Author Archives: Ingo

Madeira 2024

A visit to Madeira has been on my wish list for quite some time, to hike along the Levadas, that I heard so much about. I made it as birthday gift to myself 🙂 and travelled with Topas 19-26 October.

Madeira is a stunning island in the Atlantic Ocean, located about 500 km to the west of Morocco. Its often called the Island of Eternal Spring because of the mild climate year-round, with temperatures averaging around 20° C, making it a perfect year-round destination. Its lush landscapes, dramatic cliffs, and jagged mountains form an exciting backdrop to this volcanic island.

Madeira’s history dates back to the early 15th century when Portuguese explorers, led by João Gonçalves Zarco, discovered it. Over the centuries, Madeira grew as a hub for sugarcane production, and later, a popular port for European trade. Today, the island is famous for its fortified Madeira wine, which is produced using a unique aging process. It also produce Rom and they also export a lot of bananas.

The island is crisscrossed by Levadas – water channels that date back to the 16th century. Initially built to move water from the mountains to the fields below. These days the Levadas serve as pathways for hiking through lush forests, past cascading waterfalls, and over towering cliffs. Some of the most popular hikes include the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, which weaves through the Laurisilva forest (an UNESCO World Heritage site), and the challenging Levada do Rei, offering panoramic views of the island’s rugged interior.

The first three days we stayed at Santa Crux Village Hotel in the small village of Santa Cruz. The picture that looks like a orange juice is a local refreshing drink Poncha, made of 2 parts orange juice, 1 part lemon juice, mixed with rum and honey.

Arrival date – 19 Oct.

Dinner: Recanto da Pitada.

Note: The hiking times and distances are approximate numbers and what my Garmin registered. Some hikes had many height meters.

Day 1 – 20 Oct. Levada do Canical to Porto da Cruz
Time: 2:30 | Distance: 9.20 km

Levada do Canical trail is along the northern coast, following the irrigation canal through a built-up area, observing how levadas are used in daily life. Notice the toilet seats used for the plants 😉

Boca do Risco pass the edge of Madeira, with steep cliffs dropping into the sea, and Porto Santo visible in the distance. Fantastic view! According to Hugo the guide, this popular spot can be very crowded during peak tourist season with up to 200 people at the same time!

The surroundings change to eucalyptus and pine trees. The path leads to the charming coastal village of Porto da Cruz, The last 1.5 km is a 300-meter descent.

In Porto da Cruz, we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant with sea view. It is also possible to take a swim in the natural rock pools. After lunch we visited the local rum distillery. The village is also know for it’s surf community.

Dinner: No documentation

Day 2 – 21 Oct. Morning – São Lourenço Peninsula
Time: 2:00 | Distance: 6 km

Morning hike was along the São Lourenço Peninsula, located at Madeira’s eastern tip and is one of the island’s most striking natural landmarks. The area is a protected nature reserve with a scenic 7-kilometer hiking trail that offers panoramic views that is quite different from the other hikes on the island. The peninsula is as barren as the rest of the island is green. It offers a unique “moon-like” landscape with volcanic rock formations.

Aside from a palm-fringed forestry station with a small exhibition and a café, the area is a semi-desert, Together with Mogens, I climbed to the top at the end of the peninsula, very steep but the reward is another stunning view over the island and ocean.

Day 2 – 21 Oct. Afternoon – Praia da Machico
Time: 1:00 | Distance: 3 km

After the visit to the peninsula, we drove to the edge of Caniçal and followed an old path over the mountain to Praia da Machico. There is a small café on the top. Many height meters and steep after the café descending to Machico and the beach.

Machico has one of Madeira’s few sandy beaches, with golden sand imported from Sahara.

PS. This was my birthday and the group was so nice they sang a birthday song for me in the bus and there was Cava in my room 🙂

Dinner: Restaurante O Professor

Day 3 – 22 Oct. Madeiras highest peak, Santana and Funchal
Today we should move to another hotel in Funchal, and the plan was to hike to Madeira’s highest peak: Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) but due to very heavy rain and after approx. 250 m. walk half the group and I decided to return to the café at the parking lot where the trail started, and stay there. The other half concurred the weather conditions and after returning, few hours later, they all agreed that it was a bad idea with limited view, very slippery (dangerous) and very wet experience.

On the way to Funchal we visited the small village Santana, famous for it’s A-framed thatched houses, Casas do Colmo, that also offer a glimpse into the local culture.

Arriving to Funchal the sun was shining, Funchal is Madeira’s capital and a blend of history, nature, and culture, named after fennel (funcho in Portuguese), it origins from the 16th century as a bustling Atlantic port for sugar and wine trade.

After checking in, Jan the guide took us on a nice guided stroll around the city center to see the Town hall, the port, Madeira Winery, the Zona Velha (old town) with it’s cobbled stone streets and the special painted doors, etc.

