Malmö, Sweden: What to See, How Long to Stay and the Train From Copenhagen

A compact Swedish city across the water from Copenhagen: the Old Town squares, a 15th-century castle, Calatrava’s twisting tower, year-round sea baths and the neighborhoods to book.

• Under 30 min by train from Copenhagen Airport
• 5 mi across the Öresund Bridge
• 54 stories in the Turning Torso
• Level 2 U.S. advisory for Sweden

By The Advised Traveler Team. Last updated: October 22, 2026.

Sweden’s third-largest city, with more than 365,000 residents, Malmö sits at the southern tip of the country, a train ride over the Öresund Bridge from Copenhagen. Fly into Copenhagen and the train reaches Malmö Central Station in under half an hour.

We drew on Visit Sweden, the country’s official tourism agency, the U.S. State Department and Sweden’s weather service, SMHI, all checked on October 22, 2026.

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• Getting there from Copenhagen
• How many days you need
• Old Town and Malmöhus Castle
• Western Harbour and Turning Torso
• Ribersborg sea baths
• Weather
• Where to stay
• Passport, safety, insurance
• FAQ
• Sources

How to get from Copenhagen to Malmö

By train over the Öresund Bridge, a 5-mile combined rail and highway crossing. Visit Sweden puts the ride from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö Central at under 30 minutes. Driving from central Copenhagen takes about 50 minutes.

From elsewhere in Sweden, SJ trains take about 4.5 hours from Stockholm and about 3 hours from Gothenburg. For the reverse day trip, see our Copenhagen guide; the university town of Lund is the other easy side trip.

How many days do you need in Malmö?

One full day covers the Old Town, the castle and the Western Harbour. Visit Sweden notes that most sights are a 5 to 10 minute bike ride apart, on roughly 320 miles of bike paths. A second day leaves time for the castle museums, the beach and the food market at Möllevången.

Malmö Old Town and Malmöhus Castle

The Old Town is an island ringed by canals. Malmö was founded in the late 1200s and stayed Danish until 1658. Stortorget is its oldest and largest square, and St. Peter’s Church, from the 14th century, is the oldest building in the city. Lilla Torg, a few streets away, is the cobbled square lined with café tables.

Malmöhus, built in 1434, is described by Visit Sweden as the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic countries. Inside are the Malmö Art Museum, a natural history museum and an aquarium; outside, the Castle Garden spreads over about 3 acres of small themed plots.

Plan ahead: the city’s museum service, Malmö Museer, sets the castle’s hours and admission. We do not list them here; check its page on the City of Malmö website before you go.

Our partner GetYourGuide lists tours and activities in and around Malmö. Before you book, check where each one starts, which can be on the Danish side of the bridge, and when it gets back.

See all Malmö tours and activities on GetYourGuide

Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen) and the Turning Torso

This former industrial zone became a residential district after a housing expo in 2001, and the city’s plan for it now runs to 2031. Its landmark is the Turning Torso, a 54-story twisting tower by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, finished in 2005 and billed by Visit Sweden as the tallest building in Scandinavia.

It holds 147 apartments, so it is a view rather than a visit: walk the waterfront boardwalk, which also looks out on the Öresund Bridge.

Ribersborg beach and the cold-water bathhouse

Locals call the 0.9-mile city beach “Ribban.” At its edge, Ribersborgs Kallbadhus, a bathhouse dating from the late 19th century, stays open all year with five saunas, two seawater pools, two wood-fired hot tubs and a plunge straight into the Öresund.

Good to know: men’s and women’s sections are separate, with one shared sauna, and the whole facility opens to everyone one evening a month.

For dinner, Möllevångstorget (“Möllan”) is the street-food square, from falafel to Korean barbecue. Nearby Folkets Park, opened by the labor movement in 1891, is described as Sweden’s oldest public park.

What is the weather like in Malmö?

Slightly milder than the rest of Sweden, according to Visit Sweden, with warm summers, fairly temperate winters and a lot of wind. Summer is the season for outdoor tables on Lilla Torg and the beach; the sea baths run year-round. Monthly temperature normals are published by SMHI, in Swedish and Celsius.

Where to stay in Malmö

Pick by what you will do most: catch trains, swim, or eat out.

Compare Malmö hotels: current prices and reviews

Passport rules, safety and travel insurance

U.S. citizens need no visa for stays of 90 days or less. The State Department asks for a passport valid at least 3 months beyond your departure date, and you may be asked for proof of funds and a return ticket. Carry your passport when crossing the bridge from Denmark.

Sweden is under a Level 2 advisory (exercise increased caution) for terrorism, issued May 18, 2026. The State Department describes a low overall crime rate, mostly theft, and notes that most violent crime, including clashes between organized crime groups, occurs in larger cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Check what your health plan covers outside the U.S. Our partner SafetyWing sells Nomad Insurance Essential; its quote page shows who is eligible. First-time customers can enter code ADVISEDTRAVELER (tap the pink camera on the Nomad Insurance page before creating an account) for 8 weeks of the Electronics Theft add-on on 4-week subscription or annual Essential plans, after which it renews as a paid option. Readers living in Europe can compare Chapka’s Cap Assistance 24/7.

To avoid roaming fees, a Yesim eSIM, our partner, can be set up before you fly; confirm on its site that Sweden is covered.

Malmö FAQ

Is Malmö worth a day trip from Copenhagen?

The train ride is under 30 minutes from Copenhagen Airport, and the Old Town, castle and Western Harbour fit in one day by bike or on foot.

Is Malmö safe for tourists?

Sweden is at Level 2 for terrorism. The State Department reports a low crime rate overall, with most violent crime in the largest cities, Malmö included; petty theft is the most common problem.

Can you go up the Turning Torso?

No, it is an apartment building with 147 homes; the view of it is from the Western Harbour boardwalk.

Do Americans need a visa for Sweden?

Not for 90 days or less. Your passport should be valid at least 3 months past your departure date.

Sources

All pages checked on October 22, 2026.

• U.S. Department of State, Sweden travel advisory and entry requirements (Level 2, May 18, 2026).
• Visit Sweden, Malmö (population, history, bridge, trains, climate).
• Visit Sweden, Things to do in Malmö (castle, Möllevången, Folkets Park).
• Visit Sweden, Västra Hamnen (Turning Torso, district plan).
• Visit Sweden, Ribersborgs Kallbadhus (sea baths, Castle Garden).
• SMHI, 1991-2020 temperature normals (in Swedish).

Maintained by The Advised Traveler Team. Museum and bathhouse hours change with the season; check with each operator. Spot an error? Let us know.