Halland & Skåne, Sweden

The two historic provinces and present-day Swedish counties of Halland and Skåne cover the entire southwestern stretch of Sweden’s coastline. This section extends from the Kattegat coast south of Gothenburg in the north, across the Öresund between Sweden and the Danish island of Zealand , to Hanö Bay in the central Baltic Sea. Both provinces belonged to Denmark until the mid-17th century, a fact that has shaped the local dialect to this day. The coasts of Halland and Skåne are predominantly sandy, as they lie southwest of the rocky region of Scandinavia and are geographically very similar to the southern Baltic coast.
The Halland coast stretches from rocky Kungsbacka near Gothenburg to Laholm Bay. Varberg , with its famous historic fortress and ferry port to Denmark, Falkenberg, the provincial capital Halmstad and Laholm are the most important towns. The beach along Laholm Bay is also known as the Swedish Riviera because of its quality and popularity. Just inland from the coast begins the forested, hilly landscape typical of Sweden. There are no fewer than 120 nature reserves in Halland’s coastal hinterland.

The province of Skåne covers Sweden’s entire southern region and is the country’s most densely populated area after Stockholm . Skåne is rich in tourist attractions. With Båstad on Laholm Bay, Skåne is home to Sweden’s tennis mecca and the annual Swedish Open. A wild landscape characterizes the Kullen Peninsula, which projects far into the Kattegat, while the mostly flat lowland south of the Helsingborg–Kristianstad line is reminiscent of northern Germany. The undisputed center of Skåne is Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city. Its blend of metropolitan atmosphere and open space is complemented by unique attractions such as the Öresund Bridge to Denmark and the distinctive Turning Torso skyscraper. With Helsingborg, Malmö, Trelleborg, Ystad and Simrishamn , Skåne has a number of important ports, some with ferry services to Denmark or mainland Europe—the “Continent,” as the Swedes call it. The entire stretch of Sweden’s Baltic coast from Trelleborg via Ystad and Simrishamn to Åhus is a popular tourist destination, though visitor numbers vary from place to place. Sweden’s southernmost point is Smygehuk, about 15 km east of Trelleborg. With its long Baltic coastline, Skåne is one of Sweden’s most popular holiday destinations, offering hotels, holiday homes, campsites and countless ways to spend your vacation.