The ancient and ultramodern rub shoulders in the first stop on your southern 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, the 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 visit. 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 within walking distance of the city centre. And have you checked out where we recommend camping?
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 picture-postcard 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, and 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 campervan 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.
Next, you and your campervan hug the coast as you make your way to the next stop on your southern Sweden road trip. Karlskrona is part of an archipelago that comprises 1,650 different islands , islets and skerries — some with only a single inhabitant.
UNESCO-listed Karlskrona itself sits on Trossö. With its beautiful Baroque architecture and setting among the scattered islands of the Blekinge archipelago, the city fulfils 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 wartime battle decks. Or you might want to visit Brändaholm with its adorable and quintessentially Swedish red cottages.
Next, hire a kayak and head out into the blue waters. Fancy something more high-octane? Hop aboard a speedboat to the Utklippan islands. If you’re lucky, you might spot the seal colony.
Back now to Sweden’s west coast and on to your final southern Sweden road-trip destination. In Helsingborg, as in Malmö, you get two for the price of one — Denmark is just across the water and, within clear view, the city of Helsingør.
But linger a little longer on Swedish shores. Check out the main sights of charming Helsingborg — 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 lively 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 at Sofiero is worth a stop, with exceptional views over the Sound and beautiful woodland.
When you can’t hold off any longer, hop on the ferry 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.
