Malmö: Be Dazzled by This Scandinavian City

Andreia Lopes Costa is passionate about traveling and healthy eating. Having studied anthropology and graphic design , she currently works as a freelance content creator and social media manager. Fascinated by photography and the art of storytelling, she shares with us one of her most recent adventures in Sweden. To find out, below.

The Charms of Malmö

The Scandinavian lifestyle and all the beauty that accompanies it has always fascinated me. For this same reason, it was with immense enthusiasm that I embraced the possibility of traveling to Sweden. This time, and contrary to what is usual, it was not a capital. Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden and one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, very close to Copenhagen. So close that, nowadays, I wonder why more people don't visit it.

It is not a very big city (you will need three days to visit it) but it is undoubtedly a city with an immense history (it originally belonged to the kingdom of Denmark) and in which we feel that we have gained years of life due to the calm and serenity with which the people they walk the streets (either on foot or by bicycle) or for the fika moment (Swedish term used for a break accompanied by coffee) in the middle of the day.

TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL :

In Sweden the official currency is the Swedish krona or sverige krona (SEK). However, many places, such as cafes and restaurants, only accept cards. I remember that I took the equivalent of €100.00 and ended up regretting it;
At the first station (Hyllie), after crossing the Öresundsbron bridge (which connects Denmark and Sweden), there is a passport control. There is no need to leave the train, as someone from the Swedish police will meet you to make sure you have all the necessary documentation. In my case, I took a passport, but as a citizen of the European Union, only the Identification Card should arrive;
Malmö is known for being a very windy city and there are rare days when there is no wind;
Don't be alarmed when you see that most menus in restaurants and cafes are in Swedish only. Swedes speak English fluently, so don't be afraid to ask them for help.

HOW TO GET THERE?

At the airport, we took a train that crosses the Öresundsbron bridge, which connects the two countries. It costs 110SEK (around €11.00) and takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the center of Malmö (central station).

WHERE TO STAY?

We stayed at Oh Boy, a loft- style hotel with 55 apartments and 31 rooms. In addition to the advantage of having a kitchen, if you prefer to save some money on meals, you are also entitled to a bicycle. If you prefer something a little more refined, why not check out the MJ hotel?

WHERE TO EAT?

Taking into account that the temperatures are low at night, at dinner we prefer to use our kitchen. However, we had the opportunity to try out a few spaces during the day and, spoiler alert , they were all fantastic.

Avokado

If, like me, you are an avocado lover, this is the perfect place. I recommend the sweet chili avokado , if you like a slightly spicy breakfast. If you prefer a very chilled bowl first, try the raspberry hazelnut .

Note: they only accept cards.

Holmgatan 4, Malmö.

Atrium

Anyone who knows me knows my passion for coffee. Considering that Swedes are one of the biggest coffee consumers in the world, I knew from an early age that it wouldn't be difficult to find good coffee shops . The two times we went there, in addition to the coffee, which was great, we also tried the carrot cake and the avocado toast with cream cheese. This space, in addition to being a cafe, is also a florist.

Note: they only accept cards.

Skvadronsgatan 13, Malmö.

Lilla Kafferosteriet

It is impossible to go to Sweden and leave without trying the typical cinnamon cake, kanelbullar . Little did I know about the existence of kardemummabullar (with cardamom instead of cinnamon), which eventually became my favorite.

Baltzarsgatan 24, Malmö.

Mineral

With a welcoming atmosphere and typically Scandinavian decor, it is the ideal place for those who prefer vegan dishes. I recommend the potato gnocchi as a tomato sauce.

Note: Only cards accepted

Sankt Knuts väg 13, Malmö.

Noir Kaffekultur

It was our last stop before saying goodbye to Malmö. Eco-friendly and with a Parisian inspiration, take the opportunity to sit on the terrace while enjoying a cappuccino accompanied by a crossaint .

Engelbrektsgatan 6, Malmö.

Saltimporten Canteen

Even today, it is one of the places we talk about most among friends. Our biggest regret was not having gone there at least once or twice more.

Note: it is only open from Monday to Friday, during lunch time.

Grimsbygatan 24, Malmö.

Spoonery

We tried the chilli and a vegetarian dish, but there are dishes here for all tastes. Furthermore, there is a huge variety of all-you-can-eat bread.

Östra Stallmästaregatan 2, Malmö.

WHAT TO DO?

I recommend visiting the city by bike. The roads are easy to walk on and quite safe. Furthermore, we quickly reach any point in the city. If you visit during spring or summer, you can always rent a boat and discover the canals.

SOME POINTS OF INTEREST :

Malmö stadsbibliotek and Slottsparken;
Davidshall;
Gamla Väster (the oldest area of the city), where you cannot miss a visit to Lilla Torg (historic square, in the heart of Gamla Väster);
Pildammsparken (park founded for the Baltic Exhibition in 1914);
Ribersborgs Kallbadhus (in addition to saunas, there is also a cafe and restaurant);
Sankt Petri kyrka (14th century Gothic-style church);
Turning Torso (by the well-known architect Santiago de Calatrava, it is currently the tallest building in Scandinavia);
Malmö Konsthall (museum);
Malmöhus (here you can find the Malmö Art Museum, City Museum, Natural History and Science Museum and the Maritime Museum);
Florera (florist with workshops ).