Kungsparken, Malmö

Malmö’s oldest park, Kungsparken, blends English-style landscapes, myth-laced fountains and castle-side canals into a tranquil green escape in the heart of the city.

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Kungsparken, Malmö

Kungsparken is Malmö’s oldest public park, a sweeping 19th-century English-style garden wrapped around the city’s historic castle and canals. Opened in 1872 and planted with more than 130 exotic tree species, it blends ponds, winding paths and romantic lawns with a dramatic cast-iron fountain, a myth-inspired grotto and a former park restaurant now turned casino. Moments from the Old Town, it is a leafy escape for picnics, quiet walks and summertime cultural events.

A brief summary to Kungsparken, Malmö

Slottsgatan 33, Malmö, 211 33, SE
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Monday 12 am-12 am
Tuesday 12 am-12 am
Wednesday 12 am-12 am
Thursday 12 am-12 am
Friday 12 am-12 am
Saturday 12 am-12 am
Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

Bring a picnic or takeaway snacks; there are plenty of lawns and benches with views of the fountain, canals and castle walls.
Allow time to seek out the grotto and serpent fountain, tucked away from the main paths and easily missed on a quick walk.
Visit in the late afternoon or early evening in summer for softer light, cooler temperatures and a livelier atmosphere around the casino pavilion.
If you are interested in trees and plants, walk slowly along the canal-side paths where many of the more unusual species are clustered.
In cooler or wetter months, dress in layers and waterproof shoes, as paths can be damp and you may want to linger on unpaved sections of lawn.

Getting There

On foot from Malmö Central Station

From Malmö Central Station, Kungsparken is roughly 800–900 meters away and typically reached in about 10–15 minutes on foot. The route is level and paved the entire way, suitable for most visitors and wheelchairs, and you will pass through the central canal area before reaching the park’s eastern edge. As a central green space, there are multiple informal entrances rather than a single gate.
City bus within Malmö

Several local bus lines stop within a 5–10 minute walk of Kungsparken, including routes serving Gustav Adolfs torg and other central squares. Typical travel time from residential districts to the city center ranges from 10–25 minutes depending on distance and traffic. A single adult bus ticket in Malmö usually costs around 25–40 SEK when bought via local transport apps or contactless payment. Buses are generally low-floor and accessible, but frequency can be reduced late at night and on some weekend hours.
By bicycle from central Malmö

Kungsparken sits directly on Malmö’s dense network of cycle paths and can be reached in about 5–10 minutes by bike from most central neighborhoods, including Möllevången and Västra Hamnen. The terrain is flat and the main approach routes use separated bike lanes. Public bike-share and rental options are available in the city, and cycling is often the fastest way to move between the Old Town, the castle and the park. Be mindful of shared paths within the park and keep speed low around pedestrians.
By car or taxi within Malmö

Driving from elsewhere in Malmö to the Kungsparken area typically takes 5–20 minutes depending on starting point and traffic. There is a small pay-and-display parking area near the casino pavilion and additional paid on-street parking in the surrounding streets, but spaces fill quickly in good weather and during events. Short taxi rides within the city usually fall in the 120–220 SEK range. The park itself is car-free, so you will continue on foot once parked or dropped off.

Kungsparken, Malmö location weather suitability

Any Weather
Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures
Cold Weather
Rain / Wet Weather

Discover more about Kungsparken, Malmö

Malmö’s first city park wrapped around the castle

Kungsparken, or King’s Park, is the green lung that hugs Malmöhus Castle on the western edge of the Old Town. Laid out on former castle grounds and a burial site, it opened to the public in 1872 as Malmö’s first major park, a symbol of a growing, modern city looking for space to breathe. Designed by Danish landscape architect Ove Høegh Hansen, it follows the ideals of the English landscape garden, with gently curving paths, flowing water and sightlines that feel natural yet carefully composed. The park stretches across a broad swathe of lawns, groves and canals, merging almost seamlessly with neighboring Slottsparken so that the boundaries between them blur. From its edges you glimpse the outlines of the medieval fortress, the rooftops of Gamla Staden and, further off, the contemporary skyline that has come to define Malmö’s recent transformation.

English-style greenery and trees from three continents

What sets Kungsparken apart is the richness of its planting. More than 130 mature, often exotic, trees line the paths and cluster around the ponds, bringing together species from Europe, Asia and North America. Among them are towering oaks, sweet chestnut and the so‑called “tree of heaven,” introducing subtle shifts in texture and leaf shape as you wander. Broad lawns sweep down to the canal, inviting casual games, sunbathing or simply lying back to watch clouds slide above the canopy. In one corner, an organic and community-tended vegetable garden shows a different side of urban green space, with seasonal beds, buzzing pollinators and a relaxed, almost allotment-like atmosphere that contrasts with the more formal tree avenues.

