A magical time of year
Malmö in southern Sweden is magical in December.
The cosy streets glow with fairy lights, the speciality shops are dressed up for the season, and the Christmas markets in Malmö fill the city’s squares with the smell of mulled wine and freshly baked treats.
We’re Copenhageners who cross the bridge regularly for a day trip to Malmö, and there’s a reason we keep coming back.
Whether you’re visiting from Copenhagen or staying in Malmö, we highly recommend soaking up the festive atmosphere and perhaps picking up a unique Christmas present or two.
Snow was falling gently when we visited at the start of December. It didn’t settle, but the Christmas spirit was enchanting all the same.
We especially liked the Gustav Adolfs Torg Christmas market, which becomes the city’s central gathering place for gift shopping and festive cheer.
In this guide to the Malmö Christmas markets, we share tips and ideas, plus shops and cafés to visit during the holiday season.
Update 2026: Dates and opening times for the Christmas markets have been updated for November and December 2026.
Where to stay in Malmö?
- Budget: HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City – Centrally located hotel/hostel where you can choose between a double bed and a bunk bed if you want to save even more money.
- Value for money: Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House – Where we’ve stayed ourselves. A quirky, characterful spot with a gym and sauna in our favourite pocket of the old town.
- Luxury: MJ’s – Colourful and exclusive rooms in a cosy hotel near Lilla Torg.
Search for the best hotels in Malmö here.
Table of contents
Why visit Malmö for Christmas?
Christmas in Copenhagen is magical. Just check out our guide to the best Christmas markets in Copenhagen.
As Copenhageners, we still love visiting Malmö for Christmas, though!
The shops are full of special items, and prices are generally much lower than in Denmark – particularly when it comes to clothing and food.
Visiting Malmö on a day trip from Copenhagen is great if you want to combine (Christmas) shopping with things to do in one of Sweden’s nicest cities.
We love pairing Christmas shopping with a winter getaway in Malmö.
With the money we save, it feels like the trip pays for itself, and we also enjoy a wonderful break that gets us into the Christmas spirit. It’s a bit of a Christmas treat.
The train from Copenhagen Central Station to Malmö Central Station only takes 40 minutes. If you get off at Triangeln Station, it only takes 36 minutes.
Before you know it, you’re in Sweden.
PS: If you’re already staying in Malmö, you should consider visiting Copenhagen as well – Christmas time or not.
Everything you need to know about the best Christmas markets in Copenhagen, including where to find them and when they are open
Read moreChristmas markets in Malmö
The Christmas market at Gustav Adolfs Torg
Don’t miss the Christmas market at Gustav Adolfs Torg in the heart of the city.
Stalls are set up selling everything from pancakes and churros to Christmas trees, ceramics and calendars featuring adorable dogs.
The large square has been nicely decorated for the festive season with illuminated Christmas presents, hearts and stars hanging in the trees.
Update 2026: During Christmas 2026, the Christmas market at Gustav Adolfs Torg will be open from 26 November to 20 December, every Thursday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 18:00.
Opening hours for the Christmas market at Gustav Adolfs Torg:
- 26/11-29/11 (11:00-18:00)
- 3/12-6/12 (11:00-18:00)
- 10/12-13/12 (11:00-18:00)
- 17/12-20/12 (11:00-18:00)
See the events on Facebook here.
Christmas in Folkets Park
Just a 15-20-minute walk from Gustav Adolfs Torg, you’ll find Folkets Park (the People’s Park), which dresses up for Christmas.
Here, there will be festive decorations and Christmas lights, along with an ice rink where you can borrow skates for free or bring your own.
All you need to know about Malmö, Sweden, including what to do, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay
Read moreBondens egen julmarknad
Bondens egen marknad (the Farmer’s Own Market) is a market at Drottningtorget in Malmö that takes place several times a year.
At Christmas, it transforms into a cosy Christmas market, where you can buy locally produced goods directly from farmers in Scania – ranging from freshly baked bread, pastries and festive treats to vegetables, jams, flowers, fruit juice and handmade products.
The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, and many of the stalls offer tastings, so you can find your own favourites among the season’s delights. Everything is grown and produced on a small scale, with great care for both quality and flavour.
Bondens egen julmarknad is a lovely place for Christmas shopping if you want to support local producers and pick up a few unusual gifts or treats for yourself.
Update 2026: For Christmas 2026, the market will be held on Saturday 12 December from 9:00 to 14:00.
