Helsingborg walking tour & city guide

The city

Kärnan, a medieval brick tower, overlooks the town and the strait. The neo-gothic town hall faces the harbor, and the Terrace Stairs lead up to the tower.

The coast

The waterfront promenade has cafés and a modern harbor district. Sofiero Palace, a royal summer residence, is famous for its rhododendrons.

A day in Helsingborg

Start at the harbor by the grand town hall, then climb the Terrace Stairs to Kärnan, the 14th-century keep that is all that remains of a medieval castle. From the top, the view stretches across the narrow Øresund strait to Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, Hamlet's castle, just four kilometers away.

In the afternoon, walk north along the coastal promenade to Pålsjö beach and the old bathhouse, or visit Sofiero Palace, whose gardens bloom with thousands of rhododendrons in late May and early June.

Good to know

Ferries cross to Helsingør in about 20 minutes, running several times an hour, making it easy to visit two countries in one day. The city is about 40 minutes by train from Malmö.

The Kulla Peninsula, north of the city, has fishing villages, cliffs and beaches, and Kullaberg nature reserve is great for hiking along the sea.