The Free city of Örestad:

The history of the twin cities that grew into the Free city of Örestad is an interesting and sometimes violent history. Here is the description of those events in the 21th century.

Örestad is a rare megaplex. It consists of two different cities, from two different countries, that grew together thanks to a bridge across the sound separating them. Copenhagen, the eastern section, was the Capitol of Denmark, and the largest city in the Nordic countries. Malmö, the western section, was the third largest city in Sweden. Now they are united as one, independent city, a city of refugees, anarchists, mutants and other people no one else wants.

Here is some information on the twin cities:

Copenhagen:

City of the Little Mermaid...

Home to the world’s largest pedestrian street and to the world-famous statue of the Little Mermaid, the fairytale city of Copenhagen is Scandinavia’s largest city and one of its liveliest. Dotted with parks, gardens, water fountains and squares, the city combines a charming laid-back feel with an exciting, exuberant atmosphere.

Begin your exploration of the city at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a museum owned by the famous brewery that features outstanding classical art and fine Impressionist painting. Witness the pomp and ceremony of the changing of the guard at Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace - home of the Royal Family since 1794 - or take a trip to the Helligandskirke, one of Copenhagen’s oldest churches, which also features a summer café and regular art exhibitions. Other museums and buildings of note include the Musical History Museum, which houses an impressive array of musical instruments dating back one thousand years, and the Nationalmuseet, whose vast and eclectic collection takes the breath away. Don’t miss the Tivoli Gardens, located in the heart of Copenhagen. This century-old amusement park is one of Copenhagen’s most popular attractions and with its thousands of flowers and dazzling bejewelled lights, it is a real-life wonderland of rides, restaurants, and entertainment for young and old alike. Sample the live classical music at Tivoli Concert Hall or stumble across free outdoor performances at one of the many city parks and squares. Lose yourself along Stroget, the world’s longest pedestrian street, where you can dine at one of the many cafes and restaurants and marvel at the many street performers. Look out for the statue of Hans Christian Anderson in Radhuspladsen, Copenhagen’s main square and then stroll or take a ferry to admire the bronze statue of one of his most famous fairytale creations, the charming Little Mermaid, who has been guarding Copenhagen’s harbourside since 1913.

Rent one of Copenhagen’s free city bicycles and tour around the cobbled streets and quays of this most accessible and cheerful of cities, enjoy an afternoon picnic in one of its many parks and squares and visit a museum before dining either in the summer air or indoors at winter under the subtle glow of candlelight. Sample the magic of Copenhagen, a fairytale city that allows you explore at an enjoyable pace.

Malmö:

City Presentation
The first inhabitants of Malmö were fishermen and farmers. The name Malmö comes from the name Malmhauger, which roughly translated means "sand heaps". The actual City of Malmö came into being at the end of the 13th century. Malmö grew to become a vital commercial centre ruled alternately by Sweden, Denmark and the Hanseatic League.

In 1437, Erik of Pomerania granted the City of Malmö its own coat of arms, and this is still the official symbol of the city.

In the 16th century, Malmö was not only an important and prosperous city, but also part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The 1658 Roskilde peace treaty saw the end of Malmö's period as a part of Denmark, when Denmark ceded the county of Skåne to Sweden.

The modern development of the city dates from the late 18th century, when merchant Frans Suell took the initiative to construct a proper harbour in Malmö. Since then, the city has been growing steadily. In the course of the late 19th century, it became one of the most important industrial cities in northern Europe. The Kockums Shipyard was its main industry, together with a substantial textile and ready-to-wear market.

Today, Malmö is Sweden's third-largest city, with almost 260 000 inhabitants, and the commercial centre of southern Sweden. Older industries have been replaced by investments in new technology and training programmes of high calibre. Malmö University, which opened in 1998, is Sweden's latest venture in the field of higher education, accommodating some 15 000 students.

The historical city centre
The old city of Malmö is surrounded by a system of canals criss-crossed by bridges. The city centre offers a continental mix of old and new. Shops, restaurants, hotels and places of entertainment all have their part to play in the historic environment.

At Stortorget (the Main Square) you will find Malmö Town Hall, the 16th century home of the former Danish mayor Jörgen Kock, and the Kramer Hotel, which was built in the style of a French chateau. The equestrian statue, also in Stortorget, is of King Karl X Gustav, who made Malmö a part of Sweden.

The majestic church of St Peter (St Petri) dates back to the 14th century and the days of the Hanseatic League.

Lilla Torg (the Little Square), with buildings dating back to the 1590s, boasts many beautifully restored houses as well as vibrant nightlife.

