Things to do in Skåne

Whether you are based at the Lund University campus in Lund, Helsingborg or Malmö, you will find plenty of things to see and do outside of your studies, research or teaching here in the southern Sweden region of Skåne.

In addition to a wide range of cafés, bars, restaurants, shopping centres and cultural and sporting activities, there are a number of tourist attractions located in Skåne and its surrounding areas. A few examples are listed below.

Key attractions

Lund

• Domkyrkan is Lund's famous cathedral, consecrated in 1145. It features an impressive astronomical clock, dating from 1424.
• Kulturen is an open-air museum, founded in 1892, which shows how people have lived and worked in Sweden through the ages.
• The Museum of Sketches was founded in 1934 by Ragnar Josephson, Professor of Art History at Lund University, and is a unique art museum focused on the creative process around the conception of public art, featuring sketches, preliminary works and models. 
• The Lund University Historiska Museet, founded in 1805, is the second largest archaeological museum in Sweden. Among other finds, the collection includes a 7 000 year-old skeleton.
• The Lund University Botaniska Trädgården (Botanical gardens) in Lund cover 8 hectares and feature around 7 000 different species. 

Helsingborg

• Sofiero Palace and Gardens (which won "Europe's Most Beautiful Park 2010") feature the 1864-built summer royal residence and extensive gardens, including 10 000 rhododendrons which bloom in late May.
• Frederiksdals Friluftsmuseum is one of Sweden's largest open air museums with historical buildings, parks and gardens.
• Helsingborg's centre features interesting historical landmarks such as the Kärnan Tower (the remains of the medieval castle) as well as shops, cafés and a busy port where ferries run between Helsingborg to Helsingör in Denmark.
• From Helsingborg to Denmark's Helsingör it is just a 20 minute boat ride. Helsingör is where you can visit Kronborg Castle, where Shakespeare's "Hamlet" was set. The castle is a World Heritage Site.

Malmö

• Malmö is Sweden's 3rd largest city with 285 000 residents. 
• There are many interesting sights and places to visit in Malmö, including the Turning Torso - the tallest building in Sweden located in the modern Västra Hamnen waterfront area, the Moderna Museet, Malmöhus Castle, Stor Torget - the main square, built in 1536 and the trendy bars and restaurants in the charming Lilla Torg, built in 1592.
• Malmö has many beautiful parks including Pildammsparken and Folkets Park.
• The annual Malmö Festival takes place in August and features top bands, dance, sport, international food stalls and other entertainment. There are other events taking place in Malmö year round.

Ystad and surroundings

• Ystad is a charming town well worth visiting and is also home to a busy port with ferries to and from Poland and the Danish island of Bornholm. 
• Fans of the character Inspector Kurt Wallander will find many familiar sights around the streets of Ystad, where the detective novels by Henning Mankell and TV series are set.
• Ales stenar (Ale's stones) is one of the most popular attractions in Sweden. The 67 metre long monument comprises 59 stones.
• Ystad's beaches offer soft white sand and soaring temperatures in the summer - Sandhammaren beach was voted "Best beach in Sweden" in July 2010.
• The Ystad International Military Tattoo is held in Ystad every two years, during August
• Glimmingehus is the best preserved medieval manor in Scandinavia. Construction began in 1499. 

Mölle and Höganäs

• The Kullaberg Nature Reserve is located at the tip of the Kulla Peninsula, northwest of Lund. Here you will find Sweden's strongest lighthouse light as well as dramatic cliffs, nature and a number of hiking trails. 
• Höganäs is known as a centre for pottery and ceramics, including Sweden's most famous pottery factory Höganäs Saltglaserat, established in 1835. You can also visit the popular outlet stores with Scandinavian brands such as Kosta Boda, Orrefors, BodaNova, Höganäs Keramik and Iittala.
• Flickorna Lundgren is a charming coffee cottage near Mölle, dating back to 1732.

Copenhagen 

• Copenhagen is Denmark's capital city and the largest city in Scandinavia. Regular trains run between Copenhagen and Malmö/Lund/Helsingborg. It takes less than an hour to reach Copenhagen from Lund and Malmö.
• Tivoli is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world with charming gardens, rides and a variety of entertainment on offer.
• Copenhagen is an easy place to visit to see some famous attractions such as the statue of The Little Mermaid, the Danish Royal Palaces, Nyhavn where colourful buildings line the waterside, art galleries, museums and excellent shopping.