Best things to do in Lund, Sweden
Lund in Sweden is a cute small town just 15 minutes away from Malmö. Despite being small, there are plenty of fun things to do in Lund that’ll keep you entertained if you’re planning a day trip there.
During a recent trip to Lund from Malmo I was surprised at how pretty the town was and the Lund Botanical Garden was definitely my favourite part of our day. Well, that and how good the falafel wrap I had later in the day was!
But there’s also the impressive Lund Cathedral and some museums, including the interesting Lund Culture Museum to explore.
Whether you have a few hours to spare in Lund or are planning a trip there to explore, this guide to what to do in Lund will give you plenty of ideas on what to do there.
Best things to do in Lund Sweden
Visit the Lund Botanical Garden
Since 1690, the University of Lund has had a botanical garden and the current botanical garden in Lund is one of the best places to visit in the town.
We spend a good amount of time exploring the greenhouses which house over 7,000 species including some frogs!
The different greenhouses take you through different climates and types of plants and it’s well worth visiting especially since it’s one of the best free things to do in Lund.
The best time to visit is between May and July when the gardens are full of life.
There’s also a super cute cafe around the back of the greenhouses where you can enjoy a coffee or tea with a sweet treat.
Wander through the Lund University Grounds
Lund University is one of the oldest universities around dating back to 1666. Lund University has a great reputation especially when it comes to medical research.
The main building is near the Lund Cathedral and it’s worth walking past as it’s very grand and has beautiful grounds as well. You’ll know you’re in front of the main building when you’re outside a huge whitewashed building with columns – it’s basically impossible to miss.
Entry to Lund Cathedral is free.
Visit the Lund Museum of Sketches for Public Art
This cool museum in Lund is the place to go for art lovers and appreciators.
At this museum, you’ll find work from over 1,000 Swedish and international artists and get the chance to see loads of preliminary sketches and intricate models.
There’s also an international sculpture room where you can see preparatory works by 20th-century artists such as Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Diego Rivera, Siri Derkert, and Elli Hemberg.
Once you’ve seen everything you want indoors, head out to the sculpture park where you can see pieces from notable Swedish artists like Elli Hemberg and Arne Jones.
Get falafel for lunch
Falafel is basically the food of Lund and you can’t go to Lund without trying some!
While Lundafalfel is one of the most popular places, we actually ended up going to Clemens Falafel in Lund which was near the train station since the queue at Lundafalafel was so long.
We got so much food for such a low price and it was delicious. I had a falafel wrap and my husband had a halloumi and falafel box which came full of chips, falafel and halloumi. It basically filled us up past dinner too!
Visit Lund Cathedral
The Lund Cathedral is one of the most impressive examples of Romanesque architecture in the town and it’s around 900 years old!
While the cathedral looks beautiful from the outside, you should also spare some time to go inside. Be sure to head upstairs to check out the astronomical clock from 1380 which is another of the things you must see in Lund.
Relax in Stadsparken
Stadsparken is a great place in Lund to chill out or hang out with friends. It’s been a public garden for over a century and you’ll find plenty of locals hanging out here in the summer.
It’s also great for children since there’s a playground with a climbing wall and a skate park too. There’s also Lund’s only indoor swimming pool, an outdoor gym and a 10 km hiking trail.
Explore Lund’s Kulturen Park
Lund’s Kulturen Park is the second oldest open-air museum in Sweden, surpassed only by a similar museum in Stockholm.
Since it opened in 1892, the Lund Culture Museum is made up of historic buildings between the Cathedral and the Botanical Garden.
There are about 30 rooms that have been turned into exhibits where you can learn more about the everyday life and work of people living in the Lund area throughout history. The larger buildings also include artefacts from these times such as silverware, porcelain, and jewellery from the Scania province.
Take a Fika break in Lund
Lund has a pretty good coffee culture (which kind of goes hand in hand with it having such a buzzing student population).
Some of the best places to get coffee and fika in Lund are Coffee Break which is in a super cute timber-framed cottage and Love Coffee nearby which has a couple of locations throughout the town.
How to get to Lund from Malmö
Getting to Lund from Malmö is super easy and we opted to get the train since it was so quick, relatively cheap and meant we didn’t have to deal with parking. I’d definitely recommend getting the train if you’re coming from Malmö.
Trains to Lund
The easiest way to travel between Malmö and Lund is by train. The train journey takes about 15 minutes, with lots of departures throughout the day.
Trains leave from Malmö Central Station and come into Lund Central Station.
By Bus
Another option is to take a bus from Malmö to Lund. Buses run regularly between the two cities, and the journey typically takes around 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Driving to Lund from Malmö
If you prefer to drive, you can get to Lund from Malmö via the E22 highway. The distance between the two cities is roughly 20 km and usually takes about 20 minutes.
FAQs about what to do in Lund
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Final thoughts about the best things to do in Lund Sweden
Lund in Sweden is the perfect place to visit for a day trip from Malmo or even Copenhagen in Denmark.
It’s a great town that’s got some beautiful parks, buildings and plenty of history.
Whether you’re walking admiring the botanical gardens, chilling out with coffee and fika, or embracing the history and culture of Lund, you’re sure to find plenty of things to do in Lund for a day.
Want more things to do in Sweden? Check out my Sweden travel guides.
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
