Photo M.Prinkle
Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset) lies on the island of Kungsholmen in the center of Stockholm City. Completed in 1923 after twelve years of construction, Stockholm City Hall is one of the worlds most famous buildings. Stockholm City Hall is today open for visitors and is a popular tourist attraction while still remaining an active office building for 200 politicians and civil servants governing the City of Stockholm.
Design and Construction
Stockholm City Hall is situated on the same site where Eldkvarn (Literally Firemill), a large gristmill with a steam engine from 1805, stood until 1906. A contest was held to decide who should design Stockholm City Hall and Ragnar Östberg came out on top. Östberg incorporated many elements from the runner up, Carl Westman’s, project including the tower. Stockholm City Hall is considered Sweden’s foremost example of national romanticism in architecture. Construction started in 1911 and before the work had been finished in 1923 almost eight million red bricks had been used.
Decorations and Commemorations
On the eastern side you can find a gold-plated cenotaph in honor of Birger jarl, the founder of Stockholm in the middle of the 13th century. In the south-east end of Stockholm City Hall you can find a 20 meter tall pillar with a statue of Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson on top, a rebellion leader who, in the 15th century, helped the Swedes unite against the Danes, which eventually led to Gustav Vasa’s victory and rule of a unified Sweden in the early 16th century.
The Blue Hall
The Blue Hall (Blå Hallen) is a large hall within the Stockholm City Hall, best known for hosting the annual Nobel Prize banquet that follows the awards. It is host to Scandinavia’s biggest organ with 10,270 individual pipes. The organ loft sits on a balcony along the Blue Hall’s eastern wall over the seven portals to the Golden Hall. The hall itself was intended to be plated with blue glazed tiles along its walls, however Ragnar Östberg modified his drafts during construction and removed them. The hall retained its name the Blue Hall from his drawings and is still referred to as such today. Stockholm City Hall allows booking of the Blue Hall for different occasions such as dinners, celebrations and dances.
Photo: Chris Lee
The Golden Hall
The Golden Hall (Gyllene Salen) is named as such from its 18 million gold mosaic pieces that dress the walls around it. The walls motifs depict various events and stories from Swedish history in a byzantine inspired style. The Golden Hall is located just above The Blue Hall and is accessible through a staircase. It is, by comparison of size, the smaller of Stockholm City Hall’s inner halls.
Stockholm City Hall’s Functions Today
Inside of the majestic walls which make up the Stockholm City Hall there isn’t only halls and locales for visiting but also a myriad of offices and conference rooms. Stockholm City Hall is home to some 200 city employees with varying responsibilities. Once every other week the county representatives convene and discuss different political and managerial topics about how to best govern the great city of Stockholm. Stockholm City Hall will continue to be a representable and functional piece of both Stockholm’s and Sweden’s political life.
Tours of Stockholm City Hall
If you want to see the insides of Stockholm City Hall your best bet is with a tour. Tours are available daily in both Swedish and English at 10 a.m. and 12 a.m. with no advance reservation (max 10 people), all year around. During the summer months more frequent tours are available and are also offered in additional languages.
Tour Prices
Prices for Adults are 60 SEK
Prices for Seniors/Students are 50 SEK
Prices for Children 12-17 years old accompanied by parent/guardian 30 SEK
Prices for Children 11 years or younger accompanied by parent/guardian Free
With the Stockholm Card Free
Location and Getting to
As Stockholm City Hall sits on Kungsholmen it is located in the very heart of Stockholm City. The City Hall itself is more or less a symbol for Stockholm. It is best accessed by taking the subway to the T-centralen subway station and then walking a short distance across the bridge.
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