Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)

Overview

Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) is the massive, beating heart of Copenhagen. Flanked by the iconic City Hall on one side and the bustling entrance to the Strøget shopping street on the other, it serves as the ultimate geographical anchor for the inner city.

Highlights

• Copenhagen City Hall: The towering, romantic brick structure dominating the southwestern edge of the square.
• The Weather Girl: Look up at the Richs Building to spot the gold 'weather girls' mechanism on the tower.
• The Dragon Fountain: A prominent, beautifully detailed fountain featuring a bull wrestling a dragon.

History

The square sits exactly on the site of the old fortified city's Western Gate (Vesterport). When the walls were dismantled in the 1850s, the area was cleared, eventually becoming the grand plaza designed alongside the new City Hall, which opened in 1905.

Visitor Tips

• Action: It is the traditional gathering spot for major public demonstrations, New Year's Eve fireworks, and national celebrations.
• Transport: It houses one of the busiest, deepest Metro stations in the city on the new City Circle line.
• Duration: 15 minutes, mostly serving as a transit hub between attractions.