Malmö

Old-world charm and an injection of laid-back Scandinavian cool meet in sustainable Malmö, the largest city in the Swedish county of Skåne. On Ferryhopper, you can find the best vacation tips for the seaside city of Malmö, what to do and see, and how to get there by ferry! Find the crossing that suits you best and book ferry tickets to Malmö online!

The Malmö clocktower surrounded by modern buildings on Hamnkanalen Canal

Vacation in Malmö

With its charming Old Town, eye-catching, modern waterfront, and meandering canal, Malmö is a cosmopolitan city with lots to see and do on a city break. 

Mostly flat and walkable, Malmö is a pioneer in sustainable city planning. Its cutting-edge galleries, chic lifestyle boutiques and booming culinary scene have attracted an outward-looking population, making it a go-to destination for a cool young crowd and foodies. But what really makes Malmö stand-out is the fact that it has a really friendly vibe.

Therefore, Malmö has a little bit of everything to please everyone, whether you're an active, outdoorsy traveler, a partygoer, a foodie, a culture vulture, or a combination of them all. You can visit the beautiful city just for a day, but 2-3 days is ideal.

How to get to Malmö

You can travel to Malmö by car, train, plane or ferry. If you’d like to arrive in Malmö by car, you can do so by driving on Europe’s longest road and rail bridge, Øresund bridge, from Copenhagen. 

There are also national trains that run from major cities like Stockholm (4.5 hours) and Gothenburg (3 hours) to Malmö. Another option is to fly directly to Malmö Airport, but Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport often has more frequent international flights. From Kastrup, regular trains will take you to Malmö’s central station in less than 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can reach Malmö by ferry. There are ferry lines that offer easy access from Germany. Traveling by ferry may take longer but you can embark your vehicle. Also, you can book a cabin for a comfortable trip while enjoying the fascinating crossing and the breathtaking views from the ferry’s dock. Discover more about ferries to Malmö below!

View of the famous Øresund bridge during sunset

What to do in Malmö

Malmö is full of surprises. It boasts a futuristic, twisting skyscraper, an impressive castle, cobblestone streets, a peaceful beach, yet a gritty, urban vibe.

Start by visiting the city’s plethora of museums. Malmö Museer and Malmö Castle are definitely the highlights. But if you’d like to do something different, head to the Disgusting Food Museum, and discover 80 of the world’s most disgusting foods. Good luck!

To take advantage of vintage shopping opportunities, visit Drottningtorget, the most popular market in Malmö. To go for a walk or have a picnic, head to Folkets Park. This is also home to the oldest amusement park in Sweden, in case you want to give your body an adrenaline rush. 

For a reviving experience that will stay with you long after your trip to Sweden’s 3rd largest city, take the plunge at Ribersborg Kallbadhus, an open-air bathhouse with access to the ocean. Malmö’s progressive coffee scene will then encourage you to settle down for a fika (that’s Swedish for a coffee break). This ritual places a strong emphasis on taking it easy, enjoying small luxuries and making time for loved ones.

Sightseeing in Malmö

Now it’s time for some sightseeing. From astounding architecture, history and design to world-class art, there is plenty to see here. Malmö’s museums cover everything from Nordic heritage to aquatic life. Here you can find a list of the top sightseeing in Malmö:

• The Moderna Museet, a museum of modern and contemporary art
• The Malmö Konsthall, one of the largest exhibition halls for contemporary art in Europe
• St Peter's Church
• Malmö Castle, home to Malmö’s art and natural history museums
• The Form/Design Center
• The Turning Torso, an iconic building by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava
• The Malmö Rådhus, the attractive old town hall
• The Malmö Chocolate Factory

Skyline of Malmö with famous Turning Torso skyscraper building

Nightlife in Malmö

This coastal city is not just a destination for history and nature, but for late-night partying, too.

Spend your first night in Malmö at Lilla Torg, a square at the heart of the old town, crammed with lively bars, cafés and restaurants. Half the population head there for After Work (the Swedish happy hour) drinks, from around 16:00 to at least 19:00. Another area famous for its bar and restaurant scene is Möllan. 

When it comes to large events and festivals, most of them take place in the charming Stortorget market square, built in 1540.

Lilla Torg, Malmö’s medieval little square in the old town center

Food in Malmö

With more than 150 different nationalities calling Malmö home, this is a city full of flavors. Whether you want to taste traditional Swedish food, vegetarian, zero-waste or ethical meat, you will find a restaurant doing it to the highest quality. Malmö's Middle Eastern food scene is particularly popular.

• aggakaka (egg cake topped with crispy pork)
• prinskorv (small sausages fried in butter)
• ålagille (smoked eel)
• gåsamiddag (roast goose)
• falafel 
• spättekaka (a local, sugar-based dessert cake baked on a spit)

Tip: the Saluhall food hall is a great place to try local artisan food and drink.

Useful information about Malmö

Malmö is a lively city offering many tourist services. As far as accommodation goes, in Malmö you’ll find everything from hostels to luxury hotels. If you only have a few days to spend in the city, we would recommend staying at Gamla Staden, or Old Town, the heart of Malmö. 

Young travelers with a tight budget should opt to stay at the Davidshall area, one of the newest trendy areas in Malmö. Another option is the Western Harbour or Vastra Hamnen neighborhood, the area which first made Malmö known as a sustainable city. 

As for hospitals, there are a few options in the center of Malmö and the suburbs in case of emergency.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Malmö

Find some useful phone numbers for your trip to Malmö below:

• Copenhagen Malmö Port Authority: +46104766000
• Skåne Police Authority: +46771141400
• Malmö Hospital: +4640331000
• Malmö Airport: +46101094500
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Malmö

First of all, Malmö is extremely walkable. It’s also made for cycling. There are 490 km of cycle paths in the city and its bike hire scheme is Malmö by Bike. In fact, it’s been named the 6th best city for cycling in the world.

A fast and reliable alternative to walking or cycling is taking the bus. In Malmö there are 2 kinds of public buses: green buses for journeys within the city and yellow buses for journeys to nearby towns. There are 8 main city-center bus lines in total. 

As for trains, you can get from the Central Station to the suburb of Triangeln, towards the southern part of town, in just 2-3 minutes.

Tip: if you plan to stay in town for more than a couple of days, opt for the rechargeable JoJo Card.

Ports in Malmö

Copenhagen Malmö Port operates the ports in Malmö as well as in Denmark's capital Copenhagen. With a central location in the Oresund region, the ports serve as the doorway to Denmark and Sweden and the gateway to the Baltic Sea. 

The port is primarily a hub for vehicle imports, but it also handles dry and wet bulk cargo, cruise ships, ro-ro ferries, and containers.

As you approach the port by ferry, which is located 1 km or 10-15 minutes’ walk from the city center, sailing under the famous Øresund Bridge is an awe-inspiring experience.

Malmö ferry: schedules and tickets

You can reach Malmö by ferry from the port of Travemünde in Germany. The company that operates the connection is Finnlines. Here you can find more information on the ferry connection to Malmö:

• Travemünde - Malmö ferry: you can catch a ferry from Travemünde to Malmö throughout the year with up to 3 daily crossings. The travel time varies between around 9 to 10 hours.

Aerial view of the Västra Hamnen neighborhood by the port in Malmö

Where to book ferry tickets to Malmö online

The stunning Swedish coastal city awaits you! On our interactive Map of ferries, you can discover all available schedules, find the one that best suits your needs and book your ferry tickets to Malmö, Sweden on Ferryhopper at no extra cost!