Malmö: history, architecture, parks and museums, visit in Sweden

This bronze sculpture in Malmö shows a revolver with a knotted barrel. Artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd created it in 1985 as a clear statement against violence. The sculpture stands in a public space and invites visitors to pause and reflect. Its form transforms an object of destruction into something peaceful. It speaks to people from all over the world and stands as a symbol of hope for a more peaceful future.

Rådhuset is Malmö's city hall, built in 1546 in Dutch Renaissance style. The building stands out for its red brick construction and striking main tower. It sits on the central square of the city and has been the seat of municipal government for nearly 500 years. The architecture reflects Malmö's historical connections to other European cities during the Renaissance. Visitors can appreciate the building's exterior and experience the active square surrounding it, where residents and travelers gather throughout the day.

Turning Torso is a residential tower with 54 floors built in 2005 based on designs by Santiago Calatrava. Its concrete structure twists in a spiral pattern, rotating 90 degrees from bottom to top. This tower has become a defining landmark in Malmö's skyline, showing how the city embraces contemporary design. Its distinctive form makes it easy to spot from many parts of the city.

The Öresund Bridge is a remarkable link connecting Sweden and Denmark. This structure combines a cable-stayed bridge section with an undersea tunnel spanning 16 kilometers, allowing cars and trains to cross between Malmö and Copenhagen. The bridge shapes Malmö's skyline and shows how this city opens toward its neighbors. Walking or driving across it, you see the sea and the landscapes of both countries. It is more than just an engineering feat - it represents connection and shared life between two nations.

Lilla Torg is a medieval square in the heart of Malmö where the city's past comes alive underfoot. Half-timbered merchant houses from the 16th century frame this space, where traders and craftspeople have done business for centuries. Today people gather here to eat, chat, or simply watch the life around them. The square blends Malmö's old trading heritage with its modern character, showing how the city preserves history while looking ahead.

Stortorget is Malmö's main square, established in 1540. Historic buildings surround this central gathering place, and an equestrian statue of King Charles X stands at its heart. For centuries, this square has been where people met, markets took place, and the city's life unfolded. The building facades reflect different periods, while the square itself remains the heart of Malmö today.

Hedmanska Gården is a green space in the heart of Malmö that has welcomed visitors since 1872. The garden displays flower beds that change with the seasons and is home to century-old trees that have stood there for generations. People come here to walk, rest on benches, and enjoy open green areas in the middle of the city. This place connects Malmö's history with the daily life of its residents, who find moments of calm and community here.

Sankt Petri Kyrka is a red brick church in Malmö built between 1319 and 1380. Inside, you will find medieval wall paintings and a decorated altar from the 1500s. This church tells the story of the city through its architecture and artistic works, showing visitors how religion and culture shaped Malmö's past.

Malmö Castle is a fortress built in 1537 that today houses several museums. Inside, visitors find art collections, a natural history museum, and a municipal museum. These spaces tell the story of the city and region through objects, old documents, and artistic works. The castle shows how Malmö grew from a medieval fortress into a modern city. Its massive walls and red brick facades are striking from the outside. Inside, the museum rooms invite exploration and offer a window into life in earlier times.

The Maritime and Technological Museum shows how the sea and industrial technology developed over the centuries. In this museum, you can see ship models, old machines, and equipment that were once used in production. Through interactive displays, you learn how these technologies shaped Malmö's growth. The museum explains the role that shipping and trade played in the city's history. It also reveals how people worked in the past and which inventions transformed their daily lives.

Slottsparken is a large park in the heart of Malmö where residents and visitors walk and enjoy nature. The park brings together old gardens with open green spaces and offers room to relax. There are paths to walk, ponds to observe, and areas for children to play. The park shows how Malmö maintains its green spaces and invites people to spend time outdoors together.

Gamla Staden is the historic core of Malmö where visitors walk cobbled streets lined with colorful buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries. The narrow passageways feel like stepping into the past, with shops, restaurants and cafés tucked into ground floors of ancient structures. This area shows how medieval merchants and craftspeople lived and worked. The quarter remains a place where locals and travelers gather, feeling the continuity between Malmö's distant past and its present day.

The Malmö Art Gallery displays works by Scandinavian artists from the 19th century to today. Here you can see paintings and sculptures that reflect the artistic development of the region. The collection shows different styles and periods. This gallery is an important place to understand the creative history of Scandinavia and how art has evolved over the decades.

Kungsparken is Malmö's central park, created in 1872, and features gardens designed in the English style, a cast-iron fountain from the 19th century, and century-old trees. The park serves as a green space where locals walk, rest, and spend time outdoors. The mature trees provide shade throughout the grounds, while the historic fountain adds character to this long-established public space.

The Food Museum of Disgusting Things in Malmö displays foods and dishes from different cultures that many people find repulsive. The museum explains why these foods are normal and valued in their home regions. Here you learn how taste and culture connect and how what seems disgusting to you can be everyday for other people. The museum helps you understand that food is about much more than disgust - it is about history, tradition, and survival.

