The city of Helsingborg is the closest part of Sweden to Denmark. The distance across the Øresund here is only about two miles. It has been an important strategic point for centuries and still today is a major coastal centre for trade and transport. Ferries constantly ply across the Øresund and the city is home to many commercial operations, including Ikea. To travel over the Øresund Bridge or visit the area around the city, its best to hire a car in Helsingborg. One of the highlights of the region is the Sofiero Castle, once the Swedish Royal summer retreat and now one of Europe's most acclaimed parks.
Helsingborg may be a busy port and commercial centre but it retains its historic heart. There are many old buildings, from the waterfront to the old stone churches. The 600-year-old medieval castle still stands in the city centre where the Kullagatan, the main shopping street, was the first to be pedestrianised in Sweden. Those who hire a car in Helsingborg have the opportunity to tour the grand boulevards and narrow cobbled streets and visit attractions like the old mineral water spring or the palm trees at Helsingborg's 'tropical beach'.
