Luxury Self Drive Package in Skåne
Package includes-
Accommodation: 6 nights, double room, deluxe accommodations
Breakfast for two: 6 mornings
Additional:
Car rental
Admission fees for museums and guided tours
Spa treatments
Suggested itinerary for a 7- day, 6- night tour
Day 1- After arrival at Kastrup, Copenhagen’s modern airport, take the train to Malmö, Sweden. These trains run frequently, taking only 20 minutes to cross the strait that separates Denmark and Sweden. Take delivery of your rental vehicle in Malmö and drive to Lund, where you check into your hotel. After a short rest, explore the sights of Lund. Wander through the old town and absorb the flavor of centuries past.
Lund, which dates from the late 900’s, is a vibrant university town. The University, founded in 1666, has over 40,000 students. Cafés, small eateries, and unique shops dot the city center. Visit Lund Cathedral, a magnificent structure. The astronomical clock and the church organ are two remarkable sights, as well as Finn the Giant, who embraces a pillar in the crypt. A stroll through the Botanical Gardens, where over 7000 plant species are located, is also recommended.
Overnight: Lund
Driving distance: Malmö – Lund, 18.6 km/12 miles
Day 2- After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to head to the southern coast of Skåne. Enjoy the countryside as you drive to Ystad, a small town with over 300 well preserved half- timbered houses. You will want to park your car and take a historic walk through town, absorbing the beauty of the old buildings. A highlight of your wanderings may include the Grey Friar’s monastery, which dates from the 1260’s. Over the centuries this building has been used as a monastery, a hospital, a home for indigents, a distillery, and more. Take the opportunity to tour the gardens where you will see medicinal herbs that Franciscan monks introduced to southern Sweden. Visit St. Maria’s Church, Ystad’s oldest building. It is from this location that the night watchman signals the town’s inhabitants that all is well.
For fans of Kurt Wallander, the notorious criminal inspector from Henning Mankell’s novels, there is a special walking tour through town. Relive Wallender’s famous cases, eat in his favorite restaurant, and have a coffee break at one of his favorite cafés.
After touring Ystad, we recommend a short drive to Kåseberga to see Ales stenar (Ale’s Stones). Sometimes referred to as “Sweden’s Stonehenge”, this monument of massive stones is compelling and mysterious. Fifty- nine enormous stones are arranged in an oval, high on a cliff overlooking the Baltic Sea. For decades scholars have debated the purpose of this monument. An astronomical calendar? A grave? The soil and stones of the monument are slowly sharing their secrets.
After exploring Ale’s Stones, drive along the coast to the Simrishamn area, your destination for the evening. You will have the opportunity to linger in picturesque fishing villages and enjoy the alluring, sandy beaches. Take time to dip your toes in the Baltic Sea!
Overnight: Tommarp
Driving Distances: Lund – Ystad, via Sjöbo, 66 km/ 41 miles
Ystad – Kåseberga, 19 km/ 12 miles
Kåseberga – Tommarp, 31 km/ 19 miles
Total driving distance for the day- 116 km/ 72 miles
Day 3- You are now in the heart of Österlen, an area of rolling hills and artisan colonies. The area is dotted with old inns, castles, and hundreds of churches, some dating from the Middle Ages. Use your hotel as your base, and explore the area at your pace.
Suggested destinations:
Simrishamn, a scenic coastal town, is a charming village with pastel- colored houses, art galleries, restaurants, cafés, and a bustling harbor. It was once an important part of the herring industry. Today it serves as one of the departure points for the Danish island of Bornholm. A self- guided walking tour through the town is highly recommended, as well as visits to art galleries and attractive unique boutiques.
Driving distance: Tommarp – Simrishamn, 9km/ 6 miles
Glimmingehus is one of the best- preserved medieval manors in Scandinavia. With two- meter thick walls, and a surrounding moat, it could be considered a fortress. It was built by Jens Holgersen Ulfstand, a Danish knight, in 1499. This massive building was very comfortable for its time, with warm- air channels in the walls and small benches at the windows. The Ulfstand family owned expensive goods from Europe, using Spanish ceramics, Venetian glass, and glass from the Rhine area. The manor is open to the public from late March – October, with English tours being given in the summer months.
Driving distance: Tommarp – Glimmingehus, 5 km/ 3 miles
For those interested in hiking, there are several wonderful walks in the area. You can spend the day hiking in Stenshuvud National Park, observing the flora and fauna, or hike a section of Skåneleden, an extensive trail that crisscrosses Skåne. Perhaps you will want to take a horseback riding tour. Both Island horses and Haflinger horses are available. Bicycle rentals can also be arranged.
A hotel spa treatment and a delicious dinner would be a lovely way to wind down the day.
