Stand at the corner where Stortorget meets Lilla torg and you can see the whole shape of Malmö in one turn: a statue of King Karl X Gustav in the middle of the great square, the ornate City Hall on its east side, and a few steps away the outdoor tables of Lilla torg filling with people as the afternoon goes on.
The city suits travellers who like to cover ground on foot, mix historic streets with contemporary architecture, and spend as much time in parks and by the water as in museums. It also rewards anyone travelling on a budget, since several of its main cultural institutions are free to enter.
This guide covers the squares and streets of Gamla Staden, the museums and galleries, the parks and waterfront, and the sporting and family attractions that fill out a day or a weekend.
Top things to do in Malmö
1. Stortorget
Stortorget is the central plaza of Malmö and the natural place to start. At its centre stands a statue of King Karl X Gustav of Sweden, who took the city from Danish dominion. The ornate Malmö City Hall, built in 1546, is on the east side, and in the north-west corner is Kockska Huset, the house of Jörgen Kock, a German immigrant who became mayor and made his fortune by taking control of the city mint.
In winter the square used to be used as a skating rink, though this has rarely happened in the early 2020s. Stortorget connects directly to Lilla torg at one corner, so pair the two in a single walk.
2. Lilla torg
Lilla torg is the place for socializing and dining, with various restaurants setting out outdoor tables around the edge of the square. It is directly connected to Stortorget at one corner, which makes it an easy stop rather than a separate trip.
Come here when you want to sit down rather than sightsee. A pedestrian-only shopping street connects Lilla torg and Stortorget with Gustav Adolfs torg, so you can string all three squares together on foot.
3. Malmöhus Castle
Malmöhus is the fortress constructed at the beach south of the town, and it did not take its current form until the mid-16th century. Several other fortifications were built over the centuries, making Malmö Sweden's most fortified city, but only Malmöhus remains.
The castle sits within Slottsparken, the beautiful park that surrounds it. You can reach the park through the cemetery on the south side of Gustav Adolfs torg, which makes a convenient route if you are coming from the squares.
4. Kungsparken
Kungsparken is a historic central park connecting to the smaller Slottsträdgården park and Malmöhus Castle to the north. It was constructed around 1870 on former castle grounds and is named after the Swedish King Oscar II, who inaugurated a park restaurant here in 1881.
The park was designed by the Danish landscape architect Ove Høegh Hansen, inspired by the English garden culture. Combine it with the castle and Slottsträdgården in one continuous walk.
5. Slottsträdgården
Slottsträdgården, the Castle Garden, lies north of Kungsparken and south of Malmöhus Castle. It is one of the city's newest amenities and is an organic community garden, open throughout the year, with eight themed gardens and a potager.
Freshly picked flowers and vegetables are available for purchase in the summer months, and there is a small cafe run entirely by volunteers. It slots naturally between Kungsparken and the castle.
6. Pildammsparken
Pildammsparken is a central park with woodlands, a lake, gardens, sculptures and playgrounds. The park was arranged and planted for the Baltic Exhibition of 1914, and several buildings from that event are still around, including an outdoor theatre.
In the south, Pildammsparken connects to Stadionparken and the Stadium Area, which is filled with sports facilities. Allow enough time to walk the whole length rather than treating it as a quick stop.
7. Ribersborgsstranden
Ribersborgsstranden is the largest and most popular outdoor swimming venue in Malmö, a beachpark right in the central parts of the city with a 2-km sandy beach. The beach is child-friendly, with sandy stretches just a short walk from the inner city.
You can swim, sunbathe or promenade, and in the winter you can enjoy ice swimming. Be sure to visit the Ribersborgs Kallbadshus, an old seabath structure from 1902.
8. Turning Torso
Turning Torso was completed in 2005 and is the tallest building in Scandinavia. It is mostly apartments with some offices, in a new zone near the waterfront, and it has no observation tower or other sightseeing facilities, so it is probably best to admire it from afar, visible from almost anywhere in the city.
If you are visiting in the summer, there is a nice waterfront promenade and an open-sea bath nearby, as well as a state of the art skateboarding park in the area.
9. Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet)
The Museum of Modern Art, or Moderna Museet, at Ola Billgrens plats 2–4 is one of the major Swedish art museums. It is free to enter and opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.
Because entry costs nothing, it works well as a flexible stop rather than something you need to schedule your whole day around.
10. Malmö Konsthall
Malmö Konsthall on S:t Johannesgatan 7, in the city centre, holds large art exhibitions and has specialised in contemporary art since it opened in 1975. Entry is free.
Its central location makes it easy to fold into a day built around the squares and the historic core.
11. Form/Design Center
Form/Design Center at Lilla Torg 9 is free to enter and sits directly on the square where you will likely already be eating or drinking.
Use it as a short indoor pause between time at Lilla torg and Stortorget, both of which are steps away.
12. Teknikens och sjöfartens hus (Technology and Maritime Museum)
Teknikens och sjöfartens hus, the Technology and Maritime Museum, is at Malmöhusvägen 7A, west of the castle. The largest section is devoted to transport, in particular aviation, with lots of cut-away models, including the entire front end and cockpit of a Vickers Viscount.
Visitors can walk, and in places crawl, through a 1943 Swedish U3 submarine. The displays are only labelled in Swedish, but it is well worth a visit nonetheless. Admission for adults is 40 kr. Its position west of the castle means it pairs naturally with Malmöhus and the surrounding parks.
13. S:t Petri kyrka
S:t Petri kyrka is the city's oldest church, dating from the 14th century. It stands within the historic central area, so it fits into the same walk as the main squares.
Step in while you are already moving between Stortorget, Lilla torg and Gustav Adolfs torg.
14. Möllevångstorget
Möllevångstorget, south of the city centre, has a bustling open-air market on weekends. The surrounding neighbourhood is full of inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern shops, restaurants and grocery stores catering to the alternative side of the city, the immigrant population and people who are tired of mainstream commerce.
This is the place to go for inexpensive to moderate prices of beer. Come at the weekend if you want the market at its liveliest.
15. Folkets park
Folkets park, or People's Park, is a park and entertainment venue in the central parts of Malmö. You can see the terrarium, ride a pony, sunbathe, and eat and drink. Entrance is free.
It suits families and anyone wanting a low-cost few hours away from the historic core.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Stortorget, taking in the statue of King Karl X Gustav, Malmö City Hall and Kockska Huset. Walk the short corner into Lilla torg, then follow the pedestrian shopping street to Gustav Adolfs torg, passing S:t Petri kyrka on the way. If you want an indoor pause, Form/Design Center at Lilla Torg 9 is free.
Afternoon: Head south through the cemetery on the south side of Gustav Adolfs torg into Slottsparken and Malmöhus Castle. From there walk north through Kungsparken and into Slottsträdgården. If time allows, continue to Teknikens och sjöfartens hus west of the castle, or take in the free Malmö Konsthall in the city centre.
Evening: Return to Lilla torg for dinner at one of the restaurants with outdoor tables around the square. If you would rather keep costs down, go south to Möllevångstorget for inexpensive beer and food in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Frequently asked questions
Which museums in Malmö are free to enter?
Form/Design Center at Lilla Torg 9, Malmö Konsthall on S:t Johannesgatan 7 and the Museum of Modern Art at Ola Billgrens plats 2–4 are all free. Teknikens och sjöfartens hus charges adults 40 kr.
Can you go up Turning Torso?
No. Turning Torso is mostly apartments with some offices and has no observation tower or other sightseeing facilities, so it is best admired from afar. It is visible from almost anywhere in the city.
Where can you swim outdoors in Malmö?
Ribersborgsstranden is the largest and most popular option, a 2-km sandy beach in the central parts of the city, a short walk from the inner city. In winter you can enjoy ice swimming, and the Ribersborgs Kallbadshus, an old seabath structure from 1902, is worth a look.
When is the market at Möllevångstorget?
The open-air market at Möllevångstorget runs on weekends. The surrounding neighbourhood is known for inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern shops, restaurants and grocery stores.
Pick the squares, the castle and the parks that fit your pace, and start mapping out your days in Malmö.