Getting Around Malmö
Malmö is a compact, flat city on Sweden's southwestern coast, and much of what a visitor wants to see sits within easy reach of the centre. The historic Old Town, the waterfront districts and the main rail hub are all close together, which means walking and cycling cover a lot of ground before you ever need a ticket. For longer hops, the region is served by a single coordinated public transport system, Skånetrafiken, which ties together trains, buses and the local rail network.
Walking and Cycling
Central Malmö rewards pedestrians. From Malmö Central Station you can walk to most points of interest, including the Old Town just to the south and the Västra Hamnen waterfront and the Turning Torso to the east. The city is also easy to explore on two wheels: bikes can be rented right in front of the central station, making it simple to combine a rail arrival with a cycling loop.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Malmö has no metro and no tram network. Its rail backbone is the City Tunnel, an underground line that runs through the centre and connects the city's key stations. The three stations that matter most to visitors are:
- Malmö Centralstation – the main station, with a refurbished historic terminal building housing a small shopping centre, food options and other facilities. It sits directly north of the Old Town and east of Västra Hamnen and the Turning Torso, and has bus connections to every part of the city.
- Triangeln – an entirely underground station in the southern part of the centre, convenient for shopping and for the food scene around Möllevångstorget.
- Hyllie – in a newer district to the south, right next to Malmö Arena, the Malmömässan fairgrounds and the Emporia shopping centre. It is farther from the city centre, but handy if those are your destinations.
These three stations are served by regional trains to and from Copenhagen, direct trains from Stockholm and Gothenburg, and regional services. Other stations in Malmö, such as Persborg, Svågertorp, Oxie and Burlöv, are in residential areas far from the main sights and are of little interest to tourists.
Beyond the City Tunnel, the region's commuter trains, known as Pågatåg and operated by Skånetrafiken, link Malmö with towns across Scania such as Lund, Helsingborg, Höör and Ystad. Longer-distance trains also connect the city with Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Skånetrafiken runs the region's public transport, and its app is the most convenient way to buy tickets. Buses fan out from Malmö Central Station to every part of the city, so the station is a useful hub if your destination is away from the walkable centre. There is also a bus linking the Finnlines ferry terminal in the northern harbour to Malmö Central Station; tickets on that service can be bought with a contactless (NFC) card.
For visitors crossing between Denmark and Sweden, the Skånetrafiken app offers a 24-hour ticket giving unlimited use of the public transport systems in both Copenhagen and Malmö, including the Øresundståg stations covered by the zone the ticket is valid in. This can work out well for a day trip in either direction.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are widely available, but Sweden has no cap on taxi fares: operators may charge whatever they like as long as the price is clearly displayed. Always check the window sticker before boarding, or agree the fare with the driver beforehand, to avoid an unexpectedly expensive ride. Drivers can generally be expected to speak good English, so discussing the fare is straightforward.
Getting In from the Airports
Malmö is served by two airports, and the choice between them shapes your journey into the city.
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) in Denmark, just across the Öresund bridge, is the better option for international visitors. It is Scandinavia's largest aviation hub, with a wide range of European and intercontinental connections. A station inside the airport terminal is served by frequent Øresundståg trains that stop at Hyllie, Triangeln and Malmö Central; the crossing to Malmö takes about 20 minutes, with trains running every 15 minutes during the day and roughly hourly in the middle of the night. A bus across the Öresund is also available and can be slightly cheaper, though it is slower and less frequent. Taxis wait outside, with separate queues for Danish and Swedish taxis; expect a fare to central Malmö in the region of 650–750 SEK, and check the window sticker or agree the price first.
Malmö Airport (MMX), until 2007 known as Sturup Airport, lies about 30 km by road from central Malmö and is mostly served by low-fare, charter and regional carriers, including domestic connections from Stockholm and charter and scheduled flights from vacation destinations in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. WizzAir is the only carrier operating scheduled international flights there, linking Malmö with major cities in central, eastern and southeastern Europe. From the airport, the Flygbussarna coach runs to central Malmö in about 40 minutes, though on Saturdays there are only a limited number of buses, so check the schedule in advance. A taxi is another option but is far more expensive.
Arriving by Train, Car, Bus or Boat
If you arrive by rail, you will most likely step off at Malmö Central Station, which doubles as a small transport hub with a supermarket, food stalls, coffee, ATMs, lockers, toilets and showers. Trains from Copenhagen run at least every 30 minutes, and regional Øresundståg services call at Copenhagen's Østerport, Nørreport and Central stations before crossing the bridge. From Stockholm, hourly high-speed SJ trains take about 4½ hours, with a cheaper but slower Snälltåget alternative running two or three times daily. Limited night services also operate, including a summer Snälltåget train from Berlin and a winter service to and from the ski resort of Åre.
Driving across the Öresund Bridge is possible, but it is a toll bridge charging in both directions, and the road is a motorway with no way to turn back after the last exit in Denmark. Long-distance buses such as FlixBus connect Malmö with Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and other places, and a ferry line runs between Travemünde in northern Germany and Malmö, with other ferry connections available via Trelleborg and Ystad.