Oslo City Hall, Oslo, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) is the seat of the city council and administration in Oslo, a large brick building on the harbour front at Fridtjof Nansens plass. It is also the place where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year, which makes it one of the best-known buildings in Norway. Visitors often find its blocky shape plain, but locals are fond of it, and the art inside rewards a closer look.

The story behind it

The idea of a new city hall took shape in the early twentieth century, when Oslo's mayor began raising money for a building that would house the council and the city administration and also serve as the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Money was short, and construction, which began in the 1930s, was interrupted by the Second World War. The building was finally completed in 1950.

By then the architectural style the designers had planned had fallen out of fashion, and the building has divided opinion ever since. Even so, many couples choose to marry here, and the murals and artwork inside show Norwegian culture and working life through the ages. The eastern tower holds a carillon, and its bells have occasionally marked big moments. After David Bowie died in 2016, the song Changes was chimed at 19.00 every evening for a week.

What to look for

• The two tall brick towers, which dominate the harbour skyline, with the carillon bells housed in the eastern one.
• The sheer scale and plain, geometric brickwork of the facade, which explains why visitors have called it square and why Oslo residents defend it.
• The murals and artwork inside, which picture Norwegian history, daily life and work across the centuries.
• The view from the square in front, where the building meets the harbour and the water of the Oslofjord.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 to 45 minutes to walk around the outside and, if you go in, to see the main public rooms.
• Check current opening hours and any access rules before you go, as visits inside can change with events and official ceremonies.
• Time your visit to hear the carillon, which plays tunes on the hour, and ranges from folk songs to modern pop.
• The harbour front around the building is a pleasant place to continue on foot, with the waterfront and other sights close by.

See it on a quest

Oslo Old Town: Viking Tales passes Oslo City Hall as one stop on a longer walking route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the building properly instead of just photographing it. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.