Malmö in Sweden is the country’s youngest and by far its most multicultural city, a place where former rusting shipyards have transformed into a hypermodern district crowned by an iconic skyscraper. Right in the centre you can swim in the sea without a second thought, gazing out at a gigantic bridge, and you’ll reach that same bridge from Copenhagen airport on a comfortable train in just twenty minutes. This city works as an absolutely ideal and affordable gateway to Sweden, one you can easily explore over a single long weekend.

While Stockholm can sometimes feel a touch stiff and pricey, Malmö is bold, relaxed and incomparably cheaper. You can comfortably explore it on foot or on a rented bike, because the terrain here is as flat as neighbouring Denmark. On every corner you’ll also stumble across fantastic street food, led by the legendary falafel that will reliably rescue your travel budget.

We’ve put together 18 concrete tips on what to see and do in Malmö, from the historic castle through the best falafel to a sauna above the sea. So you won’t miss anything key. I’ll tell you which districts to head to for history and where modern architecture pulses instead, recommend strategic spots for accommodation, and add a detailed budget so you know exactly how much this Nordic stop will really cost you.

TL;DR

• Biggest architectural draw: the Turning Torso skyscraper, towering over the sustainable Västra hamnen district full of swimming jetties.
• Historic heart: the little Lilla Torg square with its half-timbered houses is an absolute must for a traditional Swedish fika (coffee break).
• Where to eat cheaply: the Möllevångstorget (Möllan) district serves the unbeatably best and cheapest falafel in all of Scandinavia.
• City beach: Ribersborgsstranden offers kilometres of sand and the historic Kallbadhus baths with saunas right above the sea.
• Transport: from Copenhagen–Kastrup airport you’re in central Malmö by train in 20 minutes, and around the city itself a bike is best.
• Budget: Malmö is significantly cheaper than Stockholm; a midday main course (dagens lunch) will run you around 120 to 150 SEK (€11 to €14).
• Day trips: across the Öresund Bridge to Copenhagen, or a short train hop to the historic university town of Lund.

When to visit Malmö and what the weather in Malmö, Sweden is like

If you want to experience the city at its very best, head here between May and the end of August. The south of Sweden has a fairly mild climate and in summer temperatures sit very pleasantly around 20 to 25 degrees. The days are unbelievably long, the sun sets late in the evening, and the whole Västra hamnen district and Ribersborg beach come alive with picnics and swimming. May is downright magical, too, because the entire surrounding province of Skåne bursts into millions of yellow rapeseed flowers.

During August the city hosts the huge Malmöfestivalen festival, which lasts a whole week and turns the centre into one big party. The streets fill with concerts, food stalls from all over the world and art installations, and most of the programme is completely free for visitors. Just bear in mind that accommodation disappears at lightning speed during this period and hotel prices shoot sky-high. A smaller pitfall lurks at the end of June during the summer solstice celebrations (Midsommar), when Swedes head en masse to the countryside and plenty of city businesses may be unexpectedly closed over the weekend.

The winter months, by contrast, have a very specific, even slightly melancholic atmosphere. December tempts you with traditional Advent markets on Gustav Adolfs Torg square and gorgeous light displays, but the days are extremely short and darkness falls around three in the afternoon. Temperatures hover near zero and a sharp wind often blows in off the sea, so you’ll bundle up in a scarf and spend most of the time dashing between warm cafés, museums and saunas.

Where to stay: hotels in Malmö, Sweden

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, where the cancellation terms tend to be best. Tickets, tours and activities are then worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

Choosing the right district will save you plenty of time and money on public transport, because Malmö is fairly compact. The most strategic choice is the area around the main station (Malmö Centralstation), from where it’s just a few steps into the historic centre and you can hop on a train towards Copenhagen or the airport whenever you like. Another great alternative is the modern Västra hamnen district, which offers stunning sea views and a calmer atmosphere, even though it’s about a twenty-minute walk into the old town.

If you’re after absolute comfort and fantastic views, Clarion Hotel Malmö Live is probably the best choice in the whole city. It’s an unmissable modern building right by the station, from which you’ll see the harbour and the historic centre laid out below you. A double room here goes for roughly 1,400 SEK (about €130) a night, and the price includes an utterly lavish breakfast that, thanks to the enormous selection, will keep you going for a good half of the day.

If you love industrial design and stylish interiors, definitely consider Story Hotel Studio Malmö right beside the water canals. The rooms have bare concrete ceilings and huge windows with sea views, and there’s a great restaurant with a terrace on the top floor. Prices here are very similar, usually starting around 1,300 SEK (about €120) a night.

If you prefer sustainable architecture and complete quiet, you’ll definitely be won over by Ohboy Hotell right in the eco-friendly Västra hamnen district. It offers unique rooms with their own street entrance, in front of which a city bike is automatically parked for you free of charge for the whole stay. A night here costs around 1,200 SEK (about €110) and, thanks to a little kitchenette, you can comfortably make your own breakfast from local ingredients. Anyone travelling on a very tight budget, on the other hand, can go for the clean and practical STF Malmö City Hostel in the centre, where a bed runs to about 300 SEK (roughly €28).

Where to eat in Malmö

Thanks to its enormous mix of cultures, the local food scene is incredibly varied and, trust me, you certainly won’t go hungry here. Malmö also offers great value for money, especially if you know exactly where to go and what to taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a culinary experience or just looking for something warm to grab while wandering the city, you’ll always find a great option here.

If you’re after something quick and don’t want to hurt your wallet, head straight to the Möllevången (Möllan) district. This is where the legendary Malmö falafel is made, perfected to an art and available for just a few euros. Try renowned spots like Jalla Jalla or Falafel N.1. For lovers of calmer seating and a slightly more polished atmosphere, I’d recommend the modern covered market hall Malmö Saluhall, where you’ll find the best of local and world cuisine neatly under one industrial roof. ☺️

18 things to do in Malmö, Sweden

Here’s where the fun part begins: what makes Malmö win you over and what you’ll carry away in your memory. Historic landmarks blend seamlessly here with hypermodern architecture and tell the story of a city that transformed from an industrial port into a green metropolis of the future. You can comfortably reach most locations on foot, but for the more distant spots I recommend making use of the excellent city bike network.

1. Turning Torso: the twisting skyscraper

The symbol of the new Malmö is undoubtedly the unmissable Turning Torso skyscraper, which rises to an impressive 190 metres and serves as a perfect landmark for the entire coastline. It was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and its unique shape resembles a human body twisting around its own axis. Until recently it was the tallest building in all of Scandinavia, before it was overtaken by a few metres by the new Karlatornet project in neighbouring Gothenburg.

The building has 54 floors in total, and its construction was incredibly technologically demanding because the area is battered by strong sea winds. The façade twists a full 90 degrees from base to top, which in real life looks truly stunning (the building twists before you like a petrified dancer). If you want to take the best photos, I’d recommend shooting from a slight distance from the neighbouring Scaniaparken, where the whole twisted silhouette stands out against the Nordic sky and you get just the right angle without distracting elements.

There’s one small catch, though, that plenty of disappointed tourists run into right at the entrance. The skyscraper serves exclusively as luxury residential housing and offices, so there’s absolutely no observation deck for the public and no way to look inside. You’ll therefore see it only from the outside, but even so it’s an architectural experience you can easily reach on foot or on city bus number 2.

💡 Tip: the most beautiful view of the Turning Torso is at sunset, when the snow-white façade turns orange and the surrounding water canals reflect the last of the daylight.

2. Västra hamnen: a sustainable district built from shipyards

Right beneath the skyscraper spreads Västra hamnen (the Western Harbour), probably the most interesting urban development project in all of Sweden. As recently as the 1980s, heavy industrial halls stood here and the giant Kockums shipyards operated, but after they went bankrupt the city opted for a radical cut. They levelled the whole area to the ground and built a district that runs one hundred percent on local renewable energy.

A stroll through the maze of modern houses, narrow streets and water canals will completely absorb you, and you’ll barely encounter any cars. Local residents collect rainwater here and grow vegetables on the rooftops, and the whole waste system is cleverly handled by innovative vacuum pipes hidden deep underground. The architecture is incredibly varied, since each block of houses was designed by a different studio, so you won’t find two identical buildings side by side.

