South Sweden Roadtrip | campervan hire

Stop 1: Malmö

Worth a visit:

El Jakriborg: Mock medieval town built in the 1990s.
Lund: Sweden’s second-oldest city.
Copenhagen: Capital of Denmark, a short train ride away.

Where to eat:

Malmö Saluhall ($$): Food market with a range of stalls.
Johan P ($$$): Traditional seafood in the shopping district.
Kockeriet ($$):

Sweden meets Denmark

The ancient and ultra modern rub shoulders in the first stop on your South Sweden road trip. Malmö is an exciting mix of tradition and contemporary creativity .

Imagining yourself a medieval fisherman is easy as you wander its historic streets. But then you’ll turn your head and catch a glimpse of a glittering skyscraper and remember that this is indeed a 21st-century city.

Yet what makes Malmö extra special is that just a short drive over the Öresund bridge is another famous metropolis. Copenhagen, capital of Denmark, is emblematic of everything that makes Scandinavia so cool.

But begin with Malmö. Stortorget is the city’s largest square. Next, visit Malmöhus Castle, the site of lengthy battles with the Danes.

Folkets Park, the oldest public park in the world, is also worth a stop. Then fast-forward in your time-machine with a visit to the Turning Torso skyscraper.

Done with culture? We did promise some nature after all. Ribersborg Beach, great for swimming or sunbathing, is walkable from the city centre. And have you checked out where we recommend camping?

Stop 2: Ystad

Worth a visit:

Ale’s stenar: Megalithic standing stones in the shape of a boat.
Österlen: Ridiculously pretty region in the south-east.
Stenshuvud National Park: Hiking over cliffs, along beaches, and through orchards.

Where to eat:

Store Thor ($$$): Atmospheric dining in the old town hall.
Sandskogens Värdshus ($$$$$): Upscale restaurant in an ancient mansion.

Wander into the past

Time to say goodbye to Malmö and set off in your campervan along the coast to the next stop on your South Sweden road trip, Ystad. Fans of Kenneth Branagh and the British police drama, Wallander, may already be familiar with this picturesque town. Never heard of it? Well you’re in for a treat.

Ystad is certainly movie-set pretty with its half-timbered houses in various pastel shades. Sitting in a landscape of rolling fields, it’s also home to some of Sweden’s best beaches. We particularly recommend the white sands of Sandhammaren.

But start with the town’s historic centre. St Knut’s square is worth a stop while at the Church of St Mary, which dates from 1240, a night watchman still marks the passing hours with the sound of his horn.

Then hop in the camper and drive south-east to Österlen. This stunning part of the country attracts more artists per capita than anywhere else in Europe.

And while you’re here, you might fancy a splash in the water at Rörum. This beach looks like something swiped from far more tropical shores.

Stop 3: Karlskrona

Worth a visit:

Drottningskärs Kastell: Fortified citadel on the island of Aspö.
Blekingeleden trail: 25km hiking path starting at Boafall.
Utklippan: Most south-easterly Swedish islands.

Where to eat:

Restaurang Utkiken ($$): Great views of the city and archipelago.
Nivå Bar & Stek ($$): Well-priced steakhouse with vegetarian options.
Sjörök Fisk & Vin ($$):

Naval glories of yesteryear

Next, you and your campervan hug the coast as you make your way to the next stop on your south Sweden road trip. Karlskrona is part of an archipelago that numbers 1,650 different islands , islets and skerries — some with only a single inhabitant.

UNESCO-listed Karlskrona itself is on Trossö. With its beautiful Baroque architecture and location among the scattered islands of the Blekinge archipelago, the city fulfills the dreams of culture and nature lovers alike.

Check out the Kungsholms Fort, built in 1680 when Karl XI founded the city as the base for the Swedish Baltic fleet. Meanwhile, the Marinmuseum has reconstructions of battle decks in wartime. Or you might want to visit Brändaholm with its adorable and quintessentially Swedish red cottages.

Next, hire a kayak and head out onto the blue waters. Fancy something more high-octane? Hop on a speedboat to the Utklippan islands. If you’re lucky, you might spot the seal colony.

Stop 4: Helsingborg

Worth a visit:

Helsingør: Danish town across the water, famous for its castle.
Kullaberg peninsula: Dramatic cliffs and hiking in a nature reserve.
Hornbæk Strand: Beautiful beach, 20-minute drive from Helsingør.

Where to eat:

Sofiero Slottsrestaurang ($$$$$): Exclusive dining in stately home.
Ebbas Fik ($$): Retro restaurant with 1950s memorabilia on sale.

Two cities for one

Back now to Sweden’s west coast and on to your final south Sweden road trip destination. In Helsingborg, as in Malmö, you get double bang for your buck. Because just across the water is Denmark, and, within clear view, the city of Helsingør.

But linger for a moment longer on Swedish shores. Check out the main sights of charming Helsingborg, which has great bars and restaurants around the harbour, some fabulous turreted buildings, and a ruined castle too.

Pay a visit to Dunkers Kulturhhus, a culture centre with art and interesting debates on all sorts of topics. Fredriksdal Museer is an open-air museum in an 18th-century manor with gorgeous botanical gardens. And the garden of Sofiero is also worth a stop, with its exceptional views of the Sound and beautiful forest.

When you can’t hold off any longer, hop on the ferry over to Denmark and Helsingør where you can explore cobbled streets and the city’s huge castle, Kronborg Slot — famously the inspiration for the castle in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.