City Hall (Radhus), Copenhagen (must see)

Copenhagen City Hall, designed by famous architect Martin Nyrop and inspired by Siena's Town Hall in Italy, stands prominently on City Hall Square. The hall was inaugurated in 1905, showcasing the pinnacle of national romanticism in Denmark.

The building is marked by a striking facade decorated in rich ornamental style, featuring among other elements the roof statues of polar bears symbolizing the giant Danish protectorate of Greenland. A golden statue of Bishop Absalon, the city's founder, presides over the central balcony, while the clock tower, reaching 105.6 meters, marks one of Copenhagen's tallest structures. The tower clock, a notable feature, chimes daily at noon and during New Year's Eve at midnight.

The City Hall's architectural complex comprises three aligned buildings connected by longitudinal structures. The hall is linked via tunnels to the nearby buildings, ensuring a blend of historical elegance and modern functionality.

The interior layout includes meeting rooms, a wedding hall, and a banquet hall used by the municipality. At its heart lies the Town Hall Garden, open to the public during summer months and accessible from Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard. The front entrance boasts a glass mosaic depicting Copenhagen's coat of arms, commemorating the city's historical privileges and the City Hall's inauguration.

Inside the building, looking down on the inner grand hall (which is open to the public) are the marble busts of four celebrated locals: fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, physicist Niels Bohr, and the building's architect Martin Nyrop. Downstairs are the national archives dating back to the 1270s.

As you leave, check out the amazing World Clock (opposite the info desk), the supreme mechanical astronomical chronometer in terms of function and precision. Built between 1943 and 1955, its displays include lunar and solar eclipses, positions of the stellar bodies, and a perpetual calendar, in addition to the time across the world's time zones. The clock's fastest gear completes a revolution every ten seconds, while the slowest – every 25,753 years!

Tip:
The main hall is free to enter, whereas to go up the tower you'll have to pay a small fee.
They escort you in groups at 11 am / 12:30 pm and 2 pm on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. You can join a guided English tour at 1 pm (on weekdays) and 10 am (on Saturdays).
As the building is central, the views are great and the viewing platform is square and large.