My fiancée excitedly asked if we could take a day trip to Sweden when we were in Copenhagen. I rolled my eyes thinking: what is there in Malmö that is so worth sacrificing a day in one of Europe's most incredible cities? But alas, happy wife happy life: we visited Sweden. During our visit I was incredibly surprised at the breadth of activities and experiences to be had in Southern Sweden's Skåne region. Despite being culturally similar to Denmark, it really does feel like a different country: more modern, more ethnic diversity, more Dutch renaissance style architecture, even more coffee and pastries (fika is a Swedish concept after all!). If you are taking a weeklong trip to Copenhagen, spending a day in Sweden is a great way to experience something a bit out of the way and even less touristy. This guide focuses on three great places to visit in Skåne: Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg. You could easily combine two of these into one day trip, especially if you are looking for a full day of activities. I've also included a hotel recommendation in each city, just in case you want to extend your Swedish sojourn!

My travel experience for Denmark and Sweden is mostly in the Copenhagen area and southern Sweden. One great idea to see and explore both countries is to do a 4 day trip around the Copenhagen Sound. You literally will make a circle around it. You should start in Copenhagen, whether you are flying in or not it is a central location to begin. Both Denmark and Sweden have easy and reliable public transportation. You can purchase a ticket to travel from Copenhagen to the Swedish cities of Malmö, Lund, and Helsingborg. A stop in Malmö and Lund is recommended. You can check out my destination itinerary for Lund. Once in Helsingborg, you will need to take a ferry to cross back into Denmark. Helsingør or Elsingør, is a historic and quaint small city with much history and beautiful architecture to admire. You can also make this journey on bike. You may want to use the train and ferry to cross the water, but it is also a beautiful bike trip if you have a few extra days to bike. You could also reverse this trip the go from Copenhagen to Helsingør to Sweden. Either way, this is a wonderful trip to visit both countries in a few days. I've highlighted hotels, restaurants, and sightseeing that I have highly enjoyed while traveling to these cities.

I had the great opportunity to live and work in Lund, which is in the province of Skåne (southern Sweden). Skåne has many great amenities for all types of travelers. From the big city of Malmö to the ancient city of Lund, to the shores of Simrishamn, this area will delight all types of travelers.