A perfect weekend getaway to Malmö

A beautiful summers day to be out and about in Malmö Stad!

Malmö is the 3rd largest city in Sweden and is located in Southern Sweden a.k.a. Skåne (pronounced sko-neh). A fairly easy walkable city with a bad reputation recently due to the rise in car fires in certain neighborhoods. HOWEVER, you shouldn't be afraid because Malmö is a fun little city for a weekend getaway and much cheaper than Copenhagen just across the Öresund strait. Apart from the rising violence is certain neighborhoods, the central part of Malmö is charming and quite safe to walk around in. I've been here mostly on day trips from Copenhagen because it is so easy to travel here by train. I spent a weekend in the winter here and had a great little trip wandering around the city on foot. I like the smaller cities of Europe as they are not inundated with so many tourists and easy to navigate around by foot. 

Just outside the Central Station there are these beautiful bridges to cross into Gamla stan

A bit gloomy in the winter but still lovely to explore!

A sunny summers' day for a day trip in Malmö! Outside the Central Station

How to get to Malmö

Flight to Copenhagen Airport (København Lufthavn) and then taking the train from the airport across the Öresund bridge. This bridge is famous as the location for the hit Danish-Swedish TV drama series, Den Brøn/Den Brön or The Bridge. The views from the Bridge are quite stunning so remember to get your cameras out!

Travel tip: Bring your passport with you when crossing the border from Denmark to Sweden as the border control is in effect due to the rising refugee crisis and security efforts.

The Öresund Bridge

What to see

Turning Torso

1) Turning Torso

This architecture marvel is the tallest building in Scandinavia and the residents are so lucky to live in such cool building. I walked here from the central station on my birthday last year and it was quite the eventful walk. It is quite a distance from the central station so I recommend that you take one of the public buses to get here. Otherwise, you'll be walking for about 30 minutes and it is fine if the weather is nice and not too windy!

2) Ribersborgsstranden

Just next to the residential neighborhood that houses the Turning Torso building is Ribersborgsstranden (see if you can pronounce that like a native Skåne resident!). It has beautiful views of the Öresund strait and Öresund bridge. The picture above was taken that this very particular beach park. I watched the sunset from this place and it was so stunning. I'd imagine summers here are wonderful with picnics, sunbathing, and jumping into the cool waters.

3) Malmöhus Slott

For a glimpse at Swedish history with Denmark and Skåne county, this former castle fortress is an interesting stop. Skåne used to belong to Denmark and one can argue that Skånska (southern Swedish vernacular) sounds a bit like Danish. Many Swedes from the north, particularly from the capital city of Stockholm lovingly mock the accent. As a Swedish language student, I find it a bit difficult to understand but there are many Swedish residents in Malmö that come from the north and reside there or deal with northerners frequently so will speak a bit more clearly. 

This castle is the oldest standing fort from the Renaissance era and was once an important place where Denmark's coins were minted there. Erik of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden built the castle on the grounds now occupied by Malmöhus in 1434. The strategic position of the castle facing westwards could monitor and protect all the shipping traffic coming in from the Öresund strait. During World War II, Malmöhus was used as a refugee camp to house all those fleeing from the war. When I went to visit the museum there was an exhibit telling the stories of those who fled the war and stayed in Malmöhus with the stories of the new immigrants coming into Sweden. This museum also holds temporary exhibitions that shed light on Swedish history and Swedish way of life. 

4) Slottsparken
Just next to Malmöhus Slott is a beautiful park with gardens. Malmö has these gardens littered throughout the city that offers a nice respite from the brick buildings and concrete. I recommend that you take a stroll through the park either before or after your visit to Malmöhus Slott if you have time and it isn't too dark. 

Just outside the Moderna Museet Malmö 

5) Moderna Museet Malmö
Unlike all the modern museums I've visited in bigger cities. This was a small museum and perfect for an indoor activity when the weather is rather cold, windy, and raining! I love modern art and all its weirdness because it is an edgy art form that pushes the envelope on what our views of the world and what we consider as art in itself. This museum isn't very big and houses temporary exhibits. The museum is free entry.
I wish I had seen my former movement improvisation teacher, Simone Forti's work reconstructed and performed at the museum in 2015. 

Lilla Torg

Lilla Torg

Sankt Petri Kyrka - Saint Peters' Church

6) Gamla Stan: Stortorget, Lillatorg, Gustav Adolfs Torg

I highly recommend wandering around the old town and the Stortorget, Lillatorg, and Gustav Adolfs Torg are perfect squares that have little stores, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and bars to leisurely wander through. This is probably my favorite activity in Malmö. I like wandering around all the little streets around these areas. The buildings are well preserved and you'll find so many cute little nooks and crannies to take your social media worthy pictures for #latergramfordays #tbt and #throwbackthursdays ! 

Where I stayed: Radisson Blu Malmö

My room is huge at Radisson Blu Malmö

Centrally located, walking distance to the Central Station, and close to shops, restaurants, bars, attractions. I was surprised by the large room though and would recommend staying here in a heartbeat as Radisson Blu has one of the best hotel breakfasts ever! It is located next to the Caroli shopping centre which has an ICA supermarket housed in it as well as some nice shops and restaurants.

Where to Eat:

Köttbaren is literally translated as The Meat Bar! 

Yummy burger!

