Malmö, Sweden is a fun little city that is super close to Copenhagen. You can easily take a day trip to the charming city and see the highlights. We really liked visiting and were pleasantly surprised by the laid-back vibe and lack of tourists. If you need a day away from the busy crowds of Copenhagen, it is a great spot to visit. Here is the perfect way to spend one day in Malmo. 

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Stay Connected When Traveling In Malmö

Before we dive into the specifics of how to spend an incredible one day in Malmö, I wanted to tell you about this awesome e-sim company I just found out about. Having data when traveling internationally is very important to do so many things these days and Firsty makes it great for all budgets and super convenient.

To start, you only have to download one e-sim from the beginning and that is it. No more loading a new e-sim card at every location. You tell the app where you are going and for how many days and voila, connected!

You can also set everything up before traveling, so you don’t need to find a wifi spot once you arrive. This is my favorite part.

We recently took a road trip to Germany. I downloaded my Firsty e-sim at home in the Netherlands and was instantly connected once I crossed the German border. It was incredible and so easy! 

Also the price is right! If you are a budget traveler, you can watch a short ad and get up to 60 minutes of basic data for free. That’s amazing if you are looking up directions or need to connect with friends on Whatsapp. If you want faster and more data, plans start at as little as 1 euro a day.

Firsty‘s exceptional features:

• Connectivity available in over 120 countries
• Only need to download one global e-sim card instead of multiple local or regional e-sims
• Pause Firsty Fast any time you don’t need it, so you only pay for the days you actually use
• Set it up before you travel so there’s no need to find a wifi source when you arrive. You are instantly connected!

Can’t beat it! Download it before your trip to Malmö!

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How To Visit Malmo From Copenhagen

Malmo and Copenhagen are connected by train or by a bridge across the Øresund Strait. When we visited, we were setting out on a road trip through Sweden, so we drove across the bridge. It took about 45 minutes to drive between the two cities. There is a one-way toll, which is 455 DKK which is roughly 66 dollars per vehicle. 

If you are only visiting Malmö for a day, I would take the train. Tickets are 171 kr which is about 16 dollars. Kids are half off, so for a family of 4 you would pay about $50 and you don’t have to worry about parking. 

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Start Your Day In Malmo With Good Food

From the train station, walk towards Old Town and the Beans and Tales Cafe. This quaint little cafe is buzzing with activity and has delicious food and drinks. You will be able to find something for everybody.

When we went, we ate brunch. You can choose from a variety of food options and the price depends on how many items you choose. The kids enjoyed the scrambled eggs and bacon while I had a delicious fruit bowl with yummy cheese and hard boiled eggs. Simple, yet tasty. 

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Explore Gamla Staden

After getting all fueled up and ready to explore, make your way into Gamla Staden, the historic old town of Malmö. 

St. Peter’s Church

Your first stop should be at St. Peter’s Church. This gothic church is free to enter and beautiful inside with stunning medieval murals and clean white walls that contrast well with the dark wood pews and decorative accents.

Town Hall – Malmö Rådhus

Next, journey to Malmö Rådhus, which is the town hall building. You will be fascinated by its majestic facade, but you can also tour the interior for free. Inside you can admire the vaulted cellars and elaborate stucco work on the ceiling from the 19th century. 

Stortorget

Malmö’s Town Hall is on Stortorget, which is the main square in the city. It is also the oldest square and probably the most photographed. It is a beautiful square and when we went it was virtually empty. You don’t see that very often when you travel.

One of my favorite parts is the vintage-looking, advertising art on the side of the buildings. It is super unique! Also don’t miss the whimsical Optimistic Orchestra statues on the corner of the square. 

Lilla Torg

Next make your way to Lilla Torg. This smaller square near Stortorget is surrounded by shops and restaurants. A great place to sit down, people watch and take in the charming setting. 

Walk Towards The River

As you stroll through Gamla Staden, walk in the direction toward the river and the Disgusting Food Museum. Before we go to the museum, don’t miss the shoes on Davidshalls Bridge and all of the many cute cat statues next to the river. I’m pretty sure Isaac took a picture with almost all of them. Your kids will love them too!

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Disgusting Food Museum

The Disgusting Food Museum was one of my favorite things that we did on our trip to Malmö. You might be thinking, really? But seriously it was! First you get to learn about all these weird and interesting foods that people eat around the world. They will even have examples from your country, so you can see which foods you eat that others find gross!

