What to do in Malmö Sweden

When it comes to what to do in Malmö, Sweden, you’re truly spoilt for choice.

Often overshadowed by its Danish neighbour across the bridge (Copenhagen), I think Malmo is deserving of a lot more attention — I’d even go as far to say as I preferred it to Copenhagen!

Malmo is a super pretty small town in Sweden that’s on the coast. It has loads of beautiful green spaces, a beach and a super pretty old town that’s packed full of cool stores, great bars ad delicious restaurants.

Having recently spent 10 days in Malmo, I have plenty of time to find the best places to visit if you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do in Malmo.

Below, I’ve shared my favourite things to do in Malmo and the places you should visit including picturesque neighbourhoods and squares, breweries, art galleries and museums, and outdoor spaces.

How to get around Malmö

Malmö is a small city that’s really well set up for getting around without needing a car. We definitely didn’t feel like we needed one at all during our 10-day stay there.

Scooters and bikes in Malmö

My favourite way to get around the city was by bike or e-scooter. There were places to pick up and drop off Bolt and Volt e-scooters near our Airbnb so that’s what we did most often, but you can also use the Malmö by Bike bike rental system.

There are bike lanes all over Malmö and I always felt safe when cycling around the city.

By bus

Malmo has a good bus system and there are trains that go to towns and cities nearby. The best way to see the timetables and destinations is by using the Skånetrafiken app.

You can buy tickets onboard the bus if your card has contactless which makes it super easy to use public transport.

Best things to do in Malmö Sweden

1. Wander around Malmös Old Town (Gamla Staden)

One of the best things to do in Malmö is to just wander around Gamla Väster, the city’s Old Town and bustling city centre. Gamla Staden refers to the entire district, which includes parks and Scandinavia’s oldest Renaissance castle right here in Malmo.

Wander aimlessly and walk down the small streets that take your fancy. I found some really cool buildings as I wandered around the city during our stay in Malmo.

Be sure to visit Stortorget, a pretty and historic market square dating back to the 16th century. You’ll see the Malmö City Hall (Malmö Rådhus) nearby and be sure to also go to Lilla Torg with its cobblestone pavements and timber houses. There are loads of bars and restaurants around the square that always seemed to be busy during our visit.

2. Visit the disgusting food museum

If contemporary or modern art isn’t really your thing and you usually steer clear of museums, perhaps this one will be more up your street.

Malmo’s Disgusting Food Museum is definitely a unique museum that houses 80 strange foods from all over the world. And, the best (or worst) part is that there are tastings too!

You’ll get to learn more about storage foods such as cheese inhabited by fly larvae, or insects for protein.

Yes, some of it sounds truly disgusting but the museum was set up to get us to think about our food perceptions and why we waste so much in the aim of getting us to be more sustainable when it comes to food choices.

Book your ticket for the museum here.

3. Chill out in Folket’s Park

We kind of stumbled across the park by accident and it was basically like a free amusement park for kids! and there was some stuff for adults too.

If you’re visiting Malmö with kids definitely go here as there’s a large play area, water park and trampolines, it looked like so much fun.

In the summer there’s a pop-up beer garden and there are stages with live music too. It’s a super cool place to hang out.

4. Explore Möllevången

The Möllegvången neighbourhood of Malmö is where you’ll find some of the city’s most popular bars, restaurants and parks.

The square, Möllevångstorget, often has a great farmers market and then there’s Mitt Möllan which is a small shopping centre full of locally owned boutiques and vintage stores.

If you’re visiting in the summer make sure to grab some ice cream at Köld, they have some really interesting flavours and all the ones we tried during our stay were delicious!

5. Shopping at Davdishall

If you’re looking to do some shopping while in Malmö then Davidshall is the place to go. There’s a mix here of both Highstreet international chains as well as Scandinavian design stores.

Some of the best shops that you won’t find at home are Grandpa, Pop Vintage and Love Street Boutique There’s also AB Småland where you can swoon over some beautiful Swedish interior designs.

6. Wander the waterfront at Västra Hamnen

Västra Hamnen (Western harbour) is a newer part of the city and is where you’ll find the Turning Torso which is Malmös only real skyscraper and most recognisable landmark. You’ll likely have seen it if you’ve walked around Ribersborg beach or even as you crossed over the bridge from Copenhagen.

The waterfront around this area is beautiful and there are plenty of boardwalks and places to sit and take a minute to relax by the water — or go for a refreshing swim!

On a clear day, you can see Copenhill in Copenhagen across the water which is pretty cool! It’s also a great place to see the sunset in Malmö.

7. Discover Sankt Knuts

This small neighbourhood is super cute and though it won’t take long to wander around it’s worth making your way over there.

