History

People have inhabited the sound region between Sweden and Denmark since ice connected the two countries. Malmö has a rich Viking history. Medieval sea-farers set off from this port to all over Northern Europe. Fishing and shipbuilding were the consistent basis for Malmö's existence throughout its history.

The southern part of Scandinavia endured hundreds of years of heavy fighting between the Swedes and the Danes and because of its convenient location, Malmö was built up as a city for both sides. Its fortress was built in 1434 and still stands today as the Malmöhus.

The 18th century was difficult for most of Northern Europe with wars and plague, and Malmö almost dwindled into obscurity by the end of it. But the arrival of the train and the industrialization of shipbuilding in the 19th century propelled Malmö into the future and the population grew rapidly. It is the third largest city in Sweden.

In the past decade, the Öresund Bridge was built as was the newly-iconic Turning Torso building, resulting in a complete face-lift for Malmö. The city's fascinating past remains evident in its beautiful architecture, representing 700 years of history, and rapid but thoughtful development now characterize the city.

Location and size

Malmö is located nearly at the southern tip of Sweden and is connected to Denmark via the Öresund Bridge, which some say reinforces the notion that Malmö looks more to Copenhagen for its cultural identity that to Stockholm. It has several kilometers of some of the cleanest beaches in Europe.

Population

Sweden's third largest city is home to close to 300,000 people and has the most ethnically diverse population in the country.

Language

Malmö's citizens speak over 100 different languages, but Swedish is the official language and the most common. There are many Danish speakers as well followed by speakers of Central European and Middle Eastern languages.

General characteristics of the locals

With over a quarter of its population foreign-born, it is difficult to characterize the people of Malmö as anything other than excitingly diverse. Living side-by-side with Swedes and Danes are Iraqis, Poles, Serbians, Lebanese, Croatians, Hungarians and hundreds more, which gives the city quite a different feel from the rest of Sweden.

City tours

During the summer, it is very popular to take a short tour by "Rundan" boat through the canals of Malmö for an orientation of the city. The tours are conducted in Swedish, German and English. Bus tours are also available. Tourist information is located at the central train station.

Museums

Malmöhus: This castle originally dates back to 1434, but the building that presently stands is what was rebuilt in the 1530s after the original was demolished. It is one of the best examples of a Renaissance castle in Europe and is open as a museum in its fully restored state. The castle and its nearby buildings host the Malmö Museum complex including an aquarium, the Malmö Art Museum and the Maritime Technology House.

Cog Museum: It's easy to see the Cog Museum bobbing in the harbor. It consists of two replicas of medieval wooden sailing vessels in a small medieval-style quay within the harbor.

Malmö Art Gallery (Malmö Konsthall): The gallery opened in 1975 and showcases contemporary art from all over Scandinavia and the world in an open well-lit space.

Sights

Form Design Center: The Form Design Center is a working space where the latest creations of form and function are designed. It's open to the public and has several exhibitions during the year of furniture, handicrafts, architecture and industrial design. The gift shop is an excellent place to pick up a truly Scandinavian souvenir and the café features current design magazines to peruse while you snack.

Turning Torso: The Turning Torso tower is visible from anywhere in the city and throughout most of the region and is a powerful symbol of the new Malmö. It was designed by a Spanish architect and inspired by a sculpture. It is a residential building with no access to the public, and while it is best appreciated from a ways away, the grounds around the building are quite nice and it is worth exploring the new area where it is located.

Recreation

In the summertime, Malmö's location on the sound becomes very important and everyone takes to the sea for swimming, sunbathing and sailing. Swimming is also possible during the winter, but getting superheated in one of the city's public saunas is recommended before plunging into the sea. Malmö's numerous parks are usable and lovely year-round for walking, jogging or relaxing. The city also has a new, state-of-the-art skateboarding park, which attracts both professionals and amateurs from throughout Europe.

Day trip

Malmö is often seen as a day-trip destination from Copenhagen, but if you are based in Malmö then it makes sense that Copenhagen is an obvious place to spend a day or two and it is an easy trip by car or train across the Öresund Bridge.

Just 10 minutes by train from Malmö is the university town of Lund, which is worth a visit especially to see its enormous 12th century cathedral and its open-air museum.

Several beach towns are either a bus- or train-ride away. A direct bus will take you to the very tip of Sweden to Falsterbo, famous for its migratory birds and seals.

For Families

Malmö Folkets Park: The "Folk Park" in Malmö is the oldest of its kind in Sweden and includes relaxing green spaces, amusement park rides, a small zoo and a children's theater stage. It's open year-round with different activities in winter and summer.

Toyland Museum (Upplevelsemuseet Leksaksland): This is an interactive museum, which features some historical toys, but rather than a collection of memorabilia, the Toyland Museum is more of a playland, where children and adults can interact with the exhibits.

WHERE TO EAT IN MALMö

Malmö definitely has one of the hottest culinary scenes around with its proximity to fresh ingredients from land and sea and its cultural influx. The standards are quite high and the prices generally lower than say Stockholm or Copenhagen. Malmö is definitely the place to go for authentic international cuisine in Scandinavia. Cheap falafel and take-out Thai are abundant, but Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fusion restaurants also provide an authentic culinary experience with higher-quality ingredients and an atmospheric setting. Swedish standards are done well here too with the freshest produce from Skåne and fish from the Baltic.

BARS AND NIGHTLIFE IN MALMö

Malmö has only recently become a city known for its nightlife but its reputation as a party city is becoming well-known throughout northern Europe and many nights a week, young Copenhagen residents come by the train full to drink and dance across the bridge. Malmö has the largest dance-floor in Scandinavia and the city stays up much later than most Swedish towns, including Stockholm.

SHOPPING IN MALMö

Copenhagen is the place to go for fashion, but in Malmö, don't miss the Form Design Center for shopping for functional and decorative art. The shop there has a great assortment of pieces from a variety of artists and some of it is quite reasonably priced.

Airport

The Malmö Airport (also known as Sturup Airport) is located between Malmö and Lund and services domestic and short-range, mostly Baltic, European flights. There is easy transport from the airport to Malmö and Copenhagen. The Öresund Bridge also connects Malmö very conveniently to Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport, which serves a wide variety of international destinations.

Trains

Local trains on the Skånetrafiken network will get you easily to anywhere in Southern Sweden. The train to Copenhagen runs every 20 minutes and continues on throughout the Öresund Region on both the Swedish and Danish sides of the sound. Long distance trains also come through Malmö, including the fast train to Stockholm, which takes only 4 hours.

Metro

There is no city metro, but the Skånetrafiken local trains go to many local destinations.

Bus

The extensive city bus system is easy to navigate. Green buses stay in the city and yellow buses head to outlying areas and nearby towns. Head to the Skånetrafiken office at the central train station for information.

Taxi

The city center is entirely walkable and the bus system is inclusive and easy. Taxi drivers in Malmö are known for overcharging tourists, so it is worth figuring out the bus system if you can. If you must take a taxi, the usual rules apply: agree on a price beforehand or make sure the driver is using the meter and call for a cab from a reputable company if you can rather than jump in one on the street.

WEATHER

Malmö enjoys a mild climate tempered by its position on the sea and shielded by the Danish landmass from strong Atlantic storms. It can be quite windy no matter what the season, which is pleasant in the warm summer months, but can make the mild winter temperatures feel much colder. January and February are the coldest months with temperatures hovering around freezing. July and August are the warmest with daytime temperatures around 20°C. It rains a few days a month throughout the year with showers most common in August and September.

WELCOME TO MALMö