Malmö is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 300,000, and the capital of the province of Skåne (Scania) on the southern tip of the country. Malmö is a port city on the Öresund strait, facing Copenhagen on its other bank, with which it is connected by the Öresund bridge. Together, the two cities form a duopolis and a core of a larger Oresund region spanning parts of Denmark and Sweden.
Malmö used to be an industrial city, with a port and a shipyard, but the shipyard was dismantled in the late 20th century. The city has managed to recover and reinvent itself as a modern metropolis, a poster example of sustainable development and a thriving multicultural centre, even though it lacks the recognition as a major tourist destination like Copenhagen or Stockholm.
Understand
History
Founded in 1272 as a fortified port a day's walk from Lund, Malmö was for centuries the second-largest city of Denmark. It served as a Hanseatic port and a very lucrative trade area. Malmö dominated Skåne as the largest market hub, until Copenhagen grew larger during the 16th century. In 1658, as a result of the Great Northern War, Denmark ceded the Scanian lands, including the city of Malmö, to Sweden in the Second Treaty of Roskilde. As Copenhagen experienced a series of devastating fires and bombardments, in particular through the 1700s, Malmö is surprisingly the best place in the world to see Danish Renaissance architecture.
After an industrial revolution, Malmö grew rapidly and served as one of the earliest and most industrialized cities of Scandinavia. Until the turn of the millennium it was regarded more as a dull worker's city in the backdrop of Lund (a university and cathedral town) and Copenhagen. The opening of the Oresund Bridge-tunnel in 2000 reignited the soul of a bustling Hanseatic port that had lain dormant for so many centuries. Since 2011, this new landmark is featured in the acclaimed Swedish-Danish crime series The Bridge.
Today about a third of the Malmö population are from various other countries, making the city the most cosmopolitan in Sweden. This has contributed to a rich cultural life and many exotic and fine food opportunities. The ship building Kockums company used to be the city's biggest employer, but today the industrial city of old has been replaced by vast areas of middle-class suburban housing and modern eco-friendly neighbourhoods.
Get in
By plane
Malmö Airport
Malmö Airport is mostly served by low-fare, charter and regional carriers. There are three connections to Stockholm – with SAS (Arlanda), Norwegian (Arlanda) and BRA (Bromma) - and regional airlines fly to other destinations within Sweden. International flights is covered by many charter and scheduled flights to vacation destinations in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
The only carrier operating scheduled international flights from Malmö Airport is WizzAir, connecting Malmö to the largest cities in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
1 Malmö Airport (MMX IATA, until 2007 known as Sturup Airport) (some 30 kilometres by road from central Malmö).
Getting there: From Malmö Airport you can take the Flygbussarna coach to downtown Malmö, it takes 40 minutes. On Saturdays, however, there are only a limited number of buses, so please check the bus-schedule at Flygbussarna's homepage. Another option is taking a taxi, but this is far more expensive.
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup is one of the major aviation hubs in Europe and offers a multitude of European and intercontinental connections by most European flag carriers, as well as other major international airlines.
Getting there: Kastrup is right at the other end of the Oresund bridge from Malmö. There are frequent Oresund trains departing from a station inside the airport terminal that stop in stations inside of Malmö (Centralstation, Triangeln and Hyllie). The journey from the airport across the bridge to Malmö takes about twenty minutes. You can also take a bus across the Oresund, which is often cheaper than the trains. You can also take a taxi across the bridge. Signs in the arrivals hall of Kastrup Terminal 3 direct you outside to two separate queues of Danish and Swedish taxis. Taxi fare to Malmö city center should be about 650-750 SEK. As always with Swedish taxis, check the window sticker on the taxi to check the fare before boarding to avoid inadvertently selecting an overly expensive option (there is no limitation of taxi fares in Sweden and all taxis can charge anything they want as long as it is clearly indicated), or better yet, discuss the fare to Malmö with the driver before deciding - you can expect them to speak good English.
By train
Malmö is well served by trains, including frequent regional and commuter services within Scania as well as long-distance trains from Gothenburg and Stockholm. There are trains running across the Øresund bridge from Copenhagen at least every 30 minutes. In Copenhagen, there are further connections from most Danish cities as well as from Hamburg.
Regional Øresundståg leave all day from Helsingør, traversing the east coast of Sjælland, before crossing through Copenhagen and then across the Øresund bridge to Malmö, also connecting Kastrup airport to the city. In the opposite direction trains run from Gothenburg (with connections from Oslo) via Varberg, Halmstad, Helsingborg and Lund. Trains from Copenhagen's central station to Malmö Central take approximately 40 minutes (including border checks at Hyllie), costing 120 SEK (as of December 2018). However, using the Skanetrafiken app to purchase tickets will provide passengers a 24-hour ticket option for unlimited use in Malmo's public transport system (including Oresundstag stations covered in the zone which the ticket is valid) from 240 SEK (the cost of two one-way tickets between Copenhagen H and Malmo Central). Additionally, frequent and regular commuter trains, called Pågatåg and operated by Skånetrafiken, runs from destinations throughout the province of Scania such as Lund, Helsingborg, Höör and Ystad among others.
From Stockholm, there are hourly high-speed trains taking 4½ hours, operated by SJ. A low cost alternative on the same route is the twice daily Snälltåget, taking just under five hours.
