As a Malmö local, I feel so lucky to live in this beautiful city with seemingly never ending things to do. Not only is Malmö the gateway to the rest of southern Sweden, it is also more than just a day trip from Copenhagen. Spend a few days in Malmö and you’ll surely understand why many locals are to thankful to call this city home. Looking for a local Malmö experience? I’m dishing all my favourite things to do in Malmö here in this Malmö city guide.
13 Things to Do in Malmö
gamla stadan (malmö old town)
Gamla Staden, or Malmö Old Town, is undoubtedly the most charming neighbourhood in Malmö. Narrow streets lined with beautiful old buildings, you’ll find yourself transported back in time and dreaming of what once-was. You’ll find the most picture-perfect alleyways and cobblestone streets in Gamla Vaster Malmö, specifically on Jakob Nilsgatan and Jöns Filsgatan.


lilla torg and stortorget (little square and big square)
Located in the Malmo old town, Lilla Torg and Stortorget are picturesque squares surrounded by restaurants and old buildings. Lilla torg is a great place to grab a drink when the sun in shining, or take in one of Malmo’s festivals. Stortorget is home to Apoteket Lejonet, a beautiful old pharmacy that is worth checking out.
möllevången neighbourhood
This neighbourhood is the multicultural epicentre of Malmö with trendy bars and restaurants, parks, and other cultural activities. Here you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Malmö. Grab a drink at the main square, Möllevångstorget. It is in this square that you will also find a great farmers market during the afternoon, where you can pick up fresh produce.
See Also: A detailed food guide to Malmö.
vastra hamnen (the western harbour)
Vastra Hamnen, or the Western Harbor, is a new development in Malmo and is home to the cities most recognizable landmark: The Turning Torso. This uniquely designed skyscraper cascades over Malmö and really can’t be missed when you’re exploring the city.
While walking from the train station to the Vastra hamnen district, you can’t miss the old lighthouse in the harbor at the head of the canal.
The waterfront in Vastra Hamnen is beautiful! Take some time to walk along the water-side parks, including Daniaparken and Scaniaparken to take in beautiful waterfront views. On a clear day, you can even see the iconic Malmö-Copenhagen Oresund Bridge in the distance. This is the perfect place to watch the beautiful Malmö sunset. And in the summer months, make sure you bring a bathing suit to take a dip off one of the many piers.


malmö canal boat rental
The best way to see Malmö is from the water. You can rent a boat from BookABoat, bring along your own food and drinks, and enjoy Malmö from the canals.


ribersborgsstranden (ribersborg beach)
Looking for the best beach in Malmö? This is your spot to sunbathe and go for a swim right in the city centre.
Here, you’ll also find Ribersborgs kallbadhus, which is a convenient local option if you’re looking traditional Scandinavian baths and saunas in Malmö. It also features a restaurant and patio, with spectacular views of the Oresund Bridge and the Turning Torso.
visit the best parks in malmö
Malmö is full of beautiful green spaces. In fact, when I first moved here I was blown away by how much central city real estate was allocated to park space. The most central parks, Kungsparken and Slottsparken, offer many picturesque walking trails, flower gardens, and lakes. Here you’ll also find Malmö’s iconic windmill, Castle Mill. If you’re stopping by Castle Mill, make sure you also walk through the beautiful gardens next to them.
Other favourite parks include Pildammsparken and the green space along Kungsgatan (where you can also check out the iconic Sankt Pauli’s Church).


folket's park
Folket’s Park deserves its own section because there is so much to do in this quirky park. Here, you’ll find an outdoor stage space where there is often free live music playing. There is all kinds of sculptures and fun playgrounds for children, bars (I’d recommend Moriskan or Far i Hatten), mini golf, street art, and more. It is definitely a unique local place in Malmö that is worth exploring.
malmö stadsbibliotek (city library)
Malmö’s city library is beautiful and features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the park next door. It is absolutely worth a quick stop in!
shop in davidshall
Trendy Davidshall features some of Malmö’s coolest shops and loads of Scandinavian design stores. Local favourites include AB Smaland, Grandpa, and Designtorget, but there are also plenty of cool vintage shops and other small boutiques to keep you busy for hours.


eat your heart out at malmö saluhall
Malmö’s indoor food market is a great place to stop for lunch, or to shop local goods. This indoor space is home to a bunch of vendors, with food options ranging from ramen to pizza to local Swedish fare.
fiskehoddorna (fish market)
You can eat local fish at Malmö’s fish market. Here, you can have homemade fish and chips in the garden behind these picturesque fishing huts. It is also a great spot to take photos in Malmö.
hunt for street art
Malmö has all kinds of corners of hidden street art. Wander around and see what you can find! Shown below, the left photo is a piece of art int he Davidshall neighbourhood, and you can find the right quote at Malmö’s Modern Art Museum.


The Best restaurants in Malmö
Check out my blog post all about Where to Eat in Malmö Sweden for details on where to eat, drink, and have the best fika in Malmo.


How to Get to MALMÖ
Copenhagen to Malmö: Most people access the city from Copenhagen, which is a short train ride away [about 30 minutes from Copenhagen Airport or 45 minutes from the Copenhagen city centre].
Malmö Airport: You can also fly into Malmö Airport from select cities. However, based on the location of the airport, it is often more convenient (and cost effective) to fly into Copenhagen.
If you are coming into Malmö from anywhere else in Scandinavia, both train and plane options should be available for a reasonable price.
For more details on train prices and times, download the Skånetrafiken app.
MALMÖ Transportation
Malmö is an incredibly accessible city, with a bunch of transportation options available.
Malmö by foot: One of the reasons I love this city is because you can get virtually anywhere you need to go by foot within 30-40 minutes.
Malmö bike: Get around the city the way the locals do – by bike! In fact, Malmö is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, and is very easy to navigate, even for a novice rider. For more information bike rentals, visit Malmö by Bike.
Hire a Malmö scooter: There are no shortage of electric scooters available for rent in the city – they are seriously everywhere. Just make sure you download the Voi and/or Lime apps ahead of time, and finding a scooter is a breeze.
Bus and Train in Malmö: Malmö is extremely accessible by bus, or train. The buses run frequently and cover a significant portion of the city. Just download the Skånetrafiken app to easy view schedules, buy tickets, and more.
Where to Stay in Malmö
Ohboy Hotell: Located in Västra hamnen, this brand new hotel offers affordable loft style hotel rooms and boasts a unique industrial-inspired design. It is designed with sustainability in mind and offers rental bikes to explore the city.
Clarion Malmö Live: This new hotel is very modern and over looks Malmö’s harbour and The Turning Torso. It is centrally located and home to Malmö Kitchen and Table, a restaurant on the top floor that overlooks the city.
MJ’s Hotel: Arguably the more beautiful hotel you’ll find in Malmö, this trendy centrally-located hotel is hotspot for both visitors and locals. It has a chic hotel bar, and greenery-filled restaurant atrium. The rooms are tastefully designed, too.

Day Trips from MALMÖ
There are tons of great day trips you can take from Malmö. Read about all the things you can do outside of Malmö in this Things to do in Skåne Travel Guide.
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