Advice for a solo traveler - Malmö vs Strasbourg

Like you said, Strasbourg ticks all your boxes. I don't know how much wine tasting is on offer in Malmo.

Malmo is a rather undistinguished city. If you were to go there, you could say you've been to Sweden, but not really say you've seen anything that makes it special. If you are going to Denmark, add any time you'd spend in Malmo onto it.

Strasbourg and the area around it have much to offer, including a lot of what you like.

I think if you love strolling old towns and wine tastings then Strasbourg/Colmar will be a much better fit than Malmö Sweden. It's also much easier to get around that area to the smaller towns/villages by public transportation.

I don't know a whole lot about Malmö (I have been to Sweden but not to that city) but I think if it was me I would stay in Copenhagen Denmark and do a day trip or two to Sweden - Malmö, Ystad, Helsingborg for a taste of Sweden. The two latter towns are both seaports with nice old town areas. I only say this because I think there's much more to see and do in Copenhagen than in Malmö.

I agree with Nancy about staying in Copenhagen - there's lots to see both in the city and nearby. Crossing from Copenhagen to Malmo only adds 40-50 minutes to a trip to Sweden. You might want to split the two weeks between Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Malmö is an unusual choice; I've never been, but I haven't read of any particular reason to go. As said above, it's easy to visit from Copenhagen. Copenhagen is very relaxing and has a number of daytrips in the region (Frederiksborg Castle, Helsingør, the Louisiana Museum, etc).

If you're interested in Sweden, Stockholm is a great place with several days of attractions in the city itself (including a lovely old town) as well as daytrips; it's also just a great place to hang out.

I've only been to Malmo briefly but I didn't feel it was a destination city. I'd put it in the category of Jaen Spain, Koblenz Germany, Moderno Italy, Innsbruck Austria, etc. They aren't necessarily awful, but they aren't really great either - all the things that make a city a city without much of the must sees that make me want to visit.

Hi,

I have been to both Strasbourg and Malmö. Since Strasbourg is one of my top picks in France, I would have to suggest here Strasbourg over Malmö. If you want to go Germany, it's easy from Strasbourg, take the S-Bahn to Offenburg. From Malmö take the night ferry to Travemünde.

I agree with Strasbourg from your list. If you can't afford Stockholm or Copenhagen, maybe Gothenburg. That's better than Malmo but still a secondary destination. BTW, too many old-towns today are renovated pedestrian streets filled with Sephora and fast food. Surely that's not what you meant.

Since you can afford Zurich, why not combine Gothenburg with Oslo for two weeks? But a week in Copenhagen and a week in Stockholm would be by far the best, even if you have to "pack" for a bargain airline transfer.

Please put your city and country in your profile so we can see it.

Strasbourg wins big time. It is a great city in a great area to tour.

I would not go out of my way to see Malmo. Not the best place in Sweden to visit. Copenhagen is great.

Strasbourg is pretty central. Lots relatively near it. Don't miss Verdun. Nancy is one of my favorite small cities...it's a miniature Paris, IMO, spend 10 days there. I love Sweden, but I have never heard much about Malmö.

Google Malmö or specifically crime in Malmö and you will see a lot of disturbing news. Like a mall shooting yesterday. Most is from sensationalist tabloids (so I will not post any links) but there must be a bit of truth behind it. I did see an apparently legitimate website that rated cities and ranked Malmö as "high" in crime.

Not a place I would like to spend a week. Strasbourg,,on the other hand. . . .

I've never been to Malmö, but I love all that I have seen of Alsace (except some of the outer suburbs of Mulhouse) and certainly find both Colmar and Strasbourg, and the villages which lie between them, both beautiful and interesting.

Stepping away from my usual role here...

As I've been to Malmo and Strasbourg, I echo the opinion of others. I didn't feel that there was anything particularly wrong with Malmo as a city, but there really isn't much to keep a tourist busy or interested there. On the other hand, I spent a nice three days in Strasbourg. I'm not sure it warrants two weeks, but if you used it as a base to see other places in the area (Colmar, etc), Strasbourg is a sound choice.

OK, back to my usual role...

Thanks everyone! I am trying to figure out where I read that Malmo was a fun city to visit...I'll rethink that for my Sweden trip planning.

With more research, and your input, I'm really thinking it's Strasbourg. Looks like a nice city, and a good base for day trips in a few directions. Right now, Nancy and Baden-Baden are part of the day trip plans, plus I'm eyeing some of the little villages along the way each way. Now I just wish I could go right now!