Music lovers from around the world are flocking to the south coast of Sweden this week for Eurovision, with the semi-finals kicking off in Malmö on Tuesday, May 7.
The grand final of the song contest will be hosted in the city on May 11, when one country will be taking home the coveted glass microphone.
But there’s much more to Sweden’s third largest city than just its role as host of Eurovision 2024, and it’s definitely a spot that’s worth exploring if you get the chance.
Described as an ‘international melting pot’ by Visit Sweden, Malmö is home to people from over 170 countries, and is incredibly welcoming as a result.
It’s also said to be incredibly walkable and is a great location for cyclists, with 515 kilometres of bike paths that’ll take you around parks, squares, and along the coast.
According to those who’ve visited, there’s nothing that takes longer than 15 minutes to get to, and if you did want to travel further afield, there are great public transport links to the suburbs and other notable destinations, including Copenhagen.
Yes, the capital of Denmark is an easy 40 minute train ride away, a journey that will take you over the iconic Öresund bridge, which you might recognise from the hit Nordic noir series, The Bridge.
If you’re in Malmö for Eurovision, here’s a closer look at everything you need to know about the coastal city…
How to get to Malmö
You can easily travel to Malmö from London by booking a flight to Copenhagen in Denmark. This takes around an hour and 50 minutes and currently, flights can be booked for as little as £32 return with Ryanair from Stansted.
You can also book flights to Copenhagen from Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol.
Once you arrive in Copenhagen, you can get public transport from the airport over to Malmö.
Alternatively, you could hire a car and drive, but you will have to pay a rather steep toll in order to cross the Öresund bridge this way.
The best things to do in Malmö
There’s lots to see and do in Malmö, but a visit to the old town in the heart of the city is a must.
Known as Gamla Staden the area features a number of squares, including Stortorget, the oldest and biggest square, which was mentioned in historical records dating back to 1420. Here you’ll find stunning 16th century architecture, with highlights including the Town Hall and Apoteket Lejonet. The latter is the city’s oldest pharmacy, which has incredible art-nouveau interiors, with giant wooden shelves filled with antique medicine bottles.
Another square you might want to stop by is Lilla Torg, a smaller medieval spot, covered in cobblestones and bursting with bars, cafes, and restaurants. You can sit outside and enjoy a spot of people watching with a cold one, or peruse some of the little shops there, which sell items such as wooden clogs.
If it’s a spot of shopping that you’re after, then you’ll want to head to Södergatan Street, a pedestrian-only location filled with everything from high street brands we know and love (like H&M) to high-end luxury fashion and vintage stores.
Other highlights in the city include the Turning Torso, a neo-futurist apartment building, which is one of the tallest in the Nordic region, St Peter’s Church, a gothic brick building that dates back to the 14th Century, and Malmö castle, the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic region.
Tourists on TikTok and Tripadvisor also can’t recommend the city library enough, with Pamut_d giving it a five star review, and writing: ‘The building is fabulous both from the outside and the inside! Truly worth a trip’, while a user named Min Min hailed it a ‘haven’ for book lovers.
Others praised the ‘beautiful’ architecture and the ‘stunning’ views it offers over a park. As well as finding something to read, the library also has a medialab,and a cafe.
Those who love to be outdoors in nature also have plenty of options in this city, with numerous parks, and some lovely sandy beaches to go to. Ribersborgsstranden being a popular spot for swimming and leisure.
Where to stay in Malmö:
These are the top five hotels in Malmö recommend by Booking.com:
Prices checked May 2024 for a one night stay in Malmö in August 2024.
What’s the weather like in Malmö
Malmö’s weather is typically quite mild, with plenty of rain throughout the year and lots of overcast days.
However, things start to get warmer in May, with the best weather from June through August, when temperatures reach 22C.
In winter, the weather can get quite cold, with temperatures dropping to -3C at times.
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