Stortorget is the broad main square that forms the heart of the city, sitting at the foot of the terraced staircase leading up to Kärnan. The square is framed by the grand Rådhuset (town hall) on one side and the steps to the Stortorget terrace on another, with cafes spilling onto the cobblestones in summer. The equestrian statue of Magnus Stenbock, the Swedish general who defeated the Danes here in 1710, dominates the centre.
From the square, the wide boulevard of Kullagatan runs west as a pedestrian shopping street, while the harbour and Dunkers Kulturhus are a short walk east. The terraced steps from the square up to Kärnan — flanked by neat lawns and flower beds — are a favourite spot for a rest with views over the rooftops to the sea.