Moderna Museet is housed in a former power plant and displays contemporary artworks alongside temporary installations by international artists. This art center represents how Malmö transforms historic buildings into vibrant cultural spaces. Inside, modern creativity exists within a structure that itself tells the story of the city's industrial past. Art lovers and curious visitors discover works that offer different views on the present day and what lies ahead.

Malmö's Library is a modern cultural center housed in a cubic glass and metal building. It offers book collections in many languages and reading spaces for visitors. This facility shows how the city brings together old traditions with contemporary design. The building itself is part of Malmö's growth and reflects the desire to make knowledge and culture available to everyone. Here people gather to learn and relax, much like they do in the city's historic squares.

The beach at Ribersborg stretches along Malmö with wide sandy shores where people swim, walk, and breathe in the sea air. A traditional Swedish bathhouse at the beach invites visitors to swim year-round, continuing a habit that locals have enjoyed for generations. This place shows how the city maintains its bond with the sea and how residents spend their leisure time, between water and sand, in a city that honors both the past and the present.

Möllevångstorget is a market square in Malmö's multicultural neighborhood where vendors sell fresh produce and international restaurants offer their dishes. This place reflects the diversity that shapes the city. Residents and visitors gather here to shop, eat, and watch the activity of the district. The mix of different cultures shows in the stalls and restaurants offering both traditional and contemporary food. Möllevångstorget is where you experience the daily reality of Malmö life.

The Botildenborg is a community center housed in a historic building from 1876 in Malmö. People come here to cook together and work in shared gardens. This place shows how the city brings old buildings back to life for modern community use. Walking through here, you see how history and daily life blend together naturally.

This park in central Malmö was created in 1891 as one of the city's first public green spaces. It features areas for children to play, an outdoor stage for performances, and gardens with planted beds. Parc du Peuple shows how Malmö opened up to give its residents places to spend time together and celebrate life. Today, people of all ages come here, artists perform on the stage, and the park remains a gathering point in the heart of the city.

The Malmö Opera is a performance hall built in 1944 that continues to host classical and contemporary productions today. With its 1500 seats, it serves as a central venue for music theater and ballet in the city. The building itself reflects Malmö's cultural growth over decades. Here, locals and visitors come together to experience performances that showcase the artistic side of the city and its connection to Nordic artistic traditions.

Hangaren is a covered venue in Malmö dedicated to the art of graffiti. Inside, artists create large-scale wall murals across its surfaces. This place shows how Malmö welcomes contemporary art forms into its urban fabric and provides space for young artists to work. The venue reflects the spirit of a city that balances its past with modern creativity.

The Form/Design Center in Malmö is an exhibition space showcasing contemporary creations by Scandinavian craftspeople and designers. Visitors can explore works by local artists, shop for carefully selected products in the center's boutique, and participate in rotating workshops. This location offers a direct connection to the city's current design scene and helps you understand the craft traditions that shape Malmö.

Apoteket Lejonet is a 19th-century pharmacy in Malmö that preserves the history of medicine and daily life in Sweden. With its original wooden paneling, counters, and containers, this pharmacy shows how people cared for their health and what remedies were available to them at that time. The rooms tell the story of an era when the pharmacist was an important figure in the city. This building allows visitors to step into 19th-century medical practices and understand how pharmacology has evolved over time.

The Natural History Museum in Malmö has shown the scientific side of the region since 1841. Here you see preserved animals, minerals, and aquariums filled with sea creatures from local waters. The museum explains Sweden's nature through collections built up over generations. Visitors can understand how wildlife and Earth's history have shaped this area.

Södergatan is the main street of Malmö, lined with shops, restaurants, and buildings from the 1800s that give the street its character. This busy shopping area shows how the city connects everyday life with its past. Buildings from different periods stand side by side, while shops and cafés draw people throughout the day. The street reveals how Malmö mixes old architecture with modern activity, creating a place where history and daily life work together.

The Castle Gardens in Malmö take shape around a 16th-century heritage, now serving as public green space that blends history with nature. You will find a working windmill, carefully tended flower beds, and a medicinal herb garden that shows how people once used plants for healing. Walking through these gardens, you notice the traditional layout and the way visitors use the space to slow down and observe. This place reveals how Malmö has maintained its connection to the past while creating a refuge where both locals and travelers pause to breathe and walk.

Pildammsparken is Malmö's large public park, created in 1920 around a water reservoir. Here you will find gardens, ponds, and walking paths spread across the grounds. The park is a place where locals come to relax, exercise, and enjoy nature. The paths take you through different landscapes, past trees and water features. It is a space where the city comes alive and people gather together.

Malmö Arena is a multipurpose venue in Sweden's third-largest city. Built in 2008, this center holds around 15,000 people and hosts sports events, concerts, and ice shows. The building represents modern Malmö, showing how the city has grown beyond its medieval past into a contemporary cultural hub. People gather here throughout the year to experience live entertainment and sporting spectacles.

Bastu Paus is a public thermal bath in Malmö's western harbor district. This facility offers saunas, steam baths, and relaxation pools where visitors can unwind. The building reflects how the city creates spaces for its residents to gather and release daily stress. It represents everyday life in a modern port city, where tradition and contemporary living intertwine.