Why Visit Malmö, Sweden from Copenhagen?
A day trip from Copenhagen to Malmö is one of the easiest international excursions you can do in Europe. No planning, no fuss or stress, and often no passport checks (though you should still carry one).
The city is small, walkable, and easy to absorb in just 4–6 hours, perfect if you’re already based in Copenhagen and just want a change of pace.
Check out my route.
Despite being only 40 minutes apart, Sweden and Denmark feel distinctly different. Malmö is quieter, softer, and more….inward? than Copenhagen. The contrast was fun to see and I recommend going!
How to Get from Copenhagen to Malmö
Getting to Malmö is almost comically simple. we stopped multiple times, like..was that it?
- Train: Direct trains run frequently from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) to Malmö Central Station.
- Time: ~35–40 minutes
- Route: Across the iconic Øresund Bridge
- Cost: Usually €12–15 one way
- Passport checks: Rare, but carry ID just in case. We did not receive one.
You can literally wake up, decide to go, and be in another country within the hour.
Södergatan & Gamla Staden
We started on Södergatan, Malmö’s main pedestrian street, window-shopping and people-watching, which carried us into Gamla Staden (Old Town). This part of Malmö feels historic but unpretentious, calm without being sleepy. The city feels lived-in, not staged.
St. Peter’s Church (Sankt Petri Kyrka)
No European city visit feels complete without stepping into their 700 year-old church.
St. Peter’s Church, Malmö’s oldest building, dates back to the early 1300s and was built during the city’s Hanseatic League era, when Malmö was a major Baltic trading hub.
I’ve visited St. Peter’s churches in Latvia, Estonia, Poland — and now Sweden. Different cities, same name, wildly different histories.
Malmö Castle, Art Museum and Gardens
After visiting the Malmö Castle and Art Museum, we wandered through Kungsparken and Slottsträdgården which is just behind it, it’s lush, expansive green spaces dotted with canals, windmills, and walking paths.
Dont miss the Slottsträdgårdens Kafé. A café tucked inside the gardens, maybe make a reservation to prevent a long wait!
Turning Torso & Västra Hamnområdet: Modern Malmö
The Turning Torso is Malmö’s most iconic building and Northern Europe’s tallest residential tower. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, its twisted design stands out against the city’s skyline and symbolizes Malmö’s shift from an industrial past to a modern city.
Nearby is Västra Hamnområdet’s Sundspromenaden – called a “public bath” on Google Maps. This is the marina area where we spent a sunny August afternoon. We grabbed coffee at Espresso House and watched windsurfers on the water. The area is a great spot to relax and enjoy Malmö’s waterfront – or take a swim.
Food Stops in Malmö
Even on a short visit, we ate well and there were plenty of options.
- Beans and Tales — A chill spot in Gamla Staden to kick off your day with excellent coffee.
- Lilla Kafferosteriet — One of the most popular brunch cafes in Gamla Staden. Expect a line.
- Slottsträdgårdens Kafé — A lush garden café tucked behind the Malmö Art Museum, perfect for a peaceful coffee break surrounded by greenery.
- Bullen – Två Krögar — A Malmö classic known for hearty, traditional Swedish comfort food.
- Malmö Saluhall — The city’s food hall with something for everyone: ramen, Mexican burgers, fish and chips, etc.
The Old Malmö Harbor: A City That Once Ruled Global Trade
My favorite part of Malmö was not a main attraction, and not much to look at.
At its peak in the early 20th century, Malmo’s Kockums Shipyard, was the largest shipyard in the world, launching massive oil tankers and employing tens of thousands of people. Malmö was an industrial heavyweight, a global player in 1952. Now it looks like an empty parking lot.
For me, I just kept thinking about how cities rise, dominate, and fade, how economic power is temporary, and how yesterday’s world powers can easily become footnotes. Of course, I thought of my own country.
Do Day Trips “Count”?
Sometimes I feel a twinge of guilt after short visits — like I don’t have the right to say I’ve “been” somewhere unless I stayed the night.
But that’s nonsense.
If you have a 30-minute conversation instead of an hour, did you still not connect? Did you not exchange ideas?
The depth may differ, but the experience still counts.
Malmö reminded me of that! I arrived at 11:30 AM, and left by 5 PM. more than enough time and I really had a great day.
Is Malmö Worth a Day Trip?
Absolutely.
You don’t need days. You don’t need an itinerary. You don’t even need much planning.
Just curiosity and comfortable shoes.