I visited an underrated city in Sweden before heading to Copenhagen, and it ended up being a highlight of my Europe trip

By Samantha Grindell Pettyjohn

New Follow authors and never miss a story!

In August, my husband and I set off for a trip to Scandinavia to go to a wedding in the small city of Helsingborg, Sweden. We planned to spend the majority of our trip in Copenhagen, as we were flying in and out of the Danish city since Helsingborg and Copenhagen are only about an hour and 20 minutes away from each other via train.

Still, we wanted to see a bit of Sweden during our journey, and we knew we wouldn't have a ton of time to sightsee in Helsingborg because of the wedding. We also didn't want to have to take a separate flight or spend a full day traveling, which ruled out Stockholm on the other side of the country.

After doing some research, we decided to spend one day and one night in Malmö, Sweden. Malmö is the third-largest city in Sweden and one of the country's fastest-growing cities. I liked the idea of going somewhere that could offer a true glimpse at Swedish culture, and it was extremely convenient to get there.

Adding a day in Malmö to our itinerary seemed like a no-brainer.

My husband and I took the train from Helsingborg to Malmö on a Monday morning, which took about 40 minutes. We also took the train from Malmö to Copenhagen the following morning, which was only a 20-minute ride.

The train couldn't have been easier. It ran in frequent increments, so we just bought tickets upon arrival at the station. It was lovely not to have to plan that part of our journey in advance.

The train was fairly crowded with commuters, but we still managed to find space for ourselves and our luggage.

I considered a few different hotels in Malmö when planning our trip, but I settled on MJ's fairly quickly. I appreciated that the boutique hotel was just 10 minutes from the train station and within walking distance to restaurants and bars.

The interior also has a floral, pink aesthetic, which appealed to me, and it was in my budget. A one-night stay in a small room cost 1,630 Swedish krona, which was about $170 when I booked our stay.

Walking to MJ's from the train was easy, even with the luggage my husband and I were toting, and I loved the look of the hotel from the outside.

One of the things I was most excited about at MJ's was its interior courtyard, designed for guests to dine and spend time together. It's covered by a glass dome that features greenery for a touch of whimsy, and its pink walls give it a chic and romantic feel.

It was just as pretty in person as it was in the photos I saw online. When we arrived at the hotel, I saw people dining and chatting under tables with umbrellas.

I loved that the upper floors at MJ's had open windows that overlooked it, so we could catch glimpses as we walked to and from our room.

I selected a small room at MJ's for our stay, figuring we could handle limited space for just one night.

However, to my surprise, the room was large. It had a seating area by the front door, a large bed, and room for a desk and a wardrobe. Likewise, the bathroom featured a large vanity and tub.

I couldn't believe how much space we got for the price I paid.

For our day in Malmö, I didn't create a strict itinerary. I mostly planned to wander the city with my husband, hoping to get a feel for what life in Sweden was like.

I was so glad I kept our schedule loose as we started exploring Malmö, as every street we turned down was beautiful and made me want to see more.

From the brick roads and cobblestone sidewalks to the colorful homes lining the streets, I couldn't get over how stunning the city was. Greenery grew on many of the homes we passed, and restaurants and shops were often situated in courtyards, creating a sense of community from the architecture alone.

It was also easy for us to travel on foot everywhere we went, as biking and walking are popular forms of transportation there.

After visiting Malmö Castle, a popular tourist destination in the city, we stopped for lunch at Malmö Saluhall, a food hall offering a diverse array of dining options.

There was a flower market set up outside it when we arrived, and when we walked in, there were stands with almost any food you could think of. I saw other tourists like me milling around, but there were also Malmö residents who had come to eat on their lunch break.

We feasted on Italian-inspired crostinis before stopping by another booth for pastries and coffee. Everything was, unsurprisingly, delicious, and I loved that the meal came with a side of people-watching.

After lunch, we made our way to Folkets Park, a family-friendly green space renowned for its vibrant and eclectic installations. There are also performances held there.

There were colorful playgrounds, oversize chairs, and shops inside. It was quiet since we were there during a school day, but I could imagine the area would be packed on weekends.

The colorful design felt so novel compared to the neutral colors I see at most American parks. I could have stayed there for hours.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the city, popping into shops and sitting on benches to take in the sights. I was charmed by the bookstores, flower shops, and thrift stores we entered, and it was fun to see locals and other tourists exploring the area.

I could tell the city was designed to be friendly to tourists, finding English writing nearly everywhere, but it still felt quintessentially European thanks to its architectural style.

I also spotted people sitting at cafés enjoying fika, a traditional Swedish snack break, in the afternoon. I loved catching a glimpse at a customary aspect of Swedish culture.

Before we grabbed dinner, my husband and I decided to sit at one of the many outdoor patios in Malmö, as we wanted to enjoy the city's ambiance.

We stopped at Mello Yello, a bar located in Lilla Torg, a square in the heart of the city, just a one-minute walk from MJ's.

As I sipped on a beer, I watched coworkers gather for happy hours, families walk to early dinners, and friends meet up after long work days. The atmosphere was unhurried and communal throughout the square. It felt like we could sit for hours, and the staff would be happy to have us.

After drinks, we spent the evening eating dinner, wandering through more squares, and grabbing dessert at Verde Gelato on our way back to our hotel.

My husband and I both love affogatos, so we would have loved them even if they came in plastic cups. Still, the adorable wooden tray and glass serveware made it even sweeter. The aesthetically pleasing touch was in perfect alignment with every other experience we had in Malmö that day, adding to its charm.

We ate them at bistro tables outside the shop, grinning at each other over bites of espresso-gelato goodness.

We were lucky enough to be in Sweden in late August, when the sun doesn't set until around 9 p.m.

We took advantage of the brightness by taking a walk along the edge of the Öresund Strait, which separates Denmark and Sweden, as the sun went down. We had crossed over it on our train ride into Sweden, but it felt even more romantic and quaint up close.

When we returned to MJ's after dark, the bar in the lobby had a party-like atmosphere going. I appreciated the fun energy, as well as the fact that our room was quiet a few floors up, allowing us to get a peaceful night of rest even as people mingled downstairs.

The elaborate breakfast spreads at all the hotels I stayed at in Europe amazed me, but MJ's was among my favorites, and not just because I got to eat it in the pink patio.

There was fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, all sorts of pastries, and a parfait bar. I served myself a bit of everything, and I sipped coffee out of an adorable mug I wished I could take home with me.

It was the perfect end to our stay at MJ's.

My 24 hours in Malmö were among the most relaxing of my weeklong trip to Europe.

I was enchanted by the city's architecture, green spaces, divine food, and charming restaurants. I loved my time in Copenhagen, too, but I thought Malmö offered a slightly slower pace that was more indicative of Scandinavian culture outside the bustling metropolis. I found myself wishing we had stayed there for longer than just a day.

If you're hoping to visit Sweden on a trip to Copenhagen, I think Malmö is the perfect way to do it.