Where to Stay in Malmö: The 4 Best Areas & 10 Best Hotels
Our personal accommodation recommendations, from budget to luxury stays | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
Day trip or stay for the night?
We absolutely love Malmö. Ever since we got to know each other in 2010, we have visited the city on the other side Øresund more times than we can count.
From Copenhagen, you can easily get a lot out of Malmö on a day trip.
But if you are travelling from further away – or if you just want to explore more of Malmö’s fantastic sights (and eat more of the amazing food!) – we can easily recommend spending a night (or more) in the city.
In this travel guide, we share our thoughts on the best areas to stay in Malmö for solo trips, trips with friends, romantic trips and family trips, as well as the best hotels in all price ranges; ranging from budget to luxury.
Where to stay in Malmö?
- Budget: HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City – Centrally located hotel/hostel where you can choose between a double bed or a bunk bed if you want to save even more money.
- Value for money: Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House – Where we’ve personally stayed. A very nice, quirky hotel with a gym and sauna in Malmö’s most lovely area.
- Luxury: The Duxiana – Sleep in luxury beds from DUX. Probably the best hotel in town.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Malmö here.
Table of contents
Map of Malmö
Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenburg.
The city is located in the southwestern part of Scania – very close to Copenhagen.
How long should you stay in Malmö?
How many days do you need in Malmö?
For most people, it will be optimal to spend 2-3 days in Malmö. It really is a perfect destination for something like a weekend trip.
But how long you should stay in Malmö obviously depends on what you would like to experience, your travel style and your budget.
- 1 night in Malmö: With a single night in Malmö you get to see and do so much more than on a day trip. Have dinner in peace, walk through the quiet streets in the evening and wake up with the city the next morning.
It feels very different to not have to go home on the same day that you arrive, and the next day Malmö already feels a little more homely.
- 2-3 nights in Malmö: With two or three nights in Malmö, most people will find that they can see all the sights they would like without any kind of stress.
You can even consider spending half a day visiting Lund, Båstad or Helsingborg if you want to see more cities or go to Kullen or Söderåsen National Park if you need some more Swedish nature in your life.
- 4-7 nights in Malmö: Fortunately, there are enough exciting places to eat in Malmö to eat at a new, delicious place every night if you stay in the city for a week. In addition to being able to experience all of Malmö’s areas and highlights (including some of those that are not directly in the city centre), you also get to see quite a bit more of beautiful Scania.
Keep in mind that there’s also a bit of a difference between visiting Malmö in summer or winter. In June, you can get almost 18 hours of daylight to explore the city – whereas in December the days can be as short as 7 hours.
The 4 best areas to stay in Malmö
Although you can easily walk around to most attractions in Malmö, it still makes sense to choose carefully where to settle in the city.
Most visitors will probably find it most convenient to stay in Gamla Staden (the city centre) close to everything. But the areas just outside the centre also each have their own charm.
Malmö’s 4 best areas to stay in:
- Gamla Staden – Malmö’s heart. A good area for all travellers.
- Gamla Väster – Cobbled streets and colourful houses in the centre. The best area for romantic trips.
- Möllevången – A very multicultural area. The best choice for a group of friends.
- Västra Hamnen – Malmö’s modern waterfront district. A nice neighbourhood for solo travellers and families.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Malmö here.
Gamla Staden – Malmö’s heart
For most people who visit Malmö, Malmö is equal to Gamla Staden (“the old town”).
This is where you will find the city’s best shopping, most cafés and restaurants and a large part of Malmö’s attractions. If you live in Gamla Staden, you are in the middle of it all.
Everything is only a short walk away, and there are also several fantastic hotels to be found here.
The best hotels in Gamla Staden:
- Mayfair Hotel Tunneln – Nice, classic hotel right by Stortorget.
- Radisson Blu Hotel Malmö – Quiet accommodation in the middle of the Caroli district with organic breakfast.
- HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City – Centrally located hotel/hostel where you can choose between a double bed or a bunk bed if you want to save even more money.
- Moment Hotels – Small double rooms by the canal in Gamla Staden serving good breakfast.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Gamla Staden here.
