5 day trips from Copenhagen to Sweden worth doing
A city trip to Copenhagen basically guarantees a fun time. The city has it all – from picturesque streets and interesting tourist attractions to cute café spots or parks. But what if you ran out of things to do Copenhagen or just need some time away from the city life? If this is you, there are some very good news: Sweden is not far and can be reached within 20 minutes by train or car. How about some day trips from Copenhagen to Sweden? And Sweden will not only provide you with a new and long list of things to do and places to see but also invite you to get lost in the beautiful nature.
Shortly, it gives you all you could possibly ask for. And if you want to keep it short with as less effort as possible, some of the places are the perfect day trips from Copenhagen. You can easily reach them within less than 2 hours and return in the evening. Thanks to the well-working train network and the affordable prices, you can be sure that your day trip will be nothing but a blast. Here are the 5 best day trips from Copenhagen to Sweden which you should know about:
1. Explore the Swedish city life in Malmö
The shortest day trip to Sweden leads you to Malmö. The city is located right at the other side of the Öresund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden. Malmö is the third biggest city in Sweden and perfect for a day trip. It offers a wide list of things to do which range from a relaxed picnic in the park to a visit of the Disgusting Food Museum and a city stroll. You can go for a walk along the sea and take a look at the quite impressive Öresund bridge. On a clear day, you can even wave to Denmark on the other side.
Malmö is famous for shopping and offers many cute cafés for the typical Swedish fika – a thing to do you absolutely cannot miss when visiting Sweden! Stroll through the Kungsgarden afterwards or Ribersborgsstranden.
How to get to Malmö from Copenhagen:
From Köpenhamn H (the central station of Copenhagen) you take the train to Malmö C. They leave about every 20 minutes and cost around 13 Euros one way. If you select the 24-hour ticket, you will be charged 24 Euros for a return ticket, plus it allows you to choose the time flexibly. Perfect for a day trip!
The journey lasts 39 minutes and will as well give you the experience of crossing the Öresund Bridge – I mean driving over the sea is quite fun, right?
Notes-from-a-traveller´s tip:
When you are travelling from Copenhagen to Sweden, you will mostly be moving around in the Skåne area. This is the most Southern region of Sweden. To get discounts (if you are travelling as a group for example) and all updates on your trips, make sure to download the Skånetrafiken App before your trip. Here you can see all the connection available as well as the timetables and where the train or bus currently is. Definitely a helpful tool for your day trips from Copenhagen to Sweden.
2. Visit the picturesque Lund
It is good that one of the prettiest Swedish cities isn’t far from Copenhagen. We are talking about Lund, a typical university town with a laid-back atmosphere. It is a lively city with picturesque streets and historical buildings. During the summer months, you can visit the botanical garden and witness the city in its beautiful blossom. Make sure to stroll over the campus of the Lund University, have a fika in a cute traditional café. And of course, just stroll through the streets. Lund is a small but very beautiful city which invites you to experience the Swedish lifestyle: laid-back and slow. Take your time.
How to get to Lund from Copenhagen:
The train to Lund is the same as you take when you are planning a day trip to Malmö. Except for the duration, as you need to sit a little bit longer to arrive in Lund. The train from Köpenhamn H to Lund C takes 54 minutes and leaves every 20 minutes. If you get the return ticket (24 hour ticket) you will need to pay 30 Euros. The ticket also allows you to stop in Malmö, if you want.
3. Experience the beach in Åhus (Kristianstad)
A bit further from Lund, you will pass Kristianstad. The small city itself is not that special (or at least not worth a whole day trip from Copenhagen), but the closely located village of Åhus definitely is. It can be reached within 30 minutes from Kristianstad by bus and is the perfect address for some beach vibes in Sweden.
How about the perfect beach day with clear blue water and all the cute little Swedish holiday homes? How about a beach which is nearly empty and leaves you enjoying the stunning view almost by yourself? If this is what you´re searching for, Åhus should be on your list for the best day trips from Copenhagen to Sweden. The reason why it is recommended to visit from Copenhagen is because it´s easier to reach by train and bus. You only need to switch from the train to the bus in Kristianstad and you´re already there.
In Åhus you can stroll through Äspet, relax by the beach, visit the Klosterbageriet for a fika or walk along the canal. During the summer months you can get some ice cream or a drink by the water as well. Unfortunately, you cannot see the sun set in this area of Sweden but the mood in the evening hours is still worth staying for.
How to get to Åhus from Copenhagen:
Again, this is the same conncection as you take if you plan to visit Malmö or Lund. From Köpenhamn H the journey to reach Kristianstad C takes 1 hour 44 minutes and the train leaves every hour. Make sure to take a connection without transfers so you do not need to change the trains. The return ticket is 43 Euros plus 4 Euros for the bus to Åhus.
When you arrive in Kristianstad, take the bus 551 and exit either at Åhus Rönnowskolan or Åhus Äspetvägen. Depending on what you plan to do, you can take the first exit to see a bit of the center of the village or head directly to Äspet to walk to the beach.
4. Visit Helsingborg and explore the West Coast
If you simply cannot get enough of Swedish cities, here is another option to take as a day trip from Copenhagen: Helsingborg. The city is located directly at the sea in the Northwest of Skåne. The area and the city itself is famous for the stunning nature, the swimming opportunities and the many trips you can take in the surrounding region. If you want to experience the Swedish west coast, this is your chance. Next to the typical city stroll and the Swedish fika, make sure to watch the sunset at the sea and spend time at the beach. And if you want to know more about the city itself, you can visit the Sofiero Castle or the botanical garden.
How to get to Helsingborg from Copenhagen
From Copenhagen, there is a direct train to Helsingborg C which only takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The train leaves around every 10 minutes, but if you want to get a direct train you need to check the Skånetrafiken app. There are a few available, which leave around every two hours.
5. Fall in love with the Swedish nature in Österlen
Ready for some Swedish countryside? Luckily you cannot only visit cities as a daytrip from Copenhagen. Österlen is the region in between Brösarp, Simrisnhamn, Mälarhusen and Romelilla. Basically, it is the Southeast of Skåne and known for the wide landscapes and the rough seaside. If you cannot wait to see the Swedish countryside and get to know the stunning nature the country has to offer a little bit better, make sure to put Österlen on your list. You can visit the rock formation at Ales Stenar, go swimming in Backåkra, visit Skillinge or Glimmingehus.
How to get to Österlen from Copenhagen:
The best way to reach the area of Österlen is to take the train to Simrishamn station. The journey takes 2 hours 11 minutes and you need to change your train in Malmö. For the 24 hour ticket you can expect to pay around 40 Euros.
Österlen is also a great destination as a day trip if you travel with a car. This leaves you with more flexibility and you can explore the whole area.
Sweden is waiting for you!
With these 5 day trips from Copenhagen you cannot only explore Sweden as well but add a little bit more spice to your city trip. The trips will show you more of the beautiful Scandinavia and hopefully make you fall in love with Sweden.
Click here to get more information about Southern Sweden.
Need more insights into your trip to Copenhagen? I got you.