Dinner: A Bica

Day 4 – 23 Oct. Funchal and Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Together with René, I started the day with a visit the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ market) and Praca do Peixe (Fish market), where fish, fresh fruits, flowers, and local crafts are sold. The not so pretty black fish is called Black Scabbard (Espada-preto), a deep-sea delicacy, iconic to Madeira. Didn’t taste it, my mistake.

We took the cable car to the Jardim Tropical Monte Palace (Monte Palace Tropical Garden) – a lush retreat on the slopes of Monte. Visiting the garden was like stepping into another world, where nature, culture, art and tranquility come together. The garden is over 70,000 m² and displays approx. 100,000 plant species from all over the world. The view from here is fantastic, overlooking the terraced hills and the blue waters of the Atlantic.

Wandering through the winding paths, you find koi ponds, waterfalls, and hidden alcoves. The garden is a blend of natural beauty and man-made artistry, with intricately designed tiles, sculptures, and ornate fountains.

At the heart of the garden stands the Monte Palace, a majestic building that houses a collection of art and history. It once belonged to the British consul, Charles Murray, and was later bought by Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues. He built the big manor house, inspired by German castles and turned it in a popular hotel, which closed in 1943. In 1987 it was bought and turned into the public garden you can see today.

Back in Funchal city we tasted some Madeira wine that is known for its unique production process involving heat and aging. Its rich flavors range from dry to sweet, making it versatile for both sipping and cooking. Renowned for its longevity, even opened bottles last for years.

Dinner: Theo’s

Day 5 – 24 Oct. Balcões viewpoint and Levada Furado
Time: 5:20 | Distance: 20 km

Starting in Ribero Frio we hiked to the Balcões viewpoint from where there is a fabulous view of the highest peaks. After enjoying the view, we return to Ribeiro Frio along the same path and continue to Levada do Furado and later along Levada Portela. Levada do Furado is one of the first levadas built to irrigate farmland in Porto da Cruz. The trail ends with a staircase leading down to Portela.

Dinner: O Americano

Day 6 – 25 Oct. morning: Cascata do Risco, Rabacal and Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo
Time: 2:20 | Distance: 9 km

Morning hike was from Rabacal to the beautiful Cascata do Risco (Risco Waterfall). Even if it was raining a little bit and I was glad I invested in a new rain jacket the other day, the hike was amazing. After the water fall we walked through the 800 meter long Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo that both had a levada canal and a water pipe to produce electricity. Using flash light was an advantage. When entering the tunnel we had rain, at the exit it was blue sky and sun :-O.

Lunch at Cafetaria Panoeste, tasted the Portuguese cake Pastel de Nata (or was it Queijada da Madeira?), according to Hugo the local guide, this place served the best ones on the island.

Day 6 – 25 Oct. afternoon: Raposeira Do Logarinho
Time: 1:40 | Distance: 7 km

After lunch we hiked from the café to Raposeira Do Logarinho, through some rural areas with fantastic views over the landscape, overlooking the sea and the burned trees after a big bushfire some years ago. Ended the hike at a café in Raposeira Do Logarinho for a refreshing Poncha.

On the way back to Funchal we passed Cabo Girão, one of the world’s highest sea cliff viewpoints where you stand on a glass floor and look down 580 meters to the cliff and sea below.

Back in Funchal it was time for last dinner. Good bye Madeira, it was a great pleasure.

Dinner: Restaurante Do Forte

Hiking Söderåsen National Park 2024

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On a sunny September Saturday (21st), I had the pleasure to visit Söderåsen National Park and hike the Hjortesprång Trail (Blue Trail), together with my dear colleagues and friends from India, Jinu and Shiva,

Söderåsen National Park is a beautiful area in Skåne, southern Sweden. It’s known for its rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes, and a variety of hiking trails. The park is part of the Söderåsen Ridge, which is a geological formation that offers rolling hills, deep ravines, and lush forests, making it a fantastic destination for hiking.

We parked at entré Skäralid, where you also find the Naturum Visitor Center that has an exhibition and café, where we bought a very good take-away sandwich for lunch. You can also get snacks, water and coffee/tea to-go.

There are a number of different trails in the area and one of the most popular is the Hjortesprång Trail (Blue Trail), that offers breathtaking views and an opportunity to experience the area’s diverse nature. The trail is a well-marked circular route that is about 8 kilometers. It takes you through some of the most picturesque parts of Söderåsen, with varying terrain that includes open meadows, dense forests, and viewpoints offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape. The trail is suitable for both casual hikers and more experienced trekkers. It can be a bit challenging at times due to the hilly and uneven terrain.

As you hike along the trail, you’ll pass through different ecosystems, including lush hardwood forests, which are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The trail is particularly beautiful in spring and summer when wildflowers bloom and the forest is green, but it also offers a unique experience in autumn, with the colors of the changing leaves.

