Stockholm City Hall, finished in 1923 to designs by Ragnar Östberg, stands at the tip of Kungsholmen with its tall brick tower topped by the three golden crowns of Sweden. It is still the seat of the city council, and it is famous as the venue of the Nobel banquet each December. A guided tour is the only way to see the interior. Tours last about forty-five minutes, run in English and Swedish, and take in the Blue Hall, where the banquet is held, the Golden Hall, covered in millions of gold mosaic tiles, the Council Chamber with its open-roof ceiling, and the Prince's Gallery, hung with murals by Prince Eugen. Tickets are released online a week ahead, and same-day tickets are sold from the City Hall shop from the morning. Because it is a working building, rooms can close for council meetings, weddings and events, and in early December it closes for several days while the Nobel banquet is prepared. The 106-metre tower offers some of the best views in the city when it is open.
Planning: book online when tickets are released, or arrive at the shop early for same-day tours. Check the official calendar before you go, as individual rooms can be closed on certain days.
Outside: the courtyard and the waterfront terrace are free to visit and give a classic view across Riddarfjärden to Södermalm and Riddarholmen, especially at sunset.
Getting there: it is a short walk from Central Station. Combine it with Gamla Stan, a few minutes across the water.
What to expect
The experience
A forty-five-minute guided tour of the Blue Hall, Golden Hall, Council Chamber and Prince's Gallery, plus the tower when it is open.
Best time
Morning tours; avoid early December, when the building closes for the Nobel banquet.
How long
About an hour including the courtyard and terrace.
Tips
Buy tickets online a week ahead or at the shop on the day, and check the calendar for room closures.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture fans and anyone curious about the Nobel banquet.
- Families
- Children seven and over pay a youth rate and under-sevens go free; the tour is short enough for most.
- Couples
- A tour, then sunset from the waterfront terrace.
- Pair with
- Gamla Stan across the water and the Nobel Prize Museum.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Can you visit Stockholm City Hall without a tour?+
No. The interior is open only on guided tours, but the courtyard and waterfront terrace are free.
How long is the City Hall tour?+
About forty-five minutes, in English or Swedish.
Where is the Nobel banquet held?+
In the Blue Hall of City Hall, followed by the ball in the Golden Hall.
How do I get City Hall tickets?+
Online from one week ahead, or same-day at the City Hall shop at Hantverkargatan 1.
Is the City Hall tower open?+
The tower is seasonal; check the official site for current opening.