Limited night train services are available too. During summer, Snälltåget runs a train from Berlin three times per week. In winter season, the same company runs a service to and from the ski resort Åre.
The main stations on the line running through Malmö are:
- 2 Malmö Centralstation (Malmö Central Station), Skeppsbron 1. Malmö's main train station, with a refurbished historic terminal building housing a small shopping centre, gastronomic options and other facilities. It is directly to the north of the Old Town and to the east of the Västra Hamnen and the Turning Torso. There are bus connections to every part of the city, but to most points of interest you can easily walk - or rent a bike right in front of the station.
- 3 Triangeln. Triangeln is an entirely underground station in the middle of the City Tunnel, in the southern part of Malmö's centre. It is also a very convenient option to those visiting Malmö, especially those who would like to explore the shopping options and the gastronomic variety of Möllevångstorget.
- 4 Hyllie. Hyllie Station is in the middle of the namesake new part of Malmö, developed from scratch over the southern end of City Tunnel. This part of Malmö is quite removed from the city centre, but includes many important destinations, such as the Malmö Arena, the Malmömässan fairgrounds and the Emporia shopping centre, all right next to the train station. All Swedish-bound trains from Denmark will stop here as border police need to conduct passport checks (no such checks happen on the opposite direction).
The above three stations are served by regional trains to and from Copenhagen, direct trains from Stockholm and Gothenburg, as well as regional trains. Other train stations in Malmö include Persborg, Svågertorp, Oxie, and Burlöv, which are only served by a limited number of regional trains and are of not much interest to tourists, as they are in residential locations far from major points of interest.
By car
Another way of crossing the Øresund Bridge (both bridge and tunnel) is to drive for yourself. It is a toll bridge, with tolls charged in both directions (entering and leaving Sweden). Since the road is a motorway (one-way passage only), it is not possible to change direction after passing the last exit in Denmark. The prices for an ordinary car shorter than 6 m begin at €48 per single trip. With a BroPas subscription it is possible to reduce the cost substantionally. easyGo customers qualifies for a 5% discount on cash payments. Credit cards are also accepted.
The view is much less obstructed if you choose to go by car as compared to train. Keep in mind, though, that the road over the Øresund Bridge is a motorway, hence it is prohibited to stop for other reasons than if your car should break down. There is no public access to Peberholm Island, where the tunnel and the bridge connect.
By bus
Gråhundbus, Swebus, NettBuss, FlixBus and Eurolines have routes from Copenhagen and other places. From Copenhagen the buses take longer (about an hour) but are cheaper than the train, from 60 SEK (as of 2017).
Autoprevoz, +387 51 317 333, has buses to Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 25 hrs, twice weekly, ~ €150. Whereas Toptourist, +45 48 25 38 37, offers connection to Sarajevo via Salzburg, twice weekly, €140 return, tickets can be paid on the bus, but advance booking and payment is recommended.
By boat
Finnlines runs a ferry line between Travemünde in northern Germany and Malmö. The ferry line is mostly directed towards trucks and car drivers, but it is possible to book tickets for pedestrians. Departures that does not need a compulsory cabin booking are Tu–F at 10:00, Sa at 11:00 from Travemünde. The trip takes nine hours, an adult passenger fare one-way trip begin at €30. A car shorter than 6 m (20 ft) begins at €49 in the low season, €67 in the high season. Motorcycles can be taken on board for free during the low season, bicycles can be taken on board for free all year round. A booked return trip will grant a 20% discount on the return part of the trip.
5 Finnlines ferry terminal, Lappögatan 1A (In the northern part of Malmö Harbour, 10 km (6 mi) from the city centre). Public transport does not reach this ferry terminal, taxi fare is about 160 SEK.
As an alternative, Trelleborg and Ystad offers ferry connections to other ports in Germany and Poland. The travel time of these ferries are usually between five to ten hours, and Trelleborg can be reached from Malmö Central Station by regional bus #146 in approximately 50 minutes, or by Pågatåg train line 9 in 32 minutes.
Get around
Bicycle
Malmö is best experienced by bicycle, the city is interlaced with lots of bicycle roads. Malmö is known as a very bike-friendly city (and indeed, biking is the preferred method of transportation here). The official bike map can be found on bike rentals and the tourist office. There are guided bike tours in Malmö during the summer. Most tourists rent their bikes from the well-known company Bromans Cykel [dead link] where you get offered modern bikes for a low price.
Public transport
Skånetrafiken is responsible for public transport in Malmö and all of Scania. The green buses (stadsbuss) all have routes within Malmö city [dead link], the yellow buses are regional buses to other cities in Scania.
VISA, VISA Electron, MasterCard and Maestro payment cards can be used as payment for tickets in both yellow and green buses. It is not possible to use cash as payment in buses and trains. Tickets or cards can also be purchased in advance, either in vending machines, at Skånetrafiken customer centers (kundcenter), at service partners (serviceombud or ombud) or via a smartphone app called Stadsbiljetten [dead link]. Pre-paid JoJo-cards in denominations of 50 and 200 kr, in form of a contactless non personalized smart card, can be purchased at Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven and Coop. JoJo-cards can be topped-up at the previous mentioned vendors, but also online at the Skånetrafiken website, where you need to register the JoJo-card. The smartphone app also supports an English language version. The JoJo-card is the least expensive option.