One of the key attractions along the trail is Hjortesprånget (“The Deer Leap”). A dramatic viewpoint located at a high point and offers a fantastic view of the Söderåsen Ridge, as well as a deep valley below. The viewpoint is named after a legendary event where a deer supposedly leapt across a ravine.

Hiking Skåneleden Kullaberg

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Kullaberg is a rocky peninsula, located in northwestern Skåne, along the Kattegat coast, just a 1.2-hour drive north of Malmö. This area is famed for its stunning landscapes, dramatic cliffs, rich biodiversity, and world-class hiking opportunities.

After obsessively watching the weather forecast for days, I decided to tackle the Skåneleden Trail on Thursday, 25 July. This summer’s weather has been wildly unpredictable, but my decision paid off — the conditions were perfect.

The natural beauty and diverse landscapes of the Kullaberg Nature Reserve include winding pathways of trails with lush, towering beech forests, fascinating caves and dramatic coastline views.

Just outside the charming village center of Mölle, there is a free parking lot for hikers. The trail starts right next to a chapel, next to the parking lot. Following the orange and blue markers for the north coast.

The first goal, after some serious uphill effort, was Håkull, Kullaberg’s highest point at 187 meters above sea level. The panoramic view from the top is extraordinary, making the challenging hike up (and down) well worth it.

Next detour from the orange trail led me to Josefinelust Beach, named after King Oscar 1’s wife, Josefina, who fell in love with its beauty during a visit in 1865. This area doesn’t have a beautiful pebble beach; it’s also home to some of the caves this area is known for. Note: The path down and up is very steep, with a “stairway” providing some much-needed assistance.

At the very tip of the Kullaberg Nature Reserve stands the key landmark — Kullens Lighthouse. It’s one of the oldest and most powerful lighthouses in Scandinavia, having “Saved lives since 1561.” The current structure, built in the late 19th century, houses a museum and observation deck with fantastic panoramic views. Nearby, the Kullaberg Naturum Visitor Centre offers fun activities and engaging nature and animal exhibitions. One quirky feature was a cigarette voting box asking, “Which animal keeps it cleanest at home: Badger or human male?” 🙂 Another exhibit showcased birdhouses with various items and information on how long these items take to decompose in nature.

While exploring, my Garmin watch ran out of juice. I put it in my pocket with a power bank to charge, but after a kilometer or so, I noticed it was missing. Retracing my steps, I found it! Some kind soul had placed it on a rock in plain sight. Huge thanks to that awesome person!

The trail from the lighthouse back to Mölle, along the south side of the peninsula, is marked with red signs alongside Skåneleden’s orange markers. This section offers more coastal views than the forest trail on the north side.

Next, I reached Ransvik Beach, once notorious as a “stronghold of sin” because it was the first place in Sweden where men and women swam together.

After roughly 15 km, I arrived at the charming fishing village of Mölle. At the end of the pier in the small harbor, I treated myself to a well-deserved dinner at Systrarna på piren, enjoying a fantastic view of the village, sea, and sunset.

Difficulty: Varies from easy to challenging, with some (very) steep and rocky sections.
Terrain: Coastal cliffs, dense forests, meadows, and rocky shores.
Trail Markings: The Skåneleden Trail is well-marked with orange signs and information boards. North trail is marked blue and south is marked red.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer are the most popular seasons, with mild weather and longer daylight hours. Autumn also offers beautiful foliage and fewer crowds.

For maps and inspiration, check out Kullabergs Natur

Canoe adventure and visit to Bäckaskog Castle

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Monday 8 July I was invited by a friend to join a canoe trip on Holjeån, a small creek close to the village Näsum. We rented canoe and equipment from Wetlandi Canoe Center and started from Västanå Kvarn (mill).

Västanå Mill is one of the country’s oldest industrial facilities still in operation. Records (an invoice to the Danes) indicate that there has been a mill here since at least 1380. Although not as old, the stone bridge over the river just south of the mill is still impressive. The bridge is nearly 50 meters long, and since no traffic has been allowed since the 1950s, one can peacefully gaze over the river from the bridge.

Under the bridge we encountered our first challenge. When we should pass the small stream, I got the tip to try and “brake” as much as possible to avoid going to the right, that was apparently not a good idea. Maybe I braked too much since we went to the left and got suck on some rocks. Got loose and could continue to the next challenge.

After approximately 1 km down river there was a log across the river, under water. Since the water level was quite low we could not pass over it without some extra work. Climbed on to the part of the log that was over water and could drag the canoe over.

When entering Ivösjön the sky opened up and there was lots of rain, hale, wind, waves, thunder and lightning. Got a little nervous and we decided to paddle to the shore to take “shelter” (very limited but we were not on the lake). After half an hour it was gone and we could see the sun again and continue to the end station Klackabacken.

The distance from Västanå mill and Klackabacken is 7 km. A narrow river with fantastic and magical scenery.

