Öresund by boat: Malmö, Limhamn and Helsingborg
The Öresund is a narrow strait where open water, a big city and large ships meet. By boat you see the Turning Torso and Västra Hamnen from the sea, head out towards the Öresund Bridge from Limhamn, follow the beaches north to Lomma and Bjärred, or cross to the island of Ven from Råå or Helsingborg. There is no archipelago to hide in here, so trips are short hops between harbours. Here are five trips, the harbours and the rules.
Where can you rent a boat near the Öresund?
On Ship O'Hoi, private owners rent out their own boats along the Öresund coast. You will find boats to rent in Malmö, you can rent a boat in Limhamn close to the bridge, browse boats in Lomma for trips in Lomma Bay, and rent a boat in Helsingborg for Ven and Råå. Each owner sets their own requirements for experience or certificates, and some owners can come along as skipper.
5 boat trips on the Öresund
Västra Hamnen, Ribersborg and Limhamn
Start at Dockan Marina, in the middle of Västra Hamnen (the Western Harbour). Follow the quays out past the Turning Torso, round Västra Hamnen and continue south along Ribersborg beach to Limhamn, approx. 4 nautical miles (nm). Allow 30–60 minutes at an easy pace. You pass the Ribersborg cold-bath house, Malmö's long sandy beach and Limhamn harbour with the bridge in the background.
Guest harbours (gästhamn) on the way: Turbinhamnen in Västra Hamnen has guest berths in its outer part, Andelshamnen Lagunen sits next to Ribersborg, and Småbåtshamnen i Limhamn takes visiting boats up to 5 m beam and 2.3 m draught. Around Dockan there are at least 15 restaurants and cafés within a few minutes' walk.
Tip: From May to September, motorboats are banned at the Ribersborg and Sibbarp bathing places, and motor craft are banned in Västra Hamnen. Keep well clear of the bathing areas and follow the signs.
Limhamn, the Öresund Bridge and Klagshamn
From Limhamn it is approx. 3.5 nm out to the high bridge of the Öresund Bridge, and approx. 4 nm more south to Klagshamn if you want to continue. A round trip Limhamn–bridge takes about an hour. Under the high bridge runs the Flintrännan fairway, just over 8 nm long and 370 m wide, with 55 m air draught.
Klagshamns hamnförening is one of Malmö's guest harbours, and next to it is the Klagshamnsudden nature reserve with a bathing beach.
Tip: Flintrännan is the main channel for ships through the strait. Large ships can neither stop nor turn quickly, so cross the fairway straight and briskly, and check the clearance on your chart if you want to pass under the approach bridge rather than the high span. Keep to 3 knots in Limhamn's small-boat harbour and 7 knots within Limhamn harbour area.
Malmö–Lomma–Bjärred
From Dockan it is approx. 5 nm north across Lomma Bay to Lomma harbour, then approx. 3 nm to Bjärred. It is a good day out on a calm summer day. From the water you see Lomma beach with its white sand and shallow water, and in Bjärred the Långa bryggan pier, more than 500 m long, with a cold-bath house and restaurant at the end.
In Lomma, guest berths are at the guest harbour by the library, at the far end of the river on the starboard side before the bridge, or on free green-marked berths. In summer, Kajgatan in Lomma harbour becomes a car-free street with outdoor cafés, and there are bathing platforms on the south pier.
Tip: Maximum 3 knots in Lomma harbour and 100 m outside the pier. At the mouth of Lödde å, north of Bjärred, anchoring is banned from 15 April to 15 July.
Helsingborg–Råå
From Norra hamnen in Helsingborg it is approx. 4 nm south along the coast to Råå, a large fishing and boat harbour at the mouth of the Rååån river. Allow 20–40 minutes. You pass the ferry harbour and the southern parts of Helsingborg.
Råå has a guest harbour with 2–2.5 m depth, showers and electricity on the jetties. Green signs mark free berths. Stroll among the fishermen's cottages and captains' houses to the fishing and maritime museum.
Tip: The harbour entrance at Råå at times has a strong current. Maximum 3 knots in the harbour, and from 15 May to 15 September motorboats are banned at bathing places including Råå vallar and Råå kallbadhus.
Across to Ven
Ven sits in the middle of the strait. From Råå it is approx. 5.5 nm to Bäckviken on the east side and approx. 6.5 nm to Kyrkbacken in the south-west. From Helsingborg to Norreborg on the north side it is approx. 8 nm. The crossing takes 20–45 minutes in a fast motorboat, longer under sail.
Ven has three guest harbours: Bäckviken, Kyrkbacken and Norreborg. From Kyrkbacken you walk up to the church and swim from the jetty or sandy beach. Norreborg has a sandy beach and a summer kiosk. On the island you can rent the typical yellow bikes and ride to the site of Tycho Brahe's research centre with its castle and observatory, or to Spirit of Hven at Backafall.
