Malmohus Castle
A moated Renaissance fortress built when Malmo was Danish, now holding the city's art, natural history and aquarium collections.
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Erik of Pomerania built a fortress here in the 1430s and Christian III rebuilt it in the 1530s as a Renaissance castle with round gun towers and a moat, when Skane was part of Denmark and Malmo one of its main towns. It served as a prison for a long stretch afterwards - the Earl of Bothwell, Mary Queen of Scots' third husband, was held here for several years. It now houses the Malmo museums together: art collections, natural history with an aquarium in the basement, and the history of the city. The castle sits in a park with mills, a moat and canal walks that continue round the old town.
What you actually see
- Round gun towers and a moat - the 1530s Danish rebuilding.
- Several museums in one - art, natural history, city history.
- An aquarium and terrarium - in the basement floors.
- Castle park and canal walks - around the whole site.
When to go
Year round; the museums close on some Mondays. Two to three hours.
Honest expectations
The mix of museums under one roof feels disjointed. The aquarium is dated. English labelling is uneven. The castle interior has been much altered by museum fit-out.
Nearby
Malmo old town is east; Ribersborg and the Western Harbour are north.
What to pack for Malmohus Castle
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
