As a coastal city, Malmö presents residents and visitors with many options for going swimming, but my favourite place to dive into the always brisk Öresund is Scaniabadet, sometimes referred to as “djuphavsbadet” (deep sea bath). 

Located on the northernmost edge of the Western Harbour’s Scania Park, the water here is accessible from three bathing jetties that are connected to a large (75 metres long and 20 metres deep) wooden deck for sunbathing, but it’s also a popular spot for morning yoga classes in the summer and workout sessions hosted by the nearby CrossFit box throughout the spring, summer and fall. In fact, I usually take a dip here as a post-work-out reward or as the refreshing conclusion to an outdoor run. 

Because the water here is very deep and subject to currents, it’s not the ideal place for small children to swim without vigilant supervision. In the summer months, it’s extremely popular with teenagers who turn up in droves in the afternoon, so if you’re looking for a low-key bathing experience, especially with young family members, I recommend arriving mid-morning as it tends to get pretty crowded by noon.

There’s a large parking lot, public toilets and a few outdoor shower-stands for rinsing off the saltwater after your swim. Scaniabadet is also just a short walk along the water to the Malmö Beach Arena sand volleyball courts and the ‘music hills’ (Lludkullar), where an underground audio installation serenades visitors with selections from popular artists every day.