Both the physical ticket (from vending machines) and the electronic ticket (JoJo-card and smartphone app) is valid for one hour as single fare (enkelbiljett), which begins immediately when the ticket is printed, scanned or activated. Transfer between rides is unlimited within this one hour. Public transport fares in Malmö also include train rides between the three stations: Malmö Central, Triangeln and Hyllie Station. The violet-colored Pågatågen and the silver-colored Øresundstågen normally stops at all three stations.
Taxi
Taxi is also an option, fixed rates begin at 49/59/79 kr for trips within Malmö city.
The taxi market is unregulated, and some independent drivers charge high prices. Check the price tag in the window, prefer well known companies such as 171717, 232323, Taxi Skåne, Taxi Kurir etc, and always ask for the price of your trip before getting in.
See
Main squares and streets
The historic central parts of Malmö is called Gamla Staden (Old Town), and this area has three squares; Gustav Adolfs torg (Gustav Adolf's Square), the Stortoget (Big Square) and the Lilla torg (Little Square). Stortorget and Lilla Torg are directly connected at one corner, and a pedestrians only shopping street connects them with Gustav Adolfs torg.
- 1 Davidshallstorg. A square with design shops, clothes stores and restaurants. The atmosphere here is posh, so the vibe is very different from Möllevångstorget's. There are similar shops on the nearby parts of Davidshallsgatan.
- 2 Gamla Väster. Between Lilla Torget and Malmöhus, is a quiet and sophisticated part of town with lots of galleries, design shops and restaurants.
- 3 Gustav Adolfs torg. Surrounded on three sides by buildings containing shops and a McDonald's. At the center of the square is a bus platform. A cemetery lies at the south side of the square, through which one can reach Slottsparken, a beautiful park that surrounds Malmöhus.
- 4 Lilla torg. The place for socializing and dining, with various restaurants having outdoor tables around the edge of the square.
- 5 Möllevångstorget square. South of the city center, has a bustling open-air market on weekends. The surrounding neighborhood is full of inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern shops, restaurants and grocery stores catering to the alternative side of the city, the immigrant population and people who are tired of mainstream commerce.
- 6 Stortorget. The central plaza of Malmö. At the center of Stortorget (The Big Square) is a statue of King Karl X Gustav of Sweden, who took the city from Danish dominion. The ornate Malmö City Hall (built in 1546) is on the east side, and in the northwest corner is Kockska Huset, the house of Jörgen Kock, a German immigrant who became mayor of the city and achieved wealth simply and directly: by taking control of the city mint. In the winter, the square is used as a skating rink.
- Stortorget, central parts
- Stortorget, early spring
- Lilla Torg (Small Square)
- Lilla Torg
- Möllevångstorget with markets
- Värnhemstorget
- Öresund Fountain at Gustav Adolfs Torg
Historic buildings and modern architecture
- 7 Katrinetorp, katrinetorps Alle 1 (Intersection of E20 and E6). Country manor with beautiful garden. Nice cafe and antique store.
- 8 Malmöhus Castle (Malmö Castle).
- 9 S:t Johannes kyrka.
- 10 S:t Petri kyrka. The city's oldest church (from the 14th century)
- 11 [dead link] Turning Torso. Completed in 2005, it is at 190 m the tallest building in Scandinavia. Mostly apartments with some offices, it's located in a new zone near the waterfront and has no observation tower or other sightseeing facilities, so it's probably best to admire it from afar (visible from almost anywhere in the city). If you are visiting in the summer there is a nice waterfront promenade and an open-sea bath nearby the Turning Torso. There is also a state of the art skateboarding park in the area.
- Emporia shopping mall from 2012
- Turning Torso from 2006, a landmark high-rise on the inner city harbour front
- Kronprinsen, a landmark modernist high-rise from 1964 near Kungsparken in the inner city
- Malmö Opera from 1944
- Caroli Church from 1880
- Residenset (The Residence) at Stortorget from 1730
- Flensburgska huset from 1596
- St Petri church (from the 1300s)
Museums and cultural institutions
- 12 Form/Design Center, Lilla Torg 9. Free.
- 13 Malmö Konsthall (Malmö Art Hall), S:t Johannesgatan 7. Large art exhibition right in the city centre. Malmö Konsthall has specialised in contemporary art since it opened in 1975. Free.
- 14 Malmö Live, Dag Hammarskjölds Torg 4. A concert hall opened in August 2015.
- 15 Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet), Ola Billgrens plats 2–4. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. One of the major Swedish art museums. Free.
- 16 Malmö Stadsbibliotek (Malmö's public library), Kung Oscars väg. Browsing the shelves and admiring the building itself is a must for all architecture buffs and intellectuals.
- 17 Tekniska och Sjöfartsmuseet (Technology and Maritime Museum), Malmöhusvägen 7A, ☏ +46 40-34 44 38. Located west of the castle. The largest section of the museum is devoted to transport, in particular aviation, and there are lots of cut-away models, including the entire front end and cockpit of a Vickers Viscount. Visitors can walk (crawl, actually in places) through a 1943 Swedish U3 submarine. The displays are only labelled in Swedish, but is well worth a visit, nonetheless. Adults 40 kr.