Caroli Christmas Market
Caroli Christmas Market takes place in the square between Caroli Church and the Caroli shopping centre.
Here, you can find this year’s Christmas presents from local makers – everything from handmade artworks and unique decorations to items that reflect the neighbourhood’s diversity and creativity.
The atmosphere is lively and cosy, and the scent of Christmas drifts from the stalls, where restaurants, food stands and bakeries serve their treats.
Expect both traditional festive specialities and dishes from different cultures.
There are also fun activities for children (including face painting), making it a lovely day out for the whole family.
It’s on the same day as Bondens egen julmarknad at Drottningtorget, and together they form the largest Christmas event in eastern Malmö.
Update 2026: For Christmas 2026, the market will be held on Saturday 12 December from 10:00 to 16:00.
Julmarknad på Mitt Möllan
Mitt Möllan’s Christmas Market is one of Malmö’s most creative festive traditions and the perfect place to find something truly special for Christmas.
Here, designers, artists and craftspeople come together to sell handmade and unique gifts – everything from ceramics, jewellery and illustrations to textiles, art and delicacies.
It’s the ideal spot to find personal and locally produced Christmas presents that stand apart from the classic market style.
The market is set in the multicultural district of Möllevången, so once you’ve finished your shopping, you can explore the area’s many interesting shops or enjoy something tasty to eat.
Update 2026: For Christmas 2026, the market will take place from 28 to 29 November, from 12:00 to 17:00.
See the event on Facebook here.
Other Christmas markets near Malmö
Several other Christmas markets in Scania are well worth a visit if you’re planning a Christmas trip to southern Sweden.
Christmas at Katrinetorp
Christmas at Katrinetorp (Julmarknad på Katrinetorp) is a Christmas market in an old manor house, a short 20-minute drive from central Malmö.
Here, you’ll discover plenty of Swedish delicacies. The Christmas atmosphere is truly enchanting with beautiful decorations, a festive Christmas tree, engaging activities, music and much more.
Christmas at Katrinetorp typically takes place on one of the first weekends in December.
A free bus service runs from Gustav Adolfs Torg in Malmö to Katrinetorp, departing every hour on the hour from Malmö and returning every half hour from Katrinetorp.
Update 2026: In 2026, Christmas at Katrinetorp will be held over the weekend of 4 to 6 December.
On Friday, the market is open from 11:00 to 19:00, while on Saturday and Sunday, it operates from 10:00 to 17:00.
Admission is 80 SEK for adults, and children under 18 enter free of charge.
Kulturen in Lund
If you make the trip to nearby Lund (a quaint city in southern Sweden that’s definitely worth checking out), you might consider exploring Kulturen, a very interesting open-air museum.
During the Christmas season, the museum focuses on the history of Christmas, featuring Christmas food, themed tours, storytelling and activities for all ages.
The Christmas market is usually held on the first Advent weekend.
Update 2026: In 2026, “Julstök med julmarknad” will take place at Kulturen in Lund during the weekend of 27 to 29 November.
On Friday, the museum and market are open from 16:00 to 20:00, and on Saturday and Sunday, they are open from 11:00 to 18:00.
Admission is 160 SEK for adults and 125 SEK for students with a student card, while children under 18 enter free.
Here is a link to the Christmas programme.
What to see and do on a day trip to Lund, Sweden + how to get there
Read moreChristmas shopping in Malmö
We love shopping in Malmö.
While the main street (Södergatan) is naturally quite commercial and features several chain stores, many of the shops and cafés have Swedish origins and fit right in – for example, H&M, Espresso House, Max Burgers, Granit, Naturkompaniet, Stadium, Filippa K, Indiska, Peak Performance and Tiger of Sweden.
In addition, the main street and many side streets are lined with speciality shops of exceptional quality.
Here, you’ll find a range of smaller, emerging brands and independent stores showcasing exciting products.
Our favourite shops in Malmö
The homeware shops AB Småland and Granit are two places we always make a point of visiting when we’re in Malmö.
Both offer exquisite Christmas decorations and delightful gifts for others (and yourself, of course!).
LillaSverige features unique, handmade Swedish and Scanian products that make perfect Christmas presents, while the vibrant and imaginative bath bombs from LUSH are a treat for anyone with a bathtub.
You can also find delicious edible gifts like chocolate, liquorice, coffee and tea.
Discover the charm of Sweden’s 3rd largest city just 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen
Read moreThe best cafés and restaurants in Malmö
The food scene in Malmö is wonderful, and we’ve created a comprehensive food guide with the best cafés and restaurants in Malmö.
