Sightseeing Malmö during the Eurovison Song Contest 2024.

Are you looking for some tips to explore Malmö during the Eurovision Song Contest season? Look no further, we’ve got you covered! We’ll break down the city so you can make the most out of your stay.

Malmö is Sweden’s third-largest city. It is the capital of Skåne län, the southernmost county in Sweden. The city has a population of 338,230 and an area of 7176 hectares. Greater Malmö has about 700,000 inhabitants. It is located in the Skåne landscape in the municipalities of Malmö and Burlöv, it is also the capital of the municipality of Malmö.

The city has the perfect blend of old-world charm and ultra-modern cosmopolitan vibes, as well as food and culture from every corner of the world, make this coastal town highly recommended for all visitors.

If you travel from Denmark to Malmö, you’ll cross the Öresundbridge, and immediately you’ll have one of Malmö’s most striking sights. The bridge consists of a railway line topped by a road that reaches to the island of Peberholm, and is about eight kilometers long.

Our top 5 Van must do/go/see

1. Eurovision Village and Eurovision Street

We wouldn’t be Eurovision fans if we weren’t the first to go there of course

Folkets Park (district Möllevången) has been transformed into Eurovision Village.

You will find Eurovision street in Friisgatan – the lively stretch between Triangeln station and Eurovision Village.. This popular car-free street is filled with restaurants and cafés. On your walk along the street you’ll be able to encounter musical surprises and food from all over the city and the world.

2. Malmöhus

The oldest surviving Scandanavian castle from the Renaissance has quite the history! The castle, originally built in 1434, was demolished at the beginning of the 16^th century. It was rebuild between 1526 and 1539 by King Christian III. This rebuild is the building we can visit today. Historically, it was one of the most important fortresses for the defense of Denmark, of which Malmö was a part at the time.

The castle was used as a prison and as emergency housing. Today, two museums are located on the castle island: the Malmö Art Museum and the Malmö Museum. In the vicinity of the castle are also the Commander’s House (Kommendantshuset, a former arsenal) and the Castle Mill.

3. Stortorget

Stortorget, Malmö’s main square, was founded in 1540. It covers an area of 2,500 m², making it the largest square in the city. It was once even known as the largest market square in Northern Europe. Major events are held here on a regular basis. In the center of the square is an equestrian statue of King Karl X Gustav, who was responsible for the unification of the Danish provinces with the Swedish Empire in 1658 during the Peace of Roskilde.

Historic buildings around the square

On the east side of the square is the historic town hall, built between 1544 and 1547, but with a renewed façade from 1860.

In the northwest corner is Kockska Huset, a former palace built in 1522-24 for the mint master Jörgen Kock, who later became mayor of Malmö.

The headquarters of the provincial government is located to the south of the square.

Another building worth mentioning is the old Lejonet Apotheker. On this 5-story building you can see fully restored advertising paintings from around 1900.

4. Malmö Konsthall

Designed by local architect Klas Anselm and built between 1971 and 1974, Malmö Konsthall is one of the largest contemporary art exhibition halls in all of Europe. Thanks to a clever positioning of 550 ceiling lights, different ceiling heights and large almost vertical ceiling windows on the north side of the building, the hall has a lot of natural daylight. Admission is free and everyone can get in and out to see the exhibitions that change throughout the year.

5. Disgusting food museum

A very special one, but we didn’t want to keep it from you:

This museum takes you to the 80 most bizarre eating habits from all over the world! Most things are freshly prepared and sometimes you can taste them!

For example, you can taste Casu Marzu from Sardinia, a cheese in which the cheese fly lays its larvae and which you eat with them. It is recommended to close your eyes when taking a bite of this delicacy. Don’t worry, there are also vomit bags provided if you really don’t like 😉 it.

The idea behind the museum is actually to make you think about how we deal with food and food waste. So, why do we think eating insects is dirty and other animals don’t? In this way, the museum tries to make you think about more sustainable ways of dealing with food.