The Sankt Knuts Torg (square) is surrounded by cafes that are great for breakfast and lunch. Söderberg and Sara is well known for its great sourdough bread and Spoonery is a great place to get some traditional Swedish meatballs which you must try at least once while you’re visiting Sweden! There’s also a flower shop where you can pick up some fresh blooms.

8. Take Fika

Fika is a Swedish ritual that’s about much more than just grabbing a coffee and a slice of cake. The Swedish tourism website described it as a social phenomenon that’s about taking a moment of quality time.

Whatever you decide it means to you, you’ve simply got to take some Fika breaks while you’re visiting Sweden.

Some of the best things to try are cardamon buns (my favourite), cinnamon buns and, or course, any sort of cake.

You’ll find cafes all throughout Malmö so pop into one that looks good to you, grab a drink and something sweet, and enjoy a relaxing moment.

9. Boat the Malmo Canals

Malmo has a bunch of canals running throughout the city and one of the best things to do in Malmo in the summer is definitely to rent one and hit the water.

You can rent your own boat through BookABoat which you’ll also find in Copenhagen and Gothenburg, or you can rent a pedalo in Slottsträdgården and travel the canals under your own power.

Alternatively, you can book a canal boat tour which is a great way to do some relaxed, low-effort sightseeing. Tours last about an hour and along the way, you’ll learn more about Malmo’s history and get one of. the best views of the Turning Torso.

10. Cool off at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus

Ribersborgs Kallbadhus is an example of a beautiful Swedish design that doubles as a bathhouse where you can enjoy saunas and cold dips in the sea.

The bathhouse opened in 1898 and is open year-round so it doesn’t matter what time of year you’re visiting Malmö.

There’s an onsite restaurant and a massage area too so you can really turn it into a little bit of a spa session.

There are separate areas for men and women since bathing nude here is a requirement. Alternatively, you can take a dip in the sea from the beaches that surround the bathhouse which is both free and doesn’t have the nude bathing requirement if that’s not your thing.

Though there is a nude beach area a bit closer to Limhamns Hamnområde as I discovered when taking an afternoon walk there one day!

11. Discover Malmö’s parks

Malmö has so many parks and beautiful green spaces, it’s one of the reasons we loved it and, as we’re coming to learn from our year of travel, it’s what we’ll need when we finally decide to live somewhere more permanently.

There are too quite large parks in the centre of Malmö, Kungsparken and Slottsparken, which have plenty of flat, easily walkable trails, gardens and canals and lakes. There’s the Caste Mill at the centre, just behind the castle and super close to the beautiful Slottsträdgårdenand super cute cafe (Slottsträdgårdens Kafé) in amongst the flowers.

On a sunny afternoon, you’ll find loads of people picnicking, and hanging out with friends in the shade in this beautiful park.

12. Visit Malmöhus Castle

Malmo Castle is a 16th Century Castle which is said to be the oldest preserved castle in Scandinavia. It’s surrounded by a moat in the middle of the city. It looks very different to the types of castles you’ll in Scotland and it’s got several museums inside that are some of the best things to do in Malmö when it rains.

You can do a self-guided audio tour of the Malmö castle or visit the Malmo Museum where you can learn more about the city’s history.

13. Admire the views from inside Malmö’s stadsbibliotek

The Malmö Stadbibliotek (city library) is a beautiful building with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the park across the road. If you need to do some work while you’re in Malmo, or just appreciate some stunning architecture, then be sure to walk in and admire the views.

14. Take a day trip to Lund

Lund is just a 15-minute train journey away from Malmö which makes it a super easy day trip or half-day trip if you’re keen to check out some other places near Malmo.

Lund is a Swedish university town and is small but pretty. If you take a day trip to Lund check wander through the university gardens, visit Kulturen, an open-air museum, and make sure you visit the Botanical Garden which is free to enter and so cool! Definitely one of the best things to do in Lund.

We also got a super cheap falafel and halloumi wrap from near the station that was so delicious and filling!

15. Grab food from Malmö Saluhall

I was seriously impressed by Malmö Saluhall and we got lunch from here a couple of times during our stay (my favourite was the buffalo halloumi sandwich!).

Inside the market, you’ll find loads of restaurants serving lunch and dinner as well as some places where you can pick up produce to cook your own meals. It’s one of my top recommendations for what to visit in Malmo.

16. Walk under the Oresund Bridge

The Oresund Bridge is an impressive structure which connects Denmark and Sweden and is what you cross if you travel between Malmo and Copenhagen.

Taking nearly 5 years to complete, this bridge is one of the longest in Europe and is actually both a bridge and a tunnel. The cars travel along the upper level of the bridge, and the trains underneath them.

