A visit to Sofiero and Helsingborg

Kronberg Castle

 October 21, 2025 - my fourth and final full day in Denmark. I decided to go to Sweden to visit Helsingborg and Sofiero. I could have taken the train from Copenhagen to Helsingborg via Malmö, but I didn't. I went by ferry, as one can. It was convenient and fun!

I took the Metro to Østerport, then caught the train to Helsingør, known in English as Elsinore. The castle is Kronberg, but is also known as Hamlet's castle ... To Be or Not to Be   .. which provided the inspiration for a certain English playwright's tragedy about a Danish prince!

Great view of the castle from the ferry.  

The train ride took about 45 minutes. The train and ferry stations are connected. I bought a round-trip ticket between  Helsingør and Helsingborg. The cost was about $14.00. This area is the narrowest part of the Øresund. The travel time was about 20 minutes. There were many Swedes returning home with booze, as the prices are lower in the duty-free store at the ferry station than in Sweden. There was a bar and a small restaurant on board, but you could purchase alcohol when the ferry was in Danish waters. I settled for coffee.  

Although Sweden and Denmark are part of Schengen, everyone goes through Border control when arriving in Sweden. A friend advised me to take my passport, which I did. Without it I would not have been allowed into Sweden. (If you travel by train to Malmö, you may be checked at the Hyllie station, which is the first stop in Sweden, when traveling from Copenhagen.)

At the Border Control, I had to show my passport, and was asked where I was going and how long I would be in Sweden. I responded: just today, and I am going to catch a bus to Sofiero and meet a friend. 

Down the escalator and into the train station. I texted my friend to say I had arrived. We agreed to meet up after I left Sofiero. I bought a round-trip bus ticket in the Pressbyrån store (similar to 7-11). The bus stop was a few minutes away.   

The ride took about 20 minutes and dropped me off a few feet from the entrance.   

For those of you who do not know, Sofiero Palace was once a summer home for the Swedish Royal Family. It was named for Queen Sofia (Sophie of Nassau), consort of King Oscar II.   In 1906, they gave the estate as a wedding present to their grandson, Gustav Adolf, and his new wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught.

https://visitskane.com/classic-attractions/sofiero-palace-and-gardens

https://www.sofiero.s

In 1973, King Gustav VI Adolf bequeathed Sofiero to the city of Helsingborg.   

I can only imagine how beautiful the gardens are during spring, summer, and early fall. When I visited in October, the gardens were an autumnal beauty, but no rhododendrons or tulips.

Inside the castle was a small exhibition on the Swedish royal family. The outdoor cafe near the soccer field was closed for the season, so I decided to have lunch in the Castle Restaurant. Good choice.

Great view of the Oresund.   I chose a Cobb salad, a slice of cake with vanilla cream, and a glass of wine. The salad was huge. I knew I could not finish it, so I canceled the dessert.  

At the next table, a Swedish woman heard my comment to the waitress. She said, "Ask to have the salad packed to go."  I looked at her, smiled, and said: Doggy bags in Sweden? She laughed:  yes, we learned it from you!

 So I asked for the rest of the salad ... and the slice of cake ... to go!   The food was in two containers with wooden utensils and napkins, and was put in a nice carry bag.

The next stop was the souvenir shop, where I bought a few things. Before heading out, I decided to walk DOWN the path to the water ... and then UP another path and toward the exit.

My friend texted me, saying she was on her way to pick me up.

Kronberg in the distance

It was a joy to get into my friend's car. We headed north for a bit to see the Oresund and where she grew up in Sweden. She had several places in mind where we could stop for Fika (coffee and cake), but each one was closed.    We decided to drive back to Helsingborg. She parked the car at a parking garage connected to the train/ferry station. Apart from the camera, I left my stuff in her car, as we headed to a cafe, Bruket, that she often visits -- and it was delightful.

https://www.bruketkaffebar.se/

The Oresund

I had a vanilla latte and a Chokladbollar (Chocolate ball). Yummy!

We walked to the Mariakyrkan, the Lutheran Cathedral.

I bet the burgers here are awesome!

We walked back to the car. I retrieved my belongings from my friend's car. Hugs, and looking forward to seeing each other again. She left for a tennis game, and I headed down the escalator to the ferry station, where the Aurora was boarding. A 20-minute ride across the Oresund.   A train bound for Copenhagen was pulling out when I got to the platform. No worries. Another train arrived three minutes later. I ate the leftover salad and the dessert. A reminder of a lovely day.

This was my last night in Copenhagen. I finished packing, read a little, and then got into bed, setting the alarm. Although I had to be on the Metro heading toward the airport by 1:28 p.m., I wanted to give myself enough time to have two adventures on my final morning. 

Why 1:28 p.m.? That is when my Copenhagen Card would expire. More on that in the final post on this trip.