A Weekend in Malmö, Sweden: 3-Day Itinerary

Many people only visit Malmö as part of a broader trip to Copenhagen, but Sweden’s third-biggest city warrants a weekend trip in its own right. Here, you’ll find abundant shopping opportunities for all those fancy Swedish design brands you’ve followed on Instagram. Malmö also has plenty of excellent food places and an appealing close proximity to the water. 

Although Malmö is a year-round destination, there’s typically more to do in the summer (I can’t believe I’m saying this as I’m staunchly winter > summer, but anyway). Regardless of when you visit, this itinerary will help you plan a great slow travel weekend in Sweden. Once you’ve read this itinerary, be sure to check out my comprehensive Malmö travel guide for more inspiration and tips.

Before We Start: Where Should I Stay in Malmö? 😴

I’ve written a full guide on where to stay in Malmö, which I recommend reading, but my two main options would be Clarion Malmö Live and MJ’s Malmö. The former is better if you’re visiting as a family or just generally want somewhere convenient. MJ’s, however, is great if you want a boutique hotel.

Malmö technically has an airport, but you’re better off flying to Copenhagen Airport and taking the 30-minute train across the Øresund Bridge. You can buy tickets in the Skånetrafiken app (iOS and Android). At Copenhagen Airport, go to the main hall in Terminal 3 and head to Platform 1 at the train station. You’ll see “Trains to Sweden” written above the doors leading to the escalator. 

Depending on when you arrive, stroll around the town center for a few hours to get your bearings. Malmö is quite small, and it shouldn’t take a huge amount of time to understand where everything is. I would recommend starting at Lilla Torget and wandering aimlessly for a bit down the many winding streets. 

Lunch: Café Godsmagasinet 😋

Café Godsmagasinet is right next to Malmö Saluhall (also known as Malmö Food Hall). Here, you can enjoy numerous standard café meals—such as burgers. On top of that, the place also has numerous cakes and a cinnamon roll you can try. 

You shouldn’t need to book a table to visit here, and it’s conveniently not far from Clarion Malmö Live hotel. You could also go for lunch at Malmö Saluhall, but I haven’t personally been here, so I can’t provide any recommendations 😆. 

Café Godsmagasinet Address: Citadellsvägen 5, 211 18 Malmö

Afternoon

Spend the afternoon checking out Slottsparken and the outer perimeters of Malmö Castle. From here, you can also have a look inside Malmö’s public library—a fine example of modern Scandinavian design. 

If you’ve got a bit of time, you might also want to consider wandering around nearby Pildammsparken before heading back into the city center. 

Dinner: 400Grader 🍕

This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Malmö; if you don’t eat anywhere else, make sure it’s this fantastic Italian restaurant. You can pick from several mouth-watering pizzas, while pasta dishes are also available. The selection of starters is also worth sharing if you’re visiting with other people. 

400Grader gets busy in the evening, so I would recommend booking a table in advance. You can reserve a spot by emailing info@400grader.nu.

Address: Södra Skolgatan 33, 214 22 Malmö, Sverige

Website (in Swedish): https://400grader.nu/ 

Day II

Morning: Ribersborg Strand and Västra Hamnen

On the second day of your weekend in Malmö, head to Ribersborg Strand—the much-loved beach and recreational area that offers an excellent view of the Øresund Bridge. Here, you can lounge about and enjoy your surroundings—while it’s also possible to cycle around 25 minutes to Utsiktsvägen. Here, you’ll get an even better view of the bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark. 

Close to Ribersborg Strand, you can also go for a dip in the sea at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus. Tickets for a single entry cost 80 Swedish Kronor (c. $7.50). At Ribersborgs Kallbadhus, you can also visit the restaurant and get a massage. 

At Ribersborg Strand, the imposing Turning Torso stands proudly above the Västra Hamnen district. This modern neighborhood features fancy apartments and is great for wandering around. From the waterfront area, you can see Copenhagen on a clear day. 

Lunch: Bastard Burgers 🍽️

If you didn’t eat at Ribersborg Strand, walk or cycle back into town and enjoy lunch at Bastard Burgers. This popular Swedish chain offers all kinds of burgers, and you should also consider getting the Oreo milkshake.

Bastard Burgers also has a range of craft beers available. The main establishment in Malmö is on Kalendegatan. 

Afternoon and Evening: Gamla Väster

Gamla Väster is probably where you spent much of your time walking on the first day, but it’s even more picturesque when the sun starts to go down. You’ll find numerous old-style houses here, and some of the most picturesque streets are Jöns Filsgatan and Langgårdsgatan. 

Gamla Väster has a handful of restaurants where you can enjoy dinner. Take a look and choose whatever whets your appetite. If you want to continue the night, you’ll also find a range of wine bars. 

Day III

Malmö is excellent for shopping, and many Danes head across the water for the day to purchase clothing and other items for less than what you’d pay in Copenhagen. Emporia, which is close to Hyllie Station, is the city’s main shopping mall—but you’ll also find ample shopping opportunities at Åhléns in the city center. 

The areas close to Davidshallstorg feature plenty of dining and shopping opportunities, while Sankt Knuts Torg has numerous cafés worth checking out as well. I would have recommended Hai at Davidshallstorg for good sushi, but when researching this article, I discovered that they’ve closed down 🥲.  

Sankt Knuts Torg features dining and shopping as well, with cafés that are also worth checking out. 

If shopping doesn’t interest you, you can always take a day trip to Lund—a beautiful university town less than 20 minutes from Malmö.

Of course, you can also go and check out Copenhagen before your flight home. And if you want to spend more time in the Danish capital next time, check out this complete Copenhagen and Malmö weekend itinerary 😛. 

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