15 Interesting Things To Do in Malmo, Sweden (That You’ll Actually Want To Do)

What To Do in Malmo, Sweden for a day . . . or longer

Looking to explore Sweden’s third largest city, but wanting better things to do in Malmo beyond taking Instagram perfect photos to prove you visited?

Many folks are excited to learn that Malmo, Sweden lies directly across the Oresund Strait from Copenhagen, Denmark. A 30-minute ride on a (briefly) underwater train from Copenhagen Central Station delivers you to the heart of this small medieval Swedish city of about 365,000 residents. Why not visit two countries when you’ve gone to the trouble of getting yourself all the way to Scandinavia, eh?!

While I always wanted to include some time in Malmo in my visit to Copenhagen in early December 2025, it wasn’t until we were booking hotels and realized we could stay in Malmo for three nights for the price of one night in Copenhagen that we got serious about exploring the Swedish city. There was just one hang up: was there anything to do in Malmo?

Frustratingly so many of the Malmo travel guides I read before my visit were just laundry lists of photo spots around the city. I mean statues, windmills, and rows of colorful Swedish houses are great and all, but they don’t exactly fill a day . . . .

Happily, we found so many things to keep us occupied for two full days in Malmo, including my favorite thing we did on the entire trip: a visit to the Ribersborg Kallbadhus. From having a fika at the Saluhall to exploring Malmohus Castle’s various exhibits or day tripping to nearby Lund, here’s a definitive list of the best activities you can get up to Malmo.

15 Things People Actually Do in Malmo, Sweden

1. Ribersborg Kallbadhus

Let’s start with my personal favorite Malmo activity: visiting the Ribersborg Kallbadhus (cold bath house) for a sauna and cold plunge in the Oresund Strait, which connects the North and Baltic Seas. You access this historic Victorian sauna facility via a causewalk from the Ribersborg Strand beach.  

This is a communal bath house where men and women are separated into their own changing room, sauna, and plunge areas. (They do hold regular events for nonbinary individuals.) The main barrier to entry for most Malmo visitors is that you must sauna naked.  I know it sounds scary and that’s exactly why I wrote an entire guide to visiting Swedish cold baths!

As the attendant who welcomed us at Ribersborg said, “It’s a very nice experience.” She wasn’t wrong! It was so invigorating. Afterwards you can enjoy a nice meal or snack in the on-site restaurant.

You can also visit Sibbarps Kallbadus which is located about a 15-minute drive south of Malmo. For a private sauna experience, check out Bastu Paus in Malmo.

2. Have a fika

Do you fika? You probably do!

A fika is really just a coffee break, but one so ingrained in Swedish culture that it’s noteworthy to visitors. Meant to be a moment of pause and connection with friends, family, and colleagues, a fika is the daily practice of grabbing a cup of coffee and a sweet treat like a cinnamon or cardamom roll with others. 

As a northern Minnesotan who grew up surrounded by descendants of Swedish immigrants, the idea of fika didn’t really register as something novel to do in Sweden. Heck, we even have a coffee shop and roastery named Fika in my neck of the woods!  

Still, you’ll can and should fika in Malmo. Some favorite Malmo bakeries for your fika include Leve, Brod och Vanner, and Söderberg and Sara. We did our fika at the St. Jakobs Stenugnsbageri in the Malmo food hall, Saluhall.

Since we were visiting in early December I was really excited to get my hands on a lussekalter bun, which is a special seasonal treat for St. Lucia Day (December 13). These saffron buns’ distinctive swirl shape represents a cat’s curled tail and is meant to allude to the two cats that pulled the goddess Freya’s chariot through the sky helping her bring light and rebirth everywhere she traveled.  

4. Take a city tour

If you’re just in Malmo for the day, a walking tour provides an efficient way to get acquainted with the city’s landmarks and history. You can opt for a guided tour (I recommendthis one or this one) or if you want to explore the city at your own pace, check out this self-guided audio tour that conveniently starts and ends at Malmo Central Station.

If you’re visiting in nicer weather than we were, you could also take a canal boat tour.

5. Explore Slottsparken and Kungsparken

Malmo is filled with green spaces where you’ll find locals exercising, picnicking, or walking dogs. The two most convenient parks to explore are the Slottsparken and Kungsparken which surround the Malmo Castle, just west of Old Town and Malmo Central Station.

These peaceful parks merge woodland and urban landscapes as well as history and modern day. Filled with sculptures, fountains, and even a fairytale-themed playground next to the public library, the parks also contain several water features and groves of trees.