Download map

On the way home we passed Bäckaskog Castle (Map).

It is a fascinating place. A former monastery, then a castle and now a hotel. It has a museum, an old monastery kitchen, a chapel, a beautiful park and som hiking trails. The night porter, Bosse, told us about the ghost Patrik, 10 years old, who is a friendly ghost that haunt the castle. He got a cold breath from a mun when Patrik saw him die, getting stuck in the water mill. One day Patrik was gone and they never found him. Many years later bones from a child was found in a well… If you visit the hotel and feel a chilled breeze, it could be Patrik.

The last couple of years the castle has been the scenery for the Swedish music program “Stjärnorna på slottet”.

Road trip along the Swedish south coast

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The 9 June I had the great pleasure to guide my friends and colleagues Jinu and Shiva on a road trip along the south coast of Sweden. According to the calendar it was summer but unfortunately that was not the reality this day, 11 degrees and showers.

Starting at Hyllie train station and Emporia shopping center that offer a rooftop viewing platform from where you have great view over Hyllie, Öresund bridge and Malmö.
Skanör and Falsterbo are twin towns. In the Middle Ages, these towns were significant centers of the herring trade, drawing merchants from across Europe. Skanör, known for its fortress and market, and Falsterbo, with its vibrant harbor, thrived due to the abundant herring in the surrounding waters. As the herring stocks dwindled in the late Middle Ages, the towns’ prominence declined. Today, Skanör and Falsterbo are renowned for their picturesque landscapes, historic buildings, and popular beaches, attracting visitors seeking a blend of history and natural beauty.
Falsterbo beach
Smygehuk is a harbour and fishing village located at Smygehamn. It is the southernmost point of Sweden and the entire Scandinavian Peninsula. The area features the Smygehuk Lighthouse, stony beaches, and during summer, it offers various activities including music, art, culture, and shopping. We had lunch at Sweden’s southernmost café, of course a prawn sandwich.
Ystad Saltsjöbad, is a luxurious spa resort. It offers a charming and classic Newport-style experience with sea views, delicious food, and a relaxing spa. The resort has a rich history dating back to the 19th century and is situated just 20 meters from the sea, providing an excellent location for a getaway (sorry, no pictures)
Kivik is a center for Swedish apple cultivation, thanks to its pleasant climate. The region is especially beautiful when the apple orchards bloom in May. Kivik is also known for its apple market, a harvest festival that celebrates Swedish apples and features unique apple art made from colorful apples. The market usually takes place in September and includes a variety of activities and displays.
Kivik Musteri is a family-owned farm and production facility with a history dating back to 1888. It’s known for its extensive apple orchards with over 70 varieties of apples. You can enjoy the museum, guided tours of the orchard, learn about apple cultivation, and explore the production workshop. The farm also has a shop where you can buy locally produced juices, ciders, wines, and other preserves.
Vitemölla, is a tranquil seaside village. It is home to the Vitemölla Badhotell, a historic seaside hotel built in 1913.
Malmö Kalkbrott, also known as Limhamns kalkbrott, is a unique place in Malmö and one of the landmarks. It is a former industrial limestone quarry that has now become a nature reserve managed by the city of Malmö. The area is approximately 1300 meters long, 800 meters wide, and 65 meters deep. Rumor says that the cement in the foundation of the Jesus figure in Rio de Janeiro comes from Limhamn.
Lernacken is a mostly artificial cape located in the Öresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. It is situated in the southwest of Malmö, between the suburbs Bunkeflostrand and Limhamn. The area is largely devoid of vegetation, with sparse areas of shrubs and small trees. It’s a notable spot for biking trips and offers great views of the Öresund Bridge starting point. Especially popular viewing point at sunset.

People of India

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India is a diverse country with a population of 1.4 billion people (2022), that is close to 18% of the world population. The people are known for their rich culture, traditions, and hospitality.

India has a variety of religions, over 2 million temples, 22 official languages, many ethnic groups, each with its unique customs, traditions and cuisine. India is also known for its vibrant festivals, such as Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja.

During my trip in the south west part of the country in October (2023), I was very fascinated by the characters, colors and scenery. Meet some of them here:

The Christmas Card

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Wikipedia: “A Christmas card is a greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to Christmastide and the holiday season. Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day by many people (including some non-Christians) in Western society and in Asia. The traditional greeting reads “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year“.
The first commercially available card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Callcott Horsley in London 1843.

Heard that after 180 years of history, this year (2023) might be the last year people send Christmas cards by “snail mail”, since the postage is going to be very expensive in 2024, due to the decrease in letter correspondence and increase in costs.

