Most guides to Sweden start with Stockholm or the mountains in the north. For a campervan trip that begins in the far south, Malmö is a smarter choice. It is Sweden’s third city, multicultural and relaxed, with a harbour front, the twisting Turning Torso skyscraper and an excellent food scene. It is also less than 40 minutes from central Copenhagen by road, over the Öresund Bridge, which makes it a doorway to two countries.

We know the Nordics well, since we live in Rovaniemi and have driven Sweden and Denmark on several trips, and the bridge between Malmö and Copenhagen is a crossing we have used ourselves. For this guide we also read through the CampervanPlanet Malmö page to check the live prices, pick-up points and routes.

Why start a campervan trip in Malmö

Skåne, the region around Malmö, is the warmest and flattest part of Sweden. It has rolling farmland, apple orchards, castles, long sandy beaches and a coastline that feels more like Denmark than the Swedish north. Distances are short, which means you can see a lot without long days at the wheel.

The geography is also practical for flights. Copenhagen Airport is the biggest hub in Scandinavia and is only a short drive from Malmö, and CampervanPlanet lists it as a pick-up option. That makes it easy to arrive from almost anywhere in Europe and to combine Sweden and Denmark in a single trip, which is a good fit for people who want a long weekend or a gentle first campervan experience. If you want to continue north afterwards, our Stockholm and Dalarna guide explains the middle of the country.

For help choosing between vehicle sizes and the general rules of campervan rental, our our campervan rental guide is the best place to start.

Four routes from Malmö

The Malmö page maps four itineraries that stay close to home. They also make a good template for a week.

Öresund crossing and the Zealand castles

Cross the bridge into Denmark and follow the coast north of Copenhagen to Kronborg, the castle that inspired Hamlet, and the royal castle at Frederiksborg. It is a great day or two, and our Denmark campervan routes go further across Zealand, Funen and Jutland.

Skåne south coast and Österlen

East of Malmö, the road runs through Ystad, the film location for the Wallander detective stories, to Österlen, a gentle landscape of orchards, art studios and tiny harbours. Don’t miss Ale’s Stones, a ship-shaped Viking Age monument on a cliff. Allow two to three days.

West coast and Kullaberg to Gothenburg

This longer route takes you up the west coast through Helsingborg to the rocky Kullaberg peninsula and on to Gothenburg. The coast is rougher and more dramatic, with fishing villages and seafood restaurants. It works nicely as a one-way trip, ending in Gothenburg.

Inland Skåne castles and lakes loop

A circle inland through beech forest, lakes and the university town of Lund. It is the quietest of the four and perfect for rainy days or shoulder-season travel.

Prices and seasons

The Sweden page indicates typical campervan prices of about €141 a day in winter and €242 a day in summer, with the cheapest vehicles from around €70 a day. The Malmö vehicle cards show a budget camper from about €70 a day, a comfort camper with heater and kitchen from about €129 and a 4×4 adventure camper from about €189, all as starting prices. The Malmö title on the page quotes prices from SEK 1,429 a day.

The summer price premium is real, but Sweden is more forgiving than Norway, and the south has a long season. May, June and September are lovely and cheaper than July. We have a wider look at national prices in our overview of Sweden campervan rental prices. To see live prices for your dates, enter them on the Malmö search page. Code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off the booking at checkout.

The Öresund Bridge toll and driving in Sweden

The bridge between Malmö and Copenhagen is a toll road, and a motorhome costs more than a car. The page notes that the toll applies to a rental van, so ask your rental company whether you can take the vehicle into Denmark at all, and whether there is any extra charge or restriction. A train alternative exists if you prefer to leave the van in Malmö and visit Copenhagen for the day.

Sweden drives on the right. There is no congestion tax in Malmö, according to the page, and the roads in Skåne are easy to drive. Parking a 6-7 metre van in central Malmö requires planning, so use the larger car parks or a campsite just outside the city.

Check the current rules for winter tyres before you drive in the cold months: in Sweden they are required in winter conditions, and your rental company should supply them.

Camping and the right of public access

Sweden’s allemansrätten, or right of public access, is generous: you may walk and camp in the countryside in many places provided you don’t disturb anyone and clean up after yourself. For a tent, that usually means one night or two. For a campervan, the rules are stricter, and parking overnight beside the road or in a private area may be restricted, so check signs and local rules.

In practice, southern Sweden has plenty of campsites, and the page recommends First Camp Sibbarp as an in-city base for Malmö. There are also ställplats, or motorhome stop-overs, in many towns, with basic facilities for a modest fee. Falsterbo, half an hour to the south-west, has long beaches and bird watching, and Österlen is around an hour and a half east.

Money, time and the best season

Sweden uses the krona, and Denmark the Danish krone, so you will deal with two currencies on a trip over the bridge. Malmö is almost cashless: card or phone payments are the norm. Summer, from June to August, is warm and long-lit. Autumn brings quieter roads and good food, and winter is quiet and cold, with a Christmas market in the old town of Malmö.

If you are looking for a first campervan trip, a week in Skåne in late May or early September is hard to beat.

Frequently asked questions