Overnight: Tommarp
Day 4- It’s time to leave the gently rolling hills of Österlen and explore western Skåne. The next destination is Bosjö Kloster, just south of Höör. This stunning white convent, located on a peninsula between two sparkling lakes, was built by the Benedictine Order in the late 11th Century. It served as a cloister until the 16th Century, but was then closed because of the Reformation. Afterwards it became a private residence for Danish nobility, with many changes of ownership over the years. During your visit you can enjoy exhibits in the castle, wander through the herb and flower gardens, spend some time in the convent museum, and even borrow a rowboat for a short row on the lake. Lunch at the café or restaurant is suggested.
Your drive from Höör towards the west coast continues on country lanes. Our recommended route parallels Söderåsen National Park, where you might want to take a break. Take a short hike in the area and wander among the fantastic broadleaf forest. An abundance of animals, birds, fish, and even beetles are to be seen.
As your journey continues, you will pass the small town of Klippan. A short detour to the shop at the Klippen Woolen Factory is of interest. Beautiful woolen and linen products are available for purchase. These unique products, sold worldwide, are of Swedish design.
Your evening destination is the small town of Arild, located on the hillsides of the Kullen Peninsula. Fantastic views over the bay, a small harbor, a beautiful chapel, and homes clustered on the hillside make this a magical destination.
Overnight: Arild
Driving distances: Tommarp – Höör, 82 km/ 51miles
Höör – Skäralid, 31 km/ 19 miles
Skäralid – Klippan, 17 km/ 10 miles
Klippan – Arild, 45 km/ 28 miles
Total driving distance for the day: 175 km/ 108 miles
Day 5- Drive across the Kullen peninsula to Höganäs. This area, well known for its ceramics, has numerous outlets for shopping. Swedish and Finnish glass products, as well as Höganäs ceramics, can be purchased before your journey home. After shopping, you should follow the coastal drive to Helsingborg. Travel through small villages, smell the sea, and enjoy the Danish views across the sound. At Helsingborg- Helsingör the strait narrows to 4 kilometers, and ferries transport thousands of people between the two countries every day. Drop your luggage at your hotel in Helsingborg, and head out to explore the sights.
Take the ferry across the sound to Helsingör, Denmark. As you sail along, you will see the green- tinted copper roof of Kronborg Castle, sometimes called “Hamlet’s Castle”. This Renaissance castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, played a vital role in the area in the past. Stand on the ramparts and observe the shipping lanes, explore different chambers within the castle walls, and also visit the damp, cold dungeons where prisoners served their time. It is here that Holger Danske slumbers, ready to arise and protect the people of Denmark, should he be needed.
When in Helsingör you should take a stroll down the “walking street”. Window shopping and people- watching are good pastimes. There are cafés, restaurants, cheese and wine shops, flowers galore, and more.
The short ferry journey back to Helsingborg takes only twenty minutes. Relax with a delicious dinner, take a stroll along Helsingborg’s harbor and beach, and watch the evening sun, as it disappears on the horizon.
Overnight: Helsingborg
Driving Distances: Arild – Höganäs, 11 km/ 6 miles
Höganäs – Helsingborg, 24 km/ 15 miles
Total Driving distance for the day: 35 km/ 22 miles
Day 6: Today is spent exploring Helsingborg. We suggest that you spend your morning at either Fredriksdal Museum or at Sofiero Castle.
Fredriksdal Museum, a short walk from the downtown area, is a haven of peace and tranquility in the middle of the bustling town. What was once a private estate is now a tribute to Helsingborg and Skåne’s past. Highlights of the visit include touring the manor, barns, old homes and buildings from the 1700 – 1800’s, seeing livestock in the fields, walking though botanical gardens, visiting a Graphics Museum, and strolling through a reconstructed village.
Sofiero Castle, located a few miles out of town, was once the summer residence of former King Gustav VI Adolph. There is a spectacular view over Öresund from the castle and grounds, and the rhododendron gardens are renowned. These bushes dot the hillsides, providing a splash of colors when blooming.
Downtown Helsingborg is quite interesting as well. At the top of the cliff is “Kärnan”, a medieval keep. This stronghold is all that remains of Helsingborg Fortress. Climb the stairs to the top of the structure, where you will have incredible views over the narrow waterway passage between Sweden and Denmark.
Take a promenade along the walking/ shopping streets, peek in the alleyways, and sample delicious Swedish desserts at one of the cafés. The oldest building in town is Jacob Hanson’s house, an impressive half- timbered building. Don’t miss St. Maria Church.
As the day winds down, drive south towards Malmö to deliver your vehicle. Along the route you will see the “Turning Torso”, a 54- story skyscraper based on Santiago Calatrava’s sculpture “Twisting Torso”. It is the tallest building in Scandinavia, and houses office space, luxury apartments, and shopping areas.
Overnight: Malmö
Driving Distance: Helsingborg – Malmö, 65 km/ 40 miles
Total Driving Distance for the trip: approximately 450 km/ 280 miles
Suggestion: Add two days to your itinerary to explore Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.