On a day trip, it’s impossible to sample all the places we’ve highlighted.
Fortunately, there are numerous excellent places to eat in the area between Malmö Central Station and Triangeln Station – a stretch you’ll naturally cover while exploring the shops along the main street and in the side streets.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Coffee and fika (the Swedish concept of enjoying a coffee and cake break together):
- Bageri Leve. The best croissants (and other baked goods) in Scandinavia, right by Triangeln Station.
- AB Småland. Experience the Swedish fika atmosphere in stylish surroundings, where you can also buy home goods, clothing and items for children.
- Lilla Kafferosteriet. A spacious, inviting café in the old town that serves excellent coffee.
- Espresso House. A Swedish coffee chain doing reliably good coffee with a wide range of plant-based milk alternatives and tempting pastries (including several vegan options).
- Solde. Speciality coffee in the centre of Malmö.
Brunch and lunch:
- Farm2Table. Cosy café with the city’s best breakfast (including smoothie bowls and waffles).
- Jord. Another brunch favourite with tofu scramble, smoothie bowls, French toast and other plant-based goodies.
- Hummusson. Hummus bar with delicious hummus, falafel and pita – perfect for a quick lunch.
- Vegegården. Affordable, completely vegan Asian buffet, great for very hungry people.
Dinner:
- Far i Hatten. Yummy wood-fired sourdough pizzas in Folkets Park.
- The Vegan Bar. Burgers and speciality beers. The music can be loud and it’s a little bit far to walk from the city centre, but the burgers are worth it.
- Bastard Burgers. Good burgers closer to the city centre.
- Malmö Saluhall. Lots of different food stalls near Malmö Central Station.
Everything you need to know about finding the most delicious vegan and vegetarian places in Malmö, Sweden
Read moreTransport to Malmö from Copenhagen
By train or bus
Trains and buses run to and from Malmö several times an hour all year round.
If you want to visit Malmö on a day trip from Copenhagen, you can travel from Copenhagen Central Station to Malmö Central Station in approximately 40 minutes.
If you get off at Hyllie, Triangeln or Malmö Central Station, you can use the Danish Rejsekort app. Just remember to check in and check out. Alternatively, train tickets can be bought at the train stations.
Buses, primarily FlixBus, can be more affordable than the train; however, the journey time from Copenhagen to Malmö is slightly longer (approximately 50 minutes).
By car over the Øresund Bridge
It’s easy to drive from Denmark to Malmö.
A quick trip over the Øresund Bridge and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the city before you know it. From Kastrup Airport, it takes less than half an hour.
There are plenty of central indoor car parks in Malmö. Prices typically range from about 150 to 300 SEK per day.
Everything you need to know about Helsingborg in Sweden, including what to do, where to stay and our best tips
Read moreWhere to stay in Malmö
We’ve visited Malmö on day trips from Copenhagen many times, and you can experience a lot of what the city has to offer (including several Christmas markets!) in just one day.
However, there’s something special about staying overnight.
Just one night can make all the difference.
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to spend the night in Malmö, check out our comprehensive guide on where to stay in Malmö with the best hotels and areas.
Our personal pick of the best hotels in Malmö across four lovely neighbourhoods – from budget bunks to luxury.
Read moreThank you for reading our Malmö Christmas market guide
We hope our guide to visiting Christmas markets in Malmö has been useful.
What are your thoughts on Malmö in December? Could you see yourself visiting for a Christmas trip?
If you haven’t been to Malmö yet, don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments! We’re happy to help.
And if you’ve already visited Scania’s charming capital, we’d love to hear your best tips.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for hotels and apartments.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- AirHelp for flight delay compensation.
- GetYourGuide for great tours everywhere.
- Airalo for reliable eSIM.
- Discover Cars for transparent car hire.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like True Traveller. Compared here.
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Hi, can one pay by card at the Christmas markets and public toilets ?
Yes, in practice you can pay by card almost everywhere in Malmö, and that usually goes for the market stalls too. Sweden is one of the most cashless countries in the world, and many places don’t take cash at all.
A few small stalls may prefer Swish (a Swedish payment app), but you need a Swedish bank account for that, so card is easier. The paid public toilet at Gustav Adolfs torg costs 10 kronor.
If you want to be completely safe, a little cash in your pocket doesn’t hurt, but most visitors manage fine without it. Enjoy the markets!