Oslo City Hall

Oslo City Hall, the political and administrative headquarters of the Norwegian capital, is located in the heart of the city, just a few metres from the harbour. Although it's a rather plain building, its architecture doesn't go unnoticed by visitors to Oslo.

Its 2 rectangular towers covered in brown brick can be seen from several points in the city, making it an important landmark. In addition, the dark colour of the façade makes the town hall stand out from the rest of the buildings in the harbour area.

History

The construction of the Oslo City Hall began in 1933 when King Haakon VII symbolically laid the foundation stone of the future city hall. In the following years, the main structure was under construction until the German invasion of Norway during World War II brought the work to a standstill.

Finally, in 1950, Oslo City Hall was inaugurated. Since 1990, it has hosted the Nobel Peace Prize gala. The rest of the awards are presented each year in Stockholm.

Free entry to Oslo City Hall

One of the great things about visiting Oslo City Hall is that it has free entry. Although the outside of the building may leave you a little cold, it's well worth going inside. The interior contrasts with the simplistic façade.

The walls of the main hall are decorated with vivid murals depicting Norwegian history and culture, as well as scenes from World War II. These paintings make it an art gallery in itself and a reflection of Oslo's history.

The main staircase leads up to several rooms that are open to the public and offers incredible views of the harbour, Aker Brygge and the Oslo Fjord.