Skåne County is located in southern Sweden and has a population of 1.3 million people. A long time ago this part of Sweden used to be part of Denmark, and you can still find Danish influences in this region. It’s also very close to Denmark: the 16 kilometres (10 miles) Øresund bridge connects Denmark and Sweden with each other. The bridge is Europe’s longest road and rail bridge. Thanks to the bridge it’s easy to reach Skåne from Copenhagen. It’s also possible to fly to Malmö.We highly recommend exploring Skåne by car, or for the sporty ones: by bicycle! Skåne isn’t super big, it takes about 1.5 hours by car driving from East to West. Therefore it’s possible to see a lot of the region if you visit Skåne only for a short time.
Things to do in Malmö:Gamla Staden: This is the old part of Malmö. Gamla Staden is very cute with its cobblestone streets and colourful tiny houses. Must-sees are the squares Stortorget and Lilla Torg. Wander around the historic part Gamla Väster and don’t forget to stop for Fika. Fika is a very important Swedish concept to learn. A translation of Fika is a coffee break with a cookie or pastry. But it’s much more than that. Swedish people say it’s a concept, a state of mind and so important in Swedish culture. During Fika, you need to slow down and enjoy time with your friends, family and/or colleagues. We highly recommend heading to cafe Eida (by Nina) for Fika!See the city from the water: there’s a lot of water in and around Malmö. Therefore seeing the city from the water is a great idea. There are tours that show you around but we highly recommend to do it yourself! With Bookaboat, you can easily rent a boat and drive around the waters of Malmö. You don’t need a license to do that and it’s very easy. Do not miss the cute lighthouse during your trip!Be amazed by the Turning Torso: the Turning Torso is a very unique building in Malmö. With its 190 metres (623 ft) it’s the tallest building in Scandinavia. The shape of the building is the shape of a twisted human body.Visit Västra Hamnen: this western harbour district is a new district in Malmö. It offers great views on the Turning Torso and is the perfect spot to view the Øresund Bridge.Looking for a place to relax? Head to Kungspark. It’s a beautiful park with a cool old windmill. Right next to the park, you can find Malmö’s castle and the Malmö museum.
Colourful Skanör BeachThis beach in the South West of Skåne is a popular beach because of the picturesque beach huts, white sand and shallow ocean. The beach houses in Skanör are coloured in all colours of the rainbow, they are the cutest! Besides seeing the adorable beach houses, this is a great beach to go to for some relaxing and swimming.
Student city LundLund is a cute old city close to Malmö. This city is considered the number one city in Sweden for students. Therefore you will find many students here (though not during Summer). The main building of the Lund University is absolutely stunning. The city also has beautiful parks and gorgeous botanical gardens.
Sweden’s most southern point: SmygehukSmygehuk is a fishing village in southern Skåne. It’s also the most southern point of Sweden! This is as far South as you can get in Sweden, therefore many tourists like to visit this village. Go on top of Smygehuk’s lighthouse for a great view of the ocean!
Flowery YstadThis is our favourite town in Skåne. All around Ystad there are cute houses, cosy cafes and cobblestone streets. When we visit Ystad in July the entire town is filled with beautiful flowers (lots of hollyhocks!), which makes Ystad extra pretty. If you like to shop, there’s a shopping street with small unique shops: Stora Östergatan.Ystad is a famous town in Sweden because many films and series are made here. Scandinavia’s largest film studios, Ystad Studios, is located here. The stories of the famous novel Inspector Wallander, written by Henning Markel, take place in Ystad. There are tours and walking routes you can do dedicated to the novels.
Lavender ice-cream at Österlenkryddor farm shopIn June and July, there’s a beautiful lavender field that blooms next to this farm shop. A lavender field in Sweden? We never expected to find that in Sweden! Besides lavender, this farm shop grows and sells spices, award-winning homemade (lavender) ice-cream, herbal salts, plants and much more. Do you like flowers? Skåne turns yellow mid to late May when the rapeseed blooms!
Ales Stenar MonumentAles Stenar is the Swedish Stonehedge. Close to Ystad, in the town Kåseberge, you can find these mysterious stones. It’s a stone-age monument with 59 stones formed as a ship. Nobody really knows why it’s there, some believe it’s a burial monument while others think it’s an astronomical clock. Visit the monument and decide what you believe!
Everything apple in Apple Kingdom KivikDo you like apples? Then you can’t miss the region Österlen. Österlen is known as the apple kingdom of Sweden. The capital of Österlen is Kivik. Kivik is all about apples, and not just apples, here you can buy everything made of apples. The area of Kivik is perfect for apple trees, thanks to its fertile grounds and mild climate. The area grows over 70 different kinds of apples! Visit during spring to see all the trees blossoming!
