Lilla Torg is a popular spot for locals and visitors to relax in a bar or restaurant terrace, listen to some live music and check out design and architecture exhibitions. This little square is the heart of Malmo’s nightlife and a central meeting point.
Lilla Torg was built in the early 1590s as a secondary square after trading became too busy in Stortorget. Many of the brightly coloured houses date back to the 1600s and 1800s. Historic half-timbered house have been converted into chic bars and restaurants, each with its own outdoor terrace. These open-air dining areas are perfect for relaxing with a cold beer on a long summer’s evening. In winter, warm up with a mug of hot chocolate or a cup of "glögg", Swedish mulled wine, traditionally enjoyed at Christmas time. Most places are equipped with heaters and blankets and remain open until just after midnight. Alternatively, take a seat on the square’s wooden benches and people-watch.
The red house on the square’s southeast corner is one of Malmo’s best-preserved half-timbered buildings, and the site of the current Form and Design Centre. Visit the centre to see interesting exhibits about Scandinavian design and architecture. Exhibitions are free and workshops are held regularly. Check the website for details on the workshop programme.
Visit Hedmanska Garden in the Form and Design Centre’s courtyard. The courtyard is used as a venue during the Malmo Festival and Sommarscen, the free two-month performing arts festival. Check out concerts, theatre shows and lectures, all listed on the festivals’ respective official websites.
Wait until dusk to see the Giant Lamp, a 5.8-metre (19-foot) lamp that lights up the square at night. The lamp tours around Malmo’s squares during the year but stays in Lilla Torg for the holiday season. Sit beneath the lamp and listen to the Swedish voices that resonate from it.
Lilla Torg is located in Malmo’s Old Town and is easily reachable on foot from many of the city’s main attractions. Kungsparken and Castle Park are both within a 15-minute walk from the square. Parking is available at nearby Stortorget for a fee.
