Updated on April 9th, 2025
For my birthday last year, I decided to spend the weekend in Malmo, Sweden with my partner. I wanted to share where to visit, eat, shop, and stay in Malmo based on our trip there.
Where is Malmo?
Malmo is a city in southern Sweden, and it is the third largest city in the country after the capital Stockholm and Gothenburg. The Öresund Bridge connects Malmo to Copenhagen making it a popular day trip or weekend destination from Denmark.
How to Get to Malmo, Sweden
The closest airport to Malmo is Copenhagen Airport. From the train station at Copenhagen Aiport, Malmo Central Station is approximately 24 minutes by train. You should bring your passport when traveling from Copenhagen to Malmo as the Swedish border control can check passports, but the numerous times I have traveled from Copenhagen to Sweden, border control never came onto the train even when the train was stopped once at Hyllie (the small city before Malmo after crossing the Öresund Bridge). If you are flying into Stockholm or Gothenburg, the train ride is 4.5 hours and 3 hours respectively to Malmo.
Where to Visit in Malmo
Malmöhus Slott/Malmo Museum
Malmo Castle is the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic countries, and today it is a museum. Malmo Castle is a 16-minute walk from the Malmo Central Station, and it has an aquarium, art galleries, temporary exhibits, and historical areas. The aquarium was larger than I expected, and they various fish and reptiles. The art galleries were nice to look around, but some of the modern art was a bit out there and not my cup of tea. I did see an installation for The Sims though haha. I loved the history areas because you could see what the castle was like in the old days and also go into one of the cannon towers. By the museum is Restaurang Wega, which has a new menu every week with Swedish dishes, but we did not eat there for lunch.
The entrance to Malmo Castle is 60 SEK for adults. Children 19 years old and younger are free.
Slottsträdgården and Kungsparken
By Malmo Castle is the Castle Gardens, which I do recommend visiting. The gardens are free to visit year-round, and I wanted to see Slottsmöllan (the Castle Mill), but it was blocked off because they were setting up for an event that weekend. However, I could see the windmill from afar. Along with the Castle Gardens, there is also Kungsparken, which is the oldest park in Malmo. The park was nice to walk through on our way to Burritofriends for lunch. We also saw the Malmo City Library as we made our way across the park, which was built in 1901.
Sankt Petri Kyrka
St. Peter’s Church is about a 7-minute walk from the train station, and we did stop by briefly on our way to our hotel. The church is a brick Gothic church built in the 14th century, and it is free to visit.
Malmo Radhus
The Malmo Town Hall was built in the 16th century, and it is located in Stortorget, which is a 5-minute walk from the train station. In the middle of Stortorget is the Karl X Gustav statue. There are also restaurants, cafes, and even a movie theater in Stortorget.
Milstenen Spa & Massage
One of the first things we did in Malmo was go to the spa. The spa is an 8-minute walk from the train station. My partner and I received a gift card that we could pick our own experience with, and we decided to put it towards a couple’s massage at Milstenen Spa. The spa was relaxing and we started out with alcohol-free cider and cheese and crackers. Then we had a couples massage, and it was relaxing getting a back massage. Afterward, we had a soak in their jacuzzi. The spa was a great experience, and they do have plenty of other spa treatments including for individuals, groups, parents and children, and more.
Where to Eat and Drink in Malmo
Burritofriends
We ate at Burritofriends for lunch after visiting Malmo Castle. At Burritofriends, you can build your own burrito, taco, bowl, or salad, and they have vegan options as well. I went with the Pulled Oumph! and a plethora of toppings and it was so good. The price for the burrito was 109 SEK, which was fine for the size of the burrito.
Vegegården
For my birthday dinner, I wanted to go Vegegården, which is a Chinese vegan buffet. They have vegan chicken, steak, duck, and tofu hot dishes as well as a salad buffet and a barbeque where you can select proteins, vegetables, starches, and sauces that will then be cooked for you. The all-you-can-eat buffet is 185 SEK, and they do have a menu you can order from too.
Lilli Torg
There are various restaurants around Lilli Torg, and my partner wanted to eat at Victors. My partner ordered the fish dish, and he thought was good. I did not order any food as I was not that hungry, but I did order one of their drinks though, and it was good too.
KFC
Our first evening in Malmo I wanted a quick and easy dinner. I opted for KFC in Stortorget because they actually had vegetarian chicken burgers and strips. The bbq burger was delicious, and I hope the KFC in Copenhagen will have veggie chicken one day!
Coop
Coop is a grocery store connected to the Malmo Central Station. If you are wanting food for breakfast, quick meals for lunch or dinner, or drinks, I do recommend stopping there. Also, if you are staying in a hotel with a kitchenette, Coop is a good place to shop for food.
