Lund's character shifts with the academic year. During term time (September–May), the city is lively and full of students; cafés fill early, the student nations are hosting events, and there is always something happening in the evening. In June and July, when the university is on summer break, Lund quiets considerably — the streets empty and some venues close. If you want to experience the city at its most animated, come in September (the start of term) or May (when students celebrate the end of year with outdoor parties and singing).
The cathedral's astronomical clock performs its daily show at 12:00 and 15:00 (1:00 and 3:00 on Sundays). The Kulturen open-air museum is best in summer when the historic buildings are open. The Botanical Garden is at its best in May when the magnolias and cherry trees bloom.
The city is twelve minutes by train from Malmö and forty minutes from Copenhagen on the Øresund Bridge connection, which makes it easy to combine with a day in either city.