The first inhabitants of Malmö were fishermen and farmers. The name Malmö derives from the name Malmhauger. Roughly translated it means "sand heaps". The actual City of Malmö was founded at the end of the 13th century. Malmö grew to become a vital commercial centre ruled alternately by Sweden, Denmark and the Hanseatic League.

On 23 April 1437 Erik of Pomerania granted the City of Malmö its own coat of arms. It is still the official symbol of the city.

In the 16th century, Malmö was not only an important and prosperous city but also part of the kingdom of Denmark. Malmö's Danish period was terminated by the 1658 Roskilde peace treaty, when Denmark ceded the county of Scania to Sweden.

A swinging, historic city
Today, Malmö is Sweden’s third largest city and the commercial centre of southern Sweden. Population: 255,000 inhabitants. The population increased in 1998 for the fourteenth year running by 3,500 people.

The old city of Malmö is surrounded by a system of canals criss-crossed by bridges. The city centre offers a continental mix of old and new. Shops, restaurants, hotels and places of entertainment share in the historic environment. There are 600 restaurants in Malmö.

At Stortorget you will find Malmö Town Hall, the 16th century house of the former Danish mayor Jörgen Kock and the Kramer Hotel built in the style of a French chateau. The equestrian statue, also in Stortorget, is of King Karl X Gustav who made Malmö Swedish.

The majestic church of St. Peter dates from the 14th century and the days of the Hanseatic League.

Nearby Lilla Torg (Little Square) with buildings dating from 1590, boasts many beautifully restored houses as well as a vibrant night life.

A city of Parks
Kungsparken, Slottsparken and Pildammsparken are among some of the most beautiful parks in the country. Within walking distance of the city centre is the 3 km-long beach of Ribersborg, unparalleled in northern Europe.

A city of the Arts
The City Theatre which boasts one of the largest stages in Europe offers operas, musicals and ballet. Malmö has a drama theatre of high-class and a number of successful private theatres and several flourishing free theatre groups.

The Malmö Symphony Orchestra is renown across Europe. As are Malmö Konsthall and Rooseum for their international and innovative exhibitions. The new City Library was designed by the famous Danish architect Henning Larsen and has already won two design awards.

The Malmöhus Castle, an evocative moated fortress is to be found on the northern edge of Kungsparken and Slottsparken. Malmöhus, Scandinavia's oldest surviving renaissance castle, is a reminder of Malmö's Danish period.

Five minutes from the centre of Malmö, an international world welcomes you at the square of Möllevångstorget.

A multicultural city
Perhaps it is its proximity to Copenhagen and Germany which give Malmö a very special continental atmosphere. Or perhaps it is the many immigrants from Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa that give the city its international touch. More than every fifth resident is of foreign descent.

From the open and typically Scandinavian city centre, it is just a five-minute trip on the bus to the square of Möllevångstorget, where a completely different world awaits you. Every nationality is represented here. In the shops and market the visitor can buy food and different products from all over the world.

Malmö Festival
Every year in August, people of all nationalities gather to celebrate the Malmö Festival. A week of festivities starts with an enormous traditional Swedish crayfish party. Enjoy music, dancing, poetry reading, theatre performances and food from all corners of the world.