Trelleborg: Viking Heritage, Art and Coast

Trelleborg is considered a historic coastal town on the southern coast of Skåne, on the Baltic Sea. Viking Age exhibitions, art in the city and a seaside bathing area offer different highlights. Nature areas and experiences in the surrounding area are also options to consider when planning your trip.

Viking Age and City History

Trelleborgen is an open-air museum in the centre of Trelleborg. A quarter of the present-day fortress was built in the heart of the modern city, on its original site. The “Borgen vid havet” exhibition presents archaeological finds alongside reconstructed objects from Viking Age Söderslätt. Guided tours, various events and activities that introduce visitors to Viking life offer further ways to explore the subject.

At Trelleborg Museum, permanent exhibitions focus on the prehistory of Söderslätt and Trelleborg’s industrial history. Temporary exhibitions focus on art and cultural history. Alongside the Viking Age, they also explore the development of the region and the city, as well as changing cultural themes.

Art, Windmills and Architectural History

Axel Ebbes Konsthall displays studies and original plaster models by Axel Ebbe, as well as designs for public sculptures and monuments. Art can also be discovered beyond the exhibition hall: the Konstvandra city art walk leads to statues and artworks in Trelleborg’s streets and squares. Public works by Axel Ebbe can be found in and around the city park.

The oldest parts of Trelleborg lie around Gamla Torget. Sandmöllan is the city’s only surviving windmill and is a post mill dating from the 17th century. Built of red brick, S:t Nicolai kyrka lies north of the market square; its present appearance dates from a renovation carried out between 1881 and 1883. Together, these places offer glimpses into different chapters of the city’s history, though they do not all belong to the same period.

Coast and Nature in the Surrounding Area

Dalabadet, a seaside bathing area with a sandy shore and large lawns, lies on the edge of Trelleborg. Nature enthusiasts can visit the municipal Maglarps sandtag nature reserve in the surrounding area. Many solitary bees live there, and sand martins nest in the sand wall. A marked path leads to a birdwatching point; the birds’ activity is seasonal.

A snorkelling underwater nature trail is also located in the surrounding area, east of Skåre harbour. Check local conditions and the required equipment before you go. This is distinct from a beach visit or nature observation: here, the underwater world is the focus, while Maglarps sandtag offers a different view of nature with its marked path and birdwatching point.

Fika, Berries and Swimming

Hallongården, in the area around Trelleborg, has a farm shop selling raspberry products and a café serving berry specialities. You can pick your own berries in summer, depending on the harvest conditions. The farm shop stocks around 25 different products, including juice, nectar, jam, glögg, vinegar and raspberry ketchup. Individual products may vary. The offering combines a farm shop, café and seasonal berry picking, though the shop selection and the harvest are not the same thing.

Trelleborgs badhus has a café where visitors can buy fika. The swimming centre also has a warm-water pool with an adjustable depth of up to 1.5 metres.

Getting Around and Staying Active

Trelleborg is accessible by car, public transport or ferry. Train services run to Malmö, Lund and Helsingborg, with trains running every half hour for much of the day. Check timetables before travelling. Different details are useful for planning a cycling trip: the main route of the national Sydkustleden cycle trail passes through Trelleborg, while the Sverigeleden cycle route begins on Kontinentgatan opposite the central station.

In summer, Palmtåget runs daily as a free hop-on hop-off train between Trelleborg’s attractions. As it is a seasonal service and operating periods may change, check in advance whether it runs during your travel dates. Another option for planning a tour is the pilgrimage route between Trelleborg and Dalby: it starts in Trelleborg’s monastery garden and forms part of the pilgrimage route between Santiago de Compostela and Nidaros.

Events Throughout the Year

The Battle of Trelleborgen is a Viking event featuring a market, demonstrations, music, crafts and Viking games. Dates vary from year to year, so check the dates for your trip. The Palmfestivalen has been held on the last weekend of August since 1976. Here, too, it is worth checking the specific dates and programme for the year of your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bosarp, Klagstorp, Svedala, Alstad, Böste Trelleborg, Anderslöv, Beddingestrand, Gislöv, Smygehamn, Trelleborg

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