The district’s biggest draw, though, is the long coastal Sundspromenaden promenade with its gorgeous wooden jetties. In the summer months locals spend whole days here, sunbathing on the boards and jumping straight into the sea, which is surprisingly clean. Grab a coffee at one of the seafront cafés, sprawl out on a wooden jetty and let your eyes wander over the silhouette of the Öresund Bridge in the distance.

💡 Tip: in the afternoon a fairly strong wind blows in off the sea, so even in summer it’s best to pack a light windbreaker or sweater in your backpack so you don’t get chilled needlessly by the water.

3. Ribersborgsstranden: city beach and the Kallbadhus baths

Just fifteen minutes’ walk from the historic centre you’ll come across Ribersborgsstranden, which locals lovingly nickname Malmö’s Copacabana. It’s an incredible three-kilometre stretch of fine, pale sand lined by a well-kept grassy park full of old trees. In summer you’ll find hundreds of people playing beach volleyball here, families with children on picnics and enthusiastic swimmers enjoying the refreshing water of the Öresund strait.

At the very end of the beach, a long wooden jetty stretches out into the sea, and at its end proudly stands the historic Ribersborgs Kallbadhus baths. This gorgeous wooden building from 1898 looks like something cut straight from an old period film and offers an utterly authentic Nordic experience. Locals come here to practise the traditional Swedish ritual of winter bathing (vinterbad), which involves alternating between a scorching sauna and then jumping into the icy sea water.

The baths are very strictly divided into a men’s and a women’s section, because you bathe here in the saunas and the sea exclusively without swimwear. Entry works out to about 85 SEK (roughly €8) and you get unlimited time to relax. Believe it or not, after an hour of sauna and icy water you’ll drag yourself out of the baths with the feeling that you’ve just survived a full-body reset, and you’ll love it. Even if the initial shock of the icy water takes a bit of courage.

💡 Tip: after your sauna, don’t forget to sit down in the cosy local café, which is accessible clothed for everyone and offers a fantastic hot tea with a view over the waves.

4. Lilla Torg: the heart of the old town and the fika culture

Once you’ve had your fill of modern architecture by the sea, head into Gamla staden (the Old Town), whose beating heart is the picturesque little Lilla Torg (Small Square). It was founded back in 1592 and to this day has kept its utterly unique historic atmosphere thanks to the original cobbled streets and beautifully restored half-timbered houses from the 16th century that frame the space on all sides.

During the day the square works as an ideal and very photogenic refuge. Fika is Sweden’s national ritual (an afternoon break with coffee and a cinnamon bun, without which you simply can’t survive here), and you’ll pay on average around 65 to 100 SEK (€6 to €9) for one. The most iconic building here is the so-called Hedmanska gården, an old merchant’s courtyard that today houses the wonderful Form/Design Center with free entry.

As evening strikes, the whole mood changes radically and the square’s cobblestones turn into one big pulsing open-air bar. Restaurants and pubs fill their heated terraces to the last seat and locals head here for a drink after work. The prices of alcoholic drinks here are admittedly among the higher in the city (a beer will easily cost 80 SEK, around €7), but for that wonderful historic character it’s definitely worth it.

💡 Tip: if you find the terraces on the main square full, try the tucked-away courtyard behind Café Pronto, where you’ll often find a free table and far more peace away from the main bustle.

5. Stortorget and the historic town hall

Right next to the intimate Lilla Torg opens up the enormous expanse of the main Stortorget square, one of the very largest in Scandinavia. It was created in the 16th century under the rule of the powerful Danish mayor Jörgen Kock, who wanted to give the city suitable grandeur and space for large markets. At the centre of the square looms a mighty equestrian statue of the Swedish king Charles X Gustav, who definitively won the city back from the Danes in bloody wars.

The most striking dominant feature of the whole space, though, is the gorgeous historic town hall building (Rådhuset) from 1546. It was originally built in a fairly austere Gothic style, but in the 19th century it underwent an extensive rebuild into its current form, strongly influenced by Dutch Renaissance. Its richly decorated façade with brick details and statues of historic figures is one of the most popular photo spots in the very centre of the city.

While strolling across the square, definitely don’t miss the historic Apoteket Lejonet pharmacy (the Lion Pharmacy), which stands right on the corner. It’s one of the oldest working pharmacies in Sweden, and its wonderful 19th-century wooden interior full of carved cabinets, old apothecary jars and brass scales resembles a museum from the magical world of Harry Potter more than an ordinary prescription shop.

💡 Tip: try to make time for a walk around the town hall after dark too, when the whole building is beautifully lit and the square takes on a very calm, almost mysterious atmosphere.

6. Malmöhus Castle: a Renaissance fortress in the centre

A short walk from the main square, surrounded by a deep moat and mature trees, lies Malmöhus, the oldest surviving Renaissance castle in all of Scandinavia. The original fortress stood here as far back as the 14th century, but its current form of massive red brick was given to it by the Danish king Christian III in the mid-16th century. The castle played an absolutely key role in the constant bloody wars between Denmark and Sweden over control of the lucrative Öresund strait.

The history of this building is fairly dark and immensely fascinating. During the 19th century the castle served as a feared state prison, where the toughest criminals in the whole country served their sentences, and even the Scottish Earl of Bothwell, third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned here for five years. Today, thankfully, nothing at all remains of the grim atmosphere, and the whole castle complex has become an enormous and welcoming cultural centre.

A walk along the mighty defensive ramparts and around the moat is also free, and in the surrounding park with a windmill you can easily carve out a peaceful afternoon away from the busy centre.

💡 Tip: set aside at least two hours to visit the area around the castle, the park really is enormous and offers plenty of hidden benches ideal for an afternoon picnic.

7. Malmö Museer: aquariums and Nordic art

Right inside Malmöhus Castle and in several adjacent historic buildings sits a complex of museums joined under the shared name Malmö Museer. It’s by far the largest museum institution in all of southern Sweden, and you should set aside at least half a day for a thorough visit. Admission is very friendly by Swedish standards, working out to 40 SEK (about €4) for an adult, and for that single ticket you get access to all the exhibitions across the huge complex.

The biggest hit, especially if you’re travelling with family and younger children, is the extensive aquarium and terrarium located on the castle’s ground floor. You’ll see absolutely everything here, from local fish living in the nearby Öresund through colourful coral reefs to venomous snakes and frogs. On the next floor you can then explore an engaging historical exhibition about the harsh Swedish–Danish wars and walk through carefully restored royal chambers with original furniture.

Right opposite the castle, in a separate building called Teknikens och Sjöfartens hus, is the technology and maritime museum, whose biggest draw is a real submarine, the U3. You can actually climb into the belly of this retired World War II military submarine and experience first-hand the incredibly cramped conditions in which sailors had to live and operate here for weeks on end.

💡 Tip: the museum tends to be fairly full of families with children at weekends, so if you can, plan your visit for a weekday morning instead, when you’ll have complete peace.

8. Moderna Museet Malmö: contemporary art in a power station

Lovers of modern art must not miss Moderna Museet Malmö on their visit, an independent branch of the famous Stockholm museum. The building itself is a fascinating architectural contrast, because the museum sits in the premises of a former historic power station from 1901, to which architects sensitively attached a modern extension with an unmissable bright-orange façade of perforated sheet metal.

The exhibitions here change regularly and the gallery focuses on top-tier international and Swedish modern and contemporary art. You’ll come across installations, video projections and giant paintings, and thanks to the space of the old turbine hall, even the most bizarre works have room to breathe. Ordinary constrained galleries simply couldn’t handle pieces like these.

Great news for all travellers on a tight budget is the fact that entry to the museum’s permanent collections is often completely free, and you only pay for some specific temporary exhibitions. After your visit, definitely pop into the cosy local café, which offers excellent speciality coffee and a quiet spot to sit in a gorgeous design setting full of art publications.

💡 Tip: the museum is usually closed on Mondays, so always check the current opening hours on the official website before your visit, so you’re not left standing in front of locked doors.

9. Sankt Petri Church and the Gothic core

When you weave through the narrow cobbled streets behind the town hall, you’ll come across Sankt Petri Church (Sankt Petri kyrka), the absolute oldest surviving building in all of Malmö. This majestic church from the early 14th century is built in the typical style of so-called Baltic brick Gothic, so instead of traditional grey stone you’ll be struck by enormous expanses of red brick and an ingenious system of flying buttresses on the outside.