So, Malmö is ideally suited to discover on foot, by bike, or by boat.

We wish everyone a lot of fun, and maybe we walk/cycle or bump into each other

Anja Kroeze
April 27, 2024
1:20 pm
2024, Eurovision, Malmö, Sweden, Tourism

Anja Kroeze

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History

Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7, we look back at the start of the 21st century. Alf Poier participated for Austria, but there were also some unsuccesful entries. And there was a 3-year gap. 2000 – The Rounder Girls – All To You Austria’s 2000 entry “All To You” was internally selected by broadcaster ORF. The song was written by American songwriter Dave Moskin. Moskin gave the three-piece vocal group The Rounder Girls an up-tempo, gospel-influenced pop track. Performing last in the Stockholm final, the trio, with members from Austria, the US and the UK, delivered slick harmonies and choreography. They finished 14th out of 24 countries with 34 points. The Rounder Girls were a seasoned soul/gospel ensemble, and their Eurovision appearance raised their profile, though Austria’s middling result meant the country sat out the contest in 2001. 2002 – Manuel Ortega – Say A Word “Say A Word” by Manuel Ortega won Austria’s “Song.Null.Zwei” 2002 national final out of ten songs. this entry was an upbeat pop song with a catchy, boy-band style hook. It was composed by Alexander Kahr with lyrics by Robert Pfluger. At Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, Ortega performed third and Austria placed 18th (26 points) in the final. Manuel Ortega, a young pop singer, had scored a summer hit in 2001 and was nicknamed “the Austrian Ricky Martin” for his Latin pop flair. His Eurovision song’s fun choreography and positive message reflected that image, though the result was a lower mid-table finish. 2003 – Alf Poier – Weil der Mensch zählt ORF organized the “Song.Null.Drei” 2003 selection. Petra Frey (ESC 1994) was the runner up. Comedian-singer Alf Poier triumphed with “Weil der Mensch zählt”. Poier penned this satirical song himself. Musically it’s a quirky folk-pop tune delivered in Styrian dialect. The performance, complete with cartoonish animal props, was a parody of Eurovision’s over-the-top style. At the Riga contest, this offbeat entry surprised many by scoring 6th place with 101 points. Alf Poier, an Austrian stand-up comedian known for absurdist humor, thus earned Austria’s best Eurovision result in over a decade. His comedic approach and catchy refrain turned him into a fan favorite that year. 2004 – Tie Break – Du bist Austria’s national final “Song.Null.Vier” chose Tie Break’s “Du bist” for Eurovision 2004. Waterloo & Robinson (ESC 1976!) were the runners up. Note that a song, written by popstar Falco, participated too. So posthumously, Falco did a Eurovision attempt!Written by composer Peter Zimmermann, “Du bist” is a tender schlager-style pop ballad performed in German. Tie Break, a trio of fresh-faced male singers (a boy band formed via a talent search), delivered tight harmonies in Istanbul’s final. Thanks to Austria’s top-10 result the year before, they pre-qualified directly for the final. Tie Break finished 21st out of 24 with 9 points. The group had gained national fame through the selection process, but on the Eurovision stage their gentle ballad struggled to stand out in a field dominated by more dynamic acts. 2005 – Global.Kryner – Y así In 2005, “Song.Null.Fünf” was held and the crossover folk band Global.Kryner won with “Y así”. They narrowly beated Alf Poier. The controversy was that Austria changed the rules of the voting on the very last moment. Would the original voting procedure be used, Alf Poier would have won. Band members Edi Köhldorfer (composer) and Christof Spörk (lyricist) combined Latin salsa rhythms with Austrian alpine polka to create this unique “salsa-polka-pop” song. Global.Kryner was a six-member ensemble known for blending folk and jazz influences. They opened the Eurovision semi-final in Kyiv with an energetic performance featuring yodels and Latin dance breaks. However, “Y así” did not advance to the final, placing 21st of 25 in the semi-final with 30 points. The group had earned acclaim in Austria and Germany, but their daring genre fusion proved too quirky for the Eurovision televote that year. 2007 – Eric Papilaya – Get A Life – Get Alive After a brief Eurovision hiatus, Austria returned in 2007 by internally selecting Eric Papilaya. His entry “Get A Life – Get Alive” – composed by Greg Usek with lyrics by Austin Howard. It was the official anthem of Vienna’s Life Ball AIDS charity event. This song is an upbeat pop-rock anthem with an inspirational message and flashy staging. Papilaya performed with a giant red ribbon on stage. Papilaya, a rock vocalist who rose to fame on the TV talent show Starmania, gave a spirited performance in Helsinki’s semi-final. Unfortunately Austria did not qualify for the final; he placed 27th (four points) in the semi. The entry drew media attention for its charity theme, but it wasn’t enough to overcome tough competition in 2007. 2011 – Nadine Beiler – The Secret Is Love Austria returned to Eurovision in 2011 through the national selection “Düsseldorf – wir kommen!”. The competition featured ten songs. However, well-known artists Alf Poier and Petra Frey failed to pass the online preselection. As a result, Nadine Beiler won the final with her soulful ballad “The Secret Is Love”. She co-wrote the song with veteran producer Thomas Rabitsch. Musically, the entry combines elements of gospel and pop, while it clearly highlights Beiler’s strong vocal range. Previously, Nadine Beiler had gained national fame by winning the television talent show Starmania in 2007 at the age of 16. Therefore, expectations were already high when she took the stage in Düsseldorf. Her Eurovision performance began a cappella and gradually built towards a powerful climax. Consequently, Austria qualified from the semi-final in seventh place with 69 points. In the grand final, Beiler finished 18th, scoring 64 points. Nevertheless, this result marked Austria’s first appearance in a Eurovision final in seven years and therefore signalled a credible and positive comeback.