Hike through Stenshuvud National ParkClose to Kivik there’s the National Park Stenshuvud. The Stenshuvud hill in the park is a popular hike which offers great views, especially since the rest of the landscape is pretty flat. The hill has three peaks, the highest is 97 meters above sea level (318ft). In the park, you can also find sandy beaches, a rocky coast, multiple hiking trails and a cute little lighthouse.
Visit HelsingborgHelsinborg is a great city to visit for many reasons. It’s Skåne’s second-largest city after Malmö, so it’s a lot different than small towns like Ystad, Lund and Kivik. The city centre of Helsinborg is pretty and has a lot to offer. Something we love about the city is all the street-art! It even has a street-art festival every year. From Helsingborg, you can easily cross to Denmark by ferry, it only takes 20 minutes.Visiting Helsinborg is definitely among the best things to do in Skåne. What are the best things to do in Helsinborg? Pälsjobaden sauna: this isn’t just a relaxing place to visit, it’s also very picturesque! The houses on the water are the cutest. Pälsjobaden sauna has two different saunas on each side. One side is for men, the other for women. This is a typical Swedish nude sauna. During your sauna visit, it’s possible to jump in the refreshing water of the sea. There’s a terrace with sunbeds to relax. If you are hungry, definitely pay a visit to the sauna’s restaurant. We highly recommend eating mussels here!Sofiero Palace and Gardens: the Sofiero Palace was once the royal family’s residence. The gardens of the palace are stunning to see. Here, you can find a wide range of plants and Europe’s largest collection of rhododendrons. Rhododendrons bloom during the beginning of Summer. Bonus: sometimes there are outdoor concerts held in the gardens.Climb on top of the Känan Tower: this 35 metres high (114ft) high tower used to be part of a larger Danish Fortress. The tower is the only thing that’s still there. Climb 146 steps up and you will have amazing views over Helsinborg, and all the way to Denmark! The terrace and stairs in front of the tower are beautiful to see as well.Helsingborg’s street-art: as we mentioned before, Helsinborg is filled with awesome street-art. Head to the website of the street-art project of Helsingborg to get inspired. Their website is in Swedish but you can definitely find some addresses on the website (or use Google Translate!).
Nature and wildlife at Kullaberg National ParkThis national park is beautiful and a must-visit! It’s located North of Helsinborg. The national park has a rocky coastline and stunning cliffs. There are many outdoor activities you can do here, such as climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, hiking. You can also do tours to explore caves and wildlife. We went on a whale safari to spot dolphin-looking whales, and yes, it was amazing! It’s also really cool to see the cliffs from the water.
Ransvik beachA must-go-to spot for food and/or drinks is Ransvik Havsveranda, a gay-owned restaurant. Not only the location is great, but the food (including the cakes) are also so delicious. The terrace overlooks the sea and is surrounded by nature. Ransvik beach was Europes first mixed beach (men & women), which was a big deal! It was the “Ibiza of the 1900s”. Nowadays it’s still a popular beach to swim at.
Fishing Village MölleMölle is a cute fishing village close to Kullaberg. The harbour of Mölle is cosy and perfect for pictures. In 1890, Mölle got one of Sweden’s first seaside resorts, and still, many people go to this area to bathe.
Glamping SkåneGlamping in Skåne is a unique experience. Close to Mölle, there’s Arilds Vingård. A vineyard in Sweden? Yes! Like the lavender field, this wasn’t something we expected to find in Sweden. Arilds Vinegård is very cosy and the new glamping area is lovely. They also have cabins you can stay in, and they have a restaurant. They serve delicious food and of course, home-made wines. All made from their own vineyard.
The Store Mosse National Park protects Sweden's largest contiguous bog area and is in close proximity to the High Chaparral Westerpark. In order to explore the unique moor landscape, you should plan a little more time.Store Mosse is a pristine landscape - originally and the least humanly influenced region in southern Sweden. On 40 kilometers of hiking trails, you can explore the area from flying sand dunes, rocking grass, raised bogs and low bogs. A hike through the national park is also exciting for children if the depth of the moor water is determined with a stick and the narrow wooden paths are used to overtake.The main entrance to the national park is in Hillerstorp. There is information in the visitor center and some of the hiking trails start here.
The city of Västervik is also nicknamed "Pearl of the East Coast". The small town is charming, has a pretty harbor, lovingly preserved, colorful wooden houses and a few shops with Scandinavian design.
