Helsingborg

Helsingborg lies in Skåne County and is known above all for its port, Sweden’s second-largest container port. According to Statistics Sweden (SCB), the urban area (tätort) has around 116,000 inhabitants (2023). The city is located at the narrowest point of the strait between Sweden and Denmark. Agriculture dominates the open areas around the city.

Helsingborg was first mentioned in a letter in 1070, but its documented mention in 1085 is regarded as the city’s birth. Because of its strategically favourable location, it was fought over again and again and once belonged to Denmark. Today it is one of the oldest cities in Sweden. The three churches of St Clemens, St Petri and St Olai are among the city’s first buildings. In the 12th century a sandstone castle was built, and 200 years later this castle was considered one of the strongest fortresses in all of Northern Europe.

In the 17th and 18th centuries Helsingborg was repeatedly devastated by Danish-Swedish wars, and many residents fled. In 1658 the city became Swedish for the first time, but only 20 years later the Danes recaptured it. In 1719 Helsingborg finally became part of Sweden. The many wars had left the city completely destroyed. From the 1850s onwards the city recovered and its population grew. The favourable location of the port strongly drove the city’s development.

Stortorget is the city’s oldest square. Its elongated shape dates from the Scanian War in the 17th century, and it served as a marketplace for over 100 years. Over time, magnificent buildings were built around the square. Characteristic of Helsingborg are its many parks, which were once private gardens and were donated to the city. Today the parks are often used for various events, such as orchid competitions or vintage car shows. The city’s oldest church, Raus Church, is also located on the edge of one of the parks. Theatre plays a central role in Helsingborg. The Fredriksdal open-air theatre is a popular spot for tourists, especially in summer, and performances held there are broadcast on national television. History enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in the city’s many museums. The city museum opened in 1909; as the original building soon became too small, it was moved, together with the art collection, to the Dunkers Kulturhus. Besides the open-air theatre there is also the open-air museum, which opened in 1918, and more facilities and buildings have been added in recent years. There are also the school museum and the museum of medical history. You should also visit the Kärnan keep, an original part of the medieval fortifications. Helsingborg’s concert hall was built in 1932. Today every kind of music can be found in the city, and music plays a large part in the residents’ lives.

Helsingborg also has the highest density of pubs in the country and many excellent restaurants. The city also offers bathing beaches and plenty of sports activities.