Ribersborgs Kallbadhus Malmö

The bathhouse is endearingly called Kallis by the locals. First of all, it’s a beautiful building. Its story goes back to 1898 when it was first opened. There is however nothing left as it was destroyed by a storm in 1902. What you see today is the renovated version of the baths from 1914 – “Malmö Swimming Station” as it was called then, although battered now and again by storms and fires.

There are two main things I love about the place. The first one is the café with its soft and fragrant cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) where you can sit outside and watch the waves go by. My second favourite thing is the sauna with the outside swimming area. Those bits are gender-divided (unless there is the Queer Monday – first Monday of the month) so you can walk around as naked as you want, take a dip in the sea and/or marinate in the outside jacuzzi. A few times every week there are also ethereal oil events with options to do it together or separately for ladies and gents – this I still have to experience myself as I chickened out last time because it was a mixed “aufguss”.

It’s worth knowing that in Sweden there is a specific etiquette for saunas so I do recommend reading all the signs before entering anywhere – it has saved me some embarrassment for sure.