This beautiful spring Saturday I had the pleasure of guiding a few of my former NNE colleagues — Natalie, Thomas, Sarah and Dwight — visiting from the US branch. To my delight, the group was far more curious about architecture, culture and parks than shopping.
We met at Stortorget and wandered past Lilla Torg before stopping for a proper Malmö lunch: chicken kebab at Badrans Super Falafel. From there, we continued to Malmö City Library and strolled through Slottsparken, Kungsparken and the always‑charming Slottsträdgården.
Our route took us through Kockums Varvsstad, still very much a work in progress, before we paused at Wayne’s Coffee for what might be the best cinnamon bun in the city. We passed the Turning Torso, took in the view over Öresund from one of the swimming piers, and made a necessary stop at ICA Maxi so Natalie could stock up on Swedish lösgodis.
On the way back toward Central Station, we made a final detour to the Sky Bar on the 25th floor of Malmö Live — a perfect spot to take in the evening city lights from above.
Enjoy.
- Stortorget: Malmö’s grandest square laid out in 1538, Home to the massive King Karl X Gustav statue and the stunning 16th-century City Hall.
- Apoteket Lejonet: Founded as institution 1571. One of Europe’s most beautiful historic pharmacies, featuring a breathtaking Neo-Renaissance interior opened in 1898.
- Optimistorkestern: Malmö’s most cheerful statues – a bronze marching band led by a conductor who never stops smiling.
- Lilla Torg: A cozy, cobblestoned square packed with outdoor dining and half-timbered houses dating back to 1592.
- Gamla kyrkogården: A peaceful “Old Cemetery”, established in 1822, doubles as a beautiful park right in the heart of the city.
- Badrans Super Falafel: A legendary spot to taste why Malmö is officially the falafel capital of the world. While the name says falafel, their chicken kebab is a cult favorite known for its incredibly generous portions (60 Skr for a large wrap) and fresh, garlicky sauces that locals swear by.
- Malmö Stadsbibliotek: A stunning mix of a 19th-century castle and the modern “Calendar of Light” glass annex designed by Henning Larsen (the same architect as the Copenhagen Opera House). It was inaugurated in 1997. The design was specifically created to let in as much natural light as possible, symbolizing the “enlightenment” of knowledge. The massive glass wall looks directly out into the lush Slottsparken, making it feel like you’re reading in a forest.
- Slottsparken: Designed by Edward Glaesel, this sprawling park has been open to the public since 1900. Known for its large wooded areas, water features, and the famous Pegasus statue.
- Kungsparken: Established in 1872, this is Malmö’s oldest public park, inspired by English garden styles.
- Slottsträdgården: A lush organic community garden famous for its summer festivals and vibrant seaonal blooms. Grab a “fika” among the flowers. There is a greenhouse converted to an indoor café and used for different events.
- Slottsmöllan: A beautiful, traditional Dutch-style windmill built in 1851 to replace a much older 17th-century mill that burned down in 1849. The area in front of the mill is used for circus, concerts and other events.
- Malmöhus slott: The oldest surviving Renaissance castle in the Nordics, now housing museums and an aquarium. The current fortress was completed in 1537 by King Christian III.
- Fiskehoddarna: These iconic “fish huts” were moved to their current spot in 1956, but the tradition is over 70 years old. Local fishermen have been selling fresh daily catches for generations.
- Kockums varvsområde: Once one of the world’s largest shipyards, founded in 1840, now transforming into a hub for tech and innovation, playgrounds, apartments and recreation areas.
- Stapelbäddsparken Skateboard park
Opened in 2005 and one of Europe’s largest skateparks – anchors Malmö’s thriving skate scene as one of the city’s three major parks. - Wayne’s Coffee Västra Hamnen: My weekend walkabout coffee break spot, with a direct view of the Turning Torso. Try their cinnamon bun 🙂
- Turning Torso: Designed by Santiago Calatrava, inspired by a white marble sculpture he created called Twisting Torso. Built in 2005 this was the world’s first “twisting” skyscraper and remains a Nordic icon. The tower consists of nine segments that rotate 90 degrees relative to the ground floor. Upon completion, it became the tallest building in Scandinavia and the first “twisting” skyscraper in the world, standing at 190 meters tall. Located in the eco-friendly Bo01 district, the tower is designed to be energy-efficient and is supplied with 100% locally produced renewable energy.
- Bo01: A pioneering sustainable housing district, “City of Tomorrow” architecture and seaside boardwalks, was the centerpiece of the European Housing Expo in 2001
- Vattenfall (Kranarna): A nod to Malmö’s industrial soul, these historic harbor cranes are landmarks of the city’s shipping past.
- ICA Maxi (Candy!): The ultimate destination for the “Lördagsgodis” (Saturday candy) experience with massive walls of pick-and-mix.
- Malmö Live: A modern architectural masterpiece from 2015 that serves as the city’s hub for music and culture. The Sky bar on the 25th floor offers a cocktail bar, an Italian restaurant and fantastic view over the city.
- Non-Violence Statue: The famous “knotted gun” sculpture by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, a powerful symbol of peace. The original public version of the sculpture is located in New York City. While there are over 30 replicas worldwide, the primary original bronze cast is a prominent symbol of global peace.
- Central Station: The historic main building was inaugurated in 1867 and is one of Sweden’s busiest hubs, connecting Malmö to Copenhagen in just 35 minutes via the “Citytunnel” and “Øresund Bridge”.
Earlier posts about Sightseeing in Malmö:
Sightseeing on Inline skates 2025
Sightseeing with Indian colleagues 2022