KOL & Cocktails
We stopped by KOL & Cocktails for drinks as it was across the street from our hotel. If you are wanting to eat there, I do recommend booking a table in advance as they are regularly booked. We were unable to get a table, but since we were just ordering drinks, we ordered them at the bar and drank them in the seating area outside. I ordered the Marilyn Monroe cocktail, which was 145 SEK, and it was different than anything I have had before, but I liked it.
Espresso House
If you are looking for a place to get coffee or other hot or cold drinks, I recommend Espresso House. I have been to Espresso House numerous times in Denmark, and I like their drinks. Espresso House has several locations in Malmo, and one evening I ordered their Chai Latte, and it was delicious. Espresso House also serves breakfast and pastries, so if you are staying at a place that does not have breakfast included, Espresso House would be another option to get some breakfast. You could also stop by Espresso House for Fika!
Where to Shop in Malmo
Lush
I have been wanting to go to Lush in Malmo for years because there are no Lush stores in Denmark. After we had eaten lunch at Burritofriends, we walked to Lush, and I bought my favorite mask – the Lush Mask of Magnaminty. I did find the prices for the Lush in Sweden a bit high, but it was still nice treating myself to my favorite mask for my birthday.
Björkåfrihet
Björkåfrihet is a secondhand store with a large selection of clothing, shoes, books, and more. I did have a look around the store, but I did not find anything I had to have. They did have a cute sweater that I was debating on getting, but I decided against it. I would still recommend stopping by Björkåfrihet because the store is well organized and they did have good prices on their clothing. Also, Björkåfrihet supports organizations that work against oppression around the world, so if you do buy something from them, you are supporting a good cause while also reducing clothing waste.
The Science Fiction Bookstore
My partner wanted to stop here, and they have books, board games, and accessories. The bookstore has an YA section, which I did look through, and my partner did find a game he wanted, but he thought the price was a bit high compared to the price he could get it for in Denmark. Even though we did not get anything, it was a fun store to visit.
Normal
I love shopping at Normal in Denmark, so we had to stop by the one in Malmo. Normal has personal care, makeup, household items, snacks, and drinks at affordable prices. If you end up finding out you forgot to pack a toothbrush or you want a drink to bring on the go, I recommend stopping by Normal. We did buy a few things from Normal including a face cleanser my partner wanted and a cute reusable tote bag I wanted.
Where to Stay in Malmo
ProfilHotels Garden
During our visit to Malmo, we stayed at the ProfilHotels Garden, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Malmo Central Station. I already prepaid for the room, so check-in was quick and easy. The room itself is on the smaller side, but it was not a problem for me and my partner. Breakfast was also included with the room, and the French restaurant (La Gare Restaurang) connected to the hotel served a breakfast buffet, which was delicious. The restaurant can get crowded during breakfast, and one morning we did eat outside as there were no other tables available. Checking out of the hotel was also easy and I simply dropped off the room key in a box at the front desk since I already prepaid for the room before our arrival.
Is Malmo, Sweden Worth Visiting?
Malmo is definitely worth visiting especially if you are already planning on visiting Copenhagen. Malmo is a short train ride from Copenhagen making it a great day trip. Also, there are plenty of things to do in Malmo to make it a weekend destination. The attractions are not expensive to visit, but some of the restaurants and stores can be on the higher end, but there are plenty of affordable options for food and shopping.
What a picturesque place! I’m sure you had so much fun.
Thanks for sharing and Happy Blogiversary! 💞
Thank you! Malmo is beautiful, and I did have a lot of fun!
I love watching Scandinavian shows and reading books set in the area, so I’ve heard of Malmo, but have never been. It’s actually really awesome to hear about your weekend there and what the city is actually like after hearing it’s name in shows and such. The Chinese vegan food sounds right up my alley! It’s so rare to find a vegan Chinese food restaurant. I would love to visit Malmo even just to see all those gorgeous buildings (and for the vegan buffet haha).
That’s awesome you’ve heard about Malmo from shows and books! I agree it’s rare to find a vegan Chinese restaurant because at least here, it seems most of the vegan restaurants are burger places or cafes. I would definitely recommend visiting Malmo one day!
Sweden is somewhere that I have wanted to visit for a while and is definitely on my travel bucket list. This place looks so beautiful. That library looks stunning and St Peter’s Church is a beautiful building. I LOVE the sound of a vegan Chinese place, the food looks so yummy! I love a good cocktail too. We have the coop here so it was great you were able to find somewhere to shop quick and easy. It sounds like you had a fabulous trip. I hope you enjoyed your birthday. Thank you for sharing.
I hope you can travel to Sweden one day! The buildings in Malmo are beautiful, and the food at the vegan Chinese restaurant was delicious!
Thank you and you’re welcome!
I’ve never heard of Malmo before, it looks lovely! The building look stunning. If I’m ever in Copenhagen I’ll check it out.
Corinne x
Malmo is beautiful, and it is defintely worth visiting!
