Copenhagen and Skåne by rail: design, museums and coastline

This is where your journey begins. The EuroCity leaves directly from the main station heading north.

Copenhagen's main station sits centrally, right next to Tivoli and the pedestrian zone. From here you can walk comfortably to your accommodation and the city centre.

The colourful harbour canal with its narrow gabled houses is Copenhagen's postcard image and a great start to your first evening. Sit by the canal and watch the world go by — the canal boats also depart from here.

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A modern, clean-lined hotel in a quiet spot in the city centre, within walking distance of Nyhavn and Rosenborg. Good value for such a central location.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

This Renaissance castle houses the Danish Crown Jewels and the Crown Regalia in vaulted treasury chambers. Around it lies Kongens Have, Copenhagen's oldest royal garden, ideal for a break. A highlight for anyone interested in history and design.

Denmark's leading design museum showcases furniture, ceramics and graphic design from the modern era to today, including the famous chairs by Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner. Perfect if design is your thing. The courtyard is a lovely spot for a coffee break.

This historic amusement park, dating from 1843, combines rides, gardens, concerts and good restaurants, and is especially atmospheric when lit up in the evening. You can also just pop in for a wander and a bite to eat. A classic right in the middle of the city.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

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One of Scandinavia's finest museums: modern art in a building that opens out towards the Öresund, with a sculpture park by the water. The combination of architecture, art and landscape is unique. The café with its terrace over the sea is well worth a stop.

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This mighty Renaissance castle, at the narrowest point of the Öresund, is a World Heritage Site and famous as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet. From the ramparts you can look straight across to Sweden. The casemates and state rooms are easy to combine in one visit.

The Öresund Bridge, just under eight kilometres long, links Denmark and Sweden, running into a tunnel via the artificial island of Peberholm before reaching Malmö. The train travels along the upper deck, so enjoy the views out over the water. The crossing between two countries takes just a few minutes.

Malmö's old town, with Stortorget, Lilla Torg and its cobbled lanes, is compact and inviting, full of cafés, boutiques and brick houses. Lilla Torg is the loveliest square for a lunch break. Everything here is easily reached on foot.

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A design hotel in the Västra Hamnen district, just a few minutes from Turning Torso and close to the centre. Clean Scandinavian styling and good links into the city.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

This 190-metre twisting residential tower by Santiago Calatrava is the landmark of modern Malmö and the tallest building in Scandinavia. Around it, the Västra Hamnen waterfront invites you to stroll and swim. An absolute must for architecture fans.

This long city beach, with views of the Öresund Bridge, is popular with locals for walks and a swim. At its far end stands the historic cold-bathing house with saunas set over the water. A relaxing coastal stop right in the city.

This Renaissance castle houses the Malmö Museer, with collections covering art, city history and natural history, plus an aquarium. The surrounding castle park is green and peaceful. A good mix of history and family-friendly exhibitions.

This 12th-century Romanesque cathedral is Scandinavia's most important sacred building, famous for its astronomical clock, which puts on its figurine show several times a day. The crypt, with its massive pillars, is impressive. Admission is free.

One of the oldest open-air museums in the world, with historic houses, craft workshops and changing exhibitions on culture and design. You wander through different eras right in the middle of the city — a nice contrast to the cathedral.

The university's Botanic Garden, with its greenhouses and sprawling grounds, is a green oasis perfect for an afternoon break. Admission is free — ideal for relaxing before the journey back.

This well-preserved half-timbered town on the south coast, made famous by the Wallander novels, invites you to wander its cobbled lanes and market square. St. Maria church and the monastery are well worth seeing. A great starting point for the coast.

Set on a clifftop above the Baltic Sea, Sweden's largest surviving stone ship, made up of 59 boulders, is thought to date from the Iron Age. The view over the sea and the Österlen landscape is magnificent. The walk up from Kåseberga harbour takes about 15 minutes.

This market hall, set in an old brick depot, brings together delicatessen stalls, cafés and small eateries under one roof. A great spot for a late breakfast and to pick up Swedish specialities to take home. Design and good food come together here.

From the central station, you head back towards Copenhagen and on to Berlin. The station building itself is a handsome historic structure right on the canal.