Tip: From May to August, no boat may be driven inside the bathing areas at Bäckviken, Kyrkbacken and Norreborg. Enter the harbours slowly and avoid the swimming zones.
| Route | Distance | Time | Highlight | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Västra Hamnen–Ribersborg–Limhamn | approx. 4 nm | 30–60 min | Turning Torso, Ribersborg | Beginners, families |
| Limhamn–Öresund Bridge–Klagshamn | approx. 3.5 + 4 nm | 1–2 h | High bridge, Flintrännan | Experienced skippers |
| Malmö–Lomma–Bjärred | approx. 5 + 3 nm | half day | Långa bryggan, Lomma harbour | Families, calm days |
| Helsingborg–Råå | approx. 4 nm | 20–40 min | Fishing village of Råå | Beginners |
| Råå/Helsingborg–Ven | approx. 5.5–8 nm | full day | Tycho Brahe, sandy beaches | Experienced, good weather |
Rules and safety on the Öresund
- Shipping: Heavy ship traffic passes through the strait. Sound VTS in Malmö, run by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Danish navy, monitors traffic through the Soundrep reporting system on VHF 71 and 73. Keep a lookout, cross fairways at right angles, and stay out of the commercial harbour basins in Helsingborg and Landskrona, where unauthorised craft are not allowed.
- Speed limits: The Skåne County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) has set, among others, 3 knots in Limhamn's small-boat harbour, Lomma harbour and Råå harbour, 5 knots in Malmö's canals, 7 knots in Limhamn harbour area, and 5 and 10 knots in Landskrona's harbour area and fairway. Inside Norra hamnen in Helsingborg the limit is 3 knots. See the county's register of regulations. You must never go faster than conditions allow.
- Bathing areas: Motorboats are banned May–September at Ribersborg and Sibbarp, and motor craft in Västra Hamnen. From May to August no boat may be driven inside the bathing areas at Bäckviken, Kyrkbacken and Norreborg on Ven. At Helsingborg's beaches, including Domsten, Råå vallar and Rydebäck, motor craft are banned from 15 May to 15 September.
- Anchoring bans: At the entrance to Malmö harbour, along the gas pipeline from Klagshamn to Denmark, and by the cables off Sibbarp. At the mouth of Lödde å anchoring is banned from 15 April to 15 July to protect nesting birds.
- Right of public access (allemansrätten): You may anchor and moor temporarily by a shore that is not part of someone's garden and stay a night or two. Jetties that belong to a private garden are private (Swedish EPA). A natural harbour (naturhamn) is rarely an option on this open, built-up coast, so plan on guest harbours.
- Toilet waste: Discharging toilet waste from leisure boats is prohibited. All of Malmö's guest harbours have pump-out stations.
- Licence: Under Sweden's boat licence rules, no licence is needed for a leisure boat under 12 m long or under 4 m wide, whatever the engine. A boat of at least 12 m length and 4 m beam requires a coastal skipper certificate (kustskepparintyg) or higher. This applies to visitors too. The 0.2 per mille alcohol limit applies to boats that can do 15 knots or are at least 10 m long.
- Denmark: Danish rules apply on the Danish side of the strait. The Drogden and Flinterenden fairways by Saltholm are heavily trafficked. Ask the owner before planning a crossing.
Best time for a boat trip on the Öresund
High season is June–August. That is when Lomma's harbour master is on duty, Kajgatan in Lomma harbour is a pedestrian street and Norreborg on Ven has its kiosk. Dockan Marina is open all year and takes bookings for June–August. Norreborg is also open year-round, but with limited service from mid-October to mid-April. Remember that most of the motorboat bans at bathing places run May–September, so all summer the big harbours and the open strait are where you drive. Pick a day with light wind for the crossing to Ven, as the strait is exposed.
FAQ
Can you take a small boat under the Öresund Bridge?
Yes. The high bridge over Flintrännan has 55 m air draught, but that is also where the ships go. If you want to pass under the approach bridge, check the clearance on the chart first.
How far is Ven by boat?
Approx. 5.5 nm from Råå to Bäckviken, approx. 4.5 nm from Landskrona and approx. 20 nm from Malmö. From Helsingborg to Norreborg it is approx. 8 nm.
Where can you moor in central Malmö?
At Dockan Marina, where the guest berths are right outside the harbour office, and at Turbinhamnen in Västra Hamnen. The canal berths in Malmö are annual berths.
Can you speed along Ribersborg beach?
No. From May to September motorboats are banned at the Ribersborg and Sibbarp bathing places, and motor craft are banned in Västra Hamnen.
How do I know which harbour berths are free?
In Råå and Lomma, green signs or markings show free berths. At Dockan you book ahead in summer. Pay the harbour fee as soon as you arrive.
Want to continue along the south coast? Read our guide to Karlskrona and the Blekinge archipelago, and take our day-trip packing list along.