Back in the 1980’s I designed and printed Christmas post cards and sent to family, friends and customers. Made by airbrush on paper (except one that is with ink)

In 2011 I started designing digital season greeting cards, playing with Adobe Photoshop:

And Happy New Year cards:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Amsterdam 2023

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Mickey and I visited Amsterdam 28 August to 1 September. This is some of the things we did… Enjoy 🙂

The sights on Google Map

Photo “heatmap’

Day1:
Flight KLM to Schipol Airport. Sprinter train to Centraal Station. Smart that we could use our Visa card as travel pass on the public transport. Checked in at Eden Hotel. Nice hotel with good location. Small shop for snacks and drinks, bar and pool table (free).

Walkabout: Dam square, Anna Franks house/museum (did not go inside) and much more in the neighborhood, Dinner at De Nachtwacht

Day 2:
Breakfast at the rooftop restaurant Blue with nice 360 degrees view over Amsterdam.
Walkabout: Cool gallery AbrahamArt Gallery – Museumplein with RijksMuseum, Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museum We didn’t enter any of the museums, viewed the exterior. Headed to the Heineken Experience for a tour, a visit at the bar and their rooftop bar with very nice view and beer cocktails.

Dinner at a small and very good Thai restaurant, NK Thai Noodles close by. We asked for the dishes made Thai mode – Quote from waitress: “are yo sure?” 🙂 – It was spicy and tasty.

Finished the day with an evening stroll to the Skinny Bridge and play some pool.

Day 3:
Brunch at the The Lobby, nice restaurant at Hotel V. Looked around the nice Joordan district and walked towards Wester Park to visit Amaze, an audio and video “museum”. In groups of eight you walk through a maze of different audio and video installations to finish in a big warehouse style room sitting on “fat boys” (big pillows) watching a light show on the walls and on the pillars accompanied with (loud) electronic music.

Took public transport back to the city and had a look at Red Light District – “no pictures please”.
Passed the Rembrandt museum, Had a good burrito at a small Mexican take away restaurant.

Day 4:
Great omelet brunch at Omelegg, very popular and good, recommend it. Expect to wait in line outside, no booking,

Theme of the day was rooftops. Started with a visit to Luminair, Fantastic view over Amsterdam. Continued to Nemo Science Museum that has a kind of park on roof, Crossed the harbour with a small ferry (free). Walked pass Adams Tower and had a peek at the Eye film “museum”. Visited De Ceuvel, an award-winning, sustainable planned workplace for creative and social enterprises on a former shipyard, The craft beer from the local brewery was good 🙂

Continued to Straat, a “museum” in a warehouse with some great street art. Amazed by the detail and size of some of the art work, fantastic! There was quite a heavy “scent” of spray paint.

Dinner at Ribs Factory, close to the hotel. Evening walkabout – the cocktail bar Luminair, night version, Great night view over the city. Next stop on the “cocktail rooftop bar crawl” was Malabar Cocktail bar also with great night view over the harbor and city.

Day 5:
Revisited Blue for a brunch with a view. Checked out the LEGO general store with some fantastic LEGO builds. Went on a Canal tour. Passed a French Fries shop with 3! security hosts to manage the line. Walked around Vondelpark where we saw the only people on bikes wearing helmet, 3 persons, the only ones during the whole stay! Very nice park with a brewery in the middle where we tasted the local brew.

On the way home we dropped by The Flying Dutchmen Coctail bar where some of the locals had their after work drink. Finished the day with dinner at Wagamama located across the street from the hotel. Then some backgammon at the hotel bar.

Day 6:
Checking out, Breakfast at Omelegg. Short break at the Centraal Station that is “under construction” for the next many years before heading to Schipol…

Juleløses Jul – Christmas 2022

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This year I had the opportunity and pleasure to attend Juleløses Jul Christmas Eve together with Arun, colleague and friend from India. It is an event taking place every year since 1975 in the Grå Hal at Christiana, Copenhagen. Before 1975 Juleløses Jul took place at Copenhagen Town Hall. It’s a very old Christmas tradition in Copenhagen, started once upon a time by Socialdemokraterna, haven’t managed to find information about when.

Free food is served to more than 1.000 people. It was a very amusing and interesting experience and I was amazed by:

The amount and variety of people.
Decorations – ceiling filled with paper peace pigeons, a Santa dressed only with hat and underwear, a huge disco ball, light effects and much more.
Food – choice of vegetarian dish, sallad, beef and/or pork, Dessert was rice porridge with cinnamon sugar and/or cherry sauce. Beer, wine and soda is sold at the bar.
Entertainment – Storytelling by one of Santa’s elves about why there are summer, winter and Christmas. The priest had a sermon and a “choir” sang some hymns with the audience. A DJ and different groups played a vast variety of music genre.

Learned from Kirsten, at the Christiania Information Office Nyt Forum, that there are 100 volunteers that help out with the different tasks. There is no entrance fee and the food is free so the financial part is solved by applying for different funds and collecting money during the Christiania Christmas Market. They also get support from both Copenhagen Municipality and Her Majesty the Queen.

