the city bus service to reach some of the sights and places to stay. You can’t buy tickets on the bus, and unless you have a week to get sent a rechargeable travel card you’ll need to download the Skånetrafiken app.

• Electricity and plug types: Sweden uses the European standard Type C and F plugs with 230V, so UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Malmö operates on Central European Time, which is 1 hour ahead of GMT and observes Daylight Saving Time.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers don’t need a visa to visit Sweden for up to 90 days.

Best things to do in Malmö

With its attractive medieval centre and a myriad of cobbled and mainly pedestrianised streets full of busy restaurants and bars, Malmö has plenty of style.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Turning Torso: From the western side of Malmöhus, Malmö’s most breathtaking sight looms on the northern horizon: the Turning Torso is the tallest building in Scandinavia, a sleek, twisting tower of steel curving 90 degrees clockwise as it rises to a height of 190m above the ground.

The best districts

• Lilla torg, Malmö: This beautiful, cobbled square in the city centre is a fine place to down a beer or two and rest your feet and mind.

• Möllevångstorget: Populated almost entirely by people of non-Swedish descent, the vast square is a haven of exotic food stores, side by side with shops selling pure junk and more recently established Chinese restaurants and karaoke pubs.

• Västra Hamnen: Known as the Western Harbour, this eco-friendly district is famous for its modern architecture and waterfront vibe. It’s home to Turning Torso, Scandinavia’s tallest building, and the popular Sundspromenaden walkway, which offers scenic sea views and plenty of spots for a picnic.

Museums

• Moderna Muséet: Worth a visit if you’re interested in contemporary art, the Moderna plays host to temporary exhibitions of the museum’s rich collection from 1900 onwards, as well as classics of modern art from the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Dalí.

Parks and gardens

• Kungsparken and Slottsträdgården: With its graceful trees and classic sculptures bordering the canal, Kungsparken is Malmö’s oldest park. It’s connected to Slottsträdgården, an organic garden where you’ll find beautiful displays of plants and flowers, a canal and even a delightful little café.

• Pildammsparken: The largest of the city’s parks, Pildammsparken boasts several tranquil lakes, as well as impressive fountain displays.

Historical monuments

• Sankt Petri Kyrka: The church, which is effectively Malmö’s cathedral, has its roots in the 14th century and, although Baltic in inspiration, has ended up owing much to German influences; the dark, forbidding exterior of the Gothic kyrka belies a light and airy interior.

• Malmö Castle (Malmöhus): Dating back to the 16th century, Malmö Castle is Scandinavia’s oldest surviving Renaissance fortress. Today, it houses several museums, including the Malmö Art Museum.

• Rådhus: Dating from 1546, it’s an impressive pageant of architectural fiddling and crowded with statuary and to add to the pomp, the red-and-gold flag of Skåne, of which Malmö is so proud, flaps above the roofs.

Day trips in the area

• Hallands Väderö: A boat trip to this unspoilt island off the Bjäre peninsula offers a chance to commune with nature – and spot seals.

• Lund: Just a 15-minute train ride from Malmö, Lund is a picturesque university town with charming streets but above all possesses the finest Romanesque cathedral in northern Europe.

Activities for families in Malmö

Malmö is a fantastic city for families, with plenty of attractions to keep children entertained.

• Beaches: Malmö’s long stretch of sandy beaches runs several kilometres to the old limestone-quarrying area of Limhamn to the southwest. Fringed by dunes and grassland, the beaches are popular with families as the water remains shallow for several metres out to sea.

• Canal boats: Canal boat tours, known as Rundan Sightseeing, are a fun way of seeing the city; they leave daily from the canal opposite the Elite Savoy hotel. Alternatively, pedal boats let you tour around the canal network at your own pace. They’re moored at Amiralsbron.

• Parks and gardens: Folkets Park offers playgrounds, duck ponds, a mini-golf course and a skate park, a good place then for letting the kids burn off some energy.

Free things to do in Malmö

Malmö has plenty of free things to do, mostly in the city’s natural surroundings, but also in the shape of one of the country’s biggest festivals.

• Beaches: Malmö enjoys some of the country’s warmest weather and features a string of city beaches ideal for kicking back and topping up your tan.

• Parks: Malmö is justifiably proud of its beautiful parks, a chain of which run southwards from the grounds of Malmöhus, and there’s a great deal of pleasure to be had by simply strolling around these lovely green expanses.

• Festivals: Every August Malmö plays host to the annual Malmöfestivalen, one of the biggest in Sweden. Sprawling across the city, the festival’s grand opening is marked by a giant crayfish party in Stortorget, and over the eight days, there’s free music and entertainment across the city.

Nature and outdoor activities in Malmö

Malmö’s beautiful surroundings and coastal location make it ideal for outdoor activities, whether exploring its green spaces or getting active on the water.

• Cycling: Ride along the waterfront in Västra Hamnen, or explore the city’s cultural areas, such as Gamla Staden and Möllevången, by pedal power. Better still, the bike-friendly Öresund Bridge offers an unforgettable cycling experience, allowing you to ride from Malmö to Copenhagen.

• Beaches and nature reserves: The nearby town of Skanör is the site of a tremendous 5km-long sandy stretch of beach which heads out to a point known as Svanrevet. Close by is the splendid Flommen nature reserve, dominated by wetland meadows carpeted with blue butterfly iris and sea holly sprouting between the sand dunes.

• Water sports: Kayaking and paddleboarding are available at Ribersborg Beach, while Västra Hamnen offers calmer waters for stand-up paddleboarding.

Local dishes in Malmö

Over recent years the influx of immigrants (and second-generation Swedes) has created a demand for all types of cuisine, not just traditional Swedish, so there’s plenty of variety to explore on your holidays to Malmö.

Some typical dishes

• Herring: The quintessential Swedish dish which is usually served marinated and is best enjoyed with a cold beer or a punchy shot of akvavit.

• Köttbullar: Potato and meatballs served with a brown creamy sauce and lingonberries.

Meat dishes

• Sjömansbiff: Sailors’ beef casserole: thin slices of beef baked in the oven with potatoes and onions, topped with parsley.

• Biff Rydberg: Sautéed chunks of beef served with fried potatoes, onions and mustard.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Gravad lax: A Swedish take on cured salmon, this dish is marinated with dill and sugar and served with mustard sauce on crisp bread.

• Surströmming: Baltic herring fermented for months until it’s rotten and the tin it’s in buckles – very smelly and eaten in very, very small quantities. Not for the faint-hearted!

• Fisksoppa: Fish soup comprising several sorts of fish, prawns and dill.

Sweets and desserts

Sweden’s love of fika (coffee break) ensures there are plenty of sweet treats on offer. Cinnamon buns, cardamom-flavoured pastries and sweet almond tarts are all fika favourites. Sweden is also known for semlor (cream-filled buns) and the classic prinsesstårta, a bright green marzipan-covered sponge cake layered with whipped cream.

Local drinks

• Aquavit: Made from potatoes, served ice-cold in tiny shots and washed down with beer. It comes in dozens of weird and wonderful flavours, from lemon to cumin-and-dill.

• Swedish beer: Malmö’s craft beer scene is thriving, with breweries like Malmö Brewing Co offering a wide range of options from pale ales to stouts.