Things to do in Skåne County, Sweden
Sweden! Honestly, I love Sweden. There’s SO MUCH to be found there. Living just across the sound in east Denmark, a lovely but much smaller country, the minute you cross the border into Sweden, you feel it. It’s BIGGER here. More trees, more nature, more to explore (and don’t get me started on the options at the grocery store – Sweden, you’re amazing). Today I’m sharing some of our family’s favorite things to do in Skåne County, Sweden.
Skåne County is the southernmost point of Sweden. It’s got a few sizable cities, but many more small towns, and is dotted with rapeseed fields, red barns, apple trees, castles and beaches. Easy to reach by car via the Øresundsbro, train or ferry (see below) from Copenhagen, it’s a favorite of ours. Let’s go!
Visit a National Park
Blessed with three national parks, Skåne has truly lovely, relaxed natural resources that are worth checking out. National parks are free, easily accessed, lovingly maintained and the perfect place to explore with kids.
Söderåsen National Park
Maybe my favorite stop on the list, I love hiking in this park. The nature is beautiful, with ridges, valleys and forests. The trails are varied, making them interesting for kids. Ours especially love traversing the boardwalks that run alongside the creek in the valleys.
Pack along a picnic and make a day of hiking one of the longer trails. It’s a perfect place to introduce kids to a longer hike without the hiking being too difficult. There’s also a super fun nature playground the kids will love at the Skäralid entrance.
Parking is available at both main entrances, Entré Skäralid and Entré Röstånga.
Stenshuvud National Park
Southern Sweden is blessed with some beautiful beaches and, if you catch one of those incredible Scandinavian weather days, it’s the perfect place to be. Stenshuvud features lovely forests, walking trails and a lovely white sand beach. We love nothing more than doing an early morning forest walk and playing on the beach when the sun is out and at its warmest. Remember your bathing suits!
Dalby Söderskog
Full transparency, I didn’t even know about this one until researching Sweden’s National Park website. How did I miss it?! It’s a forested nature reserve with hiking trails and looks incredibly beautiful, specifically in the fall months. I guess I’ll be making a trip there shortly, but if you beat me to it, let me know what you think.
Enjoy southern cities
If you’re looking to do some shopping, enjoy a Swedish fika, peruse book stores, find a museum or wander through old town squares and churches, stop for a while in one of these southern Sweden cities.
Lund
A university town with interesting places to eat and shop, a walkable and charming city center, Lund is a favorite for many.
Be sure to stop by the Lund Cathedral, a stunning church dating back to the 12th century.
Helsingborg
Easy ferry connections to Denmark, shopping options, harbor views and one of my favorite bakeries, Backhaus Bageri & Café. The Tropikariet is an indoor tropical zoo, so a good choice on a rainy day with kids.
Malmö
An easy entry to Sweden from Copenhagen, Malmö gets a lot of visitors by train. I would much rather keep going and head out into the rural areas of Skåne, but if you’re stopping here for a day, you should grab a meal in the Stortorget and people watch.
Check out the Malmohus Slott and Slottsparken, or check out the Disgusting Food Museum while you’re in the city.
Take a ferry
Ferries abound from southern Sweden, making connecting to a whole other country an easy day or weekend trip. Riding a ferry never fails to excite kids, so that’s also a bonus! Click here to check route options and times.
Trelleborg
From Trelleborg you can connect to Germany, Poland or Lithuania. The German port of Rostock is a gateway to many fun adventures in Germany.
Ystad
From Ystad, a cute town in and of itself, head to the remarkable Danish island of Bornholm (you can read more about Bornholm here) or Poland. Click here to check route options and times. Highly recommend a weekend run to Bornholm!
Helsingborg
A short 20 minute ride from Helsingborg will deliver you to nearby Helsingør, Denmark. Super affordable without a car, take the trip as a passenger and then explore the famous Hamlet’s Castle (Kronborg Slot) that sits on the water. Stroll the small, coastal town and get a bit of Denmark. Even with only a morning or afternoon, you’ll have plenty of time to complete the trip.
Enjoy nature
Swedes take their nature seriously, and one of the best ways to embrace Sweden is by enjoying relaxed and recharging time just walking and being out in nature. These are some of our favorite ways to do that.
Kullaberg
An incredible natural landscape about an hour north of Helsingborg, Kullaberg Nature Reserve is a beautiful place to spend a day hiking and taking in the views. There are multiple trail options, but you cannot miss the waterfront trail that starts at the Naturum Visitor Center. It allows kids to scamper over rocks, spot seals and check out caves.
If you have a full day, visiting Nimis, a wooden art structure built by a local artist in contradiction to the government’s wishes, is a worthwhile and interesting stop close to Kullaberg. Our kids loved climbing through the twisted wooden castle (be careful with younger children, as there are some exposed nails) and the stone house sitting at the foot of the castle and boasting of pirate lure.
Degeberga
Even small towns will boast nature trails and walks that are worthy of a special trip. A personal favorite of ours is Degeberga. We love the walk to the Forsakar Waterfall & the Åbjär Nature Reserve, where you can build a fire in the reserved fire place for a really perfect fall afternoon.
Just down the road, check out the abandoned Maltesholm quarry in Östra Sönnarslöv.
These areas were all discovered when staying at a lovely cottage in the country. They won’t show up on any major tourist destinations lists, but have become some of our favorite places in Europe. Whatever small town you find yourself in, look for local trails and discover the unexpected.
Apple orchard wonders
Orchards are plentiful in Skåne, so look for local cider and other products wherever you’re staying. You’ll be able to find them in grocery stores, gardening centers and at the orchards themselves.
Castle spotting
Southern Sweden abounds with castles and many are open for strolling the grounds. More estate homes than actual fairy tale castles, the gardens are always lovely and a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Maltesholm Slott
Our kids love the tree swing by the pond in the gardens – feels straight out of the Secret Garden.
Vittskövle Slott
A lovely little estate with beautiful gardens for running around.
Jordberga Slott
Hosts special events and concerts, as well as nice hotel rooms!
How to get to Skåne County, Sweden:
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Copenhagen is an easy starting point for adventuring into southern Sweden. Malmö is also home to an international airport. Information on flights can be found here.
Public transportation from Copenhagen is an easy option to reach Malmö & Lund. Simply purchase a ticket for the Øresundstog through the app or at Copenhagen Central Station or Copenhagen Airport. You will see machines that read “trains to Sweden.”
If you want to explore further into the countryside, you can rent a car in Malmö.
You can also rent a car in Copenhagen and easily drive into Sweden. Remember your passport and purchase your ticket to cross the bridge online to save a bit of money.
Ferry connections are also possible from Helsingør (accessible by train from Copenhagen city center) to Helsingborg as previously mentioned.
If you’re in Copenhagen and want to explore some of southern Sweden, but don’t want the hassle of renting a car or figuring out transportation, you can consider booking a tour like this one. A guide will take you from Copenhagen city center to Malmö & Lund, then back through Helsingør to visit Hamlet’s castle. A quick and straightforward way to approach seeing much of the area.
What have you discovered in Skåne that I need to check out? Looking for more Scandinavia? Check out our posts…
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