Stockholm City Hall – Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm’s City Hall, which stands on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen Island, is one of the most famous buildings in the world, primarily for the event held there…the venue for the Nobel Prize Banquet held December 10 every year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Stockholm City Hall

After 12 years of construction, the building, built in the national romantic style with eight million red brick, was dedicated on Midsummer’s Eve 1923.  The city hall tower rises 106 meters and is topped by three crowns and the Swedish national coat of arms.  It is a workplace for politicians and civil servants.

But its greatest claim to fame is the yearly Nobel Prize Banquet.  Since 1930, with few exceptions, awards are presented first at the Stockholm Concert Hall, then 1,300 guests dine in the Blue Hall at City Hall in one of the world’s most exclusive banquets.  The Nobel Laureates and their families, the Swedish Royal family, representatives of the Swedish national government, and foreign dignitaries all participate.

Swedish Royal Family 
at Nobel Prize Banquet

In fact, the Blue Hall is not blue at all.  Architect Ragnar Östberg originally designed the room to be decorated with blue glazed tiles.  The idea was abandoned, but the name stuck.  The organ with 10,270 pipes is the largest in Scandinavia.

After the meal, guests then proceed up the stairway to the lavish Golden Hall in Stockholm’s City Hall to dance.  Here the walls are covered in more than 18 million gold and glass mosaic pieces, the work of artist Einar Forseth.  Using a Byzantine style, the mosaics depict historical figures and events from Swedish history.

The Golden Hall is dominated by the “Queen of Lake Malaren” on the northern wall which represents Stockholm being honored by the east and the west.

Other notable rooms in the City Hall include the Council Chamber where Stockholm’s city council convenes every third Monday.  This majestic room was inspired by Sweden’s Viking Age.

The Oval is an antechamber decorated with a series of five 300-year-old tapestries made in Beauvais, France.  Every Saturday, civil weddings and partnership registrations are conducted here.  If you are looking for a “quicky” wedding, this is the place…ceremonies last only five minutes!

The Prince’s Gallery runs the length of the City Hall’s south side and is lined with French windows affording a fabulous view of Lake Malaren and Sodermalm.  This panorama is reflected on the opposite wall by an al fresco called “Stockholm’s Shores” created by Prince  Eugen, artist and brother to King Gustav V.  This area is used as a reception hall for special guests.

Golden Hall

The Three Crowns Chamber was named after the three chandeliers that hang from the beamed ceiling.  The northern and southern walls are covered in silk brocades made in China.

Walk up the staircases and narrow passages of the square tower for impressive views as it is situated on the verge of the archipelago.  There is an elevator that can take you half way up.  The Tower Museum is located in the middle of the tower.

There is an admission fee to the tower that can only be purchased on the day of the visit.  Only 30 tickets are sold at a time as only 30 people can be in the tower at one time.  On good weather days, tickets sell out early.

Stockholm’s City Hall is open to the public through guided tours only.  Due to the large number of events at City Hall, tours can be cancelled.