The church interior may surprise you at first glance, because the high vaults and walls are brilliantly clean and snow-white. During the harsh period of the Reformation, almost all the original Catholic decoration was painted over. Only the wonderful carved wooden altar from 1611 and a few fragments of fascinating medieval frescoes in a side chapel were saved, and these have recently undergone very careful restoration.

Entry to the church is completely free for everyone and it offers a perfect escape from the constant noise of the surrounding city. The huge tall windows let in gorgeous soft Nordic light, and you can often stumble upon rehearsals of the local choir or organ concerts, which thanks to the enormous vaults gain absolutely fantastic acoustics.

💡 Tip: during the summer months the church occasionally offers guided tours of the tower, from where a great view opens up over the whole historic centre; just ask at the entrance.

10. Möllevångstorget: the multicultural heart of Möllan

If you want to experience the real, unfaked soul of today’s Malmö, you have to head to the Möllevången district, which locals call nothing but Möllan. It’s here that you’ll fully feel the fact that people from 180 different countries around the world live in the city. The district feels slightly punk, brick walls are decorated with colourful street art, and the overall atmosphere differs radically from the tidy and quiet historic centre.

The centrepiece of the whole district is Möllevångstorget square, where a huge market of fresh produce takes place from Monday to Saturday. Stallholders loudly call out prices and the air carries the scent of exotic spices, mounds of fresh coriander and crates of cheap fruit from all over the world. It’s a fantastic spot for stocking up if you plan to cook for yourself, because prices here are a fraction of those in the usual Swedish supermarkets like ICA or Coop.

The streets running off the square are lined with dozens of Asian grocers, Middle Eastern bakeries and cheap bistros. In the evening Möllan turns into a hub of alternative entertainment, craft-beer pubs burst at the seams and you’ll hear a mix of languages from all over the world. It’s busy, loud and utterly authentic, a place you definitely shouldn’t skip on your visit.

💡 Tip: at the markets it can be tricky to pay with an ordinary bank card, since stallholders often require payment via the local Swish app, which you can’t get as a tourist, so bring a little cash here just to be safe.

Lukáš and Lucie recommend

Where to stay in Malmö

5 accommodations — resorts, hotels and other lodging options

⭐ TOP CHOICE 🏨 Hotel

Clarion Hotel Malmö Live

Modern hotel by the train station with harbor and city center views, luxury breakfast included.

★★★★ from 1,400 SEK/night

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Story Hotel Studio Malmö

Industrial design by the canals, concrete ceilings, large windows with sea views, restaurant with terrace.

★★★★ from 1,300 SEK/night

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Ohboy Hotell

Sustainable hotel in Västra hamnen, rooms with private entrance, free city bike, kitchenette.

★★★ from 1,200 SEK/night

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STF Malmö City Hostel

Clean and practical hostel in the city center, ideal for travelers on a budget.

★★★★ from 300 SEK/bed

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Explore all available accommodation options in Malmö and find the best one according to your preferences and budget.

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11. The best falafel in Scandinavia

We’ll stay in Möllan a little longer, because this is where the city’s greatest culinary treasure is found: the legendary Malmö falafel. Thanks to the strong, well-established community of immigrants from the Middle East, the preparation of these fried chickpea balls has been perfected here, and Swedes from other cities deliberately and happily make the trip for it.

It’s a proper local institution and at the same time the absolute cheapest hot meal you’ll find in all of Sweden. A huge falafel roll (falafel wrapped in freshly baked Arabic bread with a pile of vegetables and sauces) will cost you an incredible 50 to 70 SEK (about €5 to €6.50), roughly a third of the price of an ordinary restaurant lunch. You can choose from many kinds of sauce, from mild garlic to fiery hot, and the giant portion will reliably fill you up for half a day.

Vegetarians and vegans will find themselves in absolute paradise here, because the meat-free options are endless. Travellers most often recommend trying spots like Jalla Jalla or Falafel N.1 right by the square, where queues form even late at night. The balls are fried right in front of you, perfectly crispy on the outside and beautifully green inside from fresh herbs.

💡 Tip: when ordering, always have some pickled vegetables and a bit of hot sauce added, it gives the whole meal that right kick that locals are used to and that makes the local falafel so famous.

12. Malmö Saluhall: an industrial market hall full of flavours

If you prefer a slightly more polished culinary experience and don’t mind paying a little extra, your steps should lead you to Malmö Saluhall. It’s a modern covered market built into the crumbling ruins of a former freight station, and that contrast of old and new works surprisingly well. The exposed old brick walls are complemented by black steel and a huge glass façade, so the whole space feels airy and industrially stylish.

Inside you’ll find around twenty carefully chosen stalls and bistros that represent the best of contemporary Swedish and world gastronomy under one roof. You can buy fresh sourdough bread from local artisan bakers, wonderful cheeses, or sit straight down at the counter and enjoy lunch. Prices here are noticeably higher than on the street in Möllan, but they perfectly match the top quality of the ingredients used.

For meat-free dining, the market hall is an absolutely ideal choice, especially if you’re travelling in a group where everyone fancies something different. You’ll find fantastic stalls with hand-pulled noodles, rich salad bars and modern vegetarian tapas. Buy your food, grab a tray and sit down at the large communal tables in the middle of the hall, where you can soak up the busy, friendly atmosphere of this culinary hub.

💡 Tip: the market hall is a great place to buy edible souvenirs from your travels, you’ll find premium Swedish jams, local mustards or luxury chocolate in gorgeous packaging here.

13. Slottsträdgården: gardens and urban farming

Right behind the historic Malmöhus Castle spreads Slottsträdgården (the Castle Garden), an utterly enchanting piece of calm nature in the middle of the city. It’s not a classic dull castle park with strictly clipped hedges, but a fascinating community project focused on sustainable and organic urban farming. The garden is cleverly divided into several themed sections, from a soothing Japanese one through a romantic rose garden to a wild meadow full of buzzing insects.

Local enthusiastic gardeners grow seasonal vegetables, fresh herbs and hundreds of kinds of flowers on the neat beds here, which on certain days you can even legally pick and buy home for a small fee. The whole green space is visually dominated by a beautiful historic windmill (Slottsmöllan), which rises on a gentle hill and forms a perfect romantic backdrop for your photos from an afternoon stroll.

Hidden in the middle of the gardens is the wonderful glass-walled Slottsträdgårdens Kafé café, which you definitely shouldn’t miss on your visit. It operates year-round; in winter you’ll warm up in a heated greenhouse full of plants, and in summer you can sit outside among the flowering beds. They make fantastic vegetarian sandwiches, warming creamy soups and, of course, there’s no shortage of excellent coffee and fresh homemade cakes for the perfect fika.

💡 Tip: during summer weekends smaller farmers’ markets are occasionally held here, where you can buy fresh vegetables directly from the people who grew them in the park.

14. Kungsparken: a picnic under centuries-old trees

Slottsträdgården flows seamlessly into Kungsparken (the King’s Park), which proudly holds the title of the oldest public park in the whole city. It was founded back in 1872 on the site of former military defensive ramparts, and its design draws heavily on classic English landscape gardens with winding sandy paths and sprawling green lawns.

The park is threaded with a dense network of water canals, along which you can go for a ride in summer on rented pedal boats or hire a small rowing boat and explore the city from an entirely different perspective. Huge centuries-old trees from all over the world grow here, including mighty oaks and exotic plane trees, which on hot summer days provide perfect shade for an afternoon rest. In the middle of the park you’ll come across a beautiful cast-iron fountain that lights up strikingly after dark.

For locals, Kungsparken is by far the most popular spot for weekend picnics and casual gatherings with friends. Pack fresh pastries from the nearby Saluhall in your backpack, grab a coffee to go, spread a blanket on the soft grass and enjoy that calm Swedish ease (lagom) right in the heart of an otherwise very busy and pulsing city.

💡 Tip: you can bring your own grill into the park without worry, at several designated spots you’ll find special concrete slabs where locals commonly cook up a warm dinner.

15. Folkets Park: a people’s park full of fun

Another utterly unique green space is Folkets Park (the People’s Park), which lies near the Möllan district and is the very oldest park of its kind in all of Sweden. It sprang up at the end of the 19th century as an affordable place for the working class to relax, and to this day it has thankfully kept its very informal, slightly fairground-like and immensely relaxed atmosphere that entertains all generations.

