Just a few minutes from Zealand by ferry or even over the new bridge, lies Sweden. Many, many times the size of Denmark but with less than twice the population, it is a popular destination for both Danish residents and tourists to Denmark alike. Danes find it excellent value for shopping trips and both tourists and residents are attracted by much of what Sweden has to offer.

Just across the water from Copenhagen, Malmö is Sweden’s third city (after Stockholm and Gotehenburg). It is a modern city which is currently experiencing something of a “Golden Age” and the whole Öresund region is a thriving metropolis with excellent communications (two airports!) and a strong economy. Remember, to check Malmö Sturup airport for flights as they are often less expensive than flights to/from Copenhagen Kastrup. Skania/Scania, (Skåne) as this part of Sweden is called, actually used to be part of Denmark and the connections are still close. The local dialect (skånska) is strongly influenced by Danish and you often see the regional flag which is a mixture of the Swedish and Danish flags – red and yellow. Many Danes live in Skåne whilst many Swedes have made the trip in the opposite direction.

Just inland from Malmö you will find the charming university town of Lund which has excellent cultural, tourist and academic attractions and if you have a car you may well want to take a short trip to Falsterbo, Sweden’s St.Tropez. The small town has great beaches and is well-know for its famous visitors and residents as well as an excellent golf course right by the sea. On a clear day, it is said that you can see Denmark, Germany and Poland from the lighthouse side of the course.
A few hundred kilometers up the west-coast motorway (the toll-free E6) is Sweden’s second city, Gothenburg. It has ferry connections to Denmark (as does it’s neighbouring town of Varberg) and is a vibrant and exciting destination. Try to make time to visit the coastal towns of Ängelholm (Engelholm), Landskrona and Halmstad even if you only have a few days to spare. Ängelholm is famous for its excellent rail museum so if you have an interest in any era of the train, I can personally recommend a half-day there.