Lilla Torg Square has been Malmo's most popular meeting place and center of socializing since it was built in 1592 as a market and civic gathering square. Many 16th century buildings surround the square, including the oldest half-timber house in the city, which stands beside Hedmanska Garden. Hedmanska Garden hosts live concerts during the summer and brings many visitors to Lilla Torg Square. Visitors will enjoy the historic buildings, street life and browsing the Form/Design Center, which has exhibitions of the most up-to-date examples of Swedish furniture and textile design.
Just west of Lilla Torg Square is the picturesque Gamla Vaster neighborhood, which is famous for its quaint and colorful houses, grand brick structures, boutiques, cafes and galleries. Visitors will enjoy strolling through the low-roofed traditional streets, browsing for art at one of the numerous galleries and perhaps stopping for a cup of Swedish-roast coffee at one of the coffee bars.
Malmohus Castle is Sweden's oldest Renaissance castle, built in 1436. Although the structure that stands at the site today is a composite of hundreds of years of renovation and change, the original foundation and some of the original walls still stand. The distinctive red hue of the walls make the castle a popular subject for photography, and images of the castle abound throughout the city. The castle is now a museum housing collections of artifacts from throughout Malmo and from the castle itself.
Malmohus Castle
6 Malmohusvagen
Malmo, Sweden
011-46-40-344437
malmotown.com
The Mazetti Cultural Hub is a new development in Malmo, housed in the Mazetti Chocolate Factory on Bergsgatan Street. The chocolate factory had been in business for over a century, and although now the majority of the building is occupied by a hotel, nightclub and conference facilities, the chocolate factory has reopened on a small scale and visitors can buy handmade pralines and truffles. Mazetti also hosts cultural events and art shows at different points in the year.
The old city center of Malmo is crisscrossed by canals, recalling the days when goods were moved through the city by boat. Now, the canals are a popular way to see the city aboard a guided boat or in a private paddle-boat. Rundan Tours has several routes that take visitors around the canals, under the famous bridges and within sight of some of the historic architecture for which Malmo is known. A concession stand at the departure point can create custom picnic baskets for tourists to bring on their trip.
Rundan Tours
Norra Vallgatan (opposite the Central Station)
Malmo, Sweden
011-46-40-611-7488
stromma.se
