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Ribersborgs open-air bath (Ribersborgs Kallbadhus)

Historic seaside bathhouse on a wooden pier where Malmö’s skyline, Nordic sauna rituals and bracing Öresund dips come together in an inclusive year‑round oasis.

4.5

Poised at the end of a long wooden pier on Malmö’s Ribersborg beach, Ribersborgs open-air bath is a historic cold-water bathhouse and spa dating back to 1898. Here you alternate bracing dips in the Öresund with soothing saunas, warm tubs and languid time on wind-sheltered sun decks, all framed by views of the Öresund Bridge, Turning Torso and the Copenhagen skyline. Open year-round, it blends traditional nude bathing customs with an inclusive, contemporary atmosphere.

A brief summary to Ribersborgs open-air bath

  • Limhamnsvägen, Brygga 1, Malmö, 217 59, SE
  • +4640260366
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 4 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Mixed
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Monday 10 am-7 pm
  • Tuesday 10 am-7 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-8 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-7 pm
  • Friday 10 am-7 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-6 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-6 pm

Local tips

  • Bring a quick-drying towel and sandals; the wooden decks can be cold in winter and hot in summer, and you’ll want something to sit on in the sauna.
  • Expect nudity in the saunas and gender-separated sections; swimwear is often optional in the sea pools but towels are required on sauna benches.
  • Aim for early morning or later evening on clear days for softer light, fewer people and especially atmospheric views of the Öresund Bridge.
  • If you are new to cold bathing, start with short dips followed by plenty of time in the warm saunas, and avoid going alone if you feel unsure.
  • Check in advance for special mix days like Queer Kallis if you prefer an all-gender environment or want to bathe together as a mixed group or family.
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Getting There

  • Public transport from Malmö Central Station

    From Malmö Central Station, take a city bus heading toward Limhamn or Ribersborg and ride for about 10–15 minutes to a stop near Ribersborg beach, then walk roughly 10–15 minutes along the shoreline to the pier. Buses in Malmö run frequently during the day, and a single adult ticket typically costs around 30–40 SEK when bought via local ticket apps or vending machines. Most buses are low-floor and suitable for travellers with limited mobility, but the final walk along the beach promenade is exposed to wind and weather.

  • Walking from central Malmö

    From the central city area around Gustav Adolfs torg, plan on a 25–35 minute walk to Ribersborgs open-air bath. The route follows broad pavements and the seaside promenade, generally flat and suitable for most fitness levels. It is an enjoyable option in mild or sunny weather, with open views of the harbour and waterfront, but can feel long and blustery in strong winds or heavy rain. There is no cost, and you can easily combine the walk with a wider stroll along Ribersborg beach.

  • Bicycle via Malmö’s cycle paths

    Malmö is highly bike-friendly, and reaching the bathhouse by bicycle from central districts typically takes 10–15 minutes using dedicated cycle lanes that run toward Ribersborg and Limhamn. You can bring your own bike or rent one through local bike-share or rental shops, usually for about 80–200 SEK per day depending on type and provider. Surfaces are mostly smooth and flat, though coastal winds can make the ride more demanding. Bicycle parking is available close to the landward end of the pier, but it can be busy on warm summer days.

  • Taxi from central Malmö

    A taxi ride from central Malmö to Limhamnsvägen, Brygga 1 usually takes 10–20 minutes depending on traffic along the waterfront. Fares vary by operator and time of day, but a typical one-way journey for up to four passengers often falls in the range of 130–220 SEK. Taxis provide the most comfortable option in poor weather or for those with limited mobility, though it is worth confirming card payment and approximate fare before setting off. Drop-off is on the road near the beach; a short, level walk along the pier brings you to the bathhouse entrance.

Ribersborgs open-air bath location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Cold Weather
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
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A wooden retreat above the Öresund

Ribersborgs open-air bath stretches out from Malmö’s city shoreline on a 170-metre wooden pier, ending in a pastel-green bathhouse that seems to float above the Öresund. Originally opened in 1898 using salvaged timber from an older port bath, it was conceived as a place where sea, fresh air and simple architecture could work together as everyday therapy. Today its clapboard façades, latticed railings and gently curving rooflines preserve the feel of a 19th-century seaside resort, even as modern Malmö hums in the background. From the pier you look out across a broad sweep of shallow beach and sea, with the white curve of the Turning Torso to one side and, on clear days, the outline of Copenhagen on the horizon. In stormier weather waves slap the stilts and wind whistles through the boards, underlining that this is a bathhouse built to live with the elements, not shut them out.

From storm-battered bathhouse to listed landmark

The bathhouse’s story is one of persistence. Just four years after it opened, a fierce Christmas storm tore through the structure and forced a complete rebuild, during which a diving tower was added to the men’s side. Later, in the 1930s, changing ideas about health and modesty brought in formal nude bathing and clearer partitions between sections. Ownership eventually passed to the City of Malmö, which continued to repair storm damage, including another major hit in the late 1980s. In 1995 the complex was declared a listed historic building, protecting its characteristic wooden architecture and pier layout. Subsequent refurbishments have focused on careful restoration: reinforcing the stilts, renewing decking and adding sundecks and landward jetties without losing the original proportions. The result is a rare survivor of turn-of-the-century bathing culture that still functions much as it did over a century ago.

The ritual of heat, cold and calm

A visit here revolves around a simple but addictive rhythm: heat up in a sauna, plunge into cold seawater, then rest in the open air. Separate men’s and women’s sections each have saunas and their own sheltered sea pools with ladders and platforms. Between them sits a mixed sauna, allowing shared experiences while the bathing areas remain divided. In winter, steam billows from the doors as bathers pad out to cut-throughs in the ice-cold water; in summer, the jetties echo with splashes and low conversation. Wood-fired hot tubs, warm-water pools and massage rooms add a spa-like layer to this otherwise pared-back ritual. Many people build their visit around several cycles of sauna and swim, punctuated by quiet time on the wooden benches, wrapped in a towel, watching the light change over the water.

Saunas, sun decks and sea views

Inside, the saunas range from dry heat to more humid rooms, some with large windows framing the Sound and the silhouette of the Öresund Bridge. The temperature and atmosphere vary: some spaces are designated for silence and contemplation, others allow gentle conversation. Regular Aufguss sessions introduce scented steam and guided heat waves that make the experience more intense. Outside, broad sun decks catch the afternoon light and are popular for reading, napping or simply lying back between dips. The positioning of windbreaks and railings creates pockets of shelter even on blustery days. On the landward side, a café and restaurant serve meals, snacks and drinks, turning a bath into an unhurried half-day of lingering over coffee or a long lunch.

An inclusive slice of Malmö life

Although steeped in tradition, Ribersborgs Kallbadhus has also become a symbol of Malmö’s inclusive character. On designated mix days such as Queer Kallis, the usual division between women’s and men’s areas is set aside so that everyone, including non-binary and trans guests, can bathe without negotiating gendered spaces. Regulars span generations, from elderly locals following long-established routines to younger visitors discovering cold-water swimming for the first time. Season by season, the mood shifts: crisp winter air and icy water for those chasing endorphins; bright, social summer evenings when the sun lingers late over the Sound. Whatever the weather, the essence remains the same: wooden walkways, salt on your skin and the feeling of stepping briefly out of everyday life onto a pier suspended between city and sea.

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