Top 10 Malmö

I first visited Malmö in August 2014 and the lack of detailed tourist information in English drove me mad. 
So…here you can find a detailed Top 10 of Malmö in English. This is my personal Top 10 preferences of Malmö’s tourist sights. 
After my visit I have found this video that reveals the beauties of the city in a couple of minutes. 

1. Turning Torso & Västra hamnen (the Western Harbour)


photo by Adbar
Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper (190 m) in the Nordic countries. The skyscraper is not an office building as you may assume but a residential one with 147 apartments in its 54 stories, besides relax/lounge/spa/gym and a wine cellar.

photo by Francois Polito

The project was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The vision of Turning Torso is based on a sculpture called Twisting Torso, which is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being, created by the architect.

Construction started in the summer of 2001 in the place that once was the crane that had been used for shipbuilding and somehow symbolized the city's blue collar roots. The construction of part of this building was featured on Discovery Channel's "Extreme Engineering" TV program.

Västra Hamnen (the Western Harbour) or the City of Tomorrow is the first district in Europe that claims to be carbon neutral. Västra hamnen was an industrial area until the 21st century when also the last factory closed down. And now the district uses aquifer thermal energy storage system to heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer.
As you reach the Turning Torso you must take a walk through this residential and business area and don’t miss the great view of Öresund bridge from the Sundspromenaden. The waterfront promenade and open-sea bath is a hugely popular destination during the summertime.


photo by kate-reutersward
2. The Öresund bridge is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe, and connects two major metropolitan areas: Copenhagen, the Danish capital city, and the major Swedish city of Malmö.

photo by wikipedia
The construction began in 1995, and was finished 14 August 1999. The bridge runs nearly 8 kilometers from the Swedish coast to the artificial island of Peberholm, which lies in the middle of the strait. The crossing of the strait is completed by a 4 km underwater tunnel, called the Drogden Tunnel. Also a data cable uses the bridge to carry all Internet data transmission for Finland.


3. The old town with its Stortorget (the Large Square), Lilla torg (the Little Square) and Gustav Adolf’s torg



Stortorget is in the close proximity of Central Station and also connects pedestrians with the Lilla Torg and the pedestrian street of the old town. 

Here lies the Governor's Mansion, the Rådhus (Town Hall), Kockska house, Hotel Kramer and Apoteket Lejonet (Pharmacy Lejonet).

photo by thepottershand
The Rådhus (Town Hall), became one of 1500’s biggest town halls in the Nordic countries. Nowadays the town hall facade is built in the Dutch Renaissance style which was added in the 1860s and replaced the neoclassical facade from the early 1800s. The architect Helgo Zettervall designed a very free interpretation of how the original facade could have looked like. On the facade you can see the sculptures of some of Malmö’s historically important men.

photo by Gimbe D90
Apoteket Lejonet (Pharmacy Lejonet) or Teschska palace on the main square in Malmö is one of the city's most notable buildings from the 1800s period. The building was built in 1896 in neo-Renaissance style by the pharmacy owner, John Tesch. At the time of construction the chemist Lejonet was considered one of the greatest chemists of that period. If you are already here go through the passage and you will reach the Malmö’s Theatre entrance. Malmö Theatre is one of the most famous buildings in Malmö, but only the facade was preserved.



 

Kockska Huset is the house of Jörgen Kock, a German immigrant who became mayor of the city and achieved wealth simply and directly by taking control of the city mint.


In the middle of the square stands an equestrian statue of King Karl X Gustav, sculpted by John Börjeson.

Lilla torg (the Little Square) was built in 1592 and many of the buildings date from that time. Here went castles wives and services maids to purchase the daily household goods. Now resplendent after restoration, they form a colorful background to this charming square that between March and October is packed with open-air eateries. 



Hedmanska Gården is an enclosed courtyard on Lilla from 16th century. Here in the most recent addition, a warehouse from the 19th century, you can find the Form/Design Centre, which mounts design and architecture exhibitions and hosts open-air concerts in July.



