Travel Tips for Malmö, Sweden

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 4/5 for solo female travellers

Malmö is the third-largest city in Sweden and is located in Scania (Skåne) county. The city is home to modern Scandinavian architecture, beautiful parks, historic cobblestoned squares, an excellent culinary scene and a vibrant arts scene.

In my opinion, spending a day in Malmö is most sufficient. I felt mostly safe throughout my trip, so I would recommend the city to solo female travellers.

How to get there

You can fly from Dublin or Shannon to Malmo Sturup Airport, but there will be stop-overs. The flight length will vary because of this.

As I was already in Copenhagen in Denmark, I travelled via Öresundståg train along the Øresund Bridge from Copenhagen Central Station to Malmö Centralstation. The journey took about 40 minutes. 

Language, Currency & Weather

The official language in Malmö is Swedish, however English is widely understood in the city. Sweden’s currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK). 

The weather in Malmö is much milder than other areas of Sweden. In summer, temperatures can reach 28 degrees Celsius. From June 4th to July 8th, the sun sets but it does not get completely dark even at midnight. 

In winter, temperatures can drop to -10 degrees Celsius (sometimes it can drop to -20 during polar cold spells). If you are travelling during this time, I would highly advise you to bring warm clothing.

Public Transport

Malmö is a pretty walkable city, however you will need to use public transport to access the beach or visit the Turning Torso. The network is fast, reliable and easy to use.

Malmö has two kinds of public bus; the green buses are for journeys within the city and the yellow buses are for regional journeys.

To pay for your transport within the city centre, you can buy a 24-hour or 3-day pass from the Skånetrafiken desk at the Central Station. It’s important to note that you can’t buy tickets onboard the buses.

If you’re only planning on making a couple of trips, I would recommend buying a reloadable Jojo Mini card. When you get on the bus, you will need to ‘stamp in’ against the card reader. Alternatively, you could download the Skånetrafiken app where you can use your credit or debit card to buy single tickets when you need them.

To get between the airport and the city centre, there are regular bus services that take about 40 minutes.

Where To Stay

Malmö is an expensive city, but it is possible to find decent accommodation for a reasonable price.

For something in the city centre, I would advise you to book Elite Hotel Savoy, Quality Hotel The Mill or ProfilHotels Hotel Garden.

Mayfair Hotel Tunneln, Park Inn by Radisson or Radisson Blu Hotel are also good options. 

I only came across a few hostels in the city, and the best I could see was HOTEL N Hostel.

Where To Go & What To Do

I would recommend exploring Malmö by foot or by bike. In my opinion, it’s a great city to cycle in as it’s almost completely flat and there are lots of cycle lanes. Weather permitting, kayaking is also a great way to explore the city.

I spent a day in Malmö, and my favourite place to visit was Malmö’s Old Town, Gamla Väster. I stopped at Stortorget which is a historic market square where Malmö Rådhus (City Hall) is located. I also popped by Lilla Torg, which is another market square surrounded by historic buildings and cobblestones.

After this, I would recommend visiting Jakob Nilsgatan (a side street full of colourful houses), Malmö City Library, Malmö Konsthall (large exhibition hall), Malmö Castle (Slottsträdgården is the park that surrounds the castle) and Gamla Kyrkogården (the Old Cemetery).

If you have enough time (sadly I did not) then travel to Västra Hamnen, which is home to the Turning Torso and the historic Malmö Lighthouse. Another great option is the Davidshall area, which features lot of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and the city’s main shopping street Södra Förstadsgatan.  

For a day trip, travel to Copenhagen in Denmark. As I mentioned already, the journey only takes about 40 minutes. 

What & Where To Eat

Malmö is home to some intriguing foods, including Swedish Aggakaka (egg cake with pork and lingonberries), Gåsamiddag (roast goose), Ålagille (smoked eel) and Spättekaka (dessert).

During my visit to Malmö, I stopped by Fiskehoddorna which sells incredibly fresh seafood out of colourful huts. Even if you don’t purchase anything, this place is a great spot to stroll around and soak in the atmosphere.

I also went to Möllevångstorget, which hosts a fresh food market from Mondays to Saturdays. It offers a range of cuisines, and has a great buzz.

For lunch I went to the Saluhall, which has numerous stalls selling fresh local produce including cheese, bread, sandwiches and salads.

For dinner, I tried Blå Hoddan which is a very popular spot and I can see why. I had some of the best seafood here, and the place was incredibly busy.

Before I got the train back to Copenhagen, I enjoyed a drink at Julie Vinbar. A perfect end to my short (yet sweet) trip in Malmö.

Have a great time in the city!