Malmö

Malmö is a city that loves to surprise you. Tucked into the very south of Sweden, it sits right at the edge of the sea, close enough to Denmark that you could practically wave to it from the shore. The city has a lively, open-air feel, with sandy beaches where locals swim in summer and a long history you can explore around every corner.

One moment you might be strolling across a cobblestone square surrounded by colourful half-timbered buildings that are hundreds of years old, and the next you are staring up at the Turning Torso, a jaw-dropping skyscraper that actually twists as it climbs into the sky. It is hard to find another city where ancient castles and ultra-modern architecture sit quite so comfortably side by side.

What really sets Malmö apart is how connected it feels to the wider world. A single dramatic bridge stretches across the water all the way to Copenhagen, making Malmö a city that truly belongs to two countries at once.