A city of parks
Kungsparken, Slottsparken and Pildammsparken are among some of the most beautiful parks in the country. Within walking distance of the city centre is Ribersborg beach, 2 km long and without equal in northern Europe.

A city of the arts
The City Theatre, which boasts one of the largest stages in Europe, offers operas, musicals and ballet. Malmö has a high-class drama theatre, a number of successful private theatres and several flourishing free theatre groups.

The Malmö Symphony Orchestra is renowned throughout Europe, and Malmö Konsthall and Rooseum are both equally famous for their innovative and international art exhibitions. The new City Library was designed by famous Danish architect Henning Larsen and has already won two design awards.

Malmöhus Castle, an evocative moated fortress, can be found at the northern edge of Kungsparken and Slottsparken. Malmöhus is Scandinavia's oldest surviving renaissance castle, and a reminder of Malmö's Danish period. Today, this building is home to the Malmö Museum.

A multicultural city
Perhaps it is the city's proximity to Denmark and Germany which gives Malmö a very special continental atmosphere. Or perhaps the many immigrants from Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa are what give the city its international touch. More than one in five residents in the city is of foreign descent.

From the open and typically Scandinavian city centre, it is just a five-minute trip by bus to the square of Möllevångstorget, where a completely different world awaits you. Every nationality is represented here. Visitors can buy food and different products from all over the world in the shops and at the market here.

The Malmö Festival
Every year in August, people of all nationalities gather to celebrate the Malmö Festival. A week of festivities starts with an enormous traditional Swedish crayfish party. Enjoy music, dancing, poetry reading, theatre performances and food from all the corners of the globe.

Transport to and from Malmö
It is easy to reach Malmö from the rest of Europe, whether you choose to go by plane, train, ferry or car. Excellent infrastructure in the Öresund Region makes travelling between Sweden, Denmark and the Continent fast and smooth.

Going by ferry
TT-line operates between Travemünde- Trelleborg and Rostock - Trelleborg. Scandlines operates between Rostock- Trelleborg and Sazznitz- Trelleborg. Trelleborg is situated 30 km south of Malmö, a 30-minute drive away.

If you travel from Germany, through Denmark to Malmö, you can either choose to go with the Scandlines carrier from Travemünde to Gedser or from Puttgarden to Rødby. And then continue the journey across the Öresund Bridge to Malmö. For more information contact the Ministry of Information

Scandlines also operates the hydrofoil between Malmö and Copenhagen. The boat leaves from Skeppsbron in Malmö and Havnegade, the harbour area in the heart of Copenhagen. The trip takes 45 minutes. The boats depart almost every hour from 7 am until late in the evening, depending on which day you travel. A one way ticket costs about 60 SEK for an adult and 30 SEK for children 6 - 15 years. Bicycles can be brought along on the ferries for an extra cost of 30 SEK. Further information is available from the Ministry of Information.

Going by plane
Malmö is situated between two international Airports, Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport in Denmark and Sturup Airport, situated 30-km south east of Malmö.

Sturup Airport has several daily flight connections to Stockholm with SAS to Arlanda Airport and with Malmö Aviation to Bromma Airport. Ryan Air runs international regular flights to Sturup from London/Stanstead. For more information about Sturup airport and the flights contact the Ministry of Information.

The airport shuttle takes you from the city centre of Malmö to Sturup Airport in 40 minutes. A one way ticket costs 70 SEK. A taxi costs approximately 250 - 300 SEK from the airport to Malmö's city centre. Ask for the fare before entering the taxi. For more information about airport buses, contact the Ministry of Information.

Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport is connected with Malmö via the Öresund Bridge. Trains run around the clock from Malmö Central Station to the airport. The ride from Malmö takes 20 minutes and costs 70 SEK. Of course you can also reach the airport by car. For more information about Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport and the flights, contact the Ministry of Information

Going by train
SJ is the name of the Swedish State Railway Company, running most of the train services in Sweden. Malmö has daily train connections with Copenhagen, Oslo, Berlin and Hamburg. With the high-speed train X 2000 you can travel from Malmö to Stockholm in 4 hours.

The Öresund trains traffic Malmö-Copenhagen across the Öresund Bridge every 20 minutes from 6 am to 12 pm and once every hour during the night. A trip from Malmö Central to Copenhagen Central takes 35 minutes with the train, which also stops at Copenhagen Airport. The ride with train between Malmö Central and Copenhagen Airport takes only 20 minutes.

For fares and tickets when you are in Sweden, please contact the Ministry of Information.

