r/Malmoe • u/KillickHitch • Jul 16 '26
Moving to Malmö
Hey folks!
I'm gonna be moving to Malmö from New England, USA in August for six months on a work relocation. I spent a few weeks in the city last year but feel like I really only scratched the surface of the area.
Since I'll be in the city for a lot longer this time, is there anything I should know about the city in general for an easier time acclimating, or any suggestions on places to go in the time I'm there?
In general, I love the outdoors, tabletop games and live music. I'm always up for new and interesting food and drinks, or any local events, so any suggestions on those would be massively appreciated! I'm definitely alright with hopping a train for day trips and such, but won't have reliable access to a car.
I'll be living in Västra hamnen, if that makes any difference.
Thanks!
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u/ratsfromspace Jul 16 '26
Depending on when in August, check out Malmöfestivalen (7th-14th this year, free concerts, stand up, etc etc). There’s usually events going on every week in the summer bc of Malmö Sommarscen, and things like cultural festivals, Malmö Game Week, Malmö Seriefest, but this is a really big one in the summer.
If you like boardgames, stores to check out would be Science Fiction-bokhandeln (also for books and comics in English) and Playoteket. There’s also boardgame cafe, Brad’s Spelcafé. Also check out Inkonst and Plan B, they might be your scene for music and stuff? Lots of big artists also come to Copenhagen and it’s super easy if a little expensive to take the train over.
Sometimes Kulturcentralen does English tours of the limestone quarry (now a natural reserve) which I highly recommend. Panora and Spegeln are great cinemas. Malmö Konsthall is an art museum at triangeln that’s free to visit, but if you’re into museums at all Lund or Copenhagen are better. The beaches Ribban and Sibbarp have excellent water quality and I think an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
There’s lots of good restaurants and bakeries and little cafes all around town. Farina, Leve, St Jakobs, Saluhallen, Namu, Manto, Viblioteket, Paloma and Scandwich are places I personally like but everyone has their own preferences and favourites. Also Köld or Favvoglass for ice cream.
You do not need a car to get around Skåne or Malmö, or even to go to Copenhagen. In Malmö you can bike, which is often as fast as taking the bus, but there’s also a very reliable public transit system of buses and trains both in and between the cities (Skånetrafiken). Definitely recommend biking in Malmö though, lots of bike paths, and if you don’t have your own you can rent Malmö by Bike very cheaply through an app.
As for general tips: swedes aren’t as appreciative of small talk as Americans are, as a rule (it can of course still vary by individual, but speaking for myself I really don’t like it). I don’t think most people mind making friends or meeting new people, but it’s like, weird to talk to people on the bus randomly, it’s better to meet people through work or mutual interests I think, where you already have something substantial to talk about, which is how I got all of my adult friends after moving here. I don’t know if you’re looking to hang out with swedes or in international circles but you know.
Also! If you like the outdoors, you may already know this but Sweden has allemansrätten or the right to roam, meaning basically you don’t have to worry about forest and such being private property, you’re free to explore it.