- Malmö State Library (Malmö Stadsbibliotek), mixing old and new architecture
- Malmö Art Hall, main entrance
- Technology Museum
- Form/Design Center
Do
Guided tours and sightseeing
- Bike tour with a guide at Malmö Bike Tours. About 2 hour tour with some 7 stops. Runs one or several days a week during summer.
- Open boat sightseeing Rundan. About 40-50 people per boat. 50 min. Runs several times per day from spring to fall.
- Malmö Museum Tram (Museispårvägen Malmö), Banérskajen (City bus 7 or 8 to the stop at Tekniska Museet (Technical Museum)). 12:00-16:24 every Sa and Su between May 28 and October 2 (except for June 25). Adults 20 kr, youth (6-16 years) 10 kr, small children (less than 6 years) free.
Parks
- 1 Pildammsparken. Central park with woodlands, a lake, gardens, sculptures, and playgrounds. The park was part of the Baltic exhibition in 1914, and several of the buildings from this exhibition is still around, including an outdoor theatre. In the south, Pildammsparken connects to Stadionparken and The Stadium Area, filled with sports facilities.
- Kungsparken. Historic central park, connecting to the smaller Slottsrädgården park and Malmöhus Castle to the north. The park was constructed around 1870, on former castle grounds. It is named after the Swedish King Oscar 2 who inaugurated a park restaurant here in 1881. The building housing the restaurant is now used for a casino. Kungsparken was designed by the Danish landscape architect Ove Høegh Hansen, inspired by the English garden culture.
- 2 Slottsträdgården (Castle Garden). Located north of Kungsparken and south of Malmöhus Castle. This is one of the city's newest amenities and is an organic community garden, open throughout the year. There are eight themed gardens and a potager. Freshly picked flowers and vegetables are available for purchase in the summer months. There is also a small cafe, run entirely by volunteers.
- 3 Folkets park (People's Park). Park and entertainment venue in the central parts of Malmö. See the terrarium. Ride a pony. Sunbathe. Eat and drink. free entrance.
- Bulltoftaparken. Relatively large park in the eastern outskirts of Malmö. Bulltoftsparken is from the late 70's, built on a former airfield, and includes a park zone, a sports zone, and a nature zone. The sports zone offers playing fields, tennis courts, a fitness center, a mini golf facility, and a disc golf field.
- 4 Ribersborgsstranden. There are several options for outdoor swimming in Malmö. This includes beachparks and seabath facilities with small piers. The largest and most popular venue is Ribersborgstranden beachpark, right in the central parts. Swim, sunbathe or promenade at the 2-km sandy beach in Ribersborgstranden. The beach is child-friendly with sandy stretches, just a short walk from the inner city. In the winter you can enjoy ice swimming. Be sure to visit the Ribersborgs Kallbadshus, an old seabath structure from 1902.
- Malmöhus Castle with the surrounding Slottsträdgården park
- Slottsträdgården park at Malmöhus Castle
- Kungsparken with the central Gjutjärnsfontän (The Cast Iron Fountain)
- Casino Cosmopol, historical casino in Kungsparken
- Pilldammsparken
- Folkets Park, entrances
- Moriskan, a large pavilion in Folkets Park
- Cuba Café in Folkets Park
Sports
The Stadium Area (Stadion området) is a landmark area in Malmö in the central parts of the city next to Pilldammsparken. With a total of four stadiums, a stadium park, including a Walk of Fame, as well as other sports facilities, this is a must see for sport fanatics.
- Malmö stadion. Outdoor stadium used for athletics, soccer and occasional stadium concerts, with room for more than 25.000 people.
- Baltiska Hallen. Covered stadium hosting large sports and cultural events, and occasional concerts with room for about 4.000 people.
- Baltiska Bowlinghallen. A bowlinghall with room for up to 450 guests.
- Swedbank Stadion. Another half-covered stadium. Mostly soccer matches.
- Malmö isstadion. Indoor ice rink with room for up to 6.000 people.
The flat landscape of Skåne is ideal for golf. Around Malmö there are quite a few good courses.
- Malmö Burlöv Golfklubb. Large golf course with 27 holes, just outside the central city. There is a restaurant on site.
- Malmö Golfhall, Fosievägen 4. Indoor golf arena in the southern parts of town.
Malmö boasts a total of six skateboarding venues. The first dedicated venue Bryggeriet Malmö Skatepark was built in 1998 as an indoor venue, and it is still the largest skatepark in the city. The other five parks are outdoor spots in concrete, all of world-class quality. The last addition to the Malmö skateboarding scene came in 2016, when Kroksbäck Skatepark was inaugurated.
- Bryggeriet Malmö Skatepark. September - May. The largest and first skatepark in Malmö, opened in 1998. This park is an indoor venue with wooden bowls and ramps, but also facilities for street skating.
- Stapelbäddsparken. Skatepark in the harbour district of Västre Hamnan, north of the inner city.
Swim in the sea or in one of Malmö's bathhouses. There is also a total of three outdoor pools around town, open for the public in the summer months of June through August. Four city parks offer paddling pools for the public, and they can be great fun if you are with small kids. The water quality is regularly surveyed.
- Sibbarbs Saltsjöbad, Strandgatan 85, ☏ +46 40-15 17 78. Seabath in the southern parts of town. Take a dip in the sea and soak some sun in the summer. There is an on-site café. Open year round. 65 kr.