Entry is free and inside awaits a remarkable hodgepodge: a 19th-century Moorish pavilion sits next to children’s climbing frames and a reptile terrarium, nobody knows exactly why, but it works. During the warm summer, regular free concerts by local bands are held here, along with popular outdoor cinema screenings; there’s a giant children’s paddling pool and you can even play a tricky game of mini golf with friends.

The park is lined with pleasant, unassuming cafés and fast-food stalls, so you can easily spend a whole lazy afternoon here watching local families and young people. In winter the paddling pool magically transforms into a popular public ice rink, where you can hire skates and enjoy a true Nordic atmosphere under strings of lights strung across the trees.

💡 Tip: if you’re travelling with children, feel free to set aside half a day for Folkets Park, they’ll find so many free climbing frames and activities here that you’ll struggle to drag them away.

16. Malmö by bike: a city of bicycles

If you want to get to know and experience Malmö like a true local, you absolutely have to hop on a bike and join the local traffic. The city regularly ranks in prestigious lists of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, and with its more than 500 kilometres of perfectly separated cycle paths it’s snapping at the heels of nearby, famous Copenhagen. The terrain here is also absolutely flat, so you won’t break a sweat even on longer rides between districts.

Renting a bike here is an utterly trivial affair thanks to the excellently run and cheap Malmö by bike shared-bike system. You’ll find dozens of docking stations all over the city; just download the app to your phone, link a payment card and for about 80 SEK (roughly €7) you get unlimited access to bikes for a full 24 hours. The bikes are sturdy, heavy, very stable and have a practical front basket for shopping or a backpack.

By bike is by far the most comfortable way to get from the centre to the more distant Ribersborg beach, ride through the whole modern Västra hamnen district and reach the markets in Möllan without any trouble. Cyclists here have absolute priority at intersections and their own special traffic lights, so you’ll feel completely safe even in heavy morning traffic.

💡 Tip: when you’re cycling, always signal the direction of your turn with your hand and raise your hand when stopping, local cyclists ride very fast and an unexpected stop in the middle of the path can cause an unpleasant accident.

17. Shopping at Emporia: architecture and consumerism

Even if you’re not exactly a keen fan of shopping, the Emporia shopping centre in the Hyllie district is worth a visit for its breathtaking modern architecture alone. This gigantic building lies a short distance from the first train exit off the Öresund Bridge, and its main façade is formed by an enormous, deeply curved glass crack of golden colour that from the outside looks as if someone crushed the building in the middle with great force.

Inside you’ll find hundreds of shops, including all the well-known Scandinavian fashion brands and luxury design boutiques. The interior is logically divided into colour-coded zones with giant spiral staircases and futuristic lighting, so at times you’re not sure whether you’re in a classic mall or a museum of modern art. It’s an ideal and warm rescue in case the weather doesn’t cooperate during your trip and it starts to rain steadily.

Emporia’s biggest hidden secret, though, is the huge public rooftop garden, which you reach by escalator completely free of charge. The green roof full of hardy grasses and benches offers a fantastic panoramic view over the whole growing city, the majestic Öresund Bridge, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the coast of neighbouring Denmark.

💡 Tip: the quickest way to reach Emporia is by train from the main station (Hyllie stop), the journey takes barely a few minutes and the station lies right in front of the main iconic entrance to the centre.

18. A trip to Copenhagen across the Öresund Bridge

The final tip doesn’t point to Malmö itself, but to its absolute greatest strategic advantage: thanks to the Öresund Bridge you have the Danish capital, Copenhagen, completely within reach. This unique feat of engineering measures an incredible 16 kilometres, part of which is a suspension bridge high above the waves and part an undersea tunnel, into which you smoothly descend on the artificially created island of Peberholm.

The easiest and by far the cheapest way to get to the other side is to use the frequent train connection (Öresundståg) straight from Malmö’s main station. Trains run every 20 minutes, a one-way ticket costs about 135 SEK (roughly €12) and in less than half an hour you’re already stepping off in central Copenhagen. This gives you a unique and very easy chance to combine a visit to two wonderful Nordic countries into a single weekend.

If you’re travelling in your own car, crossing the bridge will cost you fairly dearly; a one-way toll is around 470 DKK (roughly €63). That’s why most people choose the comfortable train, which is worry-free and saves you the hassle of hunting for overpriced parking in the Danish capital. Don’t forget, though, to pack a valid ID card or passport in your backpack, because the Swedes carry out strict, random border checks on the way back.

💡 Tip: if you plan to cross the bridge by car both ways, it pays to register online for the ØresundGO programme, which, thanks to an annual fee, cuts the price of a single crossing to a fraction of the original.

How to get to Malmö and how to get around

The fastest air route to Malmö surprisingly leads through the neighbouring country. The ideal option is to book a flight straight to Danish Copenhagen, to Kastrup airport, which lies right on the doorstep of the Öresund Bridge. Carriers like Ryanair, easyJet and Lufthansa serve it from many European hubs. As soon as you collect your luggage, you take the escalator down to the underground train station. You board the Öresundståg service and in an incredible 20 minutes you’re already stepping off in central Malmö. It’s often faster and more comfortable than the journey from airport to centre in many other European capitals.

If you’re moving around Sweden, super-fast X2000 trains of the Swedish railways SJ run here from Stockholm, covering the distance in under four and a half hours. But buy tickets well in advance, since they work like plane tickets and their price rises steeply just before departure. For travellers with a car or campervan, one option is the overnight ferries from Germany or Poland, which dock in nearby Trelleborg or Ystad, from where it’s just a short hop to Malmö along excellent motorways (which, incidentally, are completely free for cars in Sweden, so no motorway vignette needed, unlike in Austria or Switzerland).

Getting around the city itself is then an absolute breeze. The historic centre is very compact and largely reserved for pedestrians only, so you can cover most of the sights on foot without any trouble. For longer transfers, for example to Ribersborg beach or the modern Västra hamnen district, I warmly recommend using the already mentioned Malmö by bike shared green-bike system, because the cycling infrastructure here is honed to absolute perfection.

When it starts to rain, the excellently run green buses of Skånetrafiken will save you. You can’t pay the driver in cash on board the bus, you have to download the official Skånetrafiken mobile app in advance and buy your ticket through it, or simply tap your payment card at the terminal when boarding. Bonus news: if you arrive in the second half of 2026, the Swedish government has drastically cut the prices of monthly public transport passes, so the bus works out even cheaper than before.

A weekend in Malmö, day by day

If you have just two days for the city, I recommend splitting your programme into a historic and a modern part, so you soak up all the contrasts Malmö offers. Devote the first day to exploring the centre on foot. Start with a morning walk across Stortorget and peek into the oldest church, Sankt Petri. Around eleven, move on to the picturesque Lilla Torg for a traditional fika with coffee and a cinnamon bun.

For lunch, pop into the wonderful Malmö Saluhall market hall, where you’ll find great vegetarian tapas or Asian noodles, and in the afternoon calmly explore Malmöhus Castle with the adjacent Slottsträdgården park. In the evening, definitely head to the pulsing Möllan district, where you’ll taste the best falafel in the city (70 SEK, about €6.50, will be plenty for one) and wash it down with a local craft beer in one of the busy bars.

On the second morning, hire a city bike via the app and set off to discover the city’s modern face by the sea. Head to the sustainable Västra hamnen district, take a close look at the Turning Torso skyscraper and ride along the wooden promenade. From there continue along the coast to Ribersborgsstranden beach, where you can have a lunch menu (dagens lunch) with a generous salad buffet at one of the beach cafés. You can then spend the afternoon relaxing in the historic Kallbadhus saunas, or hop on a train for a quick shopping trip to the architecturally stunning Emporia centre.

Where to go next from Malmö

If you have more time in Sweden, Skåne offers wonderful opportunities for further exploring. Just 20 minutes by train from Malmö lies the historic university town of Lund, which will charm you with its cobbled streets, ivy-covered houses and a majestic Romanesque cathedral with a fascinating astronomical clock.

