Copenhagen City Hall

A red-brick icon at the heart of Copenhagen

Copenhagen City Hall rises above Rådhuspladsen with a tall clock tower and an elaborate red-brick façade that instantly anchors the city’s center. Completed in 1905 and designed by Martin Nyrop, it blends inspiration from Italian town halls with a distinctly Nordic take on the National Romantic style. Stepped gables, statues, gilded details and decorative brickwork all work together to give the building a sense of ceremony even before you step inside. Facing the busy square, the main entrance opens onto a space that feels both civic and welcoming. From here, you are at a crossroads: turn toward the grand hall, slip into quieter side passages, or simply pause to absorb the hum of activity flowing in and out of this working seat of the municipal council and city administration.

Crafted interiors and the life of a working town hall

Inside, Copenhagen City Hall is a showcase for early 20th‑century Danish craftsmanship. Light-filled corridors ring a vast central hall, where brick arches, tiled floors and carved stone balustrades create a rhythm of repeating patterns. Every element was custom-designed, from door handles and lamps to stair railings and furniture, making the building feel like a single, unified work of art. This is no static monument: council meetings, civil weddings and official receptions still take place here. On many days you might glimpse floral arrangements outside the Wedding Hall, or see preparations underway for a civic celebration. Public areas remain open, so you can wander galleries, peer into side halls and sense how the building continues to function as the city’s ceremonial living room.

Jens Olsen’s World Clock and hidden details

One of the most remarkable sights inside is Jens Olsen’s World Clock, an intricate astronomical clock that took decades to design and build. Set in its own room near the entrance, it displays not only the time but also planetary movements and complex astronomical data using an astonishing array of gears and dials. A small fee is sometimes charged to view it up close, reflecting its status as a technical and artistic masterpiece. Elsewhere, the building rewards slow exploration. Murals tucked into stairwells depict episodes from Danish history and mythology. Reliefs and carvings hide animals, symbols and playful motifs in corners you might at first overlook. An inner courtyard garden provides a surprisingly peaceful pause, with greenery and benches enclosed by façades on all sides — a quiet counterpoint to the traffic and trams outside.

From tower views to the energy of City Hall Square

For a change of perspective, you can climb the City Hall tower on a timed visit, ascending roughly 300 steps to a balcony high above the rooftops. From here, Copenhagen spreads out in every direction: Tivoli Gardens just across the boulevard, the spires of the old town, and the long line of Strøget stretching into the distance. The climb is steep and there is no elevator, but the reward is one of the city’s classic panoramas. Back at ground level, the City Hall’s setting is part of its appeal. Outside on Rådhuspladsen you are surrounded by city landmarks: the Dragon Fountain, the statue of Hans Christian Andersen gazing toward Tivoli, and the flow of shoppers heading for the pedestrian street. Bus lines and metro entrances frame the square, underlining the building’s role not only as a historic monument but as a daily reference point for residents making their way through Copenhagen.

Planning your visit inside a living landmark

Copenhagen City Hall is generally open Monday to Saturday during daytime hours, with free admission to the main public spaces. Guided tours, offered on set schedules, take you deeper into the building and often into the tower, explaining its symbolism, architectural choices and the story behind the World Clock. Separate tower visits are typically available at fixed times for a modest fee, and it is wise to confirm current schedules before arriving. Because the building remains an active workplace, some rooms can be temporarily closed for events or ceremonies, lending an element of unpredictability to each visit. Even so, a flexible hour or two here fits easily into a central Copenhagen itinerary, whether you are sheltering from winter winds or enjoying summer light spilling through high windows onto the tiles of the great hall.