- Hylliebadet, Hyllievångsvägen 20, ☏ +46 40-34 26 50. Year round. Public bathhouse with a focus on wellness and relaxation in the southern parts of town, next to the Kroksbäck Park. The exclusive wellness area is for adults only. Sometimes special evening events. Hylliebadet includes a bathshop with various accessories and an on-site café. It is important that you wash yourself with soap before entering the pools! 85 kr. With access to the wellness area: 125 kr.
- Four Gardens Spa, Kalkstensvägen 13. Large luxurious wellness center in Limhamn in south Malmö. Professional wellness treatments and programs. The center includes lifestyle accommodation, an outdoor pool, restaurant, cinema, fitness machines, pools and saunas. Book a stay on-line.
- Vattenlekplatsen, Adlerfelts Väg. June through August. Water-themed playground for kids. Free.
In the winter, outdoor ice skating is a popular pastime. Skating rinks can be found at Storatorget, and when the lake in Pildammsparken freeze over, it is also a popular venue.
Music, theatre and film
- Victoriateatern, Södra Förstadsgatan 18, ☏ +46 40 97 66 02. This fine art nouveau building was erected in 1912 as a movie theatre, but is now used for theatre and occasional concerts and operas.
- Malmö Opera. Opera house from 1944, clad in grey marble. Nowadays the cultural palette has broadened, and includes concerts, musicals and dance performances. Enjoy the architecture and specially designed interior, it is considered an icon for the Nordic Funkis style. Dine and drink in the associated opera restaurant.
- Malmö Stadsteater. Malmö City Theatre.
Festivals
- Don't miss Malmöfestivalen - a free festival that takes place for eight days every year in August, with lots of cultural and culinary experiences.
- Malmö Pride. A pride parade held every summer by Malmö's active LGBT community.
Buy
Street shopping
The main shopping streets are Södergatan and Södra Förstadsgatan, where you can find all kinds of shops. Look out for Village, well designed homeware, at reasonable prices.
Experience the multicultural area around Möllevångstorget. Here you can find exotic shops selling Asian and Middle Eastern foods and a wide selection of pubs and bars. In the mornings there is also an open market where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
Les Trois Roses (Gustav Adolfs torg, Davidshallstorg) is a great chocolaterie.
Shopping centres
Malmö has five shopping plazas in the centre:
- 1 Caroli.
- 2 Entré.
- 3 HansaCompagniet.
- 4 Storgatan. Storgatan mostly has clothes for young people and coffee shops. The others offer the usual mixture of town shopping with clothes, cameras, jewelry, electronics, books, movies etc. blended with eateries, both international fast food chains and local ones. World famous Swedish glassware can also be bought there.
- 5 Triangeln.
There are also some shopping plazas outside the city centre, like
- 6 Emporia, Hyllie Boulevard 19. Daily 10:00-20:00, except for Midsommar, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. A huge, very modern shopping centre with over 200 shops plus restaurants, in a quite unusually pleasing setting. The centre is right across the entrance to the Hyllie train station and even features a roof terrace with some nice views in good weather.
- 7 Jägersro Center.
- 8 Mobilia Shopping Center.
Eat
Look out for pepparkakor, literally pepper cookies, but flavoured with cinnamon, ginger, molasses and cloves. Traditional accompaniment to glögg (mulled wine).
Budget
Fruits and vegetables are normally quite expensive, unless the store is running a campaign on certain products. Fruits and vegetables are normally sold by weight, so you do not have to buy a package too large for your needs. Özen Allfrukt (Lantmannagatan 59) always has low prices on fruits and vegetables, and might be a good place to begin if your budget is very tight and you have to cook for yourself. Özen Allfrukt's customer base consist mainly of immigrants with large families, hence the low prices.
Many kitchen venues around Möllevångstorget cater to the budget option. Get a falafel (15-25 kr), Indian, Thai, Middle Eastern or Chinese meal from 35 kr. Plenty to choose from. Råå Bar & Restaurang and Krua Thai on Möllevångstorget are two great, inexpensive Thai places. On Södra Förstadsgatan near Möllevångstorget are a number of good places - Ganesha does tasty and cheap Indian fast food for 45 kr and up, and restaurant Middle East has good shawarmas for 30 kr. Just off Möllevångstorget on Ystadsgatan is an unpretentious Persian restaurant which does good food.
If you visit Özen Allfrukt (Lantmannagatan 59) you might want to try the Balkan fast food dishes. Burek, Ćevapčići and Pljeskavica in the range from 25 to 40 kr for a serving. The Pljeskavica will satiate you for the rest of the day.
- 1 Aras, Lönngatan 24, ☏ +46 4083273. Persian restaurant that serves authentic and succulent Persian kebabs on fluffy steamed basmati rice with butter, grilled tomato and raw onion on the side. Don't miss the salade Olivier, Russian salad-Persian style. Prices around 60-100 kr.
- 2 Restaurang Asien, Ystadsgatan 17, ☏ +46 40-92 94 37. An unpretentious looking restaurant that serves delicious Vietnamese food. You'll find it a short walk from Möllevångstorget, down Ystadsgatan. On the menu you will find food like Pho or Vietnamese springrolls. Very tasty and reasonably priced.
- 3 Crépa Café, Spångatan 32, ☏ +46 40971755. Serves tasty crêpes with Greek flavor, in a trendy yet calm atmosphere. Mains 45-47 kr.