There are none or very little advertising and it is worth a visit.
Door opens at 17:00 (next year).

Sightseeing Malmö – November 2022

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Saturday 26 November a group of colleagues from India, Lebanon and Argentina visited Malmö. I had the pleasure of guiding them through the city.

We started the sightseeing at Triangeln Station. Walked along the pedestrian street, Södra Förstadsgatan, via Stadsbiblioteket, Slottsparken, Gustav Adolfs Torg to Lilla Torg for lunch at Viktor. After lunch we continued to Stortorget. We had a look inside the pharmacy Lejonet with a beautiful ceiling. Outside the pharmacy you find the statue Optimistorkestern. The group like to visit a “loppis” (flea market) so we visited Loppis Lounge. Then we had a look inside St Petri Church. We the passed the Central Station and then the statue The Knotted Gun. We visited the Sky Bar at Malmö Live. Had a look at Kockums Shipyard and finished at Turning Torso, Västra Hamnen.

Earlier versions: Sightseeing in Malmö 2012 and Sightseeing in Malmö 2014.
Apart from added information on some of the places updated points of interest are:
25. Malmö Live
26. Triangeln Station
27. Kockums Shipyard (Varvsstaden)

Point Hyllie– a new developed site close to Malmö City and Kastrup Airport. It consists of four main buildings comprising approximately 45,000 square metres. They are allocated for housing, offices and shops. The tallest building is about 95 metres high.
Malmö Arena– the latest addition to northern Europe’s growing number of modern multi-purpose concert and event venues. Malmö Arena is a premier venue in the Öresund Region for world-class sporting events, concerts, family shows, full-scale conferences and smaller meetings, wining and dining or a quick snack. It can seat a maximum of 15.000 guests. It measure 22.5 m. up to the inner ceiling.
Hyllie water tower is white and has the form as mushroom (at the moment getting some make up due to the Euro vision song contest and coz its need it). The light on the tower changes on different occasions. At Christmas it’s red and when there isn’t a special event the light is blue. It’s 62 m tall and contains 10 200 cubic meter water. It was ready 1973. Architect was Kjessler & Mannerstråle through Karl Ivar Stål. A water park is being built close to the tower.
Emporia is one of the biggest shopping center in Scandinavia with a total size of 93 000 m²for shopping, food, culture and pleasure in approx. 200 shops, restaurants and cafés on 3 stories and a unique roof park. The two main entrances are spectacular, one is amber theme that symbolized in the logo type. The other is water theme.
The Glass House– “House of brands for good living”. A shop with exclusive scandinavian interior design.
Ikea has built a 44 000 square meter store at Svågertorp. It’s the second largest in the world and was inaugurated 20 October 2009.
Limhamns Kalkbrott is approximately 1.300 meters long, 800 meters wide and 65 meters deep. The walk around the quarry is 4 km.
The mining of the began in 1866 and lasted until 1994. The last explosion was in the late 1980’s. The explosives have shaped the quarry, so it consists of plateaus, called pallets, about 20 meters high and vertical walls. At every blasting, a ton of dynamite was used. There was a loud bang as many locals felt.
The lime in Limhamns quarry has been formed in a warm sea of between 65-55 million years ago (during the early Tertiary). It consists mainly of deposits from microscopic cuisine liters (algae), bryozoans (moss animals) and corals. In some limestone layers there are plenty of shark teeth. A remnant from a relative of the great white shark, which for millions of years swimming around here along with other now extinct species. Fossils of two crocodiles have also been found in the quarry.
There are over 1.400 different animals and plants in the limestone quarry. Several species are rare or special in some way. Most notable is the presence of the endangered green spotted toad and “Kalkkrassingen”.
Öresund bridge was inaugurated on 1 July 2000. The link between Denmark and Sweden is 15.4 km long and consists of the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge for both rail and motor vehicle traffic, at nearly 8 km. The main span is suspended from four pylons that measure 204 m above the sea level. The best viewing point over the Öresund Bridge is from Lernacken at the Luftkastellet restaurant.
The Øresund Bridge offers a 4-lane road carrying more than 60,000 travelers daily, 6 million vehicles per year, and two train tracks (another 8 million people each year) e carries . Building the Øresund bridge included construction of a bridge, a tunnel 4 km and a new island where travelers go from tunnel-level (on the Danish side) to the level of the bridge.
Sibbarp beach is popular diverse recreational area with beach, camping with snack bar, mini golf, barbecue stones, open-air swimming bath with sauna. There are also large grassed areas with several jetties from which you can jump in the sea. Not far from Sibbarp’s beach is a small skatepark. From here you have a brilliant view of the Öresund Bridge.
Limhamns Småbåtshamn has room for around 1.000 boats and is the biggest of it’s kind in Malmö.
Ön (The Island) is situated in Limhamn-Bunkeflo in the southwestern municipality of Malmö. Today there is a land connection between the island and Limhamn, so technically the island is today a peninsula. It used to a harbour for the ferry connection with Dragør in Denmark.
