Family-Friendly Activities in Skåne: Vacation Tips and Attractions for Kids August 14, 2024 – Posted in: Holidays with kids, Sweden, Travel – Tags: Fika, Kids, Lund, Malmö, Restaurants, Skåne, Sweden, Vacation

Plan the Perfect Skåne Vacation with Kids!

Are you planning a vacation in Skåne? Sweden is just across the strait, tempting with all its many experiences. Drive past Copenhagen, enjoy the view over the bridge – and then you’re ready to spend your vacation in Skåne. The Swedes are friendly, and everything is just so wonderfully nice, with a touch of Astrid Lindgren.

The Swedes are great at “fika,” which is enjoying coffee, often accompanied by delicious cakes. You can find small patisseries and cafes everywhere, offering delightful cakes that most children will love. Don’t miss out on trying a piece of smörgås, somewhat similar to our open-faced sandwiches. It’s just a bit more inventive, and there’s even a smörgåstårta, a whole sandwich cake. Sweden also offers the specialty of roasted hot dogs with shrimp salad, and for the less adventurous, köttbullar, which you may already know from IKEA.

Are you staying in Copenhagen you can take a guided daytrip til Sweden and visit the cities of Malmö and Lund. 

10 Attractions for Children in Skåne

Attractions in Malmö

Malmö is the largest city in Skåne and the third largest in Sweden. Malmöhus Castle houses the city’s museum, and you can also walk around the castle and see, among other things, the knight’s hall. For children and those young at heart, there’s Folkets Park, offering pony rides and children’s theater. From May to September, you can take a canal cruise on Malmö’s canals. In August, there’s the Malmö Festival with free concerts, theater, sports, art, and much more.

Kulturen in Lund

Kulturen in Lund was founded in 1882 and is one of the world’s oldest open-air museums. Kulturen consists of over 30 buildings from the 17th century onwards and has collections of glass, paintings, silverware, musical instruments, and weapons. There’s a playground for children and various workshops for older children and youth.

Coffee at Flickorna Lundgren

Sweden’s most famous “coffee cottage” is located in Arild, north of Helsingborg. Once upon a time, there were five sisters, Flickorna Lundgren, who began baking buns and cakes in the 1930s and selling them at the door. Their cakes became famous throughout Sweden, and guests flocked to taste, among other things, the famous vanilla hearts with cream filling, which are still served today.

Tykarpsgrottan

Near Vinslöv lies Tykarpsgrottan, a 10,000 m² underground labyrinth where local farmers have quarried limestone for centuries. The cave is located 10-12 meters underground and maintains a constant temperature of +8 degrees. The cave has been used in several film productions, including *Ronja the Robber’s Daughter*.

Skånes Djurpark

Near Höör is Skånes Djurpark, where the image above is from. Here, you can meet a variety of wild and domesticated animals, including moose. The park also has several good restaurants, so there’s no need to bring a packed lunch.

Attractions in Kristianstad

Further east lies Kristianstad, which was founded by King Christian IV. The town clearly shows its former Danish ownership and is a charming market town full of history. A five-minute walk from the town is Vattenriket (The Water Kingdom), a 35-kilometer-long eco-museum along the Helge River. Here, you can see small creatures, fish, and majestic birds like storks and eagles. Most of the activities in the Nature Room are free, though the safari tours on the riverboats are not. Also, visit the regional museum in Kristianstad, which is housed in what was once King Christian IV’s stables. The exhibition is designed as a miniature version of the town.

Glimmingehus

If you drive down along the coast, you’ll eventually reach the small, charming fishing town of Simrishamn, where there is a fast ferry to Bornholm in the summer. Follow Route 9 towards Ystad, where there are signs to Glimmingehus. The castle is the best-preserved medieval fortress in the Nordic countries and was built in 1499 by the Dane Jens Holgersen Ulfstand, who was the governor of Gotland. During the summer, there are guided tours and medieval activities for all ages, including archery tournaments, beer brewing, and ghost hunts.

Tosselilla

If you continue following the road, you will reach Tosselilla, which is Skåne’s largest amusement park, featuring a water park, a Tarzan forest, carousels, and a mini-zoo. It has everything children will love during a summer vacation!

Ales Stenar

A bit east of Ystad lies Ales Stenar, a Bronze Age stone formation located on a hill with a magnificent view of the Baltic Sea. The stone ship consists of 59 large stones arranged in a ship formation, measuring 67 meters in length and up to 19 meters in width. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Bornholm from the top of the hill.

Experience the Viking Age in Trelleborg

At the Viking fortress Trelleborg, you can experience what it was like to live in the Viking Age. Every summer, activities are organized for children, where you can try cooking Viking-style or shooting with a bow and arrow. Visit the reconstruction of Trelleborg, located right in the middle of the modern city, or experience the Battle of Trelleborg, which takes place at the beginning of July.

See all the other inspiring articles for traveling with children here!

A Hotel with a Swimming Pool in Malmö

If you’re looking for a good hotel in Skåne that’s affordable and within a reasonable driving distance to many of the attractions mentioned in this article, then Scandic Segevång is highly recommended. You’ll stay in green surroundings on the outskirts of Malmö, with an outdoor pool right next door. Scandic Segevång offers a delicious breakfast buffet, and there’s a kids’ menu in the restaurant. If you’re planning to explore more of Skåne, this hotel is a great option for a stop along the way.

Stay Well and Affordably in Skåne

A unique place to stay is the “rabbit holes” at Grottbyn on the campsite next to Skånes Djurpark in Höör. Kids love the small, charming rooms with bunk beds, built into a “rabbit mound” of earth.

Bed & Breakfast Near Tosselilla Summerland

If you’re spending the whole day at the Tosselilla amusement park, it’s nice not to have a long drive when you’re tired and ready to head back. Tryde 1303 Bed & Breakfast in Tryde, just 5-10 minutes’ drive from Tosselilla, is a delightful little Bed & Breakfast. Sleep well in the cozy rooms, and if the kids still have energy left, the area offers plenty of activities, such as billiard golf.

Read more about this charming B&B here: Tryde 1303 Bed & Breakfast