A favorite spot inside these parks is Slottsträdgården, a community garden with a garden café. Perhaps the most photographic landmark in Slottsparken is the 19^th century Dutch style windmill which you’ll find right across the canal from Slottsträdgården.

6. Eat in Lilla Torg

This pretty little square (Lilla Torg translates into little square) in the heart of Malmo’s Old Town is ready and willing to cash in on its cuteness with a high concentration of restaurants with outdoor seating so you can fully enjoy those square’s ambiance.

Since this area definitely has tourists in its sights, it’s a good spot to try some foods Sweden is known for like meatballs, salmon, wild game, and toast skagen. Always the contrarian, I opted for pad thai . . . .

7. Enjoy the Malmo Public Library

One slightly unusual Malmo activity kept showing up in every guide I read; to visit the Malmo Public Library. Now I’m a big fan of public libraries (English major and all, ya know) but I haven’t made a point of visiting them on my travels since I was a small child. After my trip to Malmo Public Library, I think maybe I need to reconsider that!

Malmo Public Library is located on the southeastern edge of Slottsparken. The library is divided among three connected buildings: the original 1901 red brick castle-like building and a modern addition which is connected via an entrance hall. 

Even if you’re not a fan of reading (not really sure how you ended up on this blog, but okay . . .) you should pop into the library and head to the modern section for a beautiful view looking across Slottsparken. There’s a large selection of English books on the shelves. If you end up staying a while, you can pop into the on-site café for a refreshment.

8. Visit Malmohus Castle

I just planned to walk around this formidable Renaissance structure and its moat to snap some pictures, but when it started raining, it suddenly seemed like a really good idea to go inside Malmo Castle! 

As southern Sweden’s largest museum, you’ll find a little bit of everything inside. I was most interested in learning about the castle’s history as a royal residence and defense, but the castle also houses an art museum, children’s museum, natural history museum, and even an aquarium!

With free lockers for your coats and bags, varied exhibits, a gift shop, and cafe, this is the perfect Malmo rainy day activity!

I was especially fascinated by the exhibit which explained how the castle turned into a refugee centre for Scandinavians and Jews who were rescued from Nazi concentration camps using a network of white buses. You’ll find one of these famous white buses right in front of the main entrance.

9. Go to a museum

There are several other museums you can wander through in Malmo. Perhaps the most infamous Malmo museum is the Disgusting Food Museum where you can try some of the most polarizing foods in the world, including surströmming (a fermented canned herring that’s popular in Sweden), Icelandic fermented shark, frog juice, and more.

If you don’t have the stomach for the Disgusting Food Museum, you can have more conventional options including the Technology and Maritime Museum where you can go inside an actual submarine, the exhibits at the Form/Design Center, or Malmo’s modern and contemporary art museum: Moderna Museet.

10. Stroll along the harbor

On a pleasant day, consider taking a walk around the Västra Hamnen, or Western Harbor. This waterfront is crisscrossed with canals and bridges. You’ll find outdoor art, lighthouses, and several viewpoints with views of the Oresund Strait and Bridge.

You’ll also enjoy excellent views of Malmo’s most well-known building – the Turning Torso. This distinctive skyscraper with its gravity defying twist is an apartment building that dominates the Malmo skyline. Until 2022, it was the tallest building in Sweden!  

11. Explore Folkets Park

We visited Malmo in the early winter and decided to wander through Folkets Park one evening to check out their Vinterland activities.

This large green space is actually the oldest public park in Sweden. It’s free to walk through and from late November through early February the park turns into “Vinterland” which is really just a festive light display. For added winter fun, there’s also an ice rink near the northern entrance to park during this time period with free skate rental.

While Folkets once fancied itself a bit of amusement park, it was certainly never on par with Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. It now just features a mini golf course with pretty limited weekend hours. But even if you miss the Vinterland skating and lights, it’s still worth a visit, especially if you’re traveling with kids for its playgrounds, splash pads, ping pong tables, and skate park. 

A striking 1901 Moorish style pavilion with turrets and domes dominates the northern corner of the park and features a restaurant and event space. Check the event calendar before your visit to see if the park will be hosting any performances.

12. Go biking along Ribersborg Strand

Biking is a great way to get around Malmo, but if you’re nervous about bumping elbows with experience urban bikers on the Malmo city streets, a rip down the paved multi-use trail along Ribersborg Beach might be just what you’re looking for. 