- 4 Di Penco, Roskildevägen 3, ☏ +46 40-39 66 55. An Italian lunch restaurant a short walk from "Triangeln". They serve delicious home made pasta with freshly baked ciabatta bread for only 65 kr.
- 5 Dolce Sicilia, Drottningtorget 6, ☏ +46 40-611 31 10. Heavenly homemade ice cream.
- 6 Jalla Jalla, Bergsgatan 16. Well-known and popular falafel place. A normal falafel wrap costs 30 kr.
- 7 Kniv & Gaffel, Per Albin Hanssons väg 40 - The Mobilia Mall (City bus no. 2, 7 and 35), ☏ +46 40 - 845 66. M-F 10:00-20:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. Traditional Swedish kitchen - husmanskost. Better than many fast-food joints. You also find a Kniv & Gaffel (Knife & Fork) at the Jägersro Center. Meal of the day 85 kr.
- Stadsvallens Catering, KRUSEGATAN, ☏ +46 760299582, info@stadsvallen.se. 8am-430pm. Fantastisk Lunch 95.
Mid-range
There are a lot of restaurants in the Little Square with outdoor seating (with heating year-round).
- 8 Elysée (Malmborgen), Malmborgsgatan 7, ☏ +46 40 12 91 20. M-Th 17:00-22:30, F 17:00-23:30, Sa 16:00-23:30, Su 15:00-22:00. The main attraction is the all-you-can-eat bouillon fondue (229 kr per person, min. two persons). Choose between beef, pork or chicken with either potatoes or rice on the side. The salad bar is included to the price, but you may also just order the salad bar (129 kr, all-you-can-eat). You may also order the reindeer filet.
- 9 Mello Yello, Lilla torg 1, ☏ +46 40304525. A delicious mix of Swedish and European food. The best view and service is in the one located close to the Turning Torso and the beach (150 kr each).
- 10 Ses På Paddy's, Kalendergatan, ☏ +46 04078600. Excellent Swedish food, don't let the idea of eating in an Irish bar put you off! Booking is essential in this busy restaurant.
- 11 Steak House, Lilla torg 7, ☏ +46 40973497. Very nice food for a reasonable price by Scandinavian standards. Service is poor.
- 12 Victor's, Lilla torg 1, ☏ +46 40127670. Swedish and international cuisine.
There are also lots of mid-range restaurants in other parts of town.
- 13 Atmosfär, Fersens väg 4, ☏ +46 40-12 50 77. A splurge restaurant gone mid-range without compromising the food or service.
- 14 Restaurang Bollywood, Baltzarsgatan 18. Tasty Indian food. Mains 110-200 kr.
- 15 Gamla Brogatan, Brogatan 12, ☏ +46 40-30 77 17. On Brogatan serves oysters at 14 kr each, which is almost what you'd pay in the shop (12 kr).
- 16 Indian Haweli, Södra Förstadsgatan 88, ☏ +46 40-12 31 24. On Södra Förstadsgatan near Möllevångstorget is not the best Indian restaurant in town and the service is quite bad (140 kr).
- 17 Lemongrass, Grynbodgatan 9. A sophisticated place serving Asian crossover food to a well-to-do crowd. Mains 134-208 kr.
- 18 Maguro Sushibar, Östra Förstadsgatan 15. Great sushi place.
- 19 Metro, Ängelholmsgatan 14, ☏ +46 40-23 00 63. Another restaurant and bar for the local hipsters. They also have club nights. Mains 115-230 kr.
- 20 Restaurang Möllan, Bergsgatan 37c, ☏ +46 40-12 10 15. Tasty and juicy steaks plus some seasonal dishes can be found at this laid-back and cozy place.
- 21 Två Krögare - Bullen, Storgatan 35, ☏ +46 40-12 12 41. One of few restaurants that still serve traditional Swedish food (husmanskost).
- 22 Vegegården, Rörsjögatan 23, ☏ +46 40-611 38 88. Lovely Asian vegetarian restaurant. A la carte and buffet-style. Serves lunch on weekdays and barbecue on weekends. From 68 kr; eat as much as you like.
- 23 Yukai, Bergsgatan 35. A calm place with great atmosphere, great sushi and great service. Probably the best Japanese restaurant in town. Mains 64-175 kr.
- 24 Restaurang Ribersborg, Limhamsvägen 27, 217 59 Malmö, ☏ +46 40 26 03 54, info@ribersborg.com. 11:00-22:00 every day, except 20 December to 4 January. Dagens rätt (daily meal) 95 kr, between 11:00 and 15:00. À la carte 165 to 235 kr. Serving indoors and outdoors. Situated next to the Ribersborg beach.
- Restaurang Tryck Krusegatan 19, 21225 Malmö. Great daily lunch mon-fri 95sek
Splurge
Drink
Malmö has a vibrant night life, but prices are for the most part substantially higher than they are across the bridge in Copenhagen. Lilla Torg is the epicentre but prices are high, you could also try Möllevångstorget where any of the many bars, cafés and restaurants in this bustling part of town is good value. Like in Copenhagen, and indeed most of Scandinavia, expect most of the drinking to be limited to Friday and Saturday except at the height of summer where many Swedes have vacation. You can pick up the free Nöjesguiden and Dygnet Runt magazines in various stores to read more about Malmö's nightlife. They are only available in Swedish though.
