Travel bargain-hunters will be able to enjoy two city breaks for the price of one from next month with the opening of the five-mile Öresund bridge linking Sweden and Denmark. From 1 July a visitor to Copenhagen can hop on board a train to Malmö, Sweden's third city, and be there in a mere 35 minutes for just 60 Danish Kroner, or about £5, one way.
Past tensions between the two countries resulted in a reluctance to join forces in promoting tourism to the Öresund region, which takes its name from the body of water separating the Danish capital from the southern Swedish region of Skane. The knock-on effect was that foreign visitors took a short break either in Denmark or Sweden and were not tempted to journey across the border. While exact figures for travel between the two countries are unavailable, they are thought to be low. But the coming of the bridge is expected to increase the number of tourists and holidaymakers making the crossing by three or four-fold.
Travel across the Öresund has always been possible by hydrofoil, but having crossed the bridge by bus last week on a preview journey from Copenhagen to Malmö, the attraction of this new route is obvious. The bridge itself is a beautiful piece of design and the feeling of leaving Denmark and passing the 'Welcome to Sweden' sign inspires a childish desire to stand with one foot in Denmark and the other in Sweden - a sentimental indulgence missing from the choppy hydrofoil ride back to Copenhagen.
The new bridge also provides a direct rail link from Copenhagen's city centre and airport to Malmö, with trains leaving every 20 minutes. Cars will also be able to cross the 7,845-metre (4.7 miles) bridge, but the toll to be charged is still the subject of wrangling between the Swedish and Danish authorities. But there is still good news for bargain-hunters: Go's flights to Copenhagen and Ryanair's new route from Stansted to Malmö will allow great flexibility for travellers from Britain. Those wishing to visit either city can choose the most competitive flight and use the bridge to cross to their final destination.
This ease of passage between the two countries will mean that people taking weekend trips can enjoy the traditional attractions of Copenhagen, such as the Tivoli Gardens, Museum Street and the burgeoning café and shopping scenes, and then go on to explore the Sk ne region of Sweden.
If you're planning a trip to the Öresund region, it's worth remembering that Malmö's Form/Design Centre will hold a large Mies van der Röhe exhibition later in the year, while a Peter Greenaway event is also expected in the city. If your tastes are more of the outdoor kind, there is great golfing and fishing to be enjoyed in Skane.
Danish tourist information: www.visitdenmark.com or 020 7259 5955. Swedish tourist information: www.visit-sweden.com or 020 7870 5600. Bridge info: www.oresundkonsortiert.com.