In Malmö, you can take a walk along the waterfront near Linham and pass the docks until you’re standing right under the bridge which is pretty cool!

17. Visit Malmö Kontshall

If you’re an art lover, make your way over to Malmö Kontshall which is one of the best things to do in Malmo.

This is one of Europe’s largest exhibition halls and features sculptures and paintings from centuries ago to today.

The Malmö art gallery also does free guided tours where you can learn more about the art pieces on show every day at 2 pm from Tuesday to Friday and at 6 pm on Wednesdays and weekends.

18. Play Boules at Malmö Boulebar

Boulebar is a super fun spot where you can play boules with friends while enjoying some drinks. Though you might associate boules with the older generation, this boulebar brings the game to younger players too.

They have both indoor and outdoor courts so you can play whatever the weather!

19. Spend the day in Linhamn

We stayed slightly out of the centre of Malmö in Linhamn and I loved this area.

You’re sure close to the southern end of Ribersborg beach and park which was typically much quieter than the northern end nearer the city centre, and there was a pretty marina for walks and runs as well as some great cafes (we loved St. Jakobs Stenugnsbageri Limhamn) and delicious pizza at Mastio!

If you’re in Malmo for a few days, then be sure to cycle, scoot or walk down here!

20. Get local fish from Fiskehoddorna

Malmö is a great spot to get some fresh fish and one of the best places to buy it is from the Malmö fish market near the Castle.

The market is set in some colourful wooden huts lined up on the street and you can get various types of fish as well as fish and chips, smoked salmon and mackerel and more.

21. Relax at the beach at Ribersborg

Ribersborg is a beautiful beach and park area within walking distance of the city centre where we spent a lot of time during our stay in Malmo.

The beach here is sandy with super clear water, there are loads of places to jump in off the dock, or slowly descend some stairs into the water. There are volleyball nets, an outdoor gym and so much space to picnic with friends.

22. Take a day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark

If you’re staying in Malmo for quite a while (longer than 3/4 days), then you should definitely take a day trip to Copenhagen if you haven’t been already or want to go back!

It’s super easy to get between Copenhagen and Malmo by train, and quite cheap too. And, once in Copenhagen, there are so many things to see and do, from exploring the colourful houses of Nyhavn to checking out the beautiful Glyptotek museum or just eating your way through Copenhagen’s many delicious restaurants.

I’ve got a great 2 day Copenahgen itinerary which you can shorten for a day trip to Copenahgen!

23. Visit one of Malmö’s microbreweries

Malmö has a great craft beer scene, with several microbreweries to check out if you’re a beer lover.

We went to Malmö Brewing Co & Taproom which had some outdoor seating as well as loads of seating inside. They had a huge range of beers as well as some ciders and meads from both their brewery and other local brewers.

Another great Malmö brewery is Hyllie Bryggeri which not only does great beer but some delicious food too. South Plains Brewing Company is a little further out of the centre, but the reviews are great and when it comes to where to eat in Malmo if you want amazing, beautifully presented food alongside great craft beers, then head to Beer Ditch towards the South of Malmo centre.

Where to stay in Malmo

• Unity Malmo: Enjoy a comfortable stay in the heart of Malmö at UNITY Malmö, a 4-star aparthotel in a central location near shopping centres, attractions, and transportation options.
• Elite Hotel Esplanade Malmo: Enjoy some luxury at Elite Hotel Esplanade next to Lilla Torg Square.
• The More Hotel Mazetti: Enjoy a sustainable stay at The More Hotel, just 5 minutes from Triangeln Station and the Möllevången district. Each apartment has a kitchen so you can save money by eating in too.

How to get to Malmö, Sweden

Most people arriving in Malmö are doing so as a Malmö day trip from Copenhagen. Getting between Copenhagen and Malmö is super easy by train which takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour and takes you over the incredible Oresund Bridge as you cross between the two countries.

We took the train after our week in Copenhagen before spending 10 days in Malmö and it was so easy; even when the original train we’d planned was cancelled it was no problem to hop on another one!

You can read more about getting from Malmö to Copenhagen and vice-versa in my guide.

FAQs about what to do in Malmo Sweden

Final thoughts on what to Malmo

Malmö in Sweden has so many things to do from chilling out in parks (the best free things to do in Malmo) and enjoying the outdoor spaces, to visiting museums and art galleries or admiring the historic beauty of places like Gamla Staden, Lilla Torg and Stortorget.

Whether you’re taking a day trip to Malmo from Copenhagen, visiting Malmo for work, or travelling around Scandinavia, make sure you add Malmo to your itinerary!