Chill out in Landskrona
Cold Bathing in Landskrona
Landskrona, like many of Sweden’s coastal cities, has a long tradition of cold bathing. As early as 1846, the city got its first bathhouse for women. This year, a brand new bathhouse has been inaugurated, furnished with two large panoramic windows offering a fantastic view over the Öresund strait and Copenhagen.
Jessica Ewald is an avid cold bather who gladly travels from her home in Helsingborg to Landskrona for a dip. Her interest in the practice was sparked when she had her third child and needed a way to find some breathing room.
“Having three small children was sometimes a bit overwhelming. Someone described cold bathing as ‘before the bath, you’re like a canvas covered with paint, but when you come up, you’re like a white sheet again.’ I think it’s an apt description. It cleanses and removes stress,” says Jessica Ewald.
She started cold bathing by the coast, staying in the water for 30 seconds at a time.
“It was hardcore. I started cold bathing in the middle of winter and changed clothes in a shed. There was no sauna, nothing. But I got a lot of energy from it and was hooked. It was cheap therapy.”
Over the years, Jessica’s come to appreciate the more comfortable way of cold bathing, in bathhouses. One such is the new cold bathhouse in Landskrona, designed by Ulf Svensson at Magasin A architects. He talks about his original idea for the building:
“When I first started thinking about the bathhouse, I concentrated mainly on creating a peaceful place close to nature. I also wanted to preserve the historical role that the bathhouse had, as a social gathering point. I wanted to create a place that not only offers a relaxing bath but also a place for reflection and community.”
Jessica Ewald gives the bathhouse in Landskrona a five-star rating.
“It’s very beautiful, both inside and out with the copper plating, wooden panels, and the calm colours in the sauna. I particularly like that you have to walk out on this long pier before you get to the bathhouse. It really brings home the fact that you’re getting a break from everyday life. You get a chance to switch to a different state of mind.”
Landskrona’s New Bathhouse
Landskrona has previously had two bathhouses, both of which were destroyed in storms in 1941 and 2013. The new bathhouse was completed in March 2025.
The new bathhouse is located at the end of Badhusgatan, near Citadellbadet.
Architecture
Landskrona-based Magasin A Architects designed the bathhouse, with a façade of black wooden panels accented by copper plating. The building has several panoramic windows that provide a fantastic view over the Öresund strait.
Facilities
The bathhouse has two sauna sections and a smaller relaxation area that connects the two. Around the bathhouse, a sun deck allows for a rest after your dip if you don’t want to jump straight back into the sauna.
Pier
Visitors access the bathhouse via a 300-meter-long pier. Further out on the pier, there’s a public sun deck.
The Swedish Cold Bathing Tradition
Cold bathing, or “kallbad” in Swedish, is a cherished tradition in Sweden that dates back several centuries. It involves immersing oneself in cold water, often in the sea or a lake, regardless of the season. This practice is believed to have numerous health benefits, including improved circulation, reduced stress, and a strengthened immune system.
Historically, bathhouses were social hubs where people gathered not only to bathe but also to socialize and relax. These bathhouses were often located by the sea and featured facilities like saunas and relaxation areas. The tradition of cold bathing has seen a resurgence in recent years, with many people seeking the invigorating and therapeutic effects of cold water immersion.
In Sweden, cold bathing is often combined with sauna sessions. The typical routine involves warming up in a sauna before taking a quick dip in the cold water, followed by returning to the sauna. This alternating between hot and cold is believed to enhance the health benefits and provide a unique sense of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The new cold bathhouse in Landskrona is a modern continuation of this tradition, offering a serene and beautiful environment for both locals and visitors to experience the joys of cold bathing.
More Places for Cold Bathing in Landskrona
Borstahusen’s Bathing Place
Address: Borstahusen’s harbour
The beach is located at Borstahusen’s harbour. Unique to this bathing place is the long cement pier that separates the harbour and the beach. If you want to jump into deep water directly, you go out to the end of the pier.
Lill-Olas Bathing Place
Address: Lill-Olas väg, Landskrona
The pier stretches 210 meters from the shoreline and ends in a large sun deck. The pier is open year-round and illuminated.
Nature Bathing Place Ålabodarna
Address: Ålabodstranden 10, Glumslöv
A secluded and quiet bathing place with deeper water north of Landskrona. There is also a pier here.
Strandbyn Bathing Place
Address: Strandängsgatan/Havsgatan, Landskrona
Here you’ll find a wooden pier that goes out about 100 meters, with railings on both sides and metal stairs down into the sea.
Bathing Places on Ven
Address: Norreborg harbour and Kyrkbackens harbour
In Norreborg harbour and Kyrkbackens harbour on the island of Ven, the piers are in place all year round. You can take a dip here even in the middle of winter.
