The guide to outings outside Malmö

Around an hour by car from Malmö you'll find Sandhammaren, a several kilometre-long beach which has been named the most beautiful beach in Sweden countless times. The fine white sand and turquoise water are reminiscent of paradise beaches in tropical climes.

Wander in ancient deciduous forest and valleys, and enjoy panoramic views from higher ground, in Söderåsen National Park, just east of Helsingborg. Visit Kopparhatten, a 200 metre-high viewpoint, and the deep Skäralid rift valley, whch cuts 8 km through Söderåsen and is sometimes called Skåne's Grand Canyon.

The Scanian landscape is dotted with castles and manor houses, many of them from the time Skåne was Danish, but some from after it became Swedish. Marsvinsholm belongs to the former category and the present castle was built between 1644-1648 by Danish aristocrat Otte Marsvin. The castle, which is surrounded by a large moat, has two magnificent Renaissance towers, a park and restaurant. The castle itself is a private residence.

The Nordström family has running Ängavallen since 1971, with a farmshop selling masses of organic goodies. The farm, which is around a 20 minute drive from Malmö, also has its own mill, dairy, creamery, bakery, restaurant, café, picnic spot, herb garden and a farm hotel. Everything at Ängavallen is a 100% organic and most of what they sell in their shop comes from their own farm.

This medieval town on the south coast of Skåne charms tourists with its cobbled streets and picturesque little houses. Wander around and take in the history, particularly in the old part of the town, where the street layout is largely unchanged since the Middle Ages and there are several beautifully preserved buildings from that period. For example, the Apotekarhuset from the 15th century is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scandinavia. If you're a fan of the Wallander detective TV series, Ystad will look very familiar to you, as the series is set and filmed here. In addition to history and culture, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches nearby and perhaps a visit to Ystad Saltsjöbad?

Hjularöd Castle, around 40 minutes from Malmö, was the setting for a very popular children's tv programme in the Nineties, making it a familiar backdrop for many Swedes. The outdoor scenes were shot in the castle courtyard, as the castle itself and the area inside the moat are closed to the public. If you're passing by, it's worth stopping and looking around, especially if you grew up in the 90s.

The great thing about having Malmö as a starting point is that you can experience both a Swedish and a Danish city in the same hour, if you want. On the Danish side of the Öresund bridge you can shop on Strøget, ride the fairground rides at Tivoli, visit the Glyptotek art gallery, watch the changing of the guards at Amalienborg, get your photo taken with the Little Mermaid, wander round Nyhavn, eat open sandwiches or visit the Hans Christian Andersen Experience. There's something for the whole family in Copenhagen!

One of the Iron Age's largest and most significant settlements can be found at Uppåkra, outside Lund. So far more than 28,000 metal objects in coppar, silver, bronze and gold have been found, making Uppåkra one of the most abundant ancient remins in Scandinavia. The Uppåkra settlement period was from around 100 BC to 1000 AD. During the summer months the centre is open to the public and there are guided tours if you want to find more.

The town of Helsingborg in northwest Skåne is on the narrowest part of the Öresund strait. Shop Sweden's oldest pedestrian street, visit Sofiero castle, drink water direct from Ramlösa spring, get cultural at Dunkers cultural centre or take the ferry over to Danish Helsingör. The ferry takes around 20 minutes and once you're on the Danish side you can visit Kronborg, the castle where Shakespeare's Hamlet was set. When you're in Helsingborg, don't miss a visit to Zoégas café and shop, where the coffee wheel in the shop window has been spinning since 1931. On sunny days, head to Rydebäcksbadet, where there's a 190 metre-long bathing jetty and a long sandy beach.

Lund is probably best known in Sweden as a student town, and it is. But there's much more than the prestigious university to discover; Lund boasts a cathedral, thought to have been built from the early 12th century and the Kulturen i Lund open-air museum, which stretches over two blocks and includes several culturally important buildings and gardens from the middle ages to the Thirties. Don't miss the a visit to the Botanical Gardens, home to more than 7,000 plant species.

White beaches, brightly coloured bathing huts and plenty of good restaurants. That's what you can expect of a visit to Skanör-Falsterbo, two medieval villages which have gradually grown together but are still two different postal districts. Stroll among picturesque houses, look for amber or kitesurf on Ljunghusen beach, play golf or eat a herring sandwich in Skanör harbour. Don't miss eating at Badhytten restaurant, right on the beach. And if you're a fan of horses, the annual Falsterbo Horse Show is a must visit.

Hällåkra Winery is around 40 minutes by car from Malmö. Since 2003 they've been letting their grapevines develop in harmony with the natural conditions, giving their wines their characteristic Scandinavian flavour. Their 22,000 vines produce red, white, sparkling and sweet wines. Wander in the vineyards, sample the wines and enjoy food from the restaurant with its charming alfresco dining area.