Originally posted March 3, 2021

No matter where you are in Sweden, a nature escape is never too far away… even in Skåne, which most people (incorrectly) assume is all flat, boring farm land.

While Skåne does have more than it’s fair share of fields, (a necessity when you’re responsible for growing half of the food produced in the country), this county in the south of Sweden has far more to offer than just fields and farms.

There are sandy beaches, lush forests, clear crystal lakes… even rocky coastlines.

Looking for your next Skåne nature escape? Here are some of my favorite outdoor spaces in this highly underrated region.

Ales Stenar

First up, Skåne’s mysterious seaside Ale’s Stones - a mini Stonehenge of sorts.

This iron-age monument was erected an estimated 1,400 years ago, but no one knows by who… or why.

It consists of 59 massive boulders arranged in a 67 metre-long outline in the middle of a field overlooking the sea. The views here are beautiful. Not so much of the stones themselves, but of the Baltic Sea and Österlen’s rolling green hills.

Come for the rocks, stay for the scenery.

Eksholm

Eksholm is a nature reserve established in 2003. Its close proximity to Malmö (just a 25 minute drive) makes it the perfect day trip from the city.

We came here last year in late October on a fall foliage photo mission, but I can’t imagine there’s a bad season to visit in.

Scavenge for mushrooms in the forest or enjoy scenic lake views from the piers.

Falsterbo

My first summer in Sweden, we did a cycling/camping trip along the Sydkustleden from Malmö to Ystad and Falsterbo was our first stop.

Google says the trip takes less than two hours by bike, but it definitely took us closer to three.

This was our first bike packing trip and we brought wayyyy too much stuff. This weighed us down (and slowed us down) quite a bit. We also made a few stops for photos and food along the way, so it’s possible that the trip could actually be done in two.

When we arrived in the early evening, we found a nice space on the southwest side of the peninsula and were happy to find that we were the only people setting up camp here for the night. We enjoyed a quiet evening barbeque on the beach and fell asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore.

The next morning, a rainstorm came that soaked us (and all of our things) to the bone… but after that the sun came out and we enjoyed still having the area to ourselves for a few hours.

This is a popular beach for kite surfers, sunbathers, and families, so it can get a bit crowded during the day. Come early to claim your space!

The bike/camping trip is one of my favorite Sweden memories, and so, to this day, Falsterbo is still one of my favorite Skåne beaches.

Hilleshögs Dalar Nature Reserve

Hilleshögs Dalar - also known as the slopes of Glumslöv and the valleys of Hilleshög - is a nature reserve in Landskrona. It goes by many names, but, no matter what you call it, a trip here will have you feeling like you’ve left Sweden and teleported straight to the coast of Ireland.

This beautiful nature area is the perfect space for an easy, leisurely walk. You can choose between hiking a short loop or doing a longer hike on one of the following trails:

Sandbergen trail, 3.2 km
Sundviken trail, 1.8 km
Skåneleden SL 5, Öresundsleden, 9 km

OR, do what we did and don’t stick with any of the trails… just wander up and down zig-zagging through the whole space. Better yet, pack a picnic, have a seat on one of the hilltops, and enjoy the views!

(This is 100% what I will be doing next time).

Keep in mind, the valleys can get pretty muddy. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty!

Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve

Hovs Hallar is a nature reserve in the north-western part of Skåne.

Located about seven kilometers from the fishing village of Torekov, it is the steepest coastal section of the Bjäre Peninsula. Hovs Hallar is home to rocky cliffs and scenery so magical that, again, might make you feel like you’re not in Skåne anymore.

Are you noticing a theme with these nature spaces? They’re all pure magic.

I didn’t know until after my visit, but, apparently, Hovs Hallar is a popular tourist destination for more than just its rocky cliffs. It is also famous for being the setting of the opening scene in a film called The Seventh Seal. I haven’t seen it yet, but now it’s on my list!

Klagshamnsstranden

Don’t feel like biking all the way down to Falsterbo? No worries. There are several great beaches for camping along the way, including Klagshamnsstranden!

Located just a 45 minute bike ride from Malmö, Klagshamnsstranden is a great destination to test the waters with cycling/camping trips. It is also a perfect spot for views of the Öresund Bridge.

Since it is closer to the city (and a shorter strand of beach), expect for it to be a bit busier in the daytime.

It was absolutely packed when we arrived here in the late afternoon, but, thankfully, we were able to find a quiet spot at the far end of the beach to set up camp. As the sun went down, the beach cleared out, and soon we were one of just two groups camping out for the night.

We had perfect weather the following morning and enjoyed breakfast, a morning swim, and a bit of sunbathing on the beach before biking back to Malmö.

Kullaberg Nature Reserve

Of all the beautiful nature spaces on this list, this is probably my favorite… and once you check out the pictures it’ll be no surprise as to why. It. Is. AMAZINGLY. Beautiful. The type of beauty that’ll have you picking your jaw up off the ground.

The nature reserve is located in the tip of the Kulla Peninsula, just beyond the cute fishing town of Mölle.

