Gamla stan
Maria torg is a place where history meets local everyday life. Here, charming cobbled streets and cozy restaurants gather around St. Maria Church, one of Helsingborg’s oldest buildings. The square is a calm and welcoming gathering place, where residents and visitors like to sit down for a while, meet over a cup of coffee or take part in small-scale events. The cozy atmosphere is characterized by a strong local commitment – a living square that reflects Helsingborg’s history in the present.
Next to Maria torg is Bruksgatan, a cozy pedestrian street where the local is at the center and sustainability is a natural part of everyday life. Here you will find local shops with a focus on second-hand goods and crafts, cozy cafés with a green and local focus and restaurants that care about both people and the environment.
Find your way to the Gamla stan
By public transport, the easiest way to get to Helsingborg C is by bus or train, which is right next to the Gamla stan. The Öresundslinjen ferries also dock at Helsingborg C and the Sundsbuses are just a stone’s throw away, at Hamntorget. By car, you can park at Stortorget, Södra Strandgatan or Prästgatan. On Helsingborgs stad’s parking map you will find more information and more parking spaces.
Shop in the city
In Helsingborg city you will find everything from international chains to unique, local shops.
Eating in the city
Helsingborg city has a wide range of restaurants, cafés and bars for all tastes!
Experience the city
Experience all that Helsingborg has to offer! Culture, attractions, activities or why not a tour?
Discover the whole city
Although there is a lot to experience in Gamla stan, you may eventually want to move on and see more of our beautiful city. If the shop you were looking for or the food you were craving wasn’t in Gamla stan, you’re sure to find it in one of these areas.
Kullagatan
The 460 meter long shopping street in central Helsingborg is filled with shops, cafés and restaurants. There is something for every style and when you need a break from shopping, sit down on one of the outdoor terraces and enjoy the atmosphere.
Drottninggatan
Drottninggatan in Helsingborg is close to the cultural life of the city. Dunkers kulturhus, Stadsteatern and Konserthuset are just a stone’s throw away. Here, people on the move mix with those enjoying the atmosphere at outdoor cafés.
Söder
In the southern part of our city, you can enjoy food from around the world, experience culture and challenge friends and family to a game of bowling. In the Söder, there’s something for the whole family. A wonderful mix of the city center and close to green parks.
Norra and Södra Storgatan
Norra and Södra Storgatan is a vibrant street with exciting restaurants, outdoor cafés and bars. The area comes to life at night and is transformed into Helsingborg’s most important artery.
Järnvägsgatan
The street in the middle of town with close to everything. On Järnvägsgatan you’ll find Helsingborg Central Station and the ferry terminal to Denmark, but also restaurants, shops and salons. A street full of life and movement that welcomes new visitors to the city.
Oceanhamnen
In Helsingborg’s newest district, you are really close to the sea with water on all sides. Here, modern architecture is mixed with sustainability and innovation. The area is home to hotels, restaurants and lounges.
Purple flag
We want a vibrant, safe and attractive city center, which feels welcoming and invites to activity and stay. Since the fall of 2016, Purple Flag has been working together and through broad collaboration to create an equal, safe and attractive city with a varied range of activities for everyone, even after 17:00.
Purple flag on Maria torg square
The area around Maria torg is Helsingborg’s first Purple Flag process. It started in January 2016 and the action plan was certified in 2017. In December 2019 and in October 2021 and 2023 we were recertified for new updated action plans. 2019 we expanded the area, so that our different Purple Flag areas are connected.
Purple Flag focuses on the evening economy and what happens in the evening, night and early morning. In Helsingborg, we have chosen to focus on all hours of the day. In the recertification process, we are reviewing the current situation and developing measures according to the focus areas we have chosen to work with: Safety, Accessibility, Location and Range.
Maria torg has been transformed from a dark and desolate place into a destination – a restaurant square with its own graphic profile and with S:ta Maria kyrka in the middle. The area is home to several nightclubs, shops, schools, offices and housing.
The area is part of the old town with Bruksgatan running north-south.
Read the full Maria torg action plan, recertification 2023
Read the full Maria torg action plan, recertification 2021
Read our first Maria torg action plan, 2017
Visitors up, crime down
In order to monitor the results of this work, we follow, among other things, changes in the number of visitors and reported crimes. From the pre-reconstruction period until 2018, the number of visitors has increased and the number of reported crimes – all categories – has decreased.
Examples of what we are currently working on in the area around Maria torg:
– Security guards and the Mobile Team move around the area in the evenings/nights during weekends
– Security guards patrol the area six days a week
– Training in responsible alcohol service (Police and social administration)
– Establishment strategy to strengthen identity
– Activation and co-creation
– Full, clean and tidy
– Traffic and urban development
We are actively working with these focus groups:
– Property owners
– Housing associations/residents
– Restaurateurs/nightclubs
– Helsingborgs stad and authorities
– The church
– Cityföreningen – businesses
– Completely, clean and tidy
How we work with the Purple flag process for Maria torg
In December 2016, we carried out a baseline analysis (night walking) to see how the area was changing between 17.00 and 06.00. The baseline analysis was the basis for the first action plan, which was certified in October 2017.
The action plan is a concrete and living document, which is monitored and adjusted for two years and then evaluated. Based on the results and a new situation analysis (night walking), a new action plan is developed for the next two years. In December 2019 and October 2021, we were recertified for new updated action plans and in 2019 we expanded the area with Norra Storgatan up to Tycho Brahes Plats and the area up to Stadsparken to ensure that our three Purple Flag areas are connected.
Söder
In connection with the certification of Helsingborg C in 2018, we started the Purple Flag work on Söder. There is a lot going on in Söder right now and the work with Purple Flag is part of the Älskade Söder place collaboration. In November 2020, we were certified for our action plan for the area and in November 2022, we were recertified for a new updated action plan.
Helsingborg C
In July 2017, the Purple Flag process started for the Helsingborg C area, a natural continuation of the Purple Flag work around Maria torg. We were certified for our action plan for the area in October 2018 and in November 2020 and 2022 and October 2024 we were recertified for new updated action plans.