While limestone mined for cement production in Limhamn’s Kalkbrott (Limestone quarry) the area was used for dumping of waste products, and thereby laid the foundation for an artificial island.
In the first half of the 1900’s, various industrial activities has been carried out here: Shipyard and aircraft production. Two of the office buildings and a factory building still stands today and house the school on the island, a convenience store and an aerobics (Friskis & Svettis).
The island is divided into a northern and a southern part by Övägen. The northern part of the island began to plot in the early 1990’s, with apartment buildings and construction is still in progress. The southern part was settled in the late 1990’s.
Ribbersborg Kallbadhus (“Open-air-bath”) also known as Ribban by the older and Kallis by the younger generation, is an open-air public bath on the Ribersborg beach . The bathhouse is open for a skinny dip all the year around and has separate areas for men and women and each area is equipped with two saunas. There is also one mixed sauna between the ladies and gentlemen’s area. There is a cafe and a restaurant.
The bath was inaugurated in June 1898 with initiative by C.A. Richter, who bought the old bathhouse at Nyhamn port, which was being sold because of the port’s expansion. Four years later a storm damaged the new bath during Christmas and it was rebuilt. During the refurbishment a diving tower was added to the men’s department, with a view of the strait and the women’s department. During the 1930s it was modernised with nude bathing and confidentiality was added between the departments. In 1966, the City of Malmö purchased the baths. It was again damaged by a storm in 1988 and in 1995 it was declared a historic building.
Västra Hamnen (Western Harbour) is Malmö’s new city district attracts people with its exciting architecture, lovely beach promenades and green spaces and a fabulous view over Öresund. An award-winning ecological housing area finished in 2001 for the major European Housing Expo Bo01 is found here. The buildings were designed by several internationally renowned architects including Gert Wingårdh, Ralph Erskine and Mario Campi.
The neighbourhood is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Water is also a vital element of the environment, expressed in canals, ponds, small craft marinas and swimming beaches.
The Western Harbour was once an industrial area where Kockum’s world-famous shipyard operated, now replaced by Malmö University and companies in the IT and telecommunications industries. The dance company Skånes Dansteater is based in one of the vaulted halls, Båghallarna, and an exciting, specially designed concrete skateboarding arena, Stapelbäddsparken has been constructed around one of the old ship ramps.
Turning Torso. Architect Santiago Calatrava’s spectacular apartment building in the Western Harbour. At 190 metres, Turning Torso is the tallest building in Sweden. The building was inspired by a sculpture “Turning Torso” by Calatrava himself. Turning Torso consists of nine cubes with a total of 54 stories, with a 90° twist from base to top. The top two floors boast the exclusive meeting rooms of Turning Torso Meetings.
Stapelbäddsparken is one of Europe’s largest outdoor skate parks with a surface of 2.000 m² and is located at Kockums shipyard’s old factory area in the Western Harbour. The old slipway was transformed in 2006 into a modern and important meeting place open to all skateboarding enthusiasts and everyone else too. Here takes the prestigious international skateboarding competitions like The Quicksilver Bowlriders place periodically.
The park is open 24/7, 365 days a year and it costs nothing to visit or use it. All activity in and around the skate park is operated by Bryggeriet which is also responsible for the cafe in the park.
Malmö Central Station opened in 1876. It serves approximately 17 million passengers per year, making it the third busiest in Sweden behind Stockholm Central Station and Gothenburg Central Station. The opening of the City Tunnel in December 2010 made it possible for passenger trains to travel through the station, which had previously been a terminus, and most traffic shifted to the new lower level. All passenger traffic to Denmark now uses the tunnel, and most local trains continue to the new Triangeln and Hyllie stations even if they are not going beyond Malmö.
Malmö St. Petri Church was founded in the early 1300’s. When the church first mentioned in writing in 1346, it had already been consecrated for worship-service. Tradition says that the high altar was consecrated 1319. The church is dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul.
Stortorget (Big square) The equestrian statue of King Karl X Gustav, who took Skåne from the Danes through the Roskilde Treaty of 1658, stands in the midst of the largest square in Malmö. Stortorget was built in 1536 at the initiative of Jörgen Kock, Malmö’s powerful mayor and master of the mint. Stortorget became Malmö’s new marketplace and was the largest city square in Northern Europe for a very long time. The city well was located in Stortorget, with the site now marked by a bronze water sculpture. Jörgen Kock built a new and stately city hall as well as a home for himself, Kockska huset next to Stortorget.
At Stortorget you find the bronze statue “Optimistorkestern“ , created by Yngve Lundell 1985.