Köttbaren recently changed their name to Burger and Friends. This restaurant is located in the shopping centre, Caroli right next to the hotel which is very convenient as I was starving at the time I arrived and checked in. That burger tasted so good! They belong to the same restaurant group that owns Kött & Fisk in Stockholm and the food there is also fantastic.



Peas & Honey gastropub house was recommended to me by a friend in Stockholm. I went there for dinner and ordered a beer to go along with my moules frites. The portion was generous, the fries were salty, the mussels were garlicky and succulent. Friendly people working here with a mysigt (cozy) atmosphere. I returned for a beer on another trip to Malmö with a couple friends because it was a super chill place.

And of course FIKA! You're in Sweden! Fika är bästa tid!

Softest Kanellebulle I've ever eaten!

Coffee Factory Sweden

Or have a sandwich near Gustav Adolfs Torg and sit outside in the summer

Briska cider is probably my favorite Swedish cider!

The best time to visit Malmö is certainly the summer months when everyone is out enjoying the long summer days in the sun. However, it is also nice to visit in the winter when the Christmas market and lights are all set up. There's something magical about walking through the streets on a winter night sipping glögg (Christmas mulled wine) and nibbling on some pepparkaka (cinnamon cookies) then taking refuge in a cozy restaurant with candles all around. 

Despite what anyone says, Malmö is a cute little city and I will always stop by for a visit whenever I'm in the area. 

Foodporn while traveling part two

Foodporn part two...

One of my favorite travel finds is when I discover a local joint near the places I'm staying in. I'm always researching places to eat but sometimes I go by instinct and stop in a place that is filled with locals. 

Grilled beef bun with Vietnamese fried pork spring roll. I was looking for the Asian supermarket in Zurich on an impromptu weekend trip. This Vietnamese restaurant was crowded and next to the store so I stopped in to try it out. This was the best Vietnamese meal I've had in Europe! (I also ordered the strong black Vietnamese drip coffee) Zurich, Switzerland. May 2015.

Roasted chicken with vegetables and foie gras in a brown gravy truffle sauce. I was assigned to cook this dish in my school's fine dining restaurant as part of my practical training duties. What an exhilarating week of prepping, chopping, boiling, marinating, roasting, simmering, searing, slicing, carving, and plating! Bluche, Switzerland. May 2015.

Matzo ball soup from a New York Jewish style deli in Berlin. I hadn't had Matzo ball soup in years! I was extremely excited to discover this existed in Berlin! In a very cool residential enclave in the central part of Berlin. The owners of this place are American expats that were Brooklyners. New York Jewish deli food brings back good memories of hiding it from the cold rain in the winter months and tucking into a bowl of matzoh ball comfort. Berlin, Germany. June 2015. 

Wurst with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. Very German. You pretty much have to order this when in Germany. The sunset was starting in Dresden and this restaurant had a great view of the bridges and old town so we stopped here to have dinner. Though a small city, Dresden was full of culture and beautiful architecture! Dresden, Germany. June 2015. 

Meat and potatoes. This meal was homecooked and simple yet tasty and nourishing. A little local tiny restaurant where everyone that are there was local and knew each other. Dresden, Germany. June 2015.

Beef stew with Czech dumplings. One of my favorite foods are dumplings and a lot of different cultures does dumplings a different way. I remember the first time I ordered dumplings at a restaurant in Prague, I got so confused when dumplings meant soft pieces of bread-like slices. It's really good by the way.. 😜 Prague, Czech Republic. June 2015. 

Soup dumplings from Din Tai Fung are the best. Soupy, porky, doughy = comfort food. I am always feeling a bit overwhelmed with the myriad of choices of Asian foods and flavors back in Asia. I always seem to order comfort food that I know and my stomach knows how to handle before venturing to try different things. Southeast Asian food is filled with all kinds of spices and flavors that my tastebuds and stomach go psychotic for a while after being away for a while. Singapore, June 2015.

Fika tid! Fika time in Stockholm. Fika is my favorite Swedish pastime I like to partake in and have adopted for my daily life. A coffee break with a little something sweet. This Fika was spent with two friends of mine in the central of Stockholm. Just hanging out chatting and people watching. A great catch up and chill afternoon. Chokladbollar is the perfect Swedish Fika treat paired with coffee. Stockholm, Sweden. July 2015

Kalixlöjröm. That's fish eggs from the Kalix region of Sweden. This was so good! Best fish eggs I've had. Delicate, smooth, salty, and the crispy toast is just the perfect complement. Sometimes amazing food is meant to be remembered. Stockholm, Sweden. July 2015. 

First meal at home in the Swiss mountain village. I prepared a simple meal of marinated sweet and spicy pork belly with noodles and bokchoy. A simple meal shared with a couple friends around the kitchen table. I love these lovely memories and having friends over for small dinners is simple, personal, and honest hospitality that I love. Bluche, Switzerland. August 2015.

Potluck dinner al fresco with my classmates. When working on group projects, we have to meet up and work on the projects together so I invited my group members to come over for dinner. Two of us cooked and the other one brought some drinks. One of the things I miss about being in such a small mountain village community. Bluche, Switzerland. August 2015

Making and selling cookies! Three of us made sweet treats to sell and raise money for our event. Grassroots fundraising is incredibly challenging but very rewarding when we come up with the funds for the event. Reminded me of raising funds for my dance company. Thinking creatively, troubleshooting, pre planning, fundraising, creating momentum, and building community. Bluche, Switzerland. Sept 2015.