Discovering Denmark: A 30-Minute Train Ride to Sweden
I honestly had no idea before visiting Northern Europe—
While exploring Denmark, you can spontaneously hop on a train and be in Sweden just in time for lunch.
No flights.
No dragging luggage through airport security again.
Board a train in Copenhagen, cross the Øresund Strait, and before you know it, your phone signal switches from 🇩🇰 Denmark to 🇸🇪 Sweden.
This might be the easiest "international day trip" I’ve ever experienced.
If it’s your first time in Denmark, I think Copenhagen is a city that doesn't require a packed itinerary.
The cyclists, the people sipping coffee by the canals, the streets that look like they’ve been pulled straight from a design magazine...
The pace here is completely different from what you'll find in Asia.
And the one spot you absolutely cannot miss on your first visit is:
📍 Nyhavn
It's that iconic row of colorful houses you see in photos.
Buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries line the canal, with vintage boats docked in front and open-air restaurants flanking both sides.
This is easily the most recognizable view in Copenhagen.
After exploring Copenhagen by day, I’d save the evening for Tivoli Gardens.
It’s not just about the rides.
What truly struck me was the nighttime atmosphere.
As dusk falls, lights begin to twinkle among the trees, and the entire park transforms into something out of a fairy tale.
Tivoli itself is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic landmarks.
There is a direct rail link between Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city.
The train crosses the famous Øresund Bridge, reaching Malmö Central in about 30 minutes from downtown Copenhagen. Official travel guides even recommend Malmö as the perfect day-trip destination from Copenhagen.
If you’re expecting the grand, big-city energy of Stockholm, Malmö isn’t that.
Instead, it feels more like:
"A cozy, quiet, and walkable Nordic town."
Once you step out of Malmö Central, most attractions are within walking distance. Local tourism info describes the city center as compact and ideal for exploring on foot or by bike.
Malmö Travel
Old architecture, charming cafes, small squares, and bars...
Even though it’s just across the bridge from Copenhagen, the vibe is uniquely its own.
"When visiting Denmark, don’t just stay in Denmark."
Bring your passport.
Catch that train to Sweden.
Thirty minutes later,
you’ll find yourself in a whole new country. 🇩🇰🚆🇸🇪
Copenhagen × Malmö
One trip, two countries.