Lovers of crime fiction should head east to the coastal town of Ystad, where the stories of the gloomy detective Wallander were filmed and set. A short distance away you’ll then find the magical megalithic stones of Ales stenar rising on a cliff above the sea. To the south-west, on the other hand, the Falsterbo peninsula tempts you with its white sandy beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean and picturesque pastel beach huts. For detailed planning of a car trip, check out our article Öresund Bridge: toll, train and how to cross it.

Interested in more of this gorgeous Nordic country? Take a look at our big overview Sweden: 30 tips on what to see and do or plan a stop on the west coast with the guide Gothenburg: 20 tips on what to see in Sweden’s second city. And if you’re about to cross the bridge, the article Copenhagen: 25+ tips on what to see and do will definitely come in handy. Don’t forget to explore the local flavours too through our article Swedish cuisine: 18 dishes you have to taste.

Frequently asked questions

Before you throw yourself into packing your bags, I’ve summed up the answers to the most common questions I get about Malmö. Whether you’re sorting out budget, safety or transport, you’ll find it all neatly together here 😉.

If you’re planning a trip up north, taking one of the many Sweden ferries is often the best possible choice, especially if you don’t want to be tied to expensive car rentals once you arrive. Sure, you can fly to Sweden in under two hours, but hand on heart, flying means giving up an enormous amount of freedom. Anyone who wants to bring a car full of camping gear, bikes or even a whole motorhome simply chooses the sea route. Crossing the sea isn’t just a tedious transfer, it’s a brilliant start to your holiday that also saves you a night’s accommodation along the way. You can stretch your legs, stock up on supplies and set off into the Nordic forests the next morning feeling rested.

Choosing the right route can be a real head-scratcher, though, because there are several options from Central Europe. It all depends on exactly where you’re setting off from and where in the north you’re heading. Let’s take a detailed look at how to pick the ideal route, how much it costs this year and which mistakes to avoid when booking your tickets.

TL;DR

Before we dive into a detailed breakdown of individual routes, ships and practical tips, I’ve put together a quick overview of the absolute essentials. If you’re in a big hurry or just want to refresh the basic rules for Nordic travel, these few points will give you enough to get your bearings.

• Book your tickets well in advance: Ferry prices work much like plane tickets, so summer dates booked at the last minute can end up costing up to three times as much.
• Poland is ideal from the east: Routes from Świnoujście or Gdynia mean shorter driving and a longer rest on board.
• Germany suits western travellers: The ports of Rostock and Travemünde offer quick motorway access and very frequent sailings.
• Consider an overnight crossing: Although a ticket with a cabin is pricier, you save a night’s hotel on the mainland and don’t lose a day travelling.
• Take everything you need on board: During the crossing, the car decks are strictly locked for safety reasons and you won’t be able to reach your belongings.
• Don’t forget your documents: Sweden has extended its border checks at least until November 2026, so you must always carry your passport or ID card.
• The Øresund Bridge as an alternative: If you don’t want to be tied to an exact ferry departure, the Danish overland route across the famous bridge is a great option.

15 Things You Need to Know About Sweden Ferries

Choosing the right route and the crossing itself might look a little complicated at first glance, but once you know a few basic tricks, it’s actually a total breeze. While planning, you’ll definitely come across plenty of questions, whether about the correct car size in your booking, choosing a cabin, or travelling with pets.

That’s why I’ve put together this detailed list to walk you through everything that matters. You’ll find out what to watch out for the most, where you can cleverly save, and why it’s a good idea not to leave too many things until you’re at the port.

1. Why a Ferry Beats Flying

Travelling in your own vehicle gives you a freedom in a big country that flying simply can’t offer, and Sweden is made for camping, road trips and overnight stays in the wild. Car rentals up north will painfully inflate any holiday, whereas into your own boot you can easily stuff a tent, sleeping bags, a stove, supplies and even a paddleboard. Just the transport costs for a family come to roughly €750 to €780, and flying simply can’t beat that. Just add up plane tickets for four people with luggage, plus insurance on a pricey rental car and child car seats. Your own car comes out as the clear winner.

Another huge advantage of ferries is the complete absence of weight limits for luggage. On board, nobody cares how many heavy suitcases, bags or crates of drinks you’ve packed into the car. You simply pay for the total length and height of your vehicle and off you go with peace of mind. For families with kids that means the end of packing stress, with no need to weigh every backpack, worry about liquids in hand luggage or dread excess baggage at the airport desk. You just throw everything into the car, from your favourite camping chairs to sturdy waterproof hiking boots.

A ferry also gives you the brilliant option of bringing your pets up north without the stress of a flight in the dark cargo hold of a plane. On many ships, dogs can stay with you in special cabins or on designated decks, which makes the trip north an ideal doggy holiday. Thanks to its right of public access to nature (allemansrätten), Sweden is very friendly and welcoming for travellers with animals.

💡 Tip: Be sure to pack your own supply of your favourite wine or beer. In Sweden, you can only buy alcohol at the state-run Systembolaget shops, which have very limited opening hours, high prices due to excise duty, and are closed entirely on Sundays. Within the European Union you can legally bring up to 110 litres of beer and 90 litres of wine per person for personal consumption.

2. The Polish Classic: Ferries Between Sweden and Poland

If you’re setting off from the east, it makes no sense to drag yourself across the whole of Germany. The port of Świnoujście lies under six hours of comfortable driving from the Czech border and offers excellent connections to Ystad or Trelleborg in Sweden. Three big companies operate here, namely Polferries, TT-Line and Unity Line. That means ships depart several times a day and you can pick the time that suits you best. On top of that, the drive through Poland along the new S3 expressway and the A1 motorway is perfectly smooth and very cheap on tolls.

The crossing from here takes around six to seven hours, which is absolutely ideal for a proper rest, a coffee in the restaurant and admiring the views out over the open sea. But do watch out for a change introduced in summer 2026, as Polferries has moved the check-in for motorised passengers in Ystad to new stands. So always check the port map that comes with your ticket by email very carefully beforehand, so you don’t end up wandering around right before departure.

Another great Polish option is the popular route from Gdynia to Karlskrona, operated by Stena Line. The crossing takes just under ten hours and it’s a totally strategic point if you’re planning to explore the eastern islands of Öland and Gotland, or if you’re heading straight towards Stockholm. You’ll avoid the long and often tiring drive across the whole of southern Sweden. Gdynia also has the advantage that you can make a lovely stop in historic Gdańsk before departure.

💡 Tip: When booking tickets on Polish websites, always try switching the currency from euros to Polish złoty. It very often works out that paying in the local currency ends up a few euros cheaper once your bank converts it. The same goes for filling up on the motorway on your way to the port.

3. Ferries to Sweden From Germany: The Motorway Express

Travellers coming from further west usually prefer the German ports, because getting onto the motorway heading north is very smooth and the journey flies by incredibly quickly. From major European hubs you can reach the port of Rostock in under six hours of comfortable driving, spending most of that time on the toll-free German motorway. From Rostock to Trelleborg, modern ships operated by TT-Line and Stena Line sail regularly, with the crossing itself taking a very pleasant six hours. Just remember that German motorways tend to get very congested on Friday afternoons, so it’s better to travel overnight or early in the morning.

A little closer still lies the town of Travemünde, near historic Lübeck. From here, huge Finnlines ferries sail to Malmö, and TT-Line ships to Trelleborg. The sea crossing from here takes a bit longer, usually around nine hours, which makes it a great overnight route. You board in the evening, have dinner, sleep beautifully in a cabin and wake up right in Sweden.

German routes generally have the busiest timetables and enormous car capacity, so tickets are a bit easier to find here even outside the main booking windows. Even so, the Friday and Saturday evening departures disappear from the booking systems first, and leaving your purchase to the last minute definitely doesn’t pay off. The ports also have short-term parking well sorted out, in case you arrive well ahead of time and want to rest.

💡 Tip: If you choose the overnight crossing from Travemünde, arrive at the port a couple of hours early and take a stroll through the historic centre of nearby Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its traditional marzipan.

4. Ferries From Denmark to Sweden and Short Hops

If you love driving, savour the feeling of freedom behind the wheel and don’t want to spend half a day on a ship, the Danish route is made for you. The most commonly used option is the very short ferry from the German port of Puttgarden to the Danish town of Rødby. This extremely busy route is operated by Scandlines, the crossing takes just 45 minutes and the ships shuttle back and forth practically non-stop, day and night. You’ve barely parked the car and grabbed a coffee on the top deck before they’re calling you back to your vehicle. Scandlines also has a very flexible Smile loyalty programme, where you collect points on food and drink purchases.

