Malmö is Sweden's third largest city with a population of about 352,000 (2021), and the capital of the province of Scania (Skåne) on the southern tip of the country. Malmö is a port city on the Öresund strait, facing Copenhagen on its other bank, with which it is connected by the Öresund bridge. Together, the two cities form a duopolis and a core of a larger Oresund region spanning parts of Denmark and Sweden. Malmö was an industrial city, with a port and a shipyard, but the shipyard was dismantled in the late 20th century.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Founded in 1272 as a fortified port a day's walk from Lund, Malmö was for centuries the second-largest city of Denmark. It served as a Hanseatic port and a very lucrative trade area. Malmö dominated Skåne as the largest market hub, until Copenhagen grew larger during the 16th century. In 1658, as a result of the Great Northern War, Denmark ceded the Scanian lands, including the city of Malmö, to Sweden in the Second Treaty of Roskilde.
Malmö is best experienced by bicycle, the city is interlaced with lots of bicycle roads. Malmö is known as a very bike-friendly city (and indeed, biking is the preferred method of transportation here). The official bike map can be found on bike rentals and the tourist office. The cheapest bike rental is Malmö by Bike at 200SEK / year for unlimited use, and bikes are picked up at any time by typing a code into an unmanned station (see the map of stations). There are guided bike tours in Malmö during the summer. Skånetrafiken is responsible for public transport in Malmö and all of Scania.
The historic central parts of Malmö is called Gamla Staden ("Old Town"), and this area has three squares; Gustav Adolfs torg (Gustav Adolf's Square), Stortorget (Great Square) and Lilla torg (Little Square). Stortorget and Lilla Torg are directly connected at one corner, and a pedestrian-only shopping street connects them with Gustav Adolfs torg. 1 Davidshallstorg. A square with design shops, clothes stores and restaurants. The atmosphere here is posh, so the vibe is very different from Möllevångstorget's. There are similar shops on the nearby parts of Davidshallsgatan. 2 Gamla Väster. Between Lilla Torget and Malmöhus.
Malmö has a scene of independent arts, including stand-up comedy, hip hop and street art. Bike tour with a guide at Malmö Bike Tours. About 2 hour tour with some 7 stops. Runs one or several days a week during summer. Open boat sightseeing Rundan. About 40–50 people per boat. 50 min. Runs several times per day from spring to fall. Malmö Museum Tram (Museispårvägen Malmö), Banérskajen (City bus 7 or 8 to the stop at Tekniska Museet (Technical Museum)). 12:00-16:24 every Sa and Su between May 28 and October 2 (except for June 25). Adults 20 kr, children (6–16 years) 10 kr, small children (less than 6 years) free. (updated Mar 2016) 1 Pildammsparken.
1 Vegegården, Rörsjögatan 23, ☏ +46 40 611 38 88. Lovely Asian vegetarian restaurant. À la carte and buffet-style. Serves lunch on weekdays and barbecue on weekends. From 68 kr; eat as much as you like. 2 Korvhuset, Västra Kanalgatan 1. Super delicious bratwurst and mashed potatoes. Very nice service. (updated Aug 2022) 3 Malmö City Pizzeria, Västra Kanalgatan 1. Classic Swedish pizzeria. Amazing delicious pizza. Good value. Friendly service. (updated Aug 2022) 4 Nguyen's Sandwiches, Engelbrektsgatan 19. Good place to get a spicy Vietnamese sandwich or a bowl of pho, the signature soup of Vietnamese cuisine. Authentic. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Davidshall, Davidshallsgatan 23.
Most people drink at home prior to going out, as alcohol at licensed premises is expensive. Finding a Systembolaget is the best way of getting what you need, open usually M–F 10:00–19:00, Sa Su 11:00–15:00. Malmö has a vibrant night life, but prices are for the most part substantially higher than they are across the bridge in Copenhagen. Lilla Torg is the epicentre but prices are high, you could also try Möllevångstorget where any of the many bars, cafés and restaurants in this bustling part of town is good value. Like in Copenhagen, and indeed most of Scandinavia, expect most of the drinking to be limited to Friday and Saturday except at the height of summer where many Swedes have vacation.
While Malmö has a media picture of having issues with gang crime, the overall crime rate is moderate by European standards. Visitors who do not actively seek trouble are unlikely to be confronted by gangs. The city center, which can be described as anything within a 15-20 minute walk from the central train station, is very safe, so long as you do not do anything stupid. Areas on the outskirts have varying levels of insecurity, but they are rarely of interest to tourists. As in other Swedish cities, drunk brawls, bicycle thefts and pickpocketing are among the most common risk factors for visitors.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Malmo typically sees ~21°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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