This interesting new district is comprised of waterfront apartment and office buildings located along a lengthy, broad beachwalk – where you’ll also find a variety of popular and trendy restaurants, bars, cafés and nightclubs. Throughout the warm season – which of course is longer in Malmö than in the other more northernly parts of the country – Västra hamnen has become a red-hot meeting place of a kind you wouldn´t expect to find in a major city on these latitudes; a stage on which to see and be seen, for people from the city and its surroundings, as well as for visitors from near and far, coming here to sunbathe, relax, play, swim and show off.
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Photo: sydpol.com skane.com |
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Turning Torso |
Västra hamnen has a spectacular landmark in the 190-metre Turning Torso skyscraper, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and widely acclaimed as one of Europe´s most remarkable buildings of recent years, surrounded by many other architecturally interesting new structures. There is also the new Stapelbäddsparken skateboard park, one of the biggest and best in Europe, a favourite hangout for local youngsters and host to the Quicksilver Bullriders competition in the summer of 2007. Västra hamnen is still under development and expansion, with exciting buildings being added to create a fascinating new seaside cityscape for the 21st century.
From Västra hamnen you have a stunning view of the 8-kilometre Öresund Bridge, graciously arching its way over to Denmark, the coast of which can be seen on a clear day. Many also visit Lernacken, from where the bridge starts, to get a good look at the impressive structure from the Luftkastellet lookout point.
If you feel like going to the beach but don´t want to leave the city, Malmö is one of the few major centres in Northern Europe offering fine downtown beaches. The 2.5 kilometre long Ribbersborg beach is sometimes called ”Scandinavia´s Copacabana”, with a famous pier leading far out to the historical cold bath house, with nude swimming both summer and winter, separate for men and women, as well as a restaurant and café.