Helsingborg, Sweden Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Helsingborg, Sweden is probably not at the top of everyone’s bucket list and is probably not the reason people travel to Sweden. HOWEVER, if you are looking into Helsingborg, Sweden there is a good chance you are looking to do a city hop through Sweden and/or other Scandinavian countries.
You also may have noticed that to get from Sweden to Denmark, you can ferry across Øresund Straight from Helsingborg to Helsingør. Many people pass right through Helsingborg when doing this, but I think it is worth staying a night in Helsinborg!
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Why Add Helsingborg to your Itinerary
If you’ve read my Madrid or Amsterdam itineraries, you know I like to get a mix of city and smaller towns. As stunning as cities such as Copenhagen are, there is something special about experiencing smaller towns in each country. Helsingborg is one of those towns that deserve a spot on the itinerary for the very same reason!
With Helsingborg specifically, it has beautiful architecture and charm.
- The town hall is looks more like a castle than a government building. The staircase under the arch to the observation deck are stunning. The view from the observation deck overlooks the stunning city and the straight beyond.
Helsingborg City Hall
Where is Helsingborg, Sweden
Helsingborg is located in southern Sweden, on the Øresund Straight directly across from Helsingør, Denmark.
- In driving terms it is about:
- 45 minutes north of Malmö
- About 2 hours south of Gothenburg
- Nearly 6 hours from Stockholm
How to Get to Helsingborg
From Gothenburg, Malmö or other Swedish cities: Helsingborg’s location makes it easily accessible from Gothenburg or Malmö via train, bus or car. If you aren’t renting a car, the train is the fastest way to get to Helsingborg from other major cities in Sweden and is quite affordable!
From Helsingør, Denmark you can ferry with a car or on foot to Helsingborg. The ferry is only about a 20 minute ride, runs 24 hours a day and leaves nearly every 30 minutes (a little slower during the overnight hours).
- You can purchase ferry tickets online at ForSea Ferries or purchase tickets directly at the ferry terminal.
Rent a Car: Scandinavia is well-connected via train and can definitely be managed without renting a car. HOWEVERr, we rented a car and road tripped from Oslo, Norway, down the coast all the way to Copenhagen, Denmark and loved being able to stop at little coastal towns along the way! I highly recommend this to anyone.
Rent a car for your road trip!
How to Get Around Helsingborg
Helsingborg is a very walkable city. It is about 38 square km in size and has a very centrally located downtown. If you are coming in via ferry or train, you will arrive JUST across the street from Helsingborg’s famous town hall.
However, if you are taking the road trip option, know that parking can be limited in the central part of Helsingborg. The city is also rather compact and hilly just beyond downtown Helsingborg, so if you are arriving by car you may have to park a bit outside of the city and walk into the downtown area.
- You also want to be sure to find a hotel that has parking nearby which often is street parking. This is typically free at certain times of the day/week, but not during busy hours.
What to do and See in Helsingborg
- Helsingborg City Hall (Rådhuset)- This is Helsingborg’s most defining landmark, and for good reason! The city hall is a beautiful neo-gothic style building that looks more like a castle than a government building.
- Kärnan Tower– This is a medieval tower that is a remnant of a castle. You can climb the tower for great views of the city.
- Terrace Stairs– These famous stairs lead up to Kärnan tower and the observation deck just above the staircase. If you don’t want to climb the stairs of Kärnan tower, you can get great photos from this observation deck as well.
- There is also a lift to use for those who can’t navigate stairs.
- The city hall, Kärnan Tower and Terrace stairs are located at or very near the main street of Stortorget, so this is where you should begin when you start to explore Helsingborg!
- Kullagatan Street- Shop down the main shopping street of Kullagatan street.
- This street begins at the main city center of Stortorget in the old town and goes to Sankt Jörgens Plats
- St. Mary’s Church– This is Helsingborg’s oldest church, and one of the oldest buildings in general, dating back to the 1400’s. The church has beautiful gothic architecture and worth a stop in.
- Gröningen Park– This is a park located on the north side of Helsingborg that has a great boardwalk along the beach. This is a lively area during the warmer months in Helsingborg!
- Tropical Beach– Another warm-weather activity to do is hang out at Tropical beach. This beach is an easy ~10 minute walk from Helsingborg’s downtown area.
- Sofiero Catle– This previous royal summer residence is located about a 12-15 minute drive north of Helsingborg, so it is not within walking distance like most other things in Helsingborg.
When is the Best time to Visit
Located on the Øresund Strait, Helsingborg, along with other small, coastal Swedish towns, is more popular as a summer getaway destination. With nice summer weather and beaches along the straight, it is an escape from the summer heat in the cities.
- Summer in Helsingborg boasts LONG summer nights and has a lot of outdoor activities and parks to visit.
However, I may be biased, but Helsingborg during the holidays is magic! The architectural charm combined with twinkling Christmas lights, giant Christmas trees and SNOW is a perfect combination!
Where to Stay in Helsingborg, Sweden
There are a couple of good options when it comes to choosing accommodations in Helsingborg. Again, Helsingborg is a very walkabout city, so it really makes sense to find somewhere you can walk to downtown.
Stortorget street (shown below!) is the most centrally located street in downtown Helsingborg, so if you use this as a landmark and work your way out from it, you should have a great location for a hotel!
However, another good option (which we chose due to parking) is to stay at or near Hotel Comfort Helsingborg. This hotel is a budget-friendly hotel that offers street parking if you are driving in.
- It is also in walking distance of Södergartan Street where you ca find the mall, movie theatre, a grocery store and several restaurants.
- Though located a little further from the city center, it is still within about a 12 minute walk to the Helsingborg City Hall.
Book a room at Hotel Comfort Helsingborg
Final Thoughts on Visiting Helsingborg, Sweden
Helsingborg, Sweden may not be the most glamorous and lively city to add to your itinerary, but it will definitely add to the charm and give you a small town Swedish feel! Though we didn’t stay in Helsingborg long, we really loved experiencing the Christmas charm in Helsingborg and loved the unique gothic style architecture strown about the city. Definitely worth visiting!
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