Sweden’s two biggest cities outside Stockholm couldn’t be more different — and yet travellers keep asking us the same question: Gothenburg or Malmö? We’ve visited both on our travels across 21 countries, and we’ve had very different experiences in each. One felt like a comfortable Nordic weekend. The other felt like a gateway to something else entirely.

This isn’t a post about which city is “better.” It’s about which city is better for you. After reading this, you’ll know exactly which one to pick — or whether to visit both.

The cities at a glance: what makes them different

Gothenburg (Göteborg in Swedish) is Sweden’s second-largest city and its main port — a working harbour city that has reinvented itself into one of Scandinavia’s best food destinations. It sits on the west coast, roughly three hours by train from Stockholm, and has a distinct character: slightly grittier than the capital, considerably more relaxed, and famous for its canals, fish market, and live music scene.

Malmö is smaller but punchier. It sits at the very southern tip of Sweden, connected to Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge — which means that in 35 minutes you can be in Denmark. That proximity to Copenhagen has shaped Malmö’s identity: it’s multicultural, urban, a little rough around the edges in the best way, and packed with street food markets and modern architecture that feels more Pan-European than Scandinavian.

The numbers side by side

• Population: Gothenburg ~610,000 / Malmö ~360,000
• Train from Stockholm: Gothenburg ~3 hrs / Malmö ~4.5 hrs
• Train from Copenhagen: Gothenburg ~3 hrs / Malmö ~35 min
• Best for: Gothenburg — seafood, archipelago, chill city vibe / Malmö — food markets, bridge trips, multicultural energy
• Budget: Both are similarly priced; Malmö is very slightly cheaper

Getting there and getting around

Gothenburg connections

Gothenburg is Sweden’s main transatlantic shipping port and a major rail hub. Trains from Stockholm run every hour and the journey takes under three hours on a fast X2000 service. The city also has its own airport (Landvetter), with direct connections to many European cities. Within Gothenburg, trams are the best way to move — the tram network is excellent, cheap, and covers almost everything you’d want to see. A 24-hour pass costs around 100 SEK.

Malmö connections

Malmö is served by Copenhagen Airport, which is just 20 minutes away by train via the Öresund Bridge. This makes it remarkably easy to include in a Copenhagen trip: you can sleep in Malmö (where hotels are cheaper) and day-trip to Copenhagen, or do it the other way around. From Stockholm, the train to Malmö takes about 4.5 hours. Malmö itself is very cycle-friendly — it’s one of the flattest cities we’ve visited. Bike rental is the best way to explore.

What to do: top experiences compared

Both cities are compact and very walkable, which means two days is enough to get a real feel for either. Here’s what’s genuinely worth your time in each.

Gothenburg highlights

• Feskekôrka (Fish Church): the city’s iconic fish market in a neo-Gothic building by the canal — arrive hungry
• Haga district: cobblestone streets, 19th-century wooden houses, and enough coffee shops for a very long morning
• Gothenburg archipelago: ferry from the harbour to car-free islands like Brännö or Aspö — the Swedish west coast at its most beautiful
• Avenyn boulevard: the city’s main drag, lined with restaurants and cafes, best in the late evening
• Universeum science museum: excellent if you’re traveling with kids
• Slottsskogen park: free zoo, open lawns, locals picnicking in summer — very Swedish

Malmö highlights

• Malmöhus Castle and moat: the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in Scandinavia, surrounded by water and parkland
• Mollevångstorget market: one of Sweden’s best multicultural street food areas — cheap, lively, fantastic falafel
• Turning Torso building: Santiago Calatrava’s twisted skyscraper, now iconic on the Malmö skyline
• The Öresund Bridge day trip: walk or cycle partway across toward Denmark — or just take the 35-minute train to Copenhagen
• Limåmnens waterfront: the Western Harbour district is modern, polished, and great for a sunset walk
• Folkets Park: the world’s oldest public amusement park, still running — free to enter, very local