Sergels Torg, the beating heart of Stockholm

“För vi ska bada nakna på Sergels Torg å leva livet utan sorg…” It was Samir & Viktor’s song in Melodifestivalen that first drew my attention to Sergels Torg. Especially because my godchild (at the time less than a year old) reacted quite enthusiastically to the song.

Table of Contents

Going naked in the fountains of Sergels Torg in the middle of Stockholm was not an option in recent years. The square (torget in Swedish) underwent a thorough renovation. In my archives I found a photo of what it looked like before the works. When I was in Stockholm in January 2018, I saw the monument illuminated again for the first time. Opinions about the pillar are divided, but I am a fan. It is a recognizable point and Samir & Viktor and their “Bada Nakna” will probably also have something to do with it.

All roads lead to Sergels Torg

For a long time there were road works around Sergels Torg. It used to be a busy crossroad where major Stockholm roads converged. It can be a chaotic square and even as a pedestrian it took a while during the works, to orientate yourself. On one side, the square has 2 floors with a lot of shops (Sergelarkaden) downstairs where you can shop covered from the rain. On the other side is Kulturhuset, a gigantic cultural center.

This square and especially Plattan, the part that you can see in the photo above with the white / black triangles, is the heart of Stockholm. After the attacks of April 7, 2017, people gathered here to commemorate the victims. Even after Avicii’s sudden death, Sergels Torg was the place where everyone gathered to commemorate Tim Bergling. The Avicii Experience can now be found here too. This square is also a gathering place at joyful moments. There often are open-air manifestations and events.

The monument of Sergels Torg

On the other side of the square you can see a huge fountain with the artwork Kristall, vertikal accent i glas och stål in the middle by Edvin Öhrström. The renovations took more than 2 years. The tower is 37.5 m high. LED lights have been incorporated into the artwork so it is beautifully lit at night. I saw different couloured versions already and was told that they can adjust the colors according to the seasons.

In april 2022 zat het kunstwerk op Sergels Torg in Stockholm in een groen kleurtje.

Practical information

Watch out for pickpockets and petty crime at the entrance of T-Centralen on Sergels Torg. This is the only place in Stockholm that I tend to avoid at night.

How do you reach Sergels Torg?

Sergels Torg is centrally located in Stockholm. If you leave the station via Klarabergsgatan, you will arrive at Sergels Torg, just past the intersection with Drottninggatan. Here on the corner you will also find the T-Centralen metro stop. The starting stop of Tram 7 is also located here.