Malmö is one of the most interesting cities in Sweden that can be visited regardless of the season of the year, and in the warmer months you can easily visit them on foot or by bike, which is an extremely popular means of transport here.
Map of Malmö
Malmö is Sweden’s third largest city, located in the southwestern part of the Skania region, over the Oresund Strait.
Before we start exploring Malmö with our tourist guide a few words of introduction.
A few words about the city itself
In recent decades it has been transformed from a center of industry, mainly shipbuilding, to a multicultural, post-industrial city, which has also become a trade and science center. By the way, it’s a nice tourist spot to explore.
A big plus here is the proximity of another Scandinavian city which is Copenhagen in Denmark. Both towns are separated only by the Oresund Strait, which is connected by one of the longest bridges in the world, which allows convenient communication between Malmö and Copenhagen.
What kind of city is Malmö?
The city is full of contradictions, on the one hand, despite its long history, there is no typical old town, and the monuments are scattered around the area. On the other hand, you can see all the attractions in one day.
Malmö also focuses on ecology, which is why the most popular means of transport are bicycles or city buses powered by natural gas. You can also easily find hotels and restaurants with an ecological certificate.
Tourist attractions in Malmö
Let’s start with a substitute of the old town in Malmö which is the small market – Lilla Torg. This is a small square where the oldest buildings in Malmö are located. Here you can also sit in one of the restaurants or pubs, especially in the evening, when the city is teeming with life.
See on the map of Malmö where Lilla Torg is located:
Bridge connecting Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Malmö)
Another attraction is definitely the bridge over the Oresund. It connects two countries – Sweden and Denmark and is the second longest bridge (almost 8 km) in the world. You can admire it from the waterfront or simply cross from Malmö to Copenhagen – by car or rail. Many people can also associate the Oresund bridge with the Swedish crime series of the same name.
HSB Turning Torso
The HSB Turning Torso building is also strongly associated with the city. It is a symbol of the new city, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the nine blocks that make up the building are successively twisted every 10 degrees up to reach a 90-degree turn at the very top. Unfortunately, there is no viewpoint on Turning Torso and it cannot be visited from the inside, because it is a residential building.
Kungsparken Park
In Malmö there are generally a lot of greenery and over a dozen (!) parks, but the oldest is Kungsparken. Created and maintained in the English style, it attracts tourists and locals on warm days. In addition to cycling and walking paths, other attractions await visitors.
You can swim here on rented water equipment on the canals (bicycles, electric boats), admire the oasis of birds or simply relax in the shade of trees.
Sights in Malmö
Malmöhus Castle is the most famous monument in Malmö. Once it was one of the more significant Scandinavian fortresses. Built by the Danish King Christian III Oldenburg in the 16th century, on the site of the state mint.
Currently, the Malmöhus Castle serves as a museum (royal chambers, armor, regional exhibits), and at the end of summer a cultural festival – Malmöfestivalen takes place here.
Another monument worth visiting is also the St. Peter’s Church in Malmö. The building stands out from other buildings in the city because it is built of red brick. St. Peter’s Church in Malmö is an Evangelical Lutheran church and dates from the fourteenth century. Inside, you can admire the historic organs.
Malmö rådhus
Another well-known building in Malmo is the town hall (Malmö rådhus) from the 16th century. It is considered one of the most interesting buildings in the city. Rebuilt many times, it is now an example of Renaissance architecture.
It is also worth mentioning the Jewish synagogue from 1903, which was the first non-Christian building in the city. It is one of the few temples built in the Moorish style that survived World War II. The synagogue in Malmö operates to this day.
These are not all the monuments and attractions presented in our Malmö tourist guide.
Visiting Malmö
While in the city, it is worth visiting the city library Malmö Stadsbibliotek. It is a great example of a combination of modernity and past times. Part of the library is an ancient red brick building, another part is modern construction with dominant glass. In addition, the Malmö library is praised for its extensive collection.
An interesting object is also the pharmacy under the lion (Apoteket Lejonet). It is located in one of the old, historic tenement houses from the 16th century. However, its uniqueness becomes apparent when you go inside, because the interior is entirely made of wood. To this day, this store operates as a normal pharmacy.
Of all the museums in Malmö, the Technology and Maritime Museum is the most recommended place. It is divided into two main parts: one is devoted to marine fauna (including aquariums and mounted animals), the other, in turn, concerns the exhibition of all historic vehicles and technological inventions. You can see planes, cars, motorbikes and even a U3 submarine that you can enter here. There is also a floor where you can conduct interesting scientific experiments – an attraction for both children and adults.
Interesting places in Malmö, or what to see?
The Emporia Shopping Mall is definitely a prominent mall in Malmö. This is not about stores inside, but about the shape of the architectural body. It is the largest shopping center in all of Scandinavia, designed by Gert Wingard. There are countless shops, cafes and diners inside.
In Malmö, you can also see the famous sculpture of Carl Fredrik Reutersward entitled Non violence, created after the death of John Lennon. An identical sculpture stands for example in front of the UN headquarters in New York, and there are 31 of them in total all over the world.
If you are tired of visiting the attractions in Malmö, you can go to one of the sixteen parks in the city. An interesting place is definitely Slottstradgarden, which in addition to Malmöhus Castle has another characteristic object, which is the Dutch windmill. In addition to rest and shelter from the sun, there is the possibility of a trip barge. Another much larger park in Malmö is Pildammsparken. Here, in addition to the extensive green areas that are designed for rest and recreation, you can go to the picturesque pond. You can also go to the water tower, where art exhibitions take place, or to the Galathea garden, which is to serve meditation practitioners.
As for the beaches in Malmö, they are certainly not among the most beautiful. They are located along the Strait of Oresund and to facilitate bathing, many of them have wooden platforms built. However, the best known beach in the Malmö area is Ribersborg. It is a city beach, several kilometers long, with a nice pier, a public bathhouse and a restaurant. The bathhouse is open all year round and has natural bathing areas and two saunas. The whole is divided into male and female parts.
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