Going by car
In July 2000 the "Öresund Bridge", the 16 km fixed link between Copenhagen and Malmö, was inaugurated. Together with an extensive network of roads and highways in the Öresund region, it is easy to reach other parts of Sweden and Europe. From Malmö you can continue with the highways E6 to Göteborg and Oslo. The E22 continues to Kalmar or via Trelleborg to Rostock in Germany. The E 65 connects Malmö with Poland, via Ystad across the Baltic Sea to Swinoujscie. The E 20 connects Malmö with Copenhagen and other parts of Denmark via the Öresund brige.

Transport in and around Malmö
Short distances and excellent public transport make it easy to get around in Malmö, both quickly and comfortably. Everything in the city centre is within walking distance. Moreover, Malmö is ideally suited for bicycles; it is flat and there are numerous bicycle paths which criss-cross the city.

In Malmö:

By foot
At Malmö Tourism in the Central Station you can get maps for sightseeing tours by foot.

Bicycle rental
If you want to get around in Malmö by bike it's possible do rent a bike at Cykelkliniken or at Fridhems Cykelaffär. There is an extensive network of bicycle paths in and around Malmö. Ask for a bicycle map at the tourist information in the Central Station.

Cykelkliniken is situated in Carlsgatan, behind the Central Station. For price information, please call the Ministry of Information. Fridhems Cykelaffär is situated in Tessins väg 13 in Malmö. For price information, please call the Ministry of Information

By Bus Information on the extensive bus network in Malmö is available from the Ministry of Information.

Car rental
To rent a car in Sweden you must be a holder of a drivers licence since one year. The minimum age is 19. To rent a car you also need a credit card.

Taxi
The taxi market in Sweden is not regulated, which means that the taxi companies can set their own prices. Several companies operate with a set price system and offer very reasonable prices for rides in the centre of Malmö. It is important to agree on the price of a trip before getting into a taxi.

Around Malmö:
If you want to visit other parts of Skåne (Scania) there are excellent train and bus connections in the region. The local train service is called Pågatågen. You can reach most places in Skåne by train or bus within an hour's ride from Malmö. Information about public transport in Skåne is available from the Ministry of Information.

To Copenhagen
The Öresund trains traffic Malmö-Copenhagen across the Öresund Bridge every 20 minutes from 6 am to 12 pm and once every hour during the night. A trip from Malmö C to Copenhagen C takes 35 minutes. The train also stops at the Copenhagen Airport. The ride with train between Malmö C and Copenhagen Airport takes only 20 minutes. For more information about the Öresund trains, please contact the Ministry of Information.

Öresund rundt - Travel around the sound
The Öresund Rundt ticket is an excellent way to discover the Öresund region. The whole idea is to travel around the sound. You can make as many stops as you'd like along the way. The only requirement is that you travel a complete one-way circle. You decide how you plan your route and which direction you travel. The train ticket, ferry across Helsingborg- Helsingör and the train ride across the Öresund bridge is included in the price. Your ticket also gives you a host of discounts for sightseeing, at restaurants, museums and hotels along the way.

The ticket costs 199 SEK or 249 SEK depending how far you travel. Children aged 6-16 travel for half price. The ticket is valid for two days. For more information please contact the Ministry of Information.

Food & Drink
Malmö offers a broad selection of restaurants, cafés and bars to suit all ages and tastes. The variety of restaurants reflects the multicultural atmosphere of Malmö - offering everything from traditional Swedish food to world cuisine.

Cafés
In Sweden, it's as usual to hang out at a café as it is to go to a pub. Malmö has several cosy cafés where you can rest your weary feet. From April to September, the café tables and parasols move out onto the squares and pavements, and the atmosphere in Malmö becomes almost Mediterranean.

Here are some addresses... Aldo's is situated in the indoor market, Saluhallen, at Lilla Torg. Italian Aldo offers Italian coffee of all kinds, Italian cakes and ice cream. And the coffee is to die for! Aldo has won international titles when it comes to preparing espressos and cappuccinos.

Bageri Caféet is situated in the indoor market, Saluhallen, at Lilla Torg. This café offers a large selection of sandwiches and salads.

Café Rooseum is situated in the Rooseum (Centre for Contemporary Art). Enjoy the exhibitions, followed by a snack. Italian "paninis" and huge American cakes are just some of its specialities.
The Rooseum is situated at Gasverksgatan 22.