Alternatively, you can take the slightly longer route from Rostock to the Danish port of Gedser, which takes roughly two hours. Once you’re in Denmark, you’ll cruise comfortably along excellent motorways all the way to Copenhagen. From there, your dream of Sweden is within easy reach across the majestic Øresund Bridge, or you can choose another short ferry. Danish motorways are free, but do watch out for the strict speed limits, which the local police like to measure often.

That next hop is the legendary and heavily used shuttle between Helsingør in Denmark and Helsingborg in Sweden. The crossing across the strait takes just under twenty minutes and is a fantastic alternative for all travellers who want to avoid the heavy Copenhagen traffic and the high toll on the big Øresund Bridge. From the ship you get a lovely view of the famous Kronborg Castle.

💡 Tip: Scandlines offers so-called combined tickets, which include both the ferry to Denmark and the subsequent toll for crossing the Øresund Bridge. Buying this combination in advance online saves you a fair bit of money compared with paying on the spot.

5. Sweden Ferry Prices and How They’re Calculated

Pricing at sea strongly resembles the airlines, so a fixed price list practically doesn’t exist. The price always depends on the exact length and height of your car, the number of passengers, the chosen cabin and above all the date of the crossing. A car with two adults on the Rostock to Trelleborg route will cost a comfortable €60 off-season, but in mid-July it can easily climb over €200. I’d recommend considering so-called flexi tickets, which cost a little more but let you move your departure time if you get delayed in a queue.

Caravans and motorhomes have their own special tariffs, which are significantly more expensive due to the large space they take up below deck. Always enter the absolutely precise dimensions into the booking system, including a roof box, antenna or bike rack. If the port staff discover the car is actually longer or taller than stated, you’ll face a hefty surcharge, or in the worst case they won’t let you onto the packed ship at all. Booking systems often check your registration plate too, which you can usually change online up to a few hours before departure with most companies.

As a rough guide for 2026, budget around €100 to €200 for one crossing with a standard car, depending on the chosen route and how early you book. It always pays to compare different departure days, because shifting your holiday even by a single day forwards or backwards can knock as much as a decent third off the total price.

💡 Tip: The most expensive crossings tend to be Friday evening and Saturday morning, when changeover days occur. If you can set off on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you’ll not only save a lot of money but also avoid the endless queues at boarding.

6. Daytime Versus Overnight Crossing

This is by far the biggest dilemma when planning any Nordic trip. Daytime crossings are logically always cheaper and you don’t necessarily need to add a cabin. You can sit in the huge glass-fronted café, read your favourite book on deck, explore the duty-free shops or simply stroll along the outer decks watching the waves. The main downside is that you lose practically a whole day of your holiday just crossing the sea.

An overnight ferry, on the other hand, works like your own floating hotel. You do pay a little more for the compulsory cabin, but on the other hand you save on mainland accommodation, which in Sweden commonly costs from around €80 a night upwards. In the morning you wake up beautifully rested, have breakfast with a view of the approaching Swedish coast and have the whole long day ahead of you for exploring and travelling. Most ships also offer an evening entertainment programme on overnight crossings.

Experienced travellers very often go for a clever combination of both options. On the way there, when everyone is full of energy and excited about the holiday, they travel during the day and enjoy the views. On the way back, when fatigue from the demanding road trip and the miles clocked up tends to take over, they prefer the overnight route to get a proper rest before the long drive home.

💡 Tip: If you go for a daytime crossing without a cabin, head straight for a good spot in the lounge right after boarding. The comfortable armchairs by the big windows tend to get snapped up within the first ten minutes of the deck opening.

7. Cabins and Recliners: When to Pay Extra

On long overnight crossings, such as the typical Gdynia to Karlskrona route or Travemünde to Trelleborg, a cabin is usually absolutely compulsory for safety reasons. You can choose between a cheaper inner cabin without a window and a significantly pricier outer option with a beautiful sea view. Every single cabin has its own bathroom with a shower, toilet and clean bedding, so comfort is guaranteed. There’s even a small desk and chair.

If you’re travelling during the day, you don’t need a cabin, but you can rent a so-called Pullman seat. It’s a more comfortable reclining chair in a designated quiet zone, which costs just a tiny fraction of the price of a whole cabin. It’s a nice compromise for those who want to quietly nap for a few hours away from the noisy public areas. Just bear in mind that charging sockets tend to be scarce here, so a charged power bank comes in handy.

For families with younger children, though, a daytime cabin is enormously worth it and I warmly recommend it. The kids have their own space for an afternoon nap, you can put down all your heavy bags, shower in peace and rest in private. Unlike overnight crossings, the daytime rental price tends to be very reasonable, and that peace and quiet on a crowded ship is simply priceless in the summer season.

💡 Tip: Cabins sell out far faster than the actual car spaces below deck. If you’re planning a summer overnight crossing, book your tickets ideally four to five months ahead, otherwise you’ll be left with only the most expensive luxury suites.

8. Food on Board: Buffets and Your Own Snacks

Every larger ferry works like a small floating town and has several dining options. By far the most popular are the huge self-service buffets, which offer generous breakfasts and hearty dinners for a fixed price. You pay once at the entrance and eat as much as you can manage, and believe me, the salad counters, cheeses and fresh bread won’t let you leave empty. 😄 The onboard restaurants also serve traditional meatballs, and on most ships you can conveniently pay by card, in euros or in Swedish kronor.

Besides the big buffet, the ships also have smaller cosy cafés and bistros, where you can buy excellent coffee, a slice of pizza or a sweet cinnamon bun. Prices here are of course a bit higher than on the mainland, but they’re still perfectly manageable without ruining your travel budget. Coffee here is most often sold as a bottomless cup, so with a single mug you can sit and sip all morning long.

If you want to save money for experiences in Sweden, it’s perfectly legal to bring your own food on board. Nobody will chase you away if you pull your own filled baguettes, cheese from a cool bag or a flask of coffee out of your backpack on a public deck. Travellers do this completely routinely, it’s just really not polite to eat your own supplies at tables reserved for paying restaurant guests.

💡 Tip: If you know you’ll want to go for a big buffet dinner, buy your entry when booking your ferry ticket online. Most companies offer a discount of around ten to fifteen percent for buying in advance compared with paying on the spot.

9. What to Take Up Top and What to Leave in the Car

This is an absolutely crucial safety rule that often catches newcomers off guard and can spoil the start of their trip. During the entire crossing, the car decks are strictly locked and separated by watertight doors for strict safety reasons. Once you’ve parked after boarding and gone up the stairs to the passenger areas, there’s no way you’ll reach your car again, not even if you’ve forgotten important medication.

So prepare a handy carry bag (let’s call it your ship backpack) with everything essential while still at home. You’ll absolutely need your documents, wallet, phone, power bank, any medication, a warmer jumper and toiletries. The air conditioning on ships tends to be set to very low temperatures, and the sea wind will chill you quickly out on the top deck. If you plan to watch films, don’t forget to download them onto your tablet in advance, because onboard Wi-Fi tends to be expensive and slow.

In the car, on the other hand, leave all your heavy suitcases, camping gear and, most importantly, switch off the car alarm before you leave. The rocking of the ship on the waves reliably sets off the more sensitive motion sensors, and you really don’t want to be the person whose car flashes and honks wildly below deck the whole crossing, constantly draining its own battery while the ship’s PA calls out your registration plate.

💡 Tip: Before departure, find out from your vehicle’s manual exactly how to deactivate the tilt and interior motion sensor. On modern cars this is often done by double-pressing a button on the key, or deep in the on-board computer menu.

10. Check-In, Ports and Border Controls

Always arrive at the busy port with plenty of time to spare to avoid needless stress. As standard, you’re required to arrive sixty to ninety minutes before the ship actually departs. If you have a large motorhome or a car with a trailer, better allow a full two hours, because getting large vehicles on board and manoeuvring them takes considerably longer. The check-in process is otherwise very simple and resembles driving through classic motorway toll gates. Watch the signs above the lanes carefully, they tend to be split into cars, lorries and high-roof vehicles.

At the window you show your printed ticket or QR code and the documents of all passengers. Bear in mind that Sweden has extended its border checks at least until November 2026, so random police checks at the ferry exit are a common thing. They’ll check you right through your rolled-down window and the whole procedure usually takes just a few minutes.

