At Lilla Torg you can mingle with locals at a bar or restaurant, enjoy design and architecture exhibitions and listen to live music. The square is characterized by cobblestone pavements and half-timbered houses. It’s an important meeting point and the epicenter of the city’s nightlife.

In the early 1590s, Malmo’s trading activities became too big for the large square of Stortorget so the city erected Lilla Torg (Small Square) nearby. Observe colorful houses from the 1600s to 1800s, many of which are now bars and restaurants. Each establishment has its own outdoor terrace, which are especially popular during long summer nights. Drink a cool beer from one of the many pubs. In the colder months, sip a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of glögg, Swedish mulled wine served at Christmas. Most places have heaters and blankets and stay open until 1 a.m. If you don’t want to buy a drink, people-watch from the square’s wooden benches. 

Go to the red house located in the square’s southeast corner to see one of Malmo’s finest preserved half-timbered buildings. It is home to the Form and Design Center. Visit the center to see free exhibitions of Scandinavian design and architecture. Check the center’s official website for details of workshops, such as embroidery design. 

In the design center’s courtyard is Hedmanska Garden, a venue for both the Malmo Festival and Sommarscen, the two-month outdoor performing arts festival. Listen to concerts, watch theater productions and attend lectures. Find a full schedule of events on the festivals’ official websites.

Look for the Giant Lamp, which lights up the square at night. This 19-foot (5.8-meter) lamp travels between Malmo’s squares throughout the year but remains in Lilla Torg during the holidays. Sit beneath it and listen as it speaks to you in Swedish.

Located in Malmo’s Old Town, Lilla Torg is a short walk from many of the city’s major attractions. Kungsparken and Castle Park are less than a 15-minute walk away. Pay-and-display parking is available at nearby Stortorget.