In Malmö, you can expect to discover fun parks, a variety of craft stores, cozy cafes, and the impressive 16th-century Malmö Castle! Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden with a population of over 300,000. The coastal city is located on the striking Øresund Strait, across from Copenhagen in Denmark. You can discover Malmö by crossing the almost 8 km long Øresund railway and roadway bridge that connects the two countries!
GETTING FROM COPENHAGEN TO MALMO
The best way to get to Malmö from Copenhagen is by train. You can buy your tickets online or at København H (Copenhagen Central Station). It cost around €20 for a round trip, and the travel time is about 40 minutes. There are also buses that depart from the central station. If you are renting a car, you can use the Øresund Bridge highway, which is only a 10-minute drive!
Most of the main attractions in Malmö are centrally located. A half to full day is enough to explore the city. Of course, it depends on what you want to do. Just visiting Malmö Castle alone can take anywhere between 1-3 hours to explore! If you want to walk around the parks, you will need at least another hour or two, as there is a lot of ground to cover!
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Be sure to take your passport with you on the trip! Since you are legally crossing a border between two countries, the police may conduct random border checks.
HOW TO SPEND THE PERFECT DAY IN MALMO
1.) STOP FOR BREAKFAST IN KATARINA'S CAFE
There are 4 different locations for ‘Konditori Katarina’ in Malmö, I recommend stopping by the one near Malmö Central Station, see directions. They serve delicious pastries, coffee, and sandwiches! It has a relaxed atmosphere and there is a nice seating area. The café is also on the way to the center of Malmö, so you can go exploring right after breakfast!
2.) MAKE YOUR FIRST STOP AT STORTORGET SQUARE
This is a large square in the center of the city, built around 1540. You can admire the beautiful architecture and take in the city’s oldest square! You will also see the statue of King Karl X Gustav of Sweden, who took over the city of Malmö from Denmark.
3.) WALK THROUGH SODERGATAN PEDESTRIAN STREET
This is the main pedestrian shopping street in Malmö. Here you will find a variety of shops from local craft stores to popular fashion brands to cozy cafes and restaurants. The street continues all the way to Gustav Adolfs Square.
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If you are looking to do some serious shopping, make sure to check out Emporia Shopping Center – the biggest mall in Malmö! If you prefer to stay in the city center, there is Hansa and Triangeln shopping malls.
4.) VISIT ST. PETERS CHURCH
Walk through picturesque Kalendegatan Street and discover St. Peter’s Church. It is the oldest church in Malmö and bears many similarities with Marienkirche in Lübeck, Germany. Throughout the church, you can admire beautiful murals and decorations. Here you can also learn a lot about former Malmö and its history!
5.) WALK BACK THROUGH LEJONPASSAGEN TO STORTORGET SQUARE
This is a beautiful passageway way you can take from Kalendegatan Street back to Stortorget Square. It’s like a little hidden gem – perfect for some Instagram photos! Hidden away, You will also find the highly-rated Paddy’s Restaurant and Wine and Gin Bar.
6.) MAKE YOUR WAY TO LILLA TORG SQUARE
Lilla Torg – meaning little square – is a compact, picturesque square full of unique stores and restaurants. It is truly one of my favorite places in the city! The square is very charming and lively. I recommend having a coffee and taking advantage of the outdoor seating to fully take in the square!
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On the way to Lilla Torg, there is a very nice tea shop called ‘Five O’Clock Tehandel‘. They have a large selection of delicious specialty teas! I highly recommend ‘A Fig’s Dream‘ tea! 🙂
7.) VISIT GUSTAV ADOLFS TORG
Yet another beautiful public square in Malmö! Here you will find the statue of Gustav II Adolf, the founder of the city. This square is popular for its open ‘Farmers Market’. You can find various tents and stalls selling local produce, flowers, and meals!
There are also a few nice restaurants around if you are feeling hungry!
8.) MAKE YOUR WAY TO KUNGSPARKEN
Kungsparken is one of the most beautiful and popular parks in Malmö! As you walk through the park, you will discover many beautiful sights such as the classic Casino Cosmopol, Slottsmöllan Windmill, Malmö Castle, and distant views of the striking Turning Torso!
Take some time to unwind and take a seat by the lake. Watch the swans and many other birds roam around the park. You can also relax at the Slottsträdgårdens Kafé found in the center of the park!
9.) VISIT MALMO CASTLE
This is by far one of the best attractions in Malmö! This castle is Scandinavia’s oldest preserved Renaissance castle! It may seem small from the outside, but I assure you that it’s huge on the inside. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here! The castle consists is a complex of various museums, from an impressive aquarium and reptile center to modern and historical art, archaeological monuments, old castle rooms, and much more! The best part is that it only costs SEK 40.00 (€3.58) per adult or SEK 20.00 (€1.79) per student to explore it all! The ticket is also valid for the Museum of Technology & Maritime next door!
It’s a real highlight of Malmö and definitely worth a visit! It’s perfect for all types of travelers, from families, friends, and couples to solo travelers!
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As I mentioned earlier, this castle is huge! Before visiting the castle, I highly recommend grabbing something to eat. You might get tired with all the walking and exploring!
If you managed to get through to this little itinerary, you did well! 😀 That covers the best attractions in Malmö! However, there are a few other places you can visit. If you are traveling with small children, you should definitely visit Folkets Park. This park is ideal for kids because it has a great playground. You’ll also find relaxing seating, plenty of restaurants, and open-air events!
If you want to spend a quiet and relaxing afternoon, you should visit Pildammsparken. A series of picturesque gardens where you can admire beautiful plants, lakes, and birds.
Malmö also has many fun and interesting museums you can visit! Check out Disgusting Food Museum, Malmö Konsthall and Moderna Museet.
Lastly, visit Malmö Saluhall (food hall) for some fresh and delicious local food!
Hope you enjoyed this perfect day trip to Malmö from the Copenhagen itinerary! Feel free to share your thoughts on Malmö and other recommendations for places to visit in the city! 🙂
2 thoughts on “THE PERFECT DAY TRIP TO MALMO FROM COPENHAGEN”
Samanta, your detailed itinerary is a gem for anyone planning a day trip to Malmö! I appreciate how you laid out a day full of rich experiences, from breakfast at Katarina’s Cafe to soaking up the history of St. Peter’s Church.
Your tip about carrying a passport even for the short trip from Copenhagen is a valuable reminder, especially for those unfamiliar with cross-border checks within Europe.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed in Malmö this summer was wandering down Södergatan. It’s the perfect blend of modern retail and traditional craft stores, all under the backdrop of Malmö’s unique architecture. Plus, the bustling atmosphere truly captures the city’s vibrancy. Keep up with your blog, I really like it.
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed Malmö as much as I did. ?