With some of us having only a few days left for packing and preparing for Malmö, we’d like to give you some touristy tips about what you could do if you want to escape from the press centre or your hotel room!

You might want to see…

…in Malmö:

Turning Torso

Scandinavia’s tallest skyscraper by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava opened in 2005. Ever since, the 54 stories high building has been the most popular landmark in Malmö. Because it’s a residence and office building, you usually can only visit it from the outside, and can’t go to the top.

Stortorget

The “large square” in Gamla Stan (the Old Town) is one of the two central places in downtown Malmö. You should know King Karl X. Gustav (he was involved in the Thirty Years’ War), because that’s the guy sitting on the horse in the centre of this square.

Lilla Torg

The “little square” is just around the corner from Stortorget, and is known for its timber framing houses. Some of the most popular restaurants and clubs of the city are located here.

Folkets Park

In one of the most popular green hearts of Malmö, you can find an interesting mix of an amusement park, a zoo, minigolf, bars, cafés and dance pavilions. In “Moriska Paviljongen” you will also find the Euro Fan Café.

Malmöhus Castle

Old castle from the 16th century, now containing the city museum with collections of natural, archaeological, artistic and cultural interest. Open daily*, 10-17, admission fee is SEK 40 for adults.

Euroclub is located in “Slagthuset” (Jörgen Kocksgatan 7A; to the north of the central station). Slagthuset is an old slaughterhouse that is now used for gastronomy, parties and events.

…around Malmö:

Copenhagen

Just across the bridge, you’ll find one of the most charming metropoles in Europe. The Rome of the North offers a spectacular variety of sights, such as the lovely Nyhavn area with cafés and pubs, the impressive square Kongens Nytorv, the shopping street Strøget with the neighbouring Rådhuspladsen, and of course the Tivoli Gardens (the world’s second-oldest amusement park) and the world-famous Little Mermaid (don’t steal her head, bitches!). Hike the distinctive Vor Frelsers Kirke for an amazing view. We heard the nightlife is not so bad either. Definitely a must-visit city!

Öresundbro

The aforementioned bridge has connected Sweden with Denmark since 2000, promoting the development of Malmö and Copen-hagen into twin cities. Many people live in one city and work in the other – and the bridge is both the cause and the symbol of this. It has a total length of 7,845m and is used for road and rail traffic.

Lund

This famous students’ city is the third-largest city in the Skåne region. If you like cafés, pubs and brick buildings, this town is for you. The famous Lund Cathedral is worth a visit (free admission, irregular opening times).

Helsingborg 

For a long time, the second-largest city in the Skåne region (behind Malmö) was the entry point for many tourists visiting Sweden, as it’s the Swedish port for the ferries from Helsingør (Denmark) – the way to get across the water before the bridge was constructed over the Öresund. It has a small but lovely centre. From the old tower “Kärnan” (35 meters high), you have a great view over the city, the strait and Denmark on the horizon (open daily*, 10-17, admission fee is SEK 40 for adults).

Ystad

Still in Skåne (so you could use your accreditation to travel here), Ystad has always enjoyed fame as one of the southernmost places in Sweden. Since the beginning of the new century, it has also become widely known as the setting for Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander stories (at least among fans of crime novels). Other than that, Ystad seems like a really nice and cosy place.

*valid for the Eurovision 2013 weeks