Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish 2016 Must-See Destinations
Photo: Lisa Wikstrand
Photo: Studio-e
The friendly town where sea meets nature The southern Swedish town of Helsingborg is located in the greater Copenhagen area, offering the perfect mix of town buzz and nature. A royal castle, fantastic hike trails and a bustling town centre are just some of the attractions. By Ellinor Thunberg
“We have a lot of fun to look forward to this year. Our royal castle, Sofiero, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with festivities around town throughout the year,” says Emma Håkansson, tourism manager in Helsingborg. Sofiero is the main tourist attraction and the park was named the most beautiful in Europe in 2010. It is famed for the beautiful rhododendrons that you will find in full bloom here from May or June. The park is open from May to September and this year you will also be able to enjoy special exhibitions and a new Jubilee garden.
Hike by the sea The region has several great hiking trails, such as the beautiful 70-kilometre trail, Kullaleden, stretching from Helsingborg, around the Kullen peninsula, 80 | Issue 84 | January 2016
via Höganäs to Utvälinge. It is a certified Leading Quality Trail by the European Rambler’s Association and a part of the much longer Skåneleden trail. “Kullaleden is a coastal walk along the sea, and you can make two or three overnight stops along the way in hotels or bed and breakfasts,” Håkansson explains, adding that you can even combine hiking with shopping or exploring the local culture. With all this in mind, it is perhaps little surprise that Europe’s largest hiking event, Eurorando, is coming to Helsingborg in October 2016. “We welcome between 5,000 and 7,000 hikers, but you can also come here just to enjoy the party,” she says.
Explore the town Helsingborg has around 135,000 inhabitants and is the eighth-largest town
in Sweden, according to size. But the restaurant scene still offers some 450 restaurants, and celebrity chefs such as Tina Nordström and Niklas Ekstedt started their journeys here. In summer you can enjoy a swim at Tropical Beach, right in the town centre, and in winter three different open-air swimming baths provide perfect conditions for a hot sauna and dip in the sea. Håkansson says that the best thing about the town is the wide range of different activities and the fact that there is always something going on. She describes it as a ‘boutique holiday’ where you get town buzz and beautiful nature in one. “We are Sweden’s most friendly town, and many visitors say that they wish they could stay for longer.”
For more information, please visit: www.visithelsingborg.com