No stay in Skåne is complete without visiting some of the characteristic towns and cities that add culture, pulse and vibrancy to this fascinating area. Here are five towns you should add to your itinerary.
1. Malmö
Full of energy, rich multiculturalism and refreshing green spaces, Malmö has become iconic for its focus on culture, innovative architecture and a vibrant social scene.
With more pubs and restaurants per capita than anywhere else in Sweden, Malmö is the perfect place to stop by for lunch, a beer or an exotic meal.
Stroll among the open-air market stalls at Möllevångstorget and get your fresh, five-a-day greens grown in local farms. The market is open six days a week. Lilla Torg, next to the old town (Gamla Väster) is a great place for a drink or a meal to start your evening and is close to some of the city’s best restaurants.
Malmö is full of green spaces, small lakes and a network of canals. Walk through the many parks with their blossoming flowerbeds and well-stocked vegetable gardens, then take in the innovative architecture in the Western Harbour before you hit the beach just a stone’s throw from the centre of town.
Want a winter shock? Visit the open-air baths where people steam naked in the sauna, then hop into the freezing water.
Find more information about Malmö here.
2. Lund
Lund is a vibrant city of contrasts where you experience a thousand years of history, all in walking distance. You’ll meet some of the world’s smartest people among cobblestones and half-timbered houses. The University and its close on 40,000 students make a big impact, with burlesques, student bars and lively cafes.
Lund Cathedral in the centre of the city is Sweden’s most visited church, attracting around 700,000 visitors per year. Built around 1,000 years ago, the twin towers dominate the skyline. Inside the artefacts date back to the 13th Century.
Interested in how Swedish people lived life in the past? Visit Kulturen. This outdoor museum tantalizes the senses of children of all ages with its exhibitions of homes and clothing. And don’t miss Lund’s Botanical Gardens for quick break and a bite to eat in one of the city’s most picturesque places.
Find more information about Lund here.
3. Helsingborg
Skåne’s second largest city offers a mix of metropolitan big city and charming idyllic small town. It’s full of history: ancient and modern, Danish and Swedish. Stroll through the boutiques and shopping centres, unwind at one of the cosy restaurants, or survey the architecture, from Middle Ages to modern functional. Drop in at Dunkers arts centre, with art gallery, urban and cultural history exhibitions, music and theatre, as well as a nice restaurant.
Sofiero Palace and Gardens on the outskirts of the city is one of Skåne’s most popular attractions. Surrounded by velvety lawns and lush green trees, the castle gives you a view over the Sound above a magnificent flowering ravine. The garden is an oasis of more than 10,000 plants, and 300 different varieties of rhododendrons with their spectacular flowers and vibrant colours.
Fredriksdal Museums and Gardens is one of Sweden’s best open-air museums, complete with historic buildings and old town quarters.
4. Ystad
Ystad is a beautiful town with medieval, pastel-coloured half-timbered houses on cobblestone streets and sun-dappled squares. Visit museums with different, sometimes off-beat themes, call into the quaint shops and cosy cafés or jump on a steam train and explore the beautiful countryside.
Once one of the region’s most important fishing towns, it’s now known as the centre of Sweden’s film industry. At Cineteket film centre you can find out about film production, try out blue screen technology, create your own animations and learn about filmmaking.
Explore movie locations such as the collection of Wallander Props and photo exhibition about The Bridge television series. Go behind the scenes of Ystad Studios, or take a Wallander tour and see his house, where he drinks coffee and other locations from the films.
5. Kristianstad
This historic city centre of Kristianstad offers superb shopping in medieval streets in the old city centre. Trefaldighetskyrkan, across the street from the railway station, is considered the most beautiful renaissance church in the Nordics. If you’re a film buff, walk down to the film museum at Regionmuseet to see the lights, cameras and still action of the early days of the Swedish movie industry.
Kristianstad’s Vattenrike, close to the city centre, is designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The Visitor Centre boasts 21 different observation towers, footbridges and open-air museums. Canoe or take a safari, spot the cranes, catch a trout, or watch the wildlife on the meadows. Summer is the time for gazing at colourful flowers, and pleasant boat trips.