December 14, 2025 No Comments

History

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest – final episode

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming In this final episode of our series on Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, we cover the years 2019–2025. We’ll look at each Austrian entry’s national selection process (if any), the song’s lyricists and composers, musical style, Eurovision score, and a few facts about the artist. 2019 – PÆNDA – “Limits” In 2019, Austria internally selected singer-songwriter PÆNDA (Gabriela Horn) to perform the song “Limits” at Eurovision. PÆNDA wrote and composed the song herself; a minimalist electro-pop ballad that highlights her ethereal vocals and emotional songwriting. The lyrics describe pushing oneself too far and hitting personal limits. Despite its intimate staging and artistic vibe, Limits failed to advance from the semi-finals, placing 17th in Semi-Final 2. PÆNDA, a native of Styria, is an EDM-pop producer who launched her project in 2016. She blends underground electronic beats with catchy pop elements, and her Eurovision entry appeared on her 2019 album Evolution II. 2020 – Vincent Bueno – “Alive” For Eurovision 2020, ORF internally selected Vincent Bueno to represent Austria. “Alive” is an upbeat pop track with R&B and funk influences. Vincent co-wrote the song with a team including David “Davey” Yang and Felix van Göns. The track’s groovy bassline and falsetto riffs convey a message of liberation. It’s about feeling truly “alive” by letting go of one’s ego. Vincent is an Austrian-Filipino singer who first found fame by winning ORF’s musical talent show in 2008. He also performed in theater productions, showcasing his stage experience. Sadly, Eurovision 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result, “Alive” never reached the Rotterdam stage and received no final score. 2021 – Vincent Bueno – “Amen” In 2021, Austria kept faith with Vincent Bueno, who returned with the power ballad “Amen”. ORF again internally selected Vincent after 2020’s cancellation. A trio of songwriters – Tobias Carshey, Ashley Hicklin, and Jonas Thander – crafted “Amen”. The entry starts as a gentle pop ballad and swells into a gospel-tinged climax, allowing Vincent to showcase soulful vocal runs. Lyrically, it’s an emotional farewell to a failed relationship, with the title evoking a final prayer or conclusion. Vincent’s performance in Rotterdam featured minimalist staging to match the song’s sincerity. However, “Amen” did not qualify for the Grand Final, placing 12th in its semi-final with 66 points. Vincent Bueno’s experience in show business, he’s a Musical! Die Show 2008 winner and skilled performer, was evident in his poised delivery, even if Austria missed out on the final. 2022 – LUM!X feat. Pia Maria – “Halo” For 2022, Austrian DJ LUM!X (Luca Michlmayr) teamed up with newcomer Pia Maria for the high-energy song “Halo”. ORF internally selected the duo for Eurovision 2022. A songwriting team including LUM!X himself, Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, Norwegian producer Anders Nilsen, Swedish songwriter Rasmus Flyckt, and Canadian singer-songwriter Sophie Simmons wrote “Halo”. The track is a high-BPM dance number with a pulsating beat and a catchy hook. On stage in Turin, LUM!X worked the DJ decks while Pia Maria sang amid vibrant neon visuals. Despite the song’s hit potential, the live vocals were shaky and Austria failed to reach the final. “Halo” finished 15th in its semi-final (42 points). At the time, LUM!X was only 19 and already had viral hits like “Monster.” Meanwhile, 18-year-old Pia Maria was a newcomer making her live TV debut. 