So have your passport or ID card ready for every member of the party, including small children. If you’re travelling in a van or with a caravan, customs officers may ask you to open the boot or take a look inside the living area. But they’re always very polite and ask about the purpose of your trip. The good news is that the new European EES and ETIAS systems don’t apply to EU citizens at all.

💡 Tip: Store your documents in the glovebox so you have them instantly to hand. Digging for a passport lost at the bottom of a backpack in the boot while a queue of vehicles honks behind you isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.

11. Travelling by Train and Bus Without a Car

Ferries are of course not intended exclusively for drivers. Every ferry company caters for foot passengers too. Most large ports, whether it’s Rostock in Germany, Gdynia in Poland or Ystad in Sweden, have a direct train connection right to the terminal, or at least offer connecting shuttle buses from the city centre straight to the ship, so making your way over with a suitcase is a matter of moments.

A foot passenger ticket costs a real pittance and often comes to just a few dozen euros, which makes it a great option for students or Interrail pass holders. A big hit for 2026 is also the Snälltåget night train, which from August runs from Dresden via Berlin all the way to Stockholm. Here you don’t have to bother with the ferry at all, because the train either drives onto the ship in Germany or crosses the Danish bridges while you sleep soundly in a comfortable couchette car. Seat prices start at a very reasonable 499 Swedish kronor.

If you take a long-distance bus to Stockholm (often with FlixBus), the ferry price is already automatically included in the ticket. The bus drives smoothly below deck, the driver asks you to leave the vehicle, you take your valuables in your backpack and spend the crossing on the upper decks of the ship together with the other passengers from the cars. You return to the bus roughly fifteen minutes before docking at the port.

💡 Tip: If you plan a journey by Swedish trains connecting to the ferry, buy your tickets far in advance on the Swedish railways’ SJ website. They use dynamic pricing and tickets bought at the last minute on the day of travel tend to be extremely expensive.

Lukáš and Lucie recommend

Where to stay in Sweden

5 accommodations — wellness hotels, hotels and other accommodation options

⭐ TOP CHOICE 🏨 Hotel

Hampton by Hilton

Modern hotel 5 minutes from the ferry terminal in Świnoujście. Comfortable beds, rich breakfast, secure parking.

★★★★ from €100/night

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Palm Tree Hotel

Pleasant hotel in the center of Trelleborg, a few hundred meters from the ferry terminal. Great morning coffee, 24-hour reception.

★★★★ from €100/night

Check availability ⭐ Luxury

Continental du Sud

The oldest operating hotel in Sweden, directly opposite the harbor in Ystad. Unique old-world atmosphere among half-timbered houses.

★★★★ from €140/night

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Hotell Barken Viking

Stylish accommodation on the water in historic cabins right in the center of Gothenburg. Amazing view of the harbor and city.

★★★★ from €112/night

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View all accommodations in Sweden

Explore all available accommodation options in Sweden and find the best one according to your preferences and budget.

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12. Families With Kids and Travelling With a Dog

For families with younger children, a ferry is an outright blessing and a great start to the holiday. Most large ships have fantastically equipped children’s play areas with entertainers, where the little ones can safely amuse themselves for hours in a ball pit. Restaurants automatically offer discounted children’s menus and there are usually microwaves for warming up your own baby food. Older kids will appreciate the onboard cinema, arcade games or exploring the vast decks with views of the lighthouses. The journey passes for them incomparably faster than being strapped into a car seat somewhere on a scorching motorway.

If you’re travelling with your dog, you must absolutely declare it when you first book your ticket. The rules vary slightly by company, but generally the dog isn’t allowed to stay locked in the car below deck. You have to book it a special pet-friendly cabin, which often has a lino floor instead of carpet, or stay with it the whole time in designated areas in the corridors. On the outer decks you’ll then find special walking zones fitted with artificial grass, sand and a water hydrant.

Always keep the dog on a lead and don’t forget a valid European pet passport with up-to-date rabies vaccination, which Swedish customs officers check very diligently on entry to the country. Sweden is a wonderful country for dogs, just remember that from March to the end of August your dog must always be on a lead in nature. The reason is nesting birds and the protection of their young, and the locals take this really seriously.

13. Weather, Storms and Seasickness

The Baltic Sea is usually gorgeously calm in the summer months and its surface resembles a mirror, but occasionally it can get properly choppy. You needn’t be afraid, though. Modern ferries are enormous steel giants well over two hundred metres long and equipped with incredibly powerful stabilisers, so you practically won’t feel the ordinary smaller waves inside the ship at all. The crossing is very smooth and maximally comfortable even for those who are otherwise a little afraid of water.

If you nevertheless know you suffer from unpleasant seasickness, book a cabin as low down near the waterline as possible and, ideally, as close to the middle of the ship as you can. It’s precisely in these spots that the rocking is felt the least. Definitely pack some ginger sweets or ordinary motion-sickness tablets (they can often be bought right at the ship’s information desk) and during the crossing try to look out at the fixed horizon, which greatly helps the brain process the whole situation better. Spending time in fresh, cold air also helps a lot.

In the event of extreme autumn or winter storms, it can occasionally happen that the ferry company delays the crossing by a few hours for safety reasons, or cancels it altogether. In that case they’ll automatically offer you a free rebooking onto the next available sailing, or a full refund. During summer this happens only very rarely, though, so there’s no need to stress about it.

💡 Tip: Avoid eating heavy fried food and drinking large amounts of alcohol before the crossing if the sea doesn’t look completely calm. A light snack and fresh air on the top deck work real miracles.

14. The Øresund Bridge as an Overland Alternative

Anyone who doesn’t want to keep an eye on precise ferry timetables and prefers absolute freedom will choose the legendary Øresund Bridge, which elegantly connects Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmö in Sweden. This structure is sixteen kilometres long, part of the route runs through a tunnel beneath the sea, then the bridge rises above the surface and suddenly you have nothing but water and sky on both sides. Honestly, it’s worth the toll. Along the way you also pass over the artificial island of Peberholm, which serves solely to support the structure and nature.

A standard one-way toll for an ordinary car comes to roughly 470 to 510 Danish kronor, which works out at about €63 to €68 depending on the current exchange rate and season. On the Danish side, you can conveniently pay with any bank card at the automatic toll booths. If you know in advance you’ll be driving over the bridge both ways, it’s absolutely worth getting an annual ØresundGO subscription. With it, the price per crossing drops sharply to around 178 Danish kronor, and the whole initial investment pays for itself on your very first return trip.

The bridge is a great choice if you’re travelling at night or well off-season, when ferries don’t run as often. Just bear in mind that you’ll extend your journey a little by driving across the Danish islands, which means more fuel burned and possibly a toll for the other huge Danish bridge, Storebælt. For drivers, though, it means they can stay in the car the whole time and don’t have to wait around anywhere to board.

💡 Tip: Sort out your ØresundGO subscription contract online from the comfort of home at least a few days before your trip and link it to your registration plate. At the toll gate, the camera then automatically reads your plate and the barrier opens smoothly without any hold-up.

15. Where to Sleep After Landing and Where to Go

When you finally drive off the ship, especially after a long overnight crossing early in the morning, it’s nice to have a clear plan for what’s next. Some people head straight up the motorway to the far north, but the port towns and their nearby surroundings offer a huge number of lovely places for the first days of a Nordic road trip. It would be a huge shame to just breeze past this magical southern region of Skåne without a second glance, because it has a much milder climate and resembles continental Europe more.

If you land in Trelleborg after the journey from Rostock, head straight to the south-western tip towards the Falsterbo peninsula. Here you’ll find kilometres of dazzling white sand, picturesque colourful beach huts and an atmosphere that’s rightly nicknamed the Swedish Hamptons. It’s an ideal place to stretch your legs after the journey, walk the dog and breathe in the fresh sea air. Parking right by the beaches is paid, but it can easily be settled through Swedish parking apps.

Arriving in idyllic Ystad, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of romantic half-timbered houses that were made famous by the detective stories featuring Inspector Wallander. The town has a wonderful atmosphere and a short drive away lie the magical megaliths of Ales stenar, nicknamed the Swedish Stonehenge. The stones rise on a high cliff right above the sea and the view from there really takes your breath away.