Café Konsthallen is situated in Malmö Konsthall (the Malmö Art Gallery) in St Johannesgatan 7. This is another place where you can enjoy art and then have lunch (admission to exhibitions is mostly free). The setting is wonderful, and there's a small garden where you can sit outside and enjoy your meal in the shade of the trees. This café is open only in the daytime and specialises in vegetarian and fish dishes. However, there's always a choice of meat dishes on the menu too.

Café Siesta is another classic café, bar and restaurant, with some of its interior dating back to the 1950s. This café has plenty of regulars and is very popular among the cultural crowd in Malmö. Café Siesta is situated at Hjorttackegatan 1, in a part of Malmö known as Gamla Väster. You'll also find several art galleries and design shops in this area.

Espresso House is a chain of cafés which you'll find at several locations in Malmö. Its specialities are, of course, Italian espresso, cappuccino and café latte, along with sandwiches and cakes. You'll find Espresso House in the pedestrian zone, Södra Förstadsgatan and Skomakaregatan (near Lilla Torg), as well as in the Hansacompagniet shopping centre.

Konditori Hollandia is a classic café and patisserie, offering delicious cakes and plenty of atmosphere. It's situated in the pedestrian zone at Södra Förstadsgatan 8.

Restaurang & Café Gustav Adolf is Malmö´s oldest café dating back to 1902. Centrally located at Gustav Adolfs torg 43. Try the homemade chocolate!

Systrar & Bröder is a classic café and bakery with an interior dating back to the 1950s. This café serves an excellent breakfast buffet. Systrar & Bröder is situated at Östra Rönneholmsvägen 26, next to Malmö's Music Theatre.

Slottsträdgårdscaféet is situated in the organic garden in Slottsparken, the Castle Park, behind Malmöhus Castle. This is probably one of the most pleasant, most peaceful places in Malmö to enjoy your tea or coffee. And don't forget to try the homemade carrot cake! The garden is beautiful, with flowers, herbs and vegetables, and the view over the canals and park is superb. This café is open in the summer (or, weather permitting, whenever customers can sit outside).

Restaurants
"Lots of food, good food, and food at the right time" - so goes an old Skåne saying. And living by this dictum is certainly not a problem in Malmö. The city is full of excellent restaurants.

Restaurants and bars are situated close to one another around Lilla Torg and in the city district of Möllevången. Lilla Torg is Malmö's most picturesque square, surrounded by restaurants, bars and open-air cafés. This is also where you'll find the indoor market, Saluhallen, offering a pleasant blend of world cuisine, from low-budget falafel to sushi and exquisite fish dishes. Möllevången is an ethnic city district in Malmö, with lots of exotic restaurants and food shops for people on a budget. At Möllevångstorget, the square, there's a big food market which is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.

You can have lunch at very reasonable prices in Sweden. Most restaurants have fixed lunch prices and offer different meals every day. Often a salad and something to drink are included in the price. A decent lunch will cost you about SEK 50-80. Ask for today's special!

Here are some addresses...

Johan P is one of Malmö's best fish restaurants and is open for lunch and dinner. Johan P is located in the indoor market, Saluhallen, at Lilla Torg, Landbygatan 3. Tel. +46 (0) 40 97 18 18

Izakaya Koi serves quality Japanese cuisine and is said to sell the best sushi in Sweden. Situated at Lilla Torg 5, tel. +46 (0) 40 757 00.

Spot serves delicious modern Italian food, and offers a catering service as well as eating in and a delicatessen takeaway. The restaurant is only open during the daytime. Stora Nygatan 33, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 02 03.

Ekmans at Stortorget 31 (the Main Square) serves traditional Swedish dishes in a cool and sober Scandinavian setting. Tel. +46 (0) 40 23 09 30.

St Markus Vinkällare (Wine Cellar of St Marcus) is situated in the Stadt Hamburg area, an entire block jam-packed with restaurants, bars and nightclubs. So if you feel like continuing your evening, the Stadt Hamburg dance hall is above the restaurant and the nightclub Privé is just around the corner. This restaurant is situated in a vaulted cellar with lots of atmosphere and unusual furniture. A luxury buffet is served, and the wine list is impressive. Stadt Hamburgsgatan 2, tel. +46 (0) 40 30 68 20.

Lemongrass offers Asian fusion cooking - distinctive, modern dishes inspired by a range of different Asian cooking traditions. Restrained and elegant interior design. Open evenings only. Grynbodgatan 9, tel. +46 (0) 40 30 69 79.

Brogatan Bar & Brasserie is always a very popular and crowded place. Go for lunch or dinner, or just for a drink. Nice prices and a great atmosphere. Closed in July. Brogatan 12, tel. +46 (0) 40 30 77 17.