Map of Gamla Staden
Gamla Väster – Cobbled streets and colourful houses in the centre
Gamla Väster is the western part of Malmö’s old town (Gamla Staden). Here you get the city’s best location.
Gamla Väster is super close to the green areas Kungsparken and Slottsparken with most of Malmö’s restaurants and shopping options within short walking distance.
The charming cobbled streets become completely quiet in the evening and lay the perfect ground for romantic strolls. Everyone will surely enjoy staying here, but Gamla Väster is particularly suitable for couple trips.
The best hotels in Gamla Väster:
- The Duxiana – Sleep in luxury beds from DUX right by the canal.
- MJ’s – Colourful and exclusive rooms in a cosy hotel.
- Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House – A very nice (and quirky) hotel with a gym and sauna.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Gamla Väster here.
Map of Gamla Väster
Möllevången – Multicultural area
Also just called “Möllan“. If you haven’t noticed before, this is where you’ll really feel how multicultural Malmö is. People from more than 180 countries live here.
You can find food from all over the world in Möllan, and there’s definitely an amazing but at times also rather hectic energy.
If you’re going to Malmö to party at the weekend, this is the perfect spot to stay for a trip with friends.
But if you live a bit further back from Möllevångstorget, Möllevången is also perfectly fine for families who want to be close to Folkets Park and all the fun playgrounds and attractions there.
Something mostly everyone will be able to appreciate: The neighbourhood is known for being one of Malmö’s cheapest areas when it comes to both food and accommodation.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Möllevången here.
Map of Möllevången
Västra Hamnen – Malmö’s modern waterfront district
Västra Hamnen (“the western harbour”) is located northwest of Malmö’s Central Station and is most famous for the iconic skyscraper Turning Torso.
Once an industrial area, today it’s known as Malmö’s most exclusive neighbourhood.
Sustainability is a top priority, and there are ample opportunities for swimming in the sea from Scaniabadet and Ribersborg Beach nearby.
The best hotels in Västra Hamnen:
- Adlinks
- Story Hotel Studio Malmo – “Work, stay, play” big city atmosphere with a view over Malmö’s roofs.
- The More Hotel Västra Hamnen – Modern apartments with a kitchen and living room.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Västra Hamnen here.
Map of Västra Hamnen
The 10 best hotels in Malmö
The overall quality of hotels in Malmö is high, and fortunately, the prices are not so.
Regardless of exchange rate fluctuations, you get excellent value for your money in Sweden, and even more so in Malmö compared to a city like Stockholm, which is generally a more expensive place to stay.
Malmö is also much cheaper than Copenhagen – so cheap, in fact, that you can even consider using Malmö as a base for exploring the Danish capital.
Here are our personal recommendations for the best hotels in Malmö, ranging from budget options to luxury accommodations.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels in Malmö here (adlink).
Luxury hotels in Malmö
- The Duxiana – Luxury beds from DUX in Gamla Väster (our favourite area).
- MJ’s – Colourful and exclusive rooms in a cosy hotel.
- Story Hotel Studio Malmo – “Work, stay, play” big city atmosphere with a view of Malmö’s roofs.
The Duxiana – Luxury beds from the bed company DUX
You have probably heard of the luxury beds/mattresses from DUX of Sweden. But did you also know that the company was founded (and has its headquarters) in Malmö – and that they run what is probably the city’s best hotel?
The Duxiana is located right by the canal in the Gamla Väster part of Gamla Staden (the old town/city centre).
The hotel is of course furnished with DUX’s own furniture and beds, so you can be absolutely sure of a good night’s sleep.
Check prices and availability at The Duxiana (adlink).
MJ’s – Colourful and exclusive
Malmö has many amazing hotels, but MJ’s (on Mäster Johansgatan in Gamla Väster) can rightly be said to be one of the most exclusive.
We have to admit that we are far from being this creative and colourful in our own interior design at home. But we love the bold style!
Check prices and availability at MJ’s (adlink).