2023 – Teya & Salena – “Who the Hell Is Edgar?” Austria took a witty turn in 2023 with “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”, a satirical electropop duet by Teya & Salena. The pair – Teodora “Teya” Špirić and Selina “Salena” Edbauer – were internally selected by ORF. They had written the song together at a songwriting camp. Teya, Salena, Czech producer Ronald Janeček, and Swiss songwriter Pele Loriano co-wrote “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”. It’s an up-tempo track with tongue-in-cheek lyrics about being “possessed” by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. This is a metaphor for the struggles of female songwriters in the music industry. The catchy “Poe, Poe, Poe” hook and quirky choreography made it one of that year’s most memorable entries. Teya & Salena’s charismatic performance carried Austria to the Grand Final in Liverpool, where they finished 15th with 120 points. The song also sparked conversations about streaming royalties and sexism – topics cleverly referenced in its lyrics. 2024 – Kaleen – “We Will Rave” In 2024, Austria sent Kaleen (Marie-Sophie Kreissl) to Eurovision with the song “We Will Rave”. ORF held an internal selection with live auditions to choose Kaleen. “We Will Rave” is a techno-pop banger written by Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Julie Aagaard (Kill J), and Thomas Stengaard. Its thumping bass and EDM drops created a rave-like atmosphere on stage. Kaleen delivered a flashy, dance-heavy performance befitting her background as a professional dancer. Austria ultimately struggled in the Grand Final – “We Will Rave” finished 24th (second-last) with only 24 points. Kaleen was already a five-time world dance champion and had worked on Eurovision shows as a choreographer and creative director. Yet 2024 was her first time stepping into the Eurovision spotlight as a singer. 2025 – JJ – “Wasted Love” Austria achieved a historic victory in 2025 when JJ took the Eurovision crown with “Wasted Love”. ORF internally selected JJ (born Johannes Pietsch) to represent Austria. He co-wrote this operatic pop ballad with Teodora Špirić (Teya, see 2023) and composer Thomas Thurner. Orchestral strings and a melody that builds to a powerful climax make the song a perfect showcase for JJ’s soaring countertenor vocals. The lyrics lament lost love, delivered with the emotional intensity of a classical aria. “Wasted Love” captivated the audience, ultimately winning the Eurovision 2025 final with 436 points. At 24, JJ was already performing as a countertenor at the Vienna State Opera and had been a finalist on ORF’s Starmania in 2021. This triumph marked Austria’s third-ever Eurovision win. sources: Eurovision.tv, de.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

January 4, 2026 No Comments

History

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest – final episode

January 4, 2026 No Comments