Gustav Adolf’s torg

The pedestrian shopping street connects Storatorget with Gustav Adolfs torg.
West of the square is the old cemetery where many prominent people from Malmö have their graves. The square is named after King Gustav IV Adolf, who between 11 November 1806 and 11 May 1807 resided in Malmö. 
Today, there are many of Malmö's oldest and largest buildings around this square. At the northern end is a white crescent known as the "Riviera" designed in the French Renaissance style. In the southern part of the square is another famous building called "Valhalla Palace" built in the early 1900s and inspired by North American architecture. One of Malmö's foremost modernist buildings is the so-called "Safe House" and in front of it lies a plantation of young trees. 



4. St Peter's Church built in 1319 in a Gothic style can be seen from far away by its 105m tall tower.


The church underwent a thorough a destructive renovation around 1850 and that destroyed almost all the older wooden interior. The floor of the whole church was covered with old gravestones. These were taken up and most were broken. Between 1904 and 1906 they tried to restore what escaped the devastation from fifty years earlier. 

The altar in St. Peter's Church is one of the largest wood altars in Northern Europe. It was completed in 1611 and began in 1608 by the German-born sculptor Hendrich Könnicke (Köning). The organ from the late 1400s is now at the Malmö Museum.
In St. Petri Church is a variety of epitaphs. Almost all are made ​​of stone when the "restoration" of the church in the mid-1800s burned up all the older wooden interiors and almost all wood monuments. Most of the church preserved epitaphs originates from the 1600s and are all paid for by wealthy burghers who had their tombs inside the church.

The church contains a large number of tombstones from the 1600s and 1700s preserved. Until the mid-1800s was the whole church floor covered with tombstones from the middle ages. However, most of these were taken.


 

5. Malmö Castle and King’s Park 

Malmö Castle was first founded in 1434 by King Eric of Pomerania. This structure was demolished in early 16th century, and a new one was built in its place in the 1530s by King Christian III of Denmark. Historically, this fortress was one of the most important strongholds of Denmark.

The castle was also and used as a prison until 1914. Currently it houses a history museum, art museum, aquarium, and terrarium. Sharing the castle grounds are the Kommendanthuset (Commandant's House) used for various exhibitions throughout the year.

Fiskehoddorna - a small, traditional fish market - lies nearby.


King’s Park (Kungsparken)

The area was inhabited until the 1660s, but was demolished to create clear shot from the fortress. King's Park was built in 1869-1870 and designed by the Danish landscape architect Ove Høegh Hansen inspired by the English style park. In 1872 the park opened and was originally called Castle Park. The name of King's Park comes from King Oscar II who opened a restaurant there in 1881 and at first was renamed as the King Oscar's park, and later shortened to King's Park.



6. City library 

Malmö stadsbibliotek celebrated its 100 anniversary in December 2005. Malmö City Library first opened on 12 December 1905 in Hotel Tunneln. 

In 1946 it moved to "The Castle" at Regementsgatan. The Castle, as it had come to be known as, was originally built for Malmö Museum, and was designed by the architects John Smedberg and Fredrik Sundbärg who had been inspired by Danish and Southern Swedish renaissance castles.

Malmö City Library, as it is today, consists of three buildings:
  • "The Calendar of light” which was designed by the Danish architect Henning Larsen and inaugurated in May 1997. 
  • The Castle which was restored and re-inaugurated in September 1999. 
  • These two main buildings are linked by a building called "The Cylinder", where the entrance, an information desk, a return desk and a cafe shop are located.



7. Pildammsparken


Pildammsparken formerly also called Baltic park, is Malmö's largest park (45 hectares large) and also unique among Northern European parks.

The ponds in the park were originally Malmö's water reservoirs and the name - Pildammarna comes from pil which in Swedish means willow, and willows were planted along the dams blast walls, to strengthen them. The popular jogging round around the dam itself measures about 1.5 kilometers.

The park was established in the place where the Baltic exhibition was held in 1914. From the exhibition remains only the Royal Pavilion, now called Margareta Pavilion, and some smaller sites.

A newer facility is Galatheas pasture, intended for meditation. The circular field "plate" is used in summer for picnics and fitness classes. The current Pildammsteatern is an amphitheater which was added in 1963 to replace an older open-air theater. The old water tower houses sometimes art exhibitions. 

