Half day trip from Copenhagen
Helsingborg is a coastal city in southern Sweden known for its old town and is home to the medieval Kärnan tower, the only surviving element of a fortress. Helsingborg in Sweden and its sister city Helsingør in Denmark are located on the narrowest part of the Øresund strait, with frequent ferries between the 2 cities. After spending half day site seeing in Helsingør, we took the 20-min ferry to Helsingborg. Ferries run between the 2 cities every 30 minutes and we did not need to show any documents to cross over.
- Kärnan Tower
- Helsingborg’s Old Town
- Oceanhamnen
Kärnan Tower – After we got off the ferry, we found our way to the historical medieval Kärnan tower which is a 10 min walk from the ferry drop off location.
The tower is the only remaining part of Helsingborg Castle that was built under Danish rule in the early 14th century and was renovated from 1893-1894. Across the water stands Kronborg Castle in Helsingør. For centuries, these two fortresses guarded the strait between Denmark and Sweden.
We bought tickets to climb the 146 steps inside the tower to reach the top for sweeping views of Helsingborg, Øresund strait, and Danish coastline. You pass by 4 floors where you can take a pause and read some history of the building and the town before you reach the terrace. One of the floors had what looked like royal chairs.
Slottshagen Park – This park lies in the shadow of the medieval fortress tower Kärnan just above the center of Helsingborg. Large parts of Slottshagen, which was built from 1909 to 1911 on the site of the demolished fortress, are designed in the style of an English garden with large lawns, tree groups, tall shrubs and ponds. This is a beautiful place to take a relaxed walk after visiting the tower.
Helsingborg’s Old Town – a 5 minute stroll from the Kärnan Tower will take you to Mary Torg (Mary’s square) where history meets local everyday life. Here, charming cobbled streets and cozy restaurants gather around St. Mary’s Church, one of Helsingborg’s oldest buildings. The square is a calm and welcoming gathering place, where residents and visitors like to sit down for a while and meet over a cup of coffee.
Helsingborg’s Old Town, St Mary’s church – Plan to build this Gothic brick church was started between 1350-1360. After several alterations to its design, the church was completed in 1450. The large altarpiece at the church has been in place for more than 560 years. In 2016 it was renovated by Johanna Nessow and Matilda Thorlund Brönmark of the painting restoration firm, Skånes Målerikonservatorer.
Oceanhamnen – We could see this place as the ferry landed in Helsingborg. I found out later that this is a new district emerging on islands in central Helsingborg, with proximity to both the sea and the city and with a focus on the environment and sustainability.
Oceanhamnen combines city life with a beautiful coastal environment. You can easily reach Oceanhamnen via the impressive Varvsbron bridge. One can experience unique waterfront living, modern architecture and revived maritime history. Sustainability and innovation permeate the area and it is bursting with creative activities.