You can do an easy nine-mile loop between Västra Hamnen and Limhamn for great views of the Turning Torso skyscraper, the Oresund Bridge, and Ribersborg Kallbadhus. There are several bike sharing stations along and near the beach so you don’t need to worry about transporting a bike from a rental shop. Bring a picnic, or hit up one of the many beachside food booths.

13. Eat falafel

If you were raised surrounded by Swedish tropes like Dala horses, pickled herring, and ABBA, you’re going to be really surprised by how multicultural Malmo feels!

As the third-largest city in Sweden, Malmo has a large immigrant population. In fact about 30% of its residents were born outside of Sweden and about 54% of residents have at least one parent who was born outside of Sweden. While these “new Swedes” come from all over the globe, there’s a high concentration of Middle Eastern immigrants.

That makes Malmo a great place for halal food. You’ll find falafel kiosks and restaurants all over the city. I highly recommend having falafel at least once during your visit.  

14. Sample beers at Beer Ditch

We made ourselves at home pretty quickly in Malmo’s Norra Sofielund neighborhood. By the end of our first night we’d made Beer Ditch our Malmo “local.”  This small cozy bar and restaurant specializes in craft beer with 16 types on tap and hundreds more available in bottles or cans.

We originally came in for their selection of vegetarian and vegan burgers (they do also serve meat) but ended up coming back for the friendly service and amazing beer selection. If they’re not too busy, it’s a great place to settle in with a couple brews and a card game like cribbage or the Swedish Dotcard.

15. Day trip to Lund

In just a speedy 12-minute train ride from Malmo Central Station you can reach the medieval city of Lund, Sweden.

When I was flying home from London the month before, I ended up chatting with a flight attendant who had spent all summer flying the Detroit to Copenhagen route. She highly recommended we make a lunch reservation at the bistro in Lund’s Grand Hotel and order the meatballs. 

Of course, our first stop was the Grand Hotel, but once we were stuffed with meatballs, we spent a very pleasant afternoon exploring the little town filled lots of fun little independent shops. (Coffee beans from one of the LOVE coffee roasteries make great souvenirs!)

I recommend talking the city’s self-guided walking tour through the old town which takes you to the town cathedral, botanical gardens, and even an adorable 19^th century grocery store built in 1815.

Malmo Travel Guide

How to get to Malmo

Most people visiting Malmo arrive by train. Trains run about every 15 minutes between Copenhagen Central Station (via the Copenhagen Airport) and Malmo. There’s no need to book a ticket in advance; just head to one of the ticket kiosks in either station to grab a ticket for the next train. One-way tickets cost about $12 – 16 (USD).

Pro tip: If you’re staying outside of Malmo Old Town, you might not have to go all the way to Malmo Central Station. Since we were staying in the Norra Sofielund neighborhood, we got off at the Triangeln Station which significantly shortened our walk with luggage.

Note: Maybe this is just a quirk of getting out at Triangeln rather than Malmo Central, but we were told by multiple people (including the train PA) that we’d need to pass through passport control when we arrived in Sweden. We followed signs that looked like they were directing us to passport control and ended up exiting the train station.

Is Malmo safe?

Because of its high immigrant population, Malmo has a bit of (racist) reputation of being unsafe. While I am sure there are neighborhoods to avoid due to gang violence (Rosengard is cited most frequently), since we visited in December when there are only about six hours of daylight we spent a lot of time on Malmo streets after dark and felt perfectly safe the entire time.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about your personal safety in Malmo any more than I would anywhere else. Scandinavian countries are notoriously safe. It’s always best to practice good situational awareness, use theftproof bags to protect against pickpockets, and avoid aimless wandering especially after dark.

Getting around Malmo

If you’re visiting for a day trip, you’re probably planning to just visit sites within walking distance of Malmo’s central train station. However, many of Malmo’s best attractions (like Ribersborg Strand) are either a fair bit outside of Malmo Old Town or require plenty of time on your feet, so I definitely recommend not walking everywhere in Malmo if you can help it.

Like nearby Copenhagen, this is a very bike friendly city. Many hotels and vacation rentals provide complimentary bikes to use during your stay. There are plenty of bike rental options as well. You can’t beat this eco-friendly way to get some exercise and fresh air while getting from Point A to Point B.

Malmo is also served by an extensive bus system. We stayed right next to a bus depot, so we depended on buses to get around the city. Malmo buses are set up with tap to pay (just like London’s transport system) so using the bus system is as easy as hopping on and off.  We used Apple maps to tell us which number bus to catch and this worked very well, although we once got on a bus going in the wrong direction.