Skåne is one of Sweden’s most beautiful regions, with the county known for its flat landscape scattered with cosy farm shops and spectacular views. It is also one of Sweden’s most popular destinations and after spending many weekends in Skåne, I understand why! Here are some of the best places to visit on your weekend in Skåne, including unique cafes and farm shops, view points and more!
Spending the weekend in Skåne
Where to drive
I am not going to lie to you here. Skåne is a BIG place and it’s truthfully very unlikely you will be able to see everything in just one weekend. When planning your weekend in Skåne I would suggest picking an area with a few things you want to visit and going from there. For example, during a weekend in Ystad and Österlen you can also visit Ale Stenar, Stenhuvuds national park, the farm shops in Österlen and Kiviks Musteri. If you stay near Trelleborg you have the raspberry farm, Hörte brygga, Sweden’s most southern point and Torup Slott. You get where I am going with this. One of the best things about travelling in Sweden is taking it slow. There’s something about this countryside that makes you want to really enjoy every moment and take as much time as you need to soak up the experience.
Where to stay
One of the joys of spending the weekend in Skåne is all of the amazing farmhouses and B&Bs that are for rent! Spread throughout the countryside you can find some of the most unique stays around.
Camping
Right of public access (allemansrätten in Swedish) is one of my favourite things about travelling in Sweden. Essentially, it means you can camp anywhere in the countryside as long as you are not too close to any houses or private dwellings or there is a no camping sign. You have to double check for national parks and nature reserves as a lot of the time they have specific areas dedicated to camping, often with wind shelters set up. This makes Sweden perfect for travelling on a budget, and there are so many beautiful camping spots in Skåne.
The best places to visit in Skåne
Farmshops / Gårdsbutiker / Restaurants
Hörte Brygga
Set in the corner of a canal and the southern coast, Hörte Brugga is a picturesque smokery that serve local produce in a unique way! The view here is amazing, and as you walk across the little bridge over the canal from the car park you feel like you are in a real old fishing village. The food comes out on trays with different dips and assortments of pickled vegetables depending on the season! They are only open during the summer months, with the first weekend dates usually near the end of may. This is one of the best lunch stops for any weekend in Skåne!
Österlen Kryddor
A favourite farm shop just outside of Ystad, Österlen Kryddor sells home grown dried herbs, herbal mixes and famous lavender ice cream! Their cafe is open for lunches and for several weekends in the summer they are open in the early mornings for a lavender experience. Here you see the sun rise over the lavender field, drink lavender sparkling wine, listen to a talk on the herb and end the morning picking your own. The experience includes breakfast and ice cream and the dates change depending on how the crop grows year to year.
Hallongården, Trelleborg
This raspberry farm shop and cafe is the perfect fika stop for your weekend in Skåne! Located near the coastal town of Trelleborg, the farm is open for berry picking throughout the summer months! You must make sure to try the raspberry cheesecake they are famous for!
Top places to visit on a weekend in Skåne
Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve
Hovs Hallar is a completely unique section of the west Swedish coast with big rock formations reminiscent of the Jurassic era. Here you will find one of the most northern sections of the Skåneleden with a trail that takes you through meadows, over cliffs and past magnificent caves.
Torekov
On the same pensinsula as Hovs Hallar you will find the small fishing town of Torekov. This is a great place to base yourself if you are doing a weekend in northern Skåne. The harbour of Torekov is picturesque with small boat houses and restaurants lining the pier. Torekov town is beautiful to walk around, and out on the cliffs near Ydrehall badplats you will find a small yellow sauna for hire! There are so many things to do around this area its a great weekend destination.
Smgyhamn and Sweden’s Southernmost point
Sweden’s southernmost point is located at the end of a small harbour just off the coastal road. It is a great road trip stop to add to your weekend in Skåne itinerary if you are driving between Trelleborg and Ystad. As well as the few restaurants selling “Sweden’s southernmost shrimp sandwich”, this is also home to an old limestone quarry in which the remnants can still be seen today an old limestone kiln. There is a short walk along the coast across the meadows which can be beautiful as you look out over the open sea.
Ljunghusen Havsbad
This picturesque beach is a beautiful mix of white sand and blue waves with the typical Swedish type beach houses lining the beach. Here the water can be quite shallow for a long way off the shore. It is a great place for paddling in the summer. The beach houses are picturesque and worth a walk through.
Torup Slott och Bokskogen
This is a beautiful area just east of Malmö with a picturesque old castle and a thriving beech tree forest. The forest is large and has a few walking routes that pass through it. It’s also a popular place for families and picnickers during the summer. It is most beautiful in early June when the beech trees are just starting to grow. At this time they are still thin enough to let the light pass through.
Torups slott is one of my personal favourite castles in Skåne. For that reason I think it belongs on everyone’s weekend itinerary! The castle itself is not giant, but is accompanied by big gardens and the old stables that has now become a cafe. The castle offers tours throughout the summer months. Don’t miss borrowing a blanket with you lunch at the cafe to use for a picnic in the castle gardens!
Ystad
Ystad is one of Skåne’s biggest towns and is located on the south coast near the region of Österlen. The city is a very popular destination in the summer. It makes for the perfect base for a weekend exploring that area of Skåne. From here you can easily drive out to Österlen and explore Ale Stenar and Stenhuvuds National Park. You can also take stops at the small fishing villages around the coast.
Read more about things to do in Österlen in my complete guide to the region!
Jakriborg
Jakriborg is a very unusual small town just between Lund and Malmö. This village was built in the 1990s by two brothers in an architectural style similar to that of the cities on the northern Baltic Sea. A strange but fascinating place to walk around. There are a few restaurants and cafes but the main attraction here are the winding streets. The colourful houses are all enclosed with an old style city wall.
Agda’s Country Shop
This is a very special find on the side of the road just outside of Trelleborg. From the outside it appears an old barn with blue doors. On the inside it is filled with beautiful ceramics and other homewares. It’s a great stop if you love small trinkets and want a reminder of your weekend in Skåne!
Svaneholm Slott
Another big castle by a lake, Svaneholm Slott is a beautiful and interesting destination. Built in the 1530s, this castle now functions as a museum. It holds thousands of artefacts and photos from the castles history. There is also a restaurant and Smokey here open for brunch and dinner. The castle has also been featured as a filming location for the Swedish TV show Wallander.
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