Gustav Adolf Square (Gustav Adolfs Torg)features 19th- and 20th-century architecture, a fair-trade Christmas market and one of the biggest summer festivals in Malmo. The square is named after King Gustav II Adolf and opened in 1804. This square represented the heart of the new district when the king tore down the old city walls.
Architecture lovers can admire the whitewashed French Renaissance-style houses lining the square’s north side, known to locals as the “Riviera”. Valhalla Palace, a lavish palace designed by Swedish architect Alfred Arwidius in 1901, is located on the south border of the square. Tryggehuset (Safe House), built in the late 1930s, is the name of the modernist building beside the palace. Relax and people-watch from the open-air terraces of the restaurants and cafés that line the square.
The square is home to the city’s diverse Malmo Festival. Check out live music, art and photography exhibitions, bicycle repair workshops and idea-swap meets. Events can be attended free of charge and occur in August. A list of events can be found on the festival’s official website.
A traditional Christmas market pops up in the square in December. Check out the stalls for fair-trade and recycled Christmas gifts while sipping on sweet Christmas “julmust”, a type of soft drink, and enjoying organic snacks.
Take a few moments of reflective peace at Gamla Kyrkogarden, the old cemetery. The cemetery holds the gravesites of many prominent Malmo residents. The cemetery lies in between the square and Kungsparken.
Gustav Adolf Square is centrally located in the city within walking distance from other Malmo attractions. Kungsparken and Castle Park are both less than a 10-minute walk from the square. The area has 2 kilometres (1 mile) of pedestrianised street running through the square, from Stortoget to Triangeln shopping mall. Limited parking is available for a small price. Public bus services can be found on the east side of the square.