With the 100 years anniversary of the Baltic exhibition in 2014, an especially composed water games has been developed. It is a light and sound game that is displayed on the wall and water fountains every hour every evening after dark (and it does not blow more than 5 meters per second). Water The game is composed by lighting designer Martin Berglund, composer and musician Magnus Börjeson and artist Henry North. 







8. St. John's Church, Möllevångstorget and Folkets park (People’s park)


St. John's Church is located near Pildammsparken and Triangle train station.


The church was built between 1903 and 1907 in the newly built workers' quarters at Möllevången, and designed by the architect Axel Anderberg. Above the door it says 1906 after the planned inaugural year, but a labor dispute delayed the inauguration. 

The soft circular shapes are typical of the Art Nouveau style church. The church tower is placed in the church's north-eastern corner and not, as usual, in line with the nave in accordance with Art Nouveau freedom against 1800s repetition of earlier ideals in the art of building.

There is no porch and door leads straight into the nave. The church's interior is filled with roses carved in stone and carved and painted wood. The rose is a symbol of Christ and therefore it is called St. John's Church for "Rose Church". 




Möllevångstorget (Möllevången square), commonly known as "Möllan", has a bustling open-air market on weekends. 

Möllevångstorget is not very old, for just a little more than a hundred years ago here at Möllevången were the windmills and this is where it takes its name of Möllan which means windmill in Swedish. 

The main road that passes by the square is Bergsgatan. Many factories were right here. You can still see some of the old factory buildings, though they are now renovated and filled with modern businesses and homes.

The labor movement started here at the mill. The labor movement grew up in the late 1800s, with industrialization. The big statue in the square, called "the dignity of labor" by Axel Ebbe, express how joint work keeps society going. 

Most houses in the square were built in the early 1900s. The rural population who found their way to the big city after work came to these neighborhoods, where they both work and lived. In just the past few decades, Möllevången transformed from a poor working class area into a cultural Mecca. 

A large part of the settlement is in the Art Nouveau style as St. John's Church.

Nowadays the neighborhood is full of inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern shops, restaurants and grocery stores catering to the alternative side of the city, the immigrant population and people who are tired of mainstream commerce. "Möllan" is popular among locals for its relatively inexpensive nightlife with moderately priced bars, restaurants, nightclubs, concert venues.


Folkets park (People’s park)

It was established first as a private park by Frans Suell and then became People’s Park in 1891 when it was a gathering place for workers.

During the summer Folkets Park is Malmö's most popular meeting point and picnic spot. Children scene, terrarium and Pony Farm Ark is open year round and playgrounds are still the most visited. In the northern part of the park you cand find entertainment places such as Debaser and Cuba Café, where there often host concerts. 

photo credits

photo credits

9. Ribersborgsstranden 

"Rib", as the beach is called, is located just a few kilometers from central Malmö. Ribersborgsstranden is a long narrow area north of Limhamnsvägen, between West Harbour and Limhamns industrial park.

A few kilometers further along the beach is handicap bath, the nude beach is at pier 10 as you go further to Limhamn and next comes the lagoon marina. 

photo by mzynfo
photo by Eddie Svärd
Ribersborgs kallbadhus (Ribersborgs open-air bath) is a bath complex locally known as the bathhouse also "Kallis' (younger) and" rib "(the older). The bathhouse has separate sections for men and women. On each department is a wood and a regular sauna. There is also a café and restaurant. From the summer of 2009, the place has a common sauna for ladies and gentlemen.

10. Hyllie - where the future is written


The ambition of Malmö's biggest development area is to create a mixed city full of life and to become a role model for climate smart living. 

The idea to expand southern Malmö has been entertained since the 1960s. Hyllie will boast nine thousand homes and the same number of new jobs. Energy supplies to Hyllie will be purely renewable or recycled energy and the energy system will be based on so called smart infrastructure.

Now here lies Malmö Arena and the Emporia shopping center, which is one of the largest malls in Scandinavia. Hyllie train station is the closest to Öresund Bridge and became operational on December 2012. 

Enjoy Malmö!