Krua Thai is a family-owned Thai restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and great food for people on a budget. This restaurant is situated at Möllevångstorget 14, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 22 87.

Restaurang Möllan - self-service, nice atmosphere and decent prices. Bergsgatan 37 C, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 10 15.

Tempo Bar & Kök - a trendy evening bar and restaurant, attracting musicians and a more studenty crowd than Lilla Torg. Södra Skolgatan 30, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 60 21.

Ett rum och kök (One Room and a Kitchen) is, as the name indicates, just a small room with a kitchen and offers superb cuisine. Situated at Bergsgatan 18, right next door to Kulturbolaget, Malmö's legendary rock club. Tel. +46 (0) 40 30 20 11.

Any Time, situated next to Malmö Concert Hall, is a nice, friendly restaurant for lunch and dinner. Föreningsgatan 37, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 99 12.

Årstiderna is one of Malmö's most exclusive restaurants, located in the atmospheric vaulted cellars of Jörgen Kock's House, dating back to the early 16th century. This menu marries traditional Swedish ingredients with French influences. This restaurant can be found at Frans Suellsgatan 3, near the main square, Stortorget: tel. +46 (0) 40 23 09 10.

Petri Pumpa has consistently found its way into the rankings as one of the top ten restaurants in Sweden. Petri Pumpa is situated in the beautiful dining room of the classic Savoy Hotel. Norra Vallgatan 62, tel. +46 (0) 40 664 48 80.

Atmosfär is another gourmet restaurant with lots of regulars enjoying the great outdoors in summer. Open evenings only. Fersens väg 4, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 50 77.

Skeppsbron 2 can be found opposite the railway station in Börshuset, overlooking the sea and canals. Modern and inventive cuisine in an elegant setting. Börshuset, tel. +46 (0) 40 30 62 02.

Måns på Hamngatan offers all kinds of exciting, exotic and ambitious foods! Modern and youthful style. Open evenings only. Hamngatan 4, tel. +46 (0) 40 611 49 20.

Olgas serves traditional Swedish food and is located by the lake in Pildammsparken. The view of the park from the open-air restaurant is wonderful. Pildammsvägen, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 55 26.

Salt & Brygga is situated close to the water in the new city district known as Bo01, in the Western harbour area. The view over Öresund is magnificent. Salt & Brygga subscribes to an eco-friendly concept, from the furnishings to the cooking. This is a no-smoking restaurant offering innovative international cuisine. Sundspromenaden 7, tel. +46 (0) 40 611 59 40.

Pubs & Bars
Malmö offers a great variety of bars and pubs. Bars in Sweden always serve something to eat. Please note that you have to be 18 years old or over to be served alcohol.

Here are some addresses...

Bishops Arms is a genuine British pub, said to offer the widest assortment of beers and whiskies in Sweden. This pub is situated at the Savoy Hotel in Norra Vallgatan 62, tel. +46 (0) 40 664 48 88.

Paddy's Irish pub and restaurant. Guinness is a speciality. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Kalendegatan 7, tel. +46 (0) 40 786 00. The Pickwick Pub and Gränden is said to be the best British pub in Malmö. This is a lively place, with quiz nights on Wednesdays. Gränden is an outdoor restaurant situated in a lush garden. Gränden is open only in summer. Malmborgsgatan 5, tel. +46 (0) 40 23 32 66.

Centiliter & Gram bar & restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, situated at Stortorget 17, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 18 12.

Mello Yello bar & restaurant is always crowded. From April to September, the tables, parasols and heaters are moved out onto Lilla Torg for that al fresco experience. Tel. +46 (0) 40 30 45 25.

Moosehead bar & restaurant with Thai-inspired cooking. Together with Mello Yello and Victor's, Moosehead offers the biggest and "hottest" open-air facilities in Lilla Torg. If you want to mingle with guests from the other restaurants, that's no problem. Tel. +46 (0) 40 12 04 23.

Victor's bar & restaurant mixes what are probably the most colourful cocktails in Malmö. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Victor's is situated at Lilla Torg, tel. +46 (0) 40 12 76 70.

Times bar is situated at the Scandic Hotel S:t Jörgen. Popular after-work bar and open-air café. Södergatan 20, tel. +46 (0) 40 693 46 00.

Tahonga Bar is another popular bar at the Scandic Hotel S:t Jörgen. This is certainly Malmö's most famous cocktail bar and a venue enjoyed by both hotel guests and regulars. Södergatan 20, tel. +46 (0) 40 693 46 00. Scandinavian Ministry of Information

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