Oslo City Hall

Oslo City Hall (Norwegian: Rådhuset) is the building where the authorities of Norway's capital have their seat. It is also one of the best-known landmarks in Oslo: a red-brick landmark by the fjord, with an art gallery and the hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented every year.

What is Oslo City Hall?

It is a working municipal building. Inside are the city administration's offices, alongside an art gallery. So it is not just a monument to admire from the outside, but a place where the daily business of the city is carried out.

Who designed it and when was it built?

The architects were Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson. Construction took nineteen years, from 1931 to 1950, and was interrupted by the Second World War. The official opening took place on 15 May 1950.

What does the building look like?

The structure is reinforced concrete faced with red brick. Its style is described as functionalist, with touches of national romanticism and neoclassicism. The result is a building that feels austere and modern, yet unmistakably Norwegian.

What is there to see inside?

The interiors are richly decorated. Almost every surface was entrusted to painters: Henrik Sørensen and Alf Rolfsen worked on the main hall, and Per Krohg on the east gallery. The building also shows Edvard Munch's painting "Life" (1910) in a room named after him.

For visitors, this means a trip to city hall feels like a walk through a museum of early twentieth-century Norwegian art. Allow at least an hour if you want to take in the murals and paintings in the main hall and the galleries at a relaxed pace.

City Hall and the Nobel Peace Prize

Oslo City Hall hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every year, held in the building's main hall. According to some sources it has taken place here since 1990; before that, laureates received the prize in the university's aula. As a result, the name of the building appears in news around the world each December.

How to plan a visit

City Hall stands in central Oslo by the fjord, so it combines easily with a walk along the nearby waterfront. Because it is a working administrative building, opening hours and entry rules can change, particularly around the Nobel ceremony. Check current information on the city's official website before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is Oslo City Hall really used by the city government? Yes, it is the seat of the city authorities and contains office space.

Who designed it? Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson.

When did it open? On 15 May 1950, after nineteen years of construction interrupted by the war.

Is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded here? Yes, the ceremony takes place every year in the main hall.

Is there an art gallery? Yes, the building houses a gallery, and the interiors themselves are covered with works by Norwegian painters.