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Frederiksberg Town Hall

Mid‑century town hall with a soaring brick tower, working civic heart of independent Frederiksberg and gateway to the district’s parks, shops and cultural life.

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Frederiksberg Town Hall is the distinctive administrative heart of Frederiksberg, an independent municipality embedded within Copenhagen. Completed in the early 1950s to designs by architect Henning Hansen, the long brick building and 60m tower form a striking landmark at the junction of Smallegade and Falkoner Allé. Inside, functionalist interiors with a mid‑century feel, ceremonial halls and a wedding venue underline its civic role, while monthly guided tours and tower views offer visitors a glimpse behind the scenes.

A brief summary to Frederiksberg Town Hall

  • Smallegade 1, Frederiksberg, 2000, DK
  • +4538212121
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 0.5 to 2 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Mixed
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Local tips

  • Time your visit for the first Saturday of a month when guided tours are often offered, including access to the 60m tower with expansive views over Frederiksberg and Copenhagen.
  • Step inside during opening hours to see the functionalist interiors and look out for period details such as mid‑century stairways, wood panelling and open moving elevators.
  • Combine a quick architectural stop here with a stroll to nearby Frederiksberg Have and the surrounding shopping streets of Smallegade and Falkoner Allé.
  • Check current information from Frederiksberg Municipality if you plan to join a tour or need citizen services, as opening hours and access conditions can change on holidays.
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Getting There

  • Metro

    Take the Copenhagen Metro M1, M2 or M3 to Frederiksberg Station, which is one of the main hubs in the district. From the station, the walk to Frederiksberg Town Hall typically takes around 6–8 minutes at a relaxed pace along level pavements suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. A single metro ticket within the central zones usually costs about 20–30 DKK, and trains run every few minutes throughout most of the day.

  • Bus

    Several city bus routes run along Falkoner Allé and nearby main streets, stopping within a short walk of the town hall. From central Copenhagen, the ride usually takes 10–20 minutes depending on traffic and route, with standard city bus tickets in the range of 20–30 DKK per journey. Buses are generally low‑floor and suitable for passengers with limited mobility, though they can be busy during rush hours.

  • Bicycle

    Copenhagen and Frederiksberg are highly cycle‑friendly, and many visitors choose to arrive by bike using the extensive network of segregated cycle lanes. From the historic city centre, the ride to Frederiksberg Town Hall often takes 10–20 minutes on mostly flat terrain. Public bike‑share schemes and rentals are widely available at varying prices, and there is informal street‑side bicycle parking near the town hall, though spaces can fill up in weekday daytime.

  • Taxi / Rideshare

    Taxis and licensed rideshare services operate widely in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. A journey from the central station area to Frederiksberg Town Hall typically takes 10–20 minutes outside peak times, depending on traffic, and generally costs in the region of 120–200 DKK. Vehicles can usually drop passengers close to the main entrances, which is convenient for those with limited mobility, but be aware that short‑term street parking is controlled and can be limited nearby.

Frederiksberg Town Hall location weather suitability

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Discover more about Frederiksberg Town Hall

A town hall at the heart of an independent city

Frederiksberg Town Hall is the political and administrative centre of Frederiksberg, a separate municipality surrounded by Copenhagen but proud of its own identity. Here, the local council governs one of Denmark’s most densely populated urban areas, and around 800 employees keep everything from citizen services to city planning running smoothly within more than 20,000 square metres of offices and meeting rooms. The building stands on Smallegade, a historic street that once bordered a village landscape of fields and small houses. Today the town hall anchors a busy urban crossroads, with shops, cultural venues and parks only a short stroll away, making it a natural reference point for orientation in central Frederiksberg.

From stalled wartime project to postwar symbol

Plans for a new town hall emerged in the 1930s, when Frederiksberg had outgrown earlier civic buildings. Architect Henning Hansen was eventually commissioned to design a modern complex on the block between Bredegade and Smallegade. Construction began in 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, but material shortages during the later years of the occupation brought work almost to a standstill. After Hansen’s death in 1945, architects Carl H. Nimb and Helge Holm took over and guided the project to completion. The town hall was inaugurated in 1953, its delayed opening turning it into a quiet symbol of continuity and renewal after a turbulent decade in Danish history.

Functionalist lines and a commanding tower

Seen from the outside, Frederiksberg Town Hall presents a long, low main block of warm brick, about 120 metres in length and 60 metres in width, with a tall, square tower rising 60 metres above the street. The design reflects a restrained Nordic functionalism: clean lines, careful proportions and minimal ornamentation, enlivened by the texture and colour of the brickwork and the vertical accent of the tower. The tower is not just an architectural flourish. On selected guided tours, visitors can climb to its upper levels for wide views across Frederiksberg’s green parks and over the rooftops of Copenhagen beyond, underlining the town hall’s role as both landmark and lookout.

Interiors with a distinctly mid‑century character

Inside, the building retains a strong 1950s character. Public corridors, staircases and offices showcase period materials and details, from stone floors and wood panelling to built‑in furnishings. The main council chamber and ceremonial rooms are designed for civic rituals, combining functional furniture with a sense of formality appropriate to official proceedings. Among the art pieces associated with the town hall is a painting from 1953 by Jais Nielsen depicting King Frederik III handing farmland to farmers from Amager, a reminder of how land ownership and local governance have shaped the district. Wedding rooms, banquet spaces and flexible halls make the building a stage for life events as well as politics.

Citizen services and a working city hall

Beyond its architectural interest, this is a working municipal hub. The Citizen Service Centre on the first floor handles everyday matters such as registrations and permits, underlining the building’s role in residents’ daily lives. On the first Saturday of many months, guided tours introduce visitors to the building’s history, architecture and tower, offering rare access to spaces usually reserved for municipal staff. Stepping back outside, the town hall’s position beside shopping streets and within walking distance of large parks makes it an easy stop on a broader exploration of Frederiksberg—a place where local government, mid‑century design and contemporary city life all come together.

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