Story Hotel Studio Malmo – part of JdV by Hyatt
When strolling through the charming streets and alleys of Malmö, you might not feel like you’re in a metropolis. However, take a look over the rooftops from one of the rooms at Story Hotel Studio, and you suddenly realise that Malmö is far from being a small town.
In fact, it’s Sweden’s fastest-growing city and a significant hub for innovation.
Story Hotel Studio is situated right next to Malmö’s Central Station in the Story building, which houses a plethora of smaller creative businesses on its lower 10 floors. The hotel occupies the upper 4 floors, and at the very top, you’ll find the sky bar with a spacious outdoor terrace.
Check prices and availability at Story Hotel Studio Malmo (adlink).
Hotels with good value for money in Malmö
- Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House – Where we’ve personally stayed. A very nice, quirky hotel with a gym and sauna in Malmö’s most lovely area.
- Radisson Blu Hotel Malmö – Quiet accommodation in the middle of the Caroli district in Gamla Staden with organic breakfast.
- The More Hotel Västra Hamnen – Modern apartments with a kitchen and living room.
- Mayfair Hotel Tunneln – Classic hotel right by Stortorget.
Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House – Where we have stayed
We have previously stayed at Hotel Noble House for a few nights while visiting Malmö and loved being right in the very centre of Gamla Staden.
Each room has a movie theme and ours was “Pretty in Pink”. The film theme is repeated throughout the hotel.
We also enjoyed the small but well-equipped gym and the sauna after a rainy evening – both are free to use for hotel guests. Kids will love the fun area at the breakfast buffet.
A nice bonus: Hotel Noble House has been awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel for its sustainable practices.
Check prices and availability at Best Western Plus Hotel Noble House (adlink).
Radisson Blu Hotel Malmö – Quiet accommodation with organic breakfast
With a fantastic location in one of the quiet parts of Gamla Staden, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Malmö is a perfect place to stay for couples on a weekend break or families looking for a high-quality hotel room.
You’ll find a gym, organic breakfast from Saltå, air conditioning in the rooms and much more.
Check prices and availability at Radisson Blu Hotel Malmö (adlink).
The More Hotel Västra Hamnen – Modern apartments close to the water
Close to both bathing facilities and the centre of Malmö, The More Hotel offers modern apartments with everything you need at reasonable prices.
Check prices and availability at The More Hotel Västra Hamnen (adlink).
Mayfair Hotel Tunneln – A classic hotel by Stortorget
The location in Gamla Staden right by Stortorget means that you are only a few steps from the heart of Malmö with everything you could want in terms of culture, shopping and restaurant and café life.
If you opt for the small double rooms with a 140 cm wide bed (which should provide enough space for two adults, although it’s a bit narrow), you get a lot of hotel for your money at Mayfair Hotel Tunnel. Deluxe double rooms with larger beds are also available.
Check prices and availability at Mayfair Hotel Tunneln (adlink).
Accommodation on a budget in Malmö
- HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City – Centrally located hotel/hostel with the option of either a double bed or a bunk bed.
- Moment Hotels – Small double rooms by the canal in Gamla Staden serving good breakfast.
- Good Morning+ Malmö – A nice place to save some money on accommodation if you don’t mind there being ~2 kilometres to the centre.
HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City – Cheap hotel/hostel
If you are looking for a cheap place to stay in Malmö with a great, central location (right next to our favourite cafe Farm2Table, favourite bakery Leve and favourite shop AB Småland!), you should consider staying at HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City.
There are both budget double rooms (with and without private bathrooms) and dormitories with bunk beds, so it’s a good option for solo travellers or friends travelling together.
Check prices and availability at HOTEL N Hostel Malmö City (adlink).
Moment Hotels – Small double rooms in Gamla Staden
With a nice location right by the canal in Gamla Staden (very close to Malmö Central Station), you get a solid (albeit small) double room for a relatively low price at Moment Hotels.
Check prices and availability at Moment Hotels (adlink).
Good Morning+ Malmö – A kinda out-of-the-way location at a good price
With a location on the other side of Pildammsparken, Good Morning+ Malmö is just 2 kilometres away from the city centre.
If you don’t mind the added transport time (the stroll through the park is actually very pleasant), you get a nice room for your money here.