The most fun part though is trying some of the disgusting food for yourself. They start you easy with a cricket or some black ants and then you work your way up to some really gross stuff like salty licorice or a stink bug. It’s all optional and you can choose which “treats” to sample. Even if you don’t try anything, it is still fun to watch others give it a shot! 😂

Read more about our experience at the Disgusting Food Museum.

Kungsparken

As you work off that yucky food you just tasted and before you eat an extremely delicious meal, take a slow stroll through Kungsparken. This peaceful and inviting park makes you feel like you are on an easy hike in the middle of the city. Follow the path near the calming river or venture into the leafy trees. Make sure not to miss Malmö’s Castle and Castle Mill. We went inside the castle, but it wasn’t too special. I would skip it!  

Lunch At Saluhall

What I wouldn’t skip is eating lunch at Saluhall. This is a fantastic food hall. You can choose between a wide array of different food options including Swedish, sushi, seafood, Italian, burgers, salads, ramen and more. We all chose Italian, two pizzas and two pastas. All incredibly delicious. Leave room for dessert! The ice cream from Favvo Glass was mouthwatering. 

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Afternoon Option 1 – Continue Walking Option

If your legs are still feeling fresh, and you would like to continue seeing the city by foot, I would recommend the following attractions. If you are too tired to keep walking, skip ahead to option 2. 

Visit The Lighthouse And Harbor

Walk towards the harbor this afternoon and see the old Malmö Light House. Enjoy the view of the strait and harbor as you walk around this area. There are a couple of lookout points nearby like the Malmö Titanic Lovelock Point, and Stenstrand observation deck that you can visit. One attraction I wouldn’t miss is seeing the Turning Torso building.

Turning Torso

This extremely unique skyscraper stands out like a sore thumb in Malmö. Without any other tall buildings in the area, the Turning Torso will guide you towards it. Unfortunately, you can’t tour the inside of this one-of-a-kind building as it is a private apartment complex, but it’s still spectacular to see from the outside.  

Ribersborgs Open-Air Bath

Next stop is the Ribersborgs Open-Air Bath. In this very Swedish experience, you can warm up in a steamy sauna and then jump into the chilly sea pools. If you are up for the challenge of immersing your body in the freezing water and being truly Swedish, this is a must-do. Many swear by the amazing health benefits, but I’m too chicken! 😆

Slottsparken

After your relaxing time at the open-air bath, wander through the Slottsparken and head back towards Gamla Staden. A highlight in Slottsparken is the Malmö Library building that is a beautiful architectural gem. 

Skip down to “Visit The Magic Book Mural” section.

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Afternoon Option 2 – Less Walking Option

If you want to give your legs a rest, a great way to spend the afternoon in Malmo is to rent a private boat and see the city from the water. 

Rent A GoBoat And Tour The Canals

There is a big tour company, Stromma, that takes guided group tours around the canals of Malmö, but in my opinion, those types of tours can be crowded and not as enjoyable as you would imagine. Instead, rent a GoBoat and float the canals at your own pace. 

Some highlights that you can see from the canals are the non-violence statue “The Knotted Gun,” Malmö Castle, The Castle Mill, Fersens Bridge, Malmö City Library, St. Peter’s Church, St. Gertrud Quarters, Slottsparken and Kingsparken. 

Visit The Magic Book Mural 

We noticed during our time in Malmö that there are art sculptures and murals all over the city to enjoy. The most popular and beautiful mural is called, The Magic Book Mural. As you make your way to Gamla Staden, be sure to put this mural in your GPS and walk past. 

Camping Malmö

Before dinner, a fun way to enjoy a cocktail without the kids complaining is to go to Camping Malmö. This indoor mini golf bar is so fun and right on Stortorget square. Enjoy a beer, wine or cocktail and giggle along with your kids as they practice their golf skills. Please note that after 6:00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and Fridays it is only open for ages 18 and up. 

Dinner At Poke Ramen

Our recommendation for dinner is to go to Poke Ramen. This restaurant is very unassuming, but seriously one of the best meals we had on our trip. The food is delicious, healthy and the best part was the friendly people that worked there. Our kids still talk about how much they enjoyed this restaurant. A win for all!

We hope you enjoy your one day in Malmö as much as we loved visiting this charming city. 

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