Lund University Main Building

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!