3 days, 2 countries, 1 epic trip - Copenhagen & Malmo
Looking to pack adventure, culture, and coastal charm into one short trip? Our 3-day journey down Sweden’s western coast and across to the Danish capital was nothing short of spectacular. From the quaint seaside town of Falsterbo to the vibrant streets of Copenhagen, this adventure brought us unforgettable sights, tastes, and experiences. Here’s how we did it and what made it so epic.
LOGISTICS
Getting to Sweden
The UK is well connected to Sweden with most airports offering direct routes to Gothenburg, Stockholm, and other Swedish cities. We travelled with Ryanair out of Stansted to Gothenburg, but have since seen easyJet offering competitive fares, making Sweden accessible for travellers on a budget. The flight time is around 2 hours and we’ve found all Scandinavian airports to be very efficient meaning you’re not usually going to be held up!
Currency - will I need cash, and how affordable is it?
Sweden is a non-eurozone EU member and has its own currency, the Swedish Krona (SEK). Scandinavian countries tend to have a reputation for being more expensive than the UK and other European countries; however, in our experience, Sweden offers similar value to the UK in the main and is the cheapest of the Scandinavian countries. On a practical level, credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and Sweden is known for being almost entirely cashless.
Visas and Tourist Stays
For UK travellers, no visa is required for a short trip to Sweden as it’s part of the Schengen Area. Sweden allows tourists to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. As always, be sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure.
Weather and Climate
Sweden’s geography lends itself to a varied climate - it's a long, relatively thin country sandwiched between Norway and Finland. The south experiences mild winters, and summers are pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring cities and beaches. In the north, some of which sits inside the Arctic Circle, you’ll find harsher winters, snow-covered landscapes, and the chance to experience the Northern Lights. Pack accordingly based on your travel dates and destinations.
Getting around
The public transport system in Sweden is regularly regarded as amongst the best globally, particularly in Stockholm which apparently lays claim to having the highest number of bus stops per capita of any major city. Since we were travelling down the coast and into nature, we opted for a rental car, using SIXT at Gothenburg airport, we could not recommend them more highly.
Our Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Gothenburg & journey down to Falsterbo
Our adventure began in Gothenburg, Sweden’s charming west coast city. After landing and picking up our rental car, we set off down the scenic coastal route toward Falsterbo. We’ve driven in some rather epic parts of the world and Sweden can be somewhat underwhelming if you’ve driven in neighbouring Norway especially - the drive is relatively flat yet picturesque, dotted with lush greenery, colourful wooden buildings, and glimpses of the sea.
Our first stop was in Varberg, a coastal town known for its historic fortress and vibrant surf culture. We took a quick detour to admire the fortress, town centre and enjoy the sea air.
Next, we passed through Helsingborg, another coastal gem. The city’s stunning waterfront and the iconic Karnan Tower made for a perfect mid-drive stretch and photo opportunity.
As hunger set in, we made a stop in Ängelholm. Here, we discovered ROST, a fantastic burger place that we’d highly recommend to anyone on this route to check out.
By evening, we arrived at our seaside cottage close to Falsterbo. We booked via Airbnb and found ourselves in a tranquil retreat only a short walk from the beach. The area is known for its sandy beaches, wildlife reserves, and serene atmosphere. After settling in, we took a stroll along the shore, making the most of the milder temperatures.
Day 2: A Day in Copenhagen
The next morning, we embarked on a day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital. Opting for the train over driving, we found it both cost-effective and gave us a day off driving! The train whisked us across the Øresund Bridge from Malmo directly into Copenhagen Central in around 30 minutes. The journey offered great views of the water and an exciting sense of crossing into a new country.
Once in Copenhagen, we hit the ground running. Here’s what we squeezed into one unforgettable day:
1. Boat Tour & Nyhavn
We started with a boat tour that gave us a unique perspective of the city’s canals and iconic landmarks. If you’re visiting in the high season, we’d recommend booking ahead - the canal boat tours are incredibly popular and while it’s possible to book on the day, availability and wait times are something we didn’t have the luxury to play with on our 1-day whistle-stop tour! Our tour had multi-lingual narration which was great and we enjoyed seeing everything from the water - floating past colourful buildings, historic castles, and modern architectural marvels, we felt immersed in Copenhagen’s charm.
Nyhavn (or new harbour), the postcard-perfect harbour famed for its row of painted houses and lively atmosphere, was a real highlight. We grabbed coffee at one of the harbour-side coffee stands and strolled up and down marvelling at the 17th-century architecture ahead of our boat tour, having the land and water perspective made for great photo ops!
2. Street Food Markets
Lunchtime brought us to Copenhagen’s famous street food markets. Denmark has a world-famous culinary scene, but not enough is spoken about the variety of cuisines on offer at its many street food outlets! We sampled everything from traditional Danish smørrebrød to international delights - pasta, burgers, loaded fries, cocktails and more. The communal vibe and lack of pretence made it a good stop for those travelling with kids.
3. Rosenborg Castle & City Strolls
Next, we visited the impressive Rosenborg Castle, a Renaissance masterpiece surrounded by large manicured gardens. Its grandeur and history were captivating and offered a nice change of pace.
The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering the city streets, while perhaps not a labyrinth, each turn did reveal something new – from cosy coffee spots, unique art shops, and eclectic stores filled with everything from handcrafted goods to vintage treasures, we could have spent days wandering and exploring.
As the sun set, we reluctantly said goodbye to Copenhagen and boarded the train back to Malmo.
Day 3: Exploring the coastal, Gothenburg & Departure
Our final day was all about exploring Sweden’s coastline. Checking out of our seaside cottage early, we explored the nature reserves near Falsterbo, and the beach at Skanors - including the marina and coffee shop, we were able to fly the drone and get some great aerial shots while the kids played in the dunes. Next, we spent a couple of hours in Malmo, the timing of our visit conflicted with the city holding the Eurovision song contest - it seemed as though Eurovision fever had taken hold of the place - meaning several road closures and other infrastructure which may otherwise not have been there - while we made the best of it, we do not feel like we got the full experience. We made a stop at a nature reserve to break the drive up before checking into the Radisson. On the final evening, we had a fabulous Italian at Olivia’s before settling in for a restful night before an early flight.
Tips for Planning Your Own Epic Trip
Travel by train if visiting Copenhagen: the Øresund Bridge is impressive, but taking the train is both affordable and scenic.
Stay flexible: Allow time to explore at your own pace. Some of our favourite moments were unexpected discoveries.
Pack light: Moving between locations is much easier with minimal luggage.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a weekend adventurer, this trip proves that you don’t need weeks to create lasting memories.
Copenhagen and Malmö, we’ll be back!