My first impression of Stadshuset, Stockholm’s City Hall, was one of grandeur and admiration. It sits alone at the water’s edge and impresses with its imposing scale and classic Romantic style architecture.
History and Background - Interestingly, in its current incarnation, Stadshuset is a relative youngster in Stockholm, having been constructed in the 1910s and 1920s. Not only is Stadshuset the most famous of Stockholm landmarks, it houses the Council Chamber used for regular meetings of Stockholm's City Council. It also is home to the Blue Hall (which is red, not blue) where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held each December. What a truly multi-functional building!
The Courtyard - After entering some massive double wooden doors, we found ourselves inside of a large courtyard, with arched entryways overlooking the water on one side and ivy-covered walls on the other. The impressive scale of the structure is even more evident from within the courtyard!
The Tower - Having a six-year-old in tow, I knew it would be challenging to see all that Stadshuset had to offer, so I opted to tour just the Tower and its accompanying Tornmuseet. The Tower itself is 106 meters or nearly 350 feet tall (equivalent to a 35-story building). The helpful Stockholm Card saved us 20SEK in admissions cost. Needless to say, we were not disappointed. When you first pass the entry desk, you have the option to take an elevator to the middle level, where the museum is, or take the stairs. We opted for the stairs, since the climb itself is half the fun. At the museum level, we saw some statuary and sculptures. We continued to the top of the Tower, which required us to circumnavigate the interior several times on a gently inclining ramp. Finally, at the top, we were rewarded with spectacular views of the city. A must-see attraction!
Official City Hall Website