Småland is not only a very wooded area, it is also on the Baltic Sea. The Tjuster archipelago extends from Västervik with over 5,000 islands and islets, which is often described as the most beautiful archipelago in Sweden. With a tour boat, water taxi or in style with the post boat, you can go from Västervik to the larger and car-free archipelago islands of Hasselö and Idö.
Hasselö is an enchanting island. The approximately 200 m long sandy beach in Hasselö Sand is a popular meeting place in summer. There is also the island shop "Handelsboa" and the café "Sandkorn", which are open in the summer months and where you can rent bicycles and sea kayaks for individual excursions.With 35 people who live and live permanently on Hasselö, the island is one of the most populous islands in the area. It is so idyllic here. No car noise and pure nature. In addition, the pretty wooden houses in typical red with white corners. Here I would like to go on vacation and discover the island in peace. I find the idea of ​​exploring the area in winter particularly exciting when the Baltic Sea freezes between the islets and you can walk (it is probably a long way) to Västervik. Västervik also has the Lysingsbadet campsite , which is Sweden's largest campsite and offers 5-star comfort. At the campsite in Sweden, there are various pitches for tents and campers, or you can rent one of the pretty, red cottages.In addition to a mini market, there is also a small bathing beach with a playground and an adventure pool for bad weather days. Those who like it active on vacation can dedicate themselves to activities such as golf and mini golf, fishing, snorkeling or canoeing.
Gränna is a small town on Lake Vättern, Sweden's second largest lake, and home to the well-known red and white striped candy canes.In 1859, single mother Amalia Erikson received permission to make polkagrisar (candy canes) so that she could feed herself and her family. Anyone who comes to Gränna today will find a candy cane factory lined up like a pearl on a string. Polkagris factories abound and in many factories you can watch the production through a glass pane.
But Gränna is also a pretty small town beyond the candy canes, in which there are not only candy cane factories, but also a crispbread factory and a chocolate workshop.In addition to all the sweets, Gränna is also on Lake Vättersee , with a ferry connection to the island of Visingsö . Lake Vättersee is a mysterious lake, which is fed by undersea springs and has crystal clear water.The island of Visingsö can be explored by bike or the traditional Remmalagsvagnar (a kind of carriage). On Visingsö you can swim very well, visit prehistoric sites and two castles and I would like to strongly advise you to hold a fika (Swedish coffee break) in Wisingsborgs Tradgard .The Wisingsborgs Tradgard is a pretty garden café with a farm shop in fairytale surroundings. Local ingredients are used as much as possible, some of which are produced on the island.
The Västanå nature reserve is not far from Gränna . At the roundabout in Gränna, just drive the balloon straight ahead and after about 200 meters take the first branch to Röttle Dorf . Park your car in the parking lot, in the best case take a lavish picnic basket and take the path to what is probably the most idyllic bay. There are tables and benches everywhere that invite you to a picnic.
Leaving Sweden without seeing a moose, no, you can't! I think elk is extremely delightful. With her elongated head, big and fluffy ears, her misshapen body with moose humps - I would love to hug her. Their size and magnificent antlers, if they are male, also make them a majestic appearance. That is why the moose is also called "King of the Forest" in Sweden .The Målilla moose park was the closest to our holiday home in Vetlanda, so get into the car and nothing. On the approximately 1 km long circular path you walk past three moose enclosures and everywhere we had a great view of the stately animals. At the entrance to the park there is a branch with leaves for every visitor, which Elche obviously particularly likes. Through the large-meshed fence, the elks can be attracted with the branches, fed and, with a little luck, even stroked on the antlers.
Eksjö is one of the best preserved wooden towns in Sweden. The entire city center of Eksjö is a listed building and still shows the image of a city that grew up in the 18th century. The old town comprises houses from four centuries with partly beautiful courtyard gardens, which are hidden behind large gates.When the wooden gates are open, visitors to the city are invited to take a look at the courtyards. In many courtyards there are tables and chairs where you can eat in summer.
The Söderåsen National Park is no longer in Småland but in the Skåne County region, but is one of my Småland travel tips for children because it is on the direct route to Trelleborg and is a great stopover. After a long day in the car you can stretch your feet and the children can run out of their excess energy in the forest.Söderåsen National Park is one of the youngest national parks in Sweden and protects the largest contiguous deciduous forest in Northern Europe. Accordingly, it is GREEN in the forest, which mainly consists of beech trees. It is a destination for nature lovers, hikers and walkers like us. We just walked 45 minutes into the national park and sometimes felt like we were in the Eifel region, but then had to turn around so that we didn't miss our ferry at the end. Multi-day hikes are also possible in the national park.
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