Originally posted April 12, 2021

There is a lot to love about summer in Scandinavia especially here in Skåne, Sweden’s southernmost county, where you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches.

Surrounded by the Baltic Sea to the south and east, and the Kattegatt and Öresund Strait to the west, Skåne coastline is dotted by countless beaches and cute, quaint, and quintessentially Swedish fishing villages. Here are the 8 best Skåne beaches to visit during your summer trips to Southern Sweden.

Klagshamnstranden

Klagshamnstranden is a small cozy beach located just outside of Malmö (20 minutes by car and about 50 minutes by bike). It’s a great place to go if you want to venture out of the city for a beach day but don’t want to go too far.

Though it isn’t as big as many of the other nearby beaches, there is a beach volleyball court, barbecues, and a jetty you can go swimming from. The shallow waters (and nearby icecream stand) make this a great beach to visit with kids.

We biked here from Malmo one afternoon last summer, and, though it was super busy during the day, we were happy to find a quiet spot at the far corner of the beach to set up camp for the night. As the sun went down, most of the families and sunbathers cleared out for the day and we were one of just two camping parties on this side of the strand.

With wonderful views of the Öresundsbron, Klagshamnstranden is a great beach to visit at sunset.

Kullaberg

Kullaberg isn’t your typical sandy beach, but it is a beautiful spot to visit on Skåne’s coast.

This gorgeous nature reserve’s coastline is quite rocky and may be more suited to those thrill seekers who want to spend a day exploring the area and its caves by foot on one of the many hiking paths (or perhaps even enjoying the views from the water by kayak or paddle board).

That being said, there are some beautiful coves and rocky hilltops that are also quite accessible and the perfect place to spend a nice summer day.

While you’re at Kullaberg be sure to visit the nearby fishing village of Mölle and Kullens fyre, Sweden’s oldest lighthouse.

Ljunghusens Havsbad

Ljunghusens Havsbad is a long sandy beach located in the town Ljunghusen.

Unlike the rainbow huts dotting many of the beaches in Sweden, at Ljunghusen you’ll find bathing huts with a more uniform look — All white with a rounded rooftop. Minimal scandi-chic at its very best.

The beautiful sandy beach at Ljungskogen is several kilometers long, so you should have no trouble finding a space here to spend a beach day.

Ribersborgsstranden

Ribersborg's beach - or Ribban as locals often call it - is Malmö's most popular beach.

Along the sandy shores at Ribban you’ll find volleyball courts, a well maintained walking and bike path, several kiosks selling food and snacks, and a large dog park.

I don’t have a dog (yet) so I love to come sit on the beach here and wait for the pups to come say hi.

If you’re a brave soul keen on taking a winter kallbad (Scandinavia’s coldest tradition), head to Ribersborg's cold bath house and pair your dip with a sauna session… or just come to grab a fika.

Sandhammaren

Sandhammaren is easily my favorite beach in Skåne, and I’m not alone in this. It has literally won awards recognising it as Sweden’s best beach.

Its white sands will have you feeling like you’ve been transported straight from Österlen to the Carribean.

Grab a seat right by the sea or set up camp in the dunes. I personally prefer sitting amongst the dunes because they double as a wind breaker and make a great privacy barrier for topless tanning purposes… not that anyone has ever been phased by partial beach nudity.

Next time we come, we’re definitely bringing our tent. Sandhammaren would be a great place to camp out for the night!

Scaniabadet

No, this isn’t technically a “beach”… though you can find some sand at the beach bar next door. Still, it is one of my favorite spots in the city to go for a swim (and one of my favorite places in Malmö in general)… hence its place on this beach list.

In the summertime, the deck at Scaniabadet and the surrounding grassy lawns are teeming with groups of friends and families sunbathing, playing games, and having barbecues. It’s also the perfect place for a sunset swim… even in the winter.

Though most people do their winter kallbads at Ribersborgs Kallbadhuset, you’ll also find people heading to Scaniabadet to go for a dip year round. This year, I was one of those people… and I don’t find it so crazy anymore - more on that soon.

Skanör-Falsterbo

Known for its picturesque, colorful bathing huts and fine sand beach strands, the Skanör-Falsterbo peninsula is perhaps the best place to go for the most quintessentially Swedish beaches in Skåne.

The beachs here are a popular spot for kite surfers, sunbathers, and families, so they can get a bit crowded during a nice summer day. The good news is, there are several beautiful beaches in the area… so if one is too full, you’ll surely be able to find a space somewhere nearby.

Skanörs Havsbad, is one of the most popular sections of beach on the west side, whereas Falsterbo Strandbad is a great place to go on the southwestern tip of the peninsula.

Täppet Havsbad

The first time I visited this beach in Ahus, the thing that stood out to me the most is how quickly the forest turns into a sandy white (and also a bit grassy beach)… that and the typical pastel covered huts.

In my home state of North Carolina, it’s not common to see such massive trees so near to the beach… never mind a beach with a lone tree smack dab in the center of the sand.

The beach gets really in the summer during the popular volleyball and handball tournaments.

While you’re here, check out the nearby home of Absolut and Otto & Glassfabriken, Ahus’ famous ice-cream shop. You can always expect a cue at this little ice-cream hut, but the variety of flavors, toppings, and huge portions are well worth the wait.

Ven Island Beaches

Located in the Öresund Sound between Sweden and Denmark just a short trip away from Malmö, you’ll find Ven Island, quite possible one of my favorite nature escapes in Skane.

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

We spent the afternoon here picnic-ing on the beach, alpaca spotting, cruising around the island on our cute yellow bicycles, and not doing much of anything else… but, next time we visit, we’re planning to bring our camping gear to stay the night on one of the island’s many cozy and quiet beaches.

Read More: Day Trip to Ven Island - How to Get There + What to Do