You could easily spend a day (or even a full weekend) exploring the area and never run out of beautiful things to see. Several cycling and hiking trails crisscross through the area leading to caves, secluded swimming spots, and one of the most beautiful sunset views I’ve seen in ages.

The peninsula teems with wildlife and is also home to Kullens fyr, Scandinavia’s brightest lighthouse… but that’s hardly the most noteworthy attraction here. The rocky cliffs and crystal clear waters take the cake.

Kullaberg was on my must see list for ages, and I can’t believe it took me so long to go. It isn’t very accessible via public transportation, so you’ll need a car to get here. I can’t wait to come back in the summertime to spend the day swimming, kayaking, and sunbathing.

Måkläppen Nature Reserve

Established in 1902, Måkläppen is Sweden's oldest nature reserve. It remains a favorite for nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, wildlife photographers, or people who, like us, who just need an escape from the city.

One of the most special things about this nature reserve is its shifting sands, constantly changing landscape, and the fact that it’s only open for 12 weeks each year. And SEALS! Don’t forget about the seals - the true highlight of Måkläppen.

From November 1 through January 31, visitors have the opportunity to visit the reserve, located on the outermost tip of the Falsterbo peninsula. Here you can see a number of unique birds, and, if you’re lucky, you can even catch a glimpse of seals in their natural habitat.

The first time we visited, it was PACKED with people, so the only seals we saw were out in the water.

On our second visit, temperatures were the coldest they’d been all year… and so the number of visitors in the reserve that day was obviously significantly fewer. The cold temps meant frozen fingies and toes… but also meant LOADS more seals (which made for a very giddy and excited Kirst).

As much as you may be tempted to go in for a close up shot, it’s so important for visitors to respect the seals and give them space.

Sandhammaren Beach

The silky, or as Andrew likes to say “squeaky,” white sands of Sandhammaren beach will have you feeling like you’ve been transported straight from Österlen to the Carribean.

Sandhammaren is one of the most popular beaches in Skåne and has literally won awards for being Sweden’s best beach. Despite its popularity, when we visited in late May, we were surprised (and pleased) to find that the beach was nearly empty.

We found a quiet spot in the dunes (which was great because they doubled as a privacy barrier… for topless tanning purposes). This wasn’t really necessary since there was hardly anyone else there… and also because Swedes don’t really care about nudity like people in other countries - (but it’s something I’m obviously still getting used to).

Next time we come to Sandhammaren, we’re definitely bringing our tent to camp out for the night!

Söderåsens National Park

Established in 2001, Söderåsen National park is a great place to go for a hiking day trip, especially in the fall. Many people in the area flock here in the autumn to enjoy the colorful autumn foliage. I’d recommend visiting in October for peak colors. We went the first week of November and most of the leaves had already fallen.

It is here that I learned Skåne is in fact NOT all flat farm land. The national park is actually the home to the steepest peek in the county… and mannnn did my legs burn after taking on nature’s stairmaster.

There are different routes of varying difficulty, but they all promise beautiful views.

Unlike some of the other places on the list, this national park is really easy to get to via public transportation - (the only downside is that it takes close to two hours by train and bus versus just one hour by car). From Malmö Central station take Pågatågen 1274 towards Höör station. At Stehag station you’ll switch to bus 518 towards Klippan station and get off at Skäralid Nationalparken.

Stenshuvud National Park

Stenshuvud national park is a coastal nature reserve in Österlen, located just south of Kivik.

Before visiting, I wasn’t expecting much… but it honestly blew me away. The variety of natural spaces all in one national park is truly impressive - There is sea (of course), wetlands, forest, meadows, sandy beaches, and even rocky lookout points.

There are 5 different footpaths in the park of varying distance and difficulty:

Stenshuvud Loop, 2.2km (easy)
Hällevik Loop, 4.2km (difficult)
Kortel Loop, 3.2km (difficult)
Sea Loop, 1.1km (wheelchair friendly)
Arboretum Loop, 0.5km (wheelchair friendly)

They often intersect with one another, so we didn’t end up sticking with any one specific path for long.

The steeper loops may be a bit more difficult, but the view from the top is more than worth it.

Ven Island

This teeny, tiny little island is located in the Öresund Sound, just a short trip away from Malmö.

The whole island of Ven is a nature reserve making it a haven for cyclists, or anyone just wanting a quiet, relaxing escape from the city.

We spent the day picnic-ing on the beach, alpaca spotting, and romping around the island on our cute yellow bicycles. It was the most perfect, leisurely day of not doing much of anything.

If you have time, the island is home to some interesting attractions, like an alpaca farm (where you can take the alpacas out for a stroll), a whiskey distillery (which is also a hotel with a delicious farm to table restaurant), and it is the site of the first modern observatory.

If there is one thing you MUST do while on Ven it’s obviously cycling. Other than that, I’d recommend going with no agenda and just enjoying some quiet time in nature.

Read more: Day Trip to the Island of Ven - How to Get There and What to Do