Exploring Malmö, Sweden

we flew from Cologne to Copenhagen at the end of our first trip to Germany. Since we had never been to Sweden, and were so close, we decided to spend our first night in Malmö rather than Copenhagen.

Sweden is part of the European Union but never adopted the euro. Their currency is the Swedish krona (SEK). English is widely spoken in the bigger cities but, as always, it is good to learn basic words and phrases of any country’s language before visiting.

Öresund Bridge

The train conveniently links Copenhagen’s airport with Malmö’s central train station so there is no need to leave the airport or to make a connection in town. Traveling over the Öresund Strait via the Öresund Bridge, within thirty-five minutes we were in the heart of Malmö. 

The idea of a bridge between Sweden and Denmark had been a dream for over 100 years. In 1991 the two countries agreed on how to finally achieve that dream and in July of 2000 the bridge opened to both train and vehicle traffic, injecting a new prosperity and vigor into the city of Malmö.

Malmö is the capital of Skåne County and is the third largest city in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenborg. The city was founded in the mid-13th century. Under Danish rule from 1397 to 1658, Malmö was an important town. Once returned to Sweden, however, its fortunes waned until the end of the 18th century. The city benefitted from the 19th-century industrial revolution but was later affected by a decline in industry, particularly shipbuilding. 

Radhuset (Town Hall) in the Stortorget (Main Square)

Malmö struggled economically until the Öresund Bridge’s connection to Copenhagen helped to make Malmö a hub for new technologies and services. Malmö now enjoys a modern, lively, and thriving European lifestyle and has become a center for contemporary art and design.

The center of Malmö, where most sights are located, is compact and easy to explore on foot. Lilla Torg and Mollevangstorget are busy market squares, and the beautiful nearby parks are a delight to wander. While the center retains its old-town atmosphere, outside the city the suburbs are booming.

The historic Radhuset, the Town Hall, sits in the old town’s main square, Stortorget. Originally designed in the 1530s, the town hall was renovated in the 1860s, giving it the handsome Dutch-Renaissance façade that is seen today.

St. Petri Kyrka's Tower

Located behind Stortorget is Malmö’s cathedral, St. Petri Kyrka. Built in the 12th century, the church is made from red brick. The high tower, constructed in the late 19th century after two 15th-century towers collapsed, is a prominent feature of Malmö’s skyline. The cathedral houses treasures from the 16th and 17th centuries when Malmö’s prosperity was high. The ornate Renaissance-style altar is magnificent. The original medieval organ, built in 1531, is said to be the oldest working organ in the world and now resides in the Malmö Museum.

Surrounded by quaint shops and outdoor cafés, Lilla Torg, Little Square, is a popular gathering place. The square was created in 1590 and is still regularly used as a marketplace.

Museums abound in Malmö with most being part of the Malmö Museum. Malmöhus Castle was built from 1537 to 1542 on the ruins of an old fort and is the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in Scandinavia. Today the former fortress is a part of the Malmö Museum and houses the Malmö Art Museum, a Natural History Museum and a small aquarium.

Charming Streets of Malmö 

Teknikens och Sjöfartens Hus Malmöhusvägen, the Museum of Technology and Seafaring, is also part of the Malmö Museum. Its exhibits cover everything to do with technological development and seafaring, as well as the history of roadbuilding and aviation.

The Moderna Museet Malmö, Modern Museum, specializes in Scandinavian and international art of the 20th and 21st century. It is a branch of the Swedish Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm. It is one of Europe’s leading museums of modern and contemporary art.

Malmö Konsthall, the Art Hall, showcases a variety of exhibitions throughout the year from modern classics to experimental art.

Turning Torso

Stadsmuseet, the City Museum, covers the history of Malmö and surrounding Skane County. Exhibits include tools, weapons, and domestic objects. A popular attraction is the 18th-century tower with its 25-foot thick walls and original cannons.

Koggmuseet is an experience center built around two full-scale replica medieval cog ships, one of which is the largest in the world. Visitors learn about the history surrounding the ships and are welcome to climb onboard.

For fans of modern architecture, the Turning Torso in is the tallest skyscraper in Scandinavia with 54 floors. The building was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is based on his sculpture of a twisted human body, the Twisting Torso. The tower stands near the Öresund Bridge in the new neighborhood of Västra Hamnen.

Lovely Parks

Green spaces are plentiful in Malmö. Kungsparken and Slottsparken are beautiful parks within walking distance of the old town. The Slottsträdgården is a working garden with a wide variety of crops and ornamental plants.

Nice restaurants are scattered all about town. For dinner we had a delightful evening at Johan P. Once seated in this quaint restaurant we studied our options from the carte, but the day's menu on the chalkboard looked interesting so we went for it. We were not disappointed. Each course was as good as the previous and the service was friendly and efficient. Prices were more expensive than we had experienced in other parts of Europe, but Scandinavia tends to be much pricier than mainland Europe.

We enjoyed our day and night in Malmö. It is such an easy side trip from Copenhagen so why not take the opportunity to cross an incredible bridge to spend a half day, full day or night in a delightful city in another country.

I’ll discuss our visit to Copenhagen in a later post.