Check prices and availability at Good Morning+ Malmö (adlink).
The best places to stay for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (ESC 24) will take place from May 7th to May 11th in Malmö, specifically at Malmö Arena, located in Hyllie, just 5-10 minutes from Malmö’s city centre.
This means you can easily stay in Malmö and have convenient access to the Eurovision Village (the official festival site).
If you wish to be right in the heart of all the Eurovision action, there are two excellent hotels just a stone’s throw away, namely Best Western Malmo Arena Hotel and Quality Hotel View.
Besides being located right next to Malmö Arena (and the Emporia shopping centre), the advantage of staying in Hyllie is that you’re only about 13 minutes by train from Copenhagen Airport or approximately 30 minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.
The 3 best hotels in Malmö for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024:
- Best Western Malmo Arena Hotel – Comfortable rooms, modern facilities and easy access to the arena. The best place to stay for ESC 24.
- Quality Hotel View – Also a really good bet. The two hotels are quite similar and are located only 500 metres apart. From here the view is perhaps a little better.
- Good Morning+ Malmö – Located in Södervärn, halfway between Malmö Arena (a 10-minute bike ride away) and the city centre of Malmö, Good Morning+ offers a more budget-friendly accommodation option for ESC 24.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels near Malmö Arena here.
Fun fact: This is the 3rd time the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö. The first time was in 1992, and the last time was in 2013. It has also been held in Gothenburg (1985) and three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, 2016).
Staying in Copenhagen for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
With less than a 15-minute train ride from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö Arena, staying in Kastrup (by the airport) or in the centre of Copenhagen during ESC 24 is a viable accommodation option indeed.
The journey between Hyllie (where Malmö Arena is located) and Copenhagen Central Station only takes approximately 30 minutes.
Malmö is a wonderful city, and it’s likely where you’ll experience the most Eurovision-esque atmosphere. However, if accommodation options in Malmö are fully booked or if you simply prefer to stay in Copenhagen, it’s certainly a good choice as well.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels at Copenhagen Airport here or in the centre of Copenhagen here (adlinks).
How to get around Malmö
Malmö is really compact and it is easy to walk to everything.
It is also a very bike-friendly city, and we borrowed two bikes on one of our visits.
Most of the time we just walked, but the bikes came in handy when we wanted to get to a restaurant faster or for example get to the area around Västra Hamnen, which is otherwise about 30 minutes of walking from Gamla Staden.
We haven’t used it that much ourselves, but the public transport system in Malmö is great and easy to use.
How to get to Malmö
Trains and buses run to and from Malmö several times per day all year round as the city has good connections to other large cities in Sweden and to Copenhagen in Denmark.
If you want to travel to Malmö from Copenhagen, you can travel from Copenhagen Central Station to Malmö Central Station in approximately 40 minutes.
Buses from Copenhagen (mostly Flixbus) can be a little cheaper than taking the train. The journey time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
If you’re flying in, you can get to the centre of Malmö in just about 20 minutes from Copenhagen Airport.
From Stockholm, the train ride is a bit longer at about 5 hours.
Our best tips for visiting Malmö
- Drink tap water. The water quality in Malmö is excellent.
- Walk around. Malmö is a very compact city and walking from one place to another is often the best option.
- Explore the parks. The parks in Malmö are great places to unwind and breathe fresh air.
- Eat falafel. The falafels in Malmö are known to be the best in Sweden.
- Don’t forget fika. Having a cup of coffee and something sweet is a great way to spend the afternoon.
- Take it slow. Malmö is a place to relax and enjoy life at a slower pace.
- Stay for at least one night in Malmö. While day trips to Malmö are enjoyable, spending the night offers an entirely different, and often even better, experience of the city. It allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture and truly appreciate all that Malmö has to offer.
Thank you for reading
We hope that this guide to staying the night in Malmö has been useful.
What do you think of Malmö?
If you’ve been there (and especially if you’ve slept there!), it would be great to hear your top tips in the comments.
If you haven’t been to Malmö yet, don’t hesitate to ask us anything! We are happy to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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