Oslo City Hall

The interior is a sustained project of Norwegian monumental art. The main hall — Rådhushallen — is 26 metres high and decorated with an enormous programme of paintings and reliefs by Norway's leading artists of the mid-20th century. Edvard Munch was originally to have contributed works, but died in 1944 before the project was complete. Axel Revold, Per Krohg, and Alf Rolfsen completed the main cycle, which depicts Norwegian working life, folklore, and history in a fusion of social realism and national symbolism.

Henrik Sørensen's enormous oil painting on the west wall — Norway Through the Ages — is the most ambitious single work in the hall, measuring 12 by 15 metres and depicting Norwegian history from Viking times to the industrial age. Viewing it up close reveals extraordinary detail and a distinctly social-democratic vision of Norwegian identity: the fishermen, the farmers, and the industrial workers share prominence with the kings and politicians.

Free admission makes City Hall an excellent stop at any time, but the best time to visit is during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony period in December, when Oslo is dressed for the occasion and the hall is prepared for the award. The building is directly on the waterfront between the Nobel Peace Center and Aker Brygge. Open daily; allow 45–90 minutes.