If you arrive from Gdynia in Poland into Karlskrona, you’ll find yourself in a town wonderfully scattered across dozens of islands. From here it’s only a short hop to the famous island of Öland, which you reach across a free bridge. There you’ll find hundreds of windmills, the medieval Borgholm Castle and Solliden, the summer residence of the Swedish royal family, which is partly open to the public over the summer.

💡 Tip: Stop in Malmö in the Möllevången district. This multicultural heart of the city offers probably the very cheapest and best food in all of Sweden. You can buy a huge falafel here for a fraction of the price of an ordinary meal, which your wallet will certainly appreciate after arriving.

Where to Eat After Landing

The buffet on board tends to be pricey and not always tempting first thing in the morning, so most people sort out their first proper meal only once ashore. In Sweden there’s a simple rule: make the main meal of the day your lunch, when eateries offer dagens lunch for 120 to 150 SEK (around €11 to €14) including a salad buffet, bread and coffee.

Malmö and Surroundings

In Malmö the best address is the Möllevången district, where on every corner you can buy falafel or Middle Eastern street food for 50 to 80 SEK. A little further on stands the Malmö Saluhall market hall, an industrial building full of bistros, artisan bakeries and stalls selling cheeses, salads and coffee. The locals come here even for sandwiches with fried herring, which are a regional classic.

For traditional Swedish home cooking, husmanskost, head to Bullen, dating from 1897, where they serve meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Prices are higher, but the old-pub atmosphere makes it worth it even for anyone who just has a soup or a vegetarian option.

Ystad and Trelleborg

After landing in Ystad in the morning, the ideal stop is the café and bakery Söderberg & Sara, where they bake the best cardamom bread in all of Skåne and serve speciality coffee. For a full lunch, drop into one of the eateries with a dagens lunch sign right in the historic centre.

In Trelleborg, right after driving off the ship, the cosy Två Spisar operates with a lunch menu. For a fixed price you get a main course of your choice, an unlimited salad buffet, crusty bread with butter, plus coffee and water. It’s the cheapest way to eat properly in Sweden.

💡 Tip: The ICA and Coop supermarkets have ready meals, salads and bread at the entrances to towns. Stocking up on supplies on your first day can save you a good few hundred euros over your whole road trip.

Comparison of Sweden Ferry Routes at a Glance

To make planning your whole journey across the Baltic Sea easier, I’ve put together a clear comparison of the most heavily used ferry routes heading from Central Europe up north. The choice always depends on how many kilometres you’re willing to drive on the mainland and how much time you’d rather spend resting on the waves. Take the prices as a rough starting point for an ordinary car with two passengers; in the summer peak they can jump up significantly.

• Rostock to Trelleborg (Germany): The most popular motorway classic. Operated here by TT-Line and Stena Line. The crossing takes a comfortable 6 hours and a ticket costs roughly €60 to €200. An ideal choice for travellers who want to get onto the motorway quickly and have the journey behind them soon.
• Świnoujście to Ystad (Poland): The perfect option from the east. Polferries and Unity Line ships make the journey in 6 to 7 hours. Prices start around €95, but you’ll often save by paying in Polish złoty. The port lies just a short drive from the border and driving on Polish motorways is now very comfortable and smooth.
• Gdynia to Karlskrona (Poland): A long overnight crossing operated by Stena Line. It takes 9.5 hours and prices range between €120 and €385, with a cabin compulsory. This route is a strategic gem if you’re heading to the east coast, the islands of Öland and Gotland, or if you’re going straight to Stockholm and want to avoid delays in southern Sweden.
• Puttgarden to Rødby (Germany and Denmark): A super-fast hop across the sea by Scandlines. It takes just 45 minutes and costs around €60 to €100. The ships shuttle constantly, so you don’t need to worry about an exact departure time. It connects to the Danish overland route towards the famous Øresund Bridge.
• Travemünde to Malmö (Germany): A Finnlines route that takes roughly 9 hours. It’s perfectly suited for an overnight transfer, where you load the car near Lübeck in the evening, sleep in a cabin and set off in the early morning completely rested, straight into Sweden’s wide streets.

Where to Stay

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which tends to have the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities, it then pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.

When you’re waiting for a morning ferry, or on the flip side arrive at the port late at night and don’t feel like hunting for a camping spot in the dark, a good hotel a short drive from the terminal is priceless. Here are some specific accommodation tips where you can lay your head and recharge without pointless driving back and forth, and where they also cater for fully loaded vehicles.

In the Polish port of Świnoujście, the modern Hampton by Hilton is a good bet. It lies just under five minutes’ drive from the ferry terminal, so morning boarding is completely stress-free with no long driving around. It offers very comfortable beds and a generous breakfast you can catch even before an early sailing. The hotel has its own secure car park. A double room here goes for around €100 a night.

In Trelleborg you’ll land after the journey from Rostock or Travemünde. Right in the town centre, just a few hundred metres from the terminal exit, you’ll find the pleasant Palm Tree Hotel. It offers clean rooms and, above all, excellent morning coffee before you set off to discover the nearby white beaches of the Falsterbo peninsula. The price for a double room starts at a very similar €100 and reception tends to be open around the clock.

If your ship docks in idyllic Ystad, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of romantic half-timbered houses. Try the historic Continental du Sud, which lies right opposite the port and is the oldest working hotel in all of Sweden. A room will cost you around €140, but that old-world atmosphere is completely unique and makes a wonderful start to a relaxed Scandinavian holiday.

And if you take the Danish route to Gothenburg, a great and very stylish experience is staying right on the water. Hotell Barken Viking is moored right in the city centre, and sleeping in historic cabins overlooking the harbour has enormous charm. You’ll pay from €115 a night and in the morning you can head straight into the buzz of the city or out to the wild west coast.

Practical Summary and Guide Prices

Before you start planning an exact budget, remember that ferry prices are highly dynamic and change with the season. If you buy a ticket in March for July, you’ll pay significantly less than if you book a week before departure. On board and in Sweden you can also pay by card everywhere, so you needn’t worry about exchanging a large sum of Swedish kronor in cash. Here are the guide rates for 2026 (car and two people), to which you should always add a note about summer price hikes:

• Rostock to Trelleborg (Germany): €60 to €200 one way.
• Świnoujście to Ystad (Poland): From €95 one way, but Polish sites in PLN may be a little cheaper still.
• Gdynia to Karlskrona (Poland): €120 to €385; the route is long and very popular for overnight transfers, so demand drives prices up.
• Puttgarden to Rødby (Denmark): Around €60 to €100, a quick hop to the Danish mainland.
• Øresund Bridge (no ferry): 470 to 510 DKK (around €63 to €68), dropping to roughly 178 DKK per crossing with an ØresundGO subscription.

And where should you head from the ports on a week-long road trip? From Trelleborg or Ystad there’s a beautiful southern loop on offer. Drive along the sunny beaches of the Falsterbo peninsula, the charming Söderåsen National Park full of deciduous forests, and continue through the picturesque apple orchards of the Österlen area. The roads here are wide, flat and driving is completely relaxed.

From Gothenburg, head straight to the west coast into the Bohuslän region. Awaiting you are stunning granite islands, picturesque fishing villages with red cottages and absolutely fantastic scenery for camping with a view of the salty sea. It does tend to be windier here, but those sunsets are worth it.

If you land in Karlskrona, your journey should head to the nearby island of Öland, full of historic windmills, or straight north along the east coast all the way to Stockholm and the huge Lake Vättern.

💡 Money-saving tip: If you’re travelling in summer 2026 and plan to leave the car parked for a while, take advantage of discounted public transport. The Swedish government subsidises public transport, so monthly passes across the whole of Sweden (including Stockholm and Gothenburg) cost exactly half price from July to December. A monthly pass can therefore be well worth it even for a five-day stay and will save you a lot of money on expensive city parking!

Where to Go Next

• Ystad and Skåne: 18 tips on what to see in southern Sweden
• Sweden: 30 tips on what to see and do
• Prices in Sweden: how much a holiday costs
• When to visit Sweden: weather month by month
• The Øresund Bridge: tolls, train and how to drive across

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a trip north by car brings up plenty of practical questions, especially if you’re heading for a ferry with the whole family for the very first time. Below you’ll find brief and quick answers to what travellers ask most often before buying their ticket.