Fountains, grotto and a touch of Norse mythology

At the heart of Kungsparken a cast-iron fountain from 1882 provides a natural gathering point. Its basin, backed by trees and framed by the gentle curve of the lawn, creates one of the park’s classic postcard views, with bridges and canal beyond. On warm days the play of water and light gives the whole scene a soft, shimmering quality. Nearby, a man-made grotto adds an unexpected note of drama. Once the park’s star attraction, it was later restored and given a new focal point: a sculpted serpent head inspired by the Icelandic Edda, in which the trickster Loki is bound beneath a venom-dripping snake as punishment. Here the “poison” becomes water, each drop falling from the serpent’s tongue into a carved bowl below, a small but theatrically staged piece of storytelling hidden in the greenery.

Casino pavilion and echoes of 19th-century leisure

Kungsparken’s relationship with leisure has always been central to its identity. In the 1880s a park restaurant opened near the water, offering city dwellers a fashionable place to dine and promenade. The same building later evolved into a modern gaming venue and today houses one of Sweden’s limited number of licensed casinos, complete with restaurant and bar. The pavilion’s architecture bridges eras: its early 20th-century outlines and terraces look out over lawns where people linger with ice creams, strollers and bicycles. The contrast between formal interiors and the relaxed outdoor setting reflects how the park has continuously adapted, blending old-world elegance with Malmö’s contemporary urban rhythm.

Seasonal rhythms and everyday city life

Throughout the year Kungsparken shifts character with the seasons. In spring, tulip beds and fresh foliage draw locals out for the first long days, while summer brings picnics, canal boating and open-air cultural programs such as performances linked to the city’s free summer scene. Autumn paints the exotic trees in deep reds and golds, and even in winter the bare branches, quiet paths and occasional snow lend the park a stripped-back, contemplative atmosphere. Despite its central location, much of Kungsparken feels surprisingly tranquil. Joggers share the paths with commuters on bikes, children feed ducks along the canal, and office workers retreat here at lunch to sit on benches facing the water. It is this combination of daily life, layered history and carefully tended nature that makes the park an essential part of Malmö’s urban fabric.

Views, water and gentle exploration

For visitors, the pleasure of Kungsparken lies less in ticking off sights and more in wandering without a fixed route. Small bridges cross the canals at different angles, offering changing perspectives on the castle, the city and the curving tree lines. Two small lakes mirror the sky and attract geese and other birdlife, adding movement and sound. Benches and tucked-away clearings give you the option of lingering in quiet pockets or staying close to the main paths where cyclists and families weave by. Whether you come for a brief pause between Old Town landmarks or devote a leisurely afternoon to exploring every loop of its paths, Kungsparken offers a calm, green counterpoint to Malmö’s streets just beyond the trees.

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Restaurant Lola

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Restaurant Barr

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Restaurant Kanalen

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Cafe Wilder

26.3 km

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Kadeau

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Khun Juk

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Skipperkroen

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Cap Horn

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Nyhavns Færgekro

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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

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The Crown souvenir

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Magasin du Nord

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Balthazar

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1105

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Ved Stranden

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Charlie's Bar

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Kungsparken, Malmö

A brief summary to Kungsparken, Malmö

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

On foot from Malmö Central Station

City bus within Malmö

By bicycle from central Malmö

By car or taxi within Malmö

Kungsparken, Malmö location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Kungsparken, Malmö

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Discover more about Kungsparken, Malmö

Malmö’s first city park wrapped around the castle

English-style greenery and trees from three continents

Fountains, grotto and a touch of Norse mythology

Casino pavilion and echoes of 19th-century leisure

Seasonal rhythms and everyday city life

Views, water and gentle exploration

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Stortorget 8

Peberholm

Krudhuset

The Old Execution site in Copenhagen 1946-1950

Nyholm Central Guardhouse

Sankt Annæ Gade

Inderhavnsbroen

Christianshavns Kanal

Arne Jacobsens Allé 12

Ofelia Plads

I am Queen Mary

Larsens Pl.

The Kissing Stairs

ZinkGlobal by Kim Michael

Christianshavn

Unmissable attractions to see

Slottsträdgården

Malmö Castle

Malmo Museum

Malmö City Library

Malmö old cemetery

Form/Design Center

Malmo Live Concert AB

Lilla torg

Fiskehoddorna

Teknikens och Sjöfartens hus / Malmö museum

Södergatan

Shoes on Davidshalls Bridge

Stortorget

Disgusting Food Museum

St. Peter's Church

Essential places to dine

Malmö Saluhall

Noma

La Banchina

Alchemist

Restaurant Lola

Restaurant Barr

Restaurant Kanalen

Cafe Wilder

Kadeau

Khun Juk

Skipperkroen

Cap Horn

No. 2

à terre

Nyhavns Færgekro

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

Field's

Copenhagenglass

Maritime Antiques &

The Crown souvenir

Royal Souvenir Shop

Zane

Magasin du Nord

Welcome Giftshop & Souvenirs

The Wilde Shop

Viking Souvenirs