That was a really useful post, thank you! I’d love to go to Sweden, Malmo sounds amazing. I wouldn’t have thought of putting it on my list but it looks great!
Em – earthlyem.co.uk
Thanks! Malmo is a beautiful city, and there are a lot of great things to do there!
This looks like a beautiful place to visit. Sweden is on my travel bucket list and this post is definitely showing me why I need to visit. I can’t wait to be able to travel more. Thank you for sharing pictures and your experience.
Lauren x
You’re welcome! Malmo is a beautiful place to visit, and I hope you can travel to Sweden soon!
I’d love to visit that way at some point. Looks like there’s plenty to do and the food options sound good.
I hope you can visit one day! There is a lot to do there and a good variety of food options!
Malmo, Sweden looks beautiful with tons of architecture & history within those castle walls. Looks like a very relaxing stay with a spa, tasty restaurants & beverages. I would love to see castles like these in real life one day!
Malmo is a beautiful place to visit! The spa was relaxing, and I loved visiting the castle! hope you can visit castles like these soon!
Wow, I was always interested how Malmo looks like, so pretty.
Thanks for food recommendation..
You’re welcome and Malmo is a pretty city!
I’ve never been to Sweden but I’d love to go, The Science Fiction Bookstore would definitely be somewhere for me and the massages you had sound lovely. Can’t beat a good massage and a soak in a jacuzzi!
I definitely recommend visiting Sweden! The Science Fiction Bookstore was fun to visit, and the spa was so relaxing!
I only know of Malmö from the football club, but I have to say the city sounds well worth a visit. The shopping sounds great.
Thanks for sharing!
The city is definitely worth visiting and there is a lot of great things to do! You’re welcome!
I’ve always wanted to visit Sweden or any of Scandanavia! But since we got our two lovable cats, it’s been so hard to leave them for an extended period of time.
Aww I definitely recommend visiting Scandanavia and hopefully you will be able to do one day
It does sound like there is lots to do in Malmo! I’ve never been to Sweden so it’s really something I should fix <3
I definitely recommend visiting Sweden, and there is a lot to do in Malmo!
I haven’t heard of Malmo before, but I’d love to visit one day! It sounds like you had a fantastic time. I’d love to visit the museum and the spa! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! I defintiely recommend visiting Malmo! The spa was so relaxing, and it was fun visiting the museum!
I never thought of going to Sweden. But it looks like an interesting country. I am surprised that there is a Chinese vegan buffet. It would be interesting to try vegan meats. Thanks for sharing your experiences in Malo.
You’re welcome! I definitely recommend visiting Sweden! Before I went to Malmo, I was looking at restaurants near the hotel, and I was surprised there was a vegan Chinese buffet! I loved the food and I would recommend going!
I have never been to Sweden. Malmo looks like a great place to visit. Will keep in mind. Thanks for sharing this detail post. The food, spa etc looks lovely 🙂
Via | https://glossnglitters.com
You’re welcome! I definitely recommend visiting Sweden, and there are a lot of great things to do in Malmo!
This place sounds like an amazing place to stay! Thank you for the practical information of the surrounding area. The castle sounds fab!
It was amazing and you’re welcome! The castle was fun and there’s a lot to do there!
I’m glad you guys had fun. That food looks delish too! I love sight seeing and thank you for bringing us along on your trip.
Thank you! All the food was delicious and I loved seeing the sights!
I did not know Malmø was such a short hop from Copenhagen! And I’ll have a Marilyn Monroe Cocktail thank you!
Malmø is close to Copenhagen! It was a good cocktail even though it was a bit expensive!
I have never been to Sweden and I enjoyed reading and learning about Malmo. I like the architecture and the thoroughness of your post – very helpful for people like me who have never visited the place. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I do recommend visiting Sweden because there is a lot to do!
Malmo wasn’t on my list before, but it definitely is now! I need to stop adding reading so many great travel blogs. I’ll never get to all these places! (Thanks for the rec, btw.)
Haha you’re welcome! I definitely recommend visiting Malmo because there is a lot to do!
Malmo seems like a beautiful and quaint European city! I’m definitely putting this on my travel bucket list 🙂
Malmo is a great city to visit!
It looks like Malmo has a lot to offer; I love the idea of spending some time here just enjoying the history, shopping and food. Thanks for sharing this part of Sweden!
There are many things you can do in Malmo, and you’re welcome!
It looks like you had a lovely weekend in Malmo, the food looks lovely! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
We did have a great time there! The food was delicious!
Sweden is a very beautiful country. I always wish to travel there. Hopefully, I will in the future.
I agree Sweden is beautiful! I hope you can travel there one day!
I had a day trip there last summer but the castle was closed. The church was lovely and the restaurants great! I will definitely go back and you have inspired me with plenty of places to visit.
That’s a shame the castle was closed! I would definitely recommend going back because the castle is great to visit and there are many other things to do too!