Next to the statue you find the pharmacy Lejonet (The Lion) from 1896. Have a look inside and especially look up at the beautiful ceiling.
Max hamburger restaurant started 1968 and is the oldest and most popular hamburger restaurant in Sweden.
Lilla torg (Little Square) Malmö’s most charming square and one of the most popular meeting places in the city was built in 1592 as a market square. There are several interesting buildings dating from the 16th century and later around Lilla Torg. Hedmanska Gården is an enclosed courtyard where the oldest half-timbered house dates from the 16th century and the youngest building, a warehouse, is from the late 19th century and is now home to Form/Design Centre, which mounts exhibitions related to design and architecture. Outdoor concerts are held at Hedmanska Gården in July. From March to October Lilla Torg is filled with outdoor restaurants and cafés and the atmosphere is enchanting.
Kungsparken (Kings Park) was created 1869-1870 and is Malmö’s oldest park. It was built on land that was formerly part of Malmöhus Castle fortification and was designed by the Danish landscape architect Ove Høegh Hansen. When it opened 1872 the park was originally called Slotsparken (Castle Park).
The park has a romantic character with examples from the continent’s parks. Here you can enjoy leisure walks, beautiful artwork and exotic trees. The heart of the the park is a cast iron fountain built in 1882.
Stadsbiblioteket (Town Library) Sweden’s largest town library, has over 1 million different media, about 1,500 different journals, approximately 10,000 DVD and 33,500 music CDs and was Sweden’s first library to lend video games.
It’s one of the most intriguing buildings in Malmö situated in Slottsparken. The library consists of two buildings, one older and one newer, that are linked to each other. The new part, which is called the “Calendar of Light” was designed by the notable Danish architect Henning Larsen and opened in 1997. The older section of the library dates from 1899 and was designed by architects John Smedberg and Fredrik Sundbärg.
Slottsparken (Castle Park) This wonderful organic garden is situated just behind Malmöhus Castle adjacent to Kungsparken. Fresh-picked vegetables and flowers and exciting plants are available for purchase – and you may get a bit of wise advice from the head gardener. One of Malmö’s smallest and most charming cafés is also found here. The garden and the café are open year round. Concerts, film evenings and other events are held in the summer.
A “Dutch Mill” from 1851 – is situated next to Slottsträdgården. The area also features a well-preserved miller’s house and garden. This site is a popular place for outdoor concerts and other summertime events.
Malmöhus Castle was originally a minor citadel whose construction was ordered in 1434 by Erik of Pomerania, king of the Kalmar Union which brought Norway, Sweden and Denmark together under a single monarch.
In the 16th century King Christian III of Denmark and Norway rebuilt the citadel to create a modern defensive fortress, an imposing castle and the home of the Governors of Malmöhus County.
This is where Denmark´s money was coined in the Middle Ages, where Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark held wild parties in the 16th century and where prisoners were decapitated in the castle courtyard during the 19th century when the castle served as a prison. Today Malmöhus has been restored in the spirit of the 16th century and forms part of Malmö Museer. The castle is part of Sweden´s cultural heritage and is managed by the National Property Board.
The castle presents historical exhibitions. By Order of the King is an exhibition about the 17th-century wars over Skåne and how Skåne became Swedish in 1658. Power over People depicts the history of Malmöhus Castle over the past 300 years.
Malmö Live opened 2015 consist of hotel, congress and concert halls, on 25th floor a Sky Bar and a restaurant with great view over the city, Västra Hamnen and the beach. The first couple of years there was a sticker on one of the toilet windows – “Not a shitty view”.
Close to Malmö Live you find the statue The knotted gun (Non-Violence) that was created 1980 by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, He created this piece of art after Lennon’s tragic death as he wanted to honor the singer’s vision of a peaceful world. The statue are placed on several places around the world.
Triangeln Station – an underground train station next to the shopping mall Triangeln. Opened 12 December 2010 as a part of the underground train track City tunnel.
Kockums Shipyard – In 1873 Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad (Kockums Mechanical Industry) delivered its first ship, a 700 tonne steamer named Tage Sylwan. Two years later the Royal Swedish Navy orders the steam barge Torpedo. This was the beginning of a long and successful cooperation with the Navy.
Today the area is being developed to be “The worlds most exciting district” – Varvsstaden.

The shipyard formerly had a 138-metre high crane, known as the Kockums Crane, built in 1973/74 and capable of lifting 1500 tons, making it the largest crane in the world when it was installed in 1974. It was used the last time in 1997 for lifting the foundations of the high pillars of the Oresund Bridge. The crane was sold the first time in the early 1990s to the Danish company Burmeister & Wain, but the company went bankrupt shortly thereafter. It was later sold to a Korean company, Hyundai Heavy Industries. for only a dollar.
The crane was a landmark of Malmö before being shipped to South Korea in the summer of 2002 and residents of Malmö shed tears as the crane was disassembled, which spawned the phrase “Tears of Malmö”.