Europe > Sweden > Malmö (MMX)
The Car or no Car advice for Malmö can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Malmö ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Malmö ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Malmö?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.Malmö is one of Scandinavia’s most interesting cities when it comes to the car or no-car question, and visitors often ask themselves early on: should you rent a car in Malmö? The short answer is that Malmö is exceptionally easy to enjoy without one, although there are still a few situations where a rental car can make sense.
Malmö without a car 🚶♀️🚲🚆
First of all, Malmö is compact, flat, and very cycle-friendly. Cycling here feels completely normal, not heroic. Dedicated cycle lanes run everywhere, and bike hire is easy to arrange. Many visitors end up cycling simply because it is the fastest and most pleasant way to move around.
Public transport is also excellent. Local buses cover the city well, and regional trains are frequent and reliable. Malmö Central Station is right in the heart of the city, making arrivals and departures effortless. From here, you can walk straight into the historic centre, the waterfront, and modern districts like Västra Hamnen 🌊.
Crucially, Malmö works brilliantly as a base for cross-border travel. Trains across the Øresund Bridge to Copenhagen run every 20 minutes for much of the day 🚆🌉. This makes day trips to Copenhagen not just possible but routine, and it strongly reduces any need for a car during a short stay.
When a rental car becomes useful 🚗
That said, there are moments when hiring a car can add value. If you want to explore rural Skåne, with its beaches, forests, castles, and small villages, a car gives you far more flexibility. Places like Ales Stenar, Österlen, and remote coastal stretches are possible by bus, but journeys can be slow and infrequent.
A car also becomes more attractive if Malmö is part of a longer Scandinavian road trip. Driving across the Øresund Bridge into Denmark, or heading north into Sweden, can be an enjoyable experience in its own right, even if tolls apply.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Malmö?
For city breaks and Copenhagen combinations, no car is needed at all. Walking, cycling, and trains are more than enough. However, it becomes worthwhile if you plan to explore Skåne in depth or continue further afield.