- 1 Étage, Stortorget 6, ☏ +46 40 23 20 60. M Th 23:00-04:00; F Sa 23:00-05:00. Popular nightclub in the Big Square. Entrance is usually free before midnight, afterwards it's 50-100 kr.
- 2 Fagans, Per Weijersgatan 4, ☏ +46 40 970 990. Generally 16:00-23:00, on weekends open as late as 02:00. Great Irish pub just off Gustav Adolf's Square.
- 3 Izakaya Koi, Lilla torg 5, ☏ +46 4075700. Not quite like a Tokyo tavern, but it still manages to attract visiting Japanese businessmen.
- 4 Kulturbolaget (usually known as just KB), Bergsgatan 18. Malmö's premier rock club with many international and national touring acts. They also have clubs on weekends for those who are more into partying.
- 5 Lilla glassfabriken, Holmgatan 9, ☏ +46 40-611 97 60. Really tasty homemade ice cream and sorbet.
- 6 [dead link] Slagthuset, Jörgen Kocksgatan 7A. The city's biggest and best-known nightclub, housed in a former slaughterhouse (hence the name). The facility also includes a performance theater and restaurants during the day.
Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
Budget | less than 500 kr |
Mid-range | around 700-900 kr |
Splurge | over 1000 kr |
While prices in Malmö may seem high, especially in the summer, and there is little variance in prices across properties, staying in the city may be your best option in the region, as hotels are generally expensive in Sweden (and even more so across the bridge in Copenhagen), while Malmö boasts a wide selection of properties unusual for other Swedish city.
As in the rest of Sweden, breakfast is generally included in room price, as is Wi-Fi. Do make sure to double-check the rates at different dates, as they may vary greatly depending on local events and time of year. The highest season is around the end of May and in June, when the days are the longest and the weather the best.
Budget
- 1 STF Hostel Malmö City, Rönngatan 1, ☏ +46 40-611 62 20. The IYHF hostel in town. Dorm bed 180 kr, singles from 325 kr, doubles from 430 kr. Add 45 kr to the price if you're not a member of the IYHF. It opened in 2006. Helpful staff.
- 2 Rut and Ragnars Hostel, Nobelvägen 113, ☏ +46 40 611 60 60, info@rutochragnars.se. A nice hostel with basic furniture. from 160 kr.
Mid-range
- 3 Ängavallen, Norra Håslöv, ☏ +46 40-42 32 50. An ecological hotel 20 minutes south of Malmö on the road to Trelleborg with a cosy atmosphere. Small hotel with only 12 rooms.
- 4 Hotel Astoria, Gråbrödersgatan 7, ☏ +46 40-786 60.
- 5 Hotell Baltzar, Baltzarsgatan 45, ☏ +46 40-665 57 00.
- 6 Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House, Per Weijersgatan 6, ☏ +46 40-664 30 00.
- 7 Best Western Hotel Royal, Norra Vallgatan 94, ☏ +46 40-664 25 00.
- 8 Comfort Hotel Malmö, Carlsgatan 10C, ☏ +46 40-33 04 40. In a refurbished building north of the Centralstation, with an impressive gym in a historic room with gilded pilasters! Economy rooms are rather small (12 m²) and basic, while Standard rooms (17 m²) feature the tasteful modern decor prevalent across the hotel. From 590 kr, breakfast included.
- 9 Elite Plaza Hotel Malmö, Gustav Adolfs torg 49, ☏ +46 40-664 48 70.
- 10 Elite Hotel Residens, Adelgatan 7, ☏ +46 40-664 48 90.
- 11 Elite Hotel Savoy, Norra Vallgatan 62, ☏ +46 40-664 48 00. Central location opposite train station. Comfortable traditional hotel. Breakfast is a very relaxed affair.
- 12 First Hotel Jörgen Kock, Jörgen Kocksgatan 3 (250 m from Central Station), ☏ +46 40 10 18 00. Advertised as 'the hotel with the big rooms', and they are indeed unusually large by the standards of Scandinavian hotels. The decor is simple but comfortable, in a modern building within an easy walk of the central area. Includes breakfast (with tea and coffee remaining available later in the day) and fast wireless internet. Superior and deluxe rooms have tea/coffee maker. From 572 kr.
- 13 Good Morning+ Malmö, Stadiongatan 21, ☏ +46 40-672 85 70. The former Ibis was upgraded to Mercure, but the building was clearly designed to Ibis standards. It was built to serve as an accommodation base for the nearby sports and conference venues, and is thus quite removed from the centre.
- 14 Grand Hotel Garden, Baltzarsgatan 20, ☏ +46 40-665 60 00. Central location, with a unique rooftop garden.
- 15 Mayfair Hotel Tunneln - Sweden Hotels, Adelgatan 4, ☏ +46 40-10 16 20.
- 16 Moment Hotels, Adelgatan 54, ☏ +46 40-23 50 40. New boutique hotel in Malmö, located close to Malmö Central station.
- 17 Park Inn by Radisson Malmö, Sjömansgatan 2, ☏ +46 40-628 60 00. The new Park Inn, only inaugurated in 2012, is the only hotel in Vastra Hamnen, located in the midst of an office/industrial area. The immediate surroundings might not be the most touristy, but the hotel is reasonably close to Malmö Central Station, and the city's compactness makes it easy to get to the centre from there as well. If you prefer to cycle there, the hotel has bikes for rent.
- 18 Scandic Segevång, Segesvängen, ☏ +46 40-693 45 00. This is a suburban hotel situated amidst the meadows of Segevång. Slightly dated, but offers a large outside pool and a smaller one inside. It is also close to a golf course and markets itself as a sports/leisure hotel.
- 19 Teaterhotellet, Fersens väg 20, ☏ +46 40-665 58 00.
Splurge
- 20 Clarion Collection Hotel Temperance, Engelbrektsgatan 16, ☏ +46 40-710 20.
- 21 Hotel Continental Malmö, Hospitalsgatan 2, ☏ +46 40-12 19 77.
- 22 Hotel Duxiana Malmö, Mäster Johansgatan 1, ☏ +46 40-607 70 00.
- 23 The More Hotel Mazetti, Norra Skolgatan 24, ☏ +46 40-655 10 00.
- 24 Hotel Mäster Johan, Mäster Johansgatan 13, ☏ +46 40-664 64 00.
- 25 Radisson Blu, Östergatan 10. Central location, and very comfortable. Bedrooms are suite-sized, and include office area and living area, free Wi-Fi and Internet. Breakfast is not served after 10:00 on weekdays!
- 26 [dead link] Renaissance Malmo, Mäster Johansgatan 15. Boutique-style 5-star hotel from Marriott in a charming street right off the Lilla Torg. Uniquely for a Marriott property, the WiFi is free of charge.
- 27 Scandic Kramer, Stortorget 7, ☏ +46 40-693 54 00.
- 28 Scandic Malmö City, Kaptensgatan 1, ☏ +46 40-615 03 00. Rather large rooms (family rooms up to 38 m²), all featuring kitchenettes, which can be very handy for longer stays
- 29 Scandic S:t Jörgen, Stora Nygatan 35. A nice building with views over the Gustav Adolfs Torg market square and the Hansa shopping mall. Economy rooms have no windows.
- 30 Scandic Triangeln (formerly Hilton), Triangeln 2. A gigantic edifice towering over the Triangeln shopping center, the former Hilton offers views over the city from rooms on higher floors, as well as from the top-floor gym.
- 31 Nordic Choice Quality Hotel View, Hyllie Stationstorg 29, ☏ +46 40 37 41 00. One of Malmö's newest hotels, the 65 m tall tower right in front of the Malmö Arena in the middle of Hyllie. The tower offers views over Malmö and the Öresund Strait and was built in 2016. A taller 110 m tower is under construction right next to it as of 2018. From 980 kr. Wifi and breakfast always included..
Connect
Internet cafés
- Sidewalk Express, Railway station. 19 kr per hour.
- Gameness, Mäster Nilsgatan 20. 20 kr per hour.
- Twilight Zone, Stora Nygatan 15. 15 kr per hour.
Stay safe
Malmö has had a bad reputation for gang crime and ethnic tensions since the early 2000s. While a few districts, such as Rosengård, should be avoided after dark, the overall crime rate is moderate compared to other European cities of similar size. Visitors who do not actively seek trouble are unlikely to be confronted by gangs.
Anti-Semitic hate crimes have been an issue in Malmö.
As in other Swedish cities, bar brawls, bicycle thefts and pickpocketing are among the most common risk factors for visitors.
In the traffic, keep an eye out for bicycles, as cyclists automatically expect others to yield.
Cope
Consulates
- Czech Republic, Västerg. 22, ☏ +46 40-97 36 98.
- Denmark, Neptunigatan 1, ☏ +46 752-48 25 93.
- Estonia, S. Promenaden 53, ☏ +46 40-23 60 10.
- Finland, Jörgen Kocksg. 1 B, ☏ +46 40-35 25 77.
- France, Ribersborgsv. 14 B, ☏ +46 40-98 41 04.
- Germany, N. Vallg. 70, ☏ +46 40-611 85 95.
- Greece, Frihamnsallen 5, ☏ +46 40 975024, fax: +46 40 975044.
- Iceland, Brädgårdsv. 28, ☏ +46 40-30 04 34.
- Norway, Jungmansg. 12, ☏ +46 40-12 35 00.
- Peru, Gustav Adolfs Torg 47, ☏ +46 73-423 27 37.
- Sierra Leone, Verkstadsg. 4, Svedala (note: outside Malmö), ☏ +46 40-40 26 10.
- United Kingdom, Stortorget 21, ☏ +46 40-793 79.
Copenhagen, with many embassies, is a short train trip away.
Go next
- Skånetrafiken's Around the Sound [dead link] (Öresund Rundt) ticket is a great way to see the surrounding region of Scania as well as North Zealand, Denmark (including Copenhagen). For 249 kr, you get unlimited train travel and one ferry trip, for two days.
- 18 Foteviken Museum. In Höllviken, Vellinge municipality. A reconstruction of a Viking or early medieval village. This is a living museum, which means a number of people live as Vikings on site throughout the summer.
- Catch a ferry and head to Travemünde, Germany.
Routes through Malmö |
Trelleborg ← Vellinge ← | S N | → Landskrona → Gothenburg |
Copenhagen ← Oresund Bridge (toll) ← | W E | → merges with until Gothenburg |
merges with ← | S NE | → Lund → Kalmar |