Royal Palace, Oslo, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Royal Palace (Det kongelige slott) is the official residence of the Norwegian monarch, standing on a low hill at the top of Karl Johans gate in central Oslo. Built in the nineteenth century for the Swedish-Norwegian king Karl Johan, it is a calm, symmetrical neoclassical building surrounded by a public park. It is still the working home of the monarchy today.

The story behind it

The palace owes its existence to the upheavals of 1814. Denmark had ruled Norway for centuries, but after ending up on the losing side of the Napoleonic Wars it had to give the country up. Norwegians wrote their own constitution that year, yet the country entered a union with Sweden and was ruled by the Swedish king. Norway kept its own government, and that arrangement lasted.

Karl Johan, the former French marshal Bernadotte who had become king of Sweden and Norway, ordered a palace to stay in when he visited Norway, in effect a very grand second home. He died in 1844 before it was ready, and the building was completed in the late 1840s. The kilometre-long street running from the palace down to the central station still carries his name. Today the royal family has a ceremonial role, and King Harald V and Queen Sonja are widely respected in Norway.

What to look for

• The bronze equestrian statue of Karl Johan stands in front of the palace and looks out over the city he never saw the palace finished in.
• The restrained, symmetrical facade is worth a slow look, as it is far plainer than many European royal residences.
• Turn around at the palace square for the long view down Karl Johans gate, the main street that links the palace to the heart of the city.
• Guards in uniform stand at the palace, and you can watch the changing of the guard if your timing is right.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes to see the exterior and walk through the surrounding park, which is open to everyone.
• Check current opening hours and tour availability if you want to go inside, as interior visits are usually limited to guided tours in certain seasons.
• Check the current time of the changing of the guard before you go, and arrive a little early to get a good spot.
• Walk down Karl Johans gate afterwards: the National Theatre, the Parliament building and plenty of cafes are all within an easy stroll.

See it on a quest

The Oslo Old Town: Viking Tales quest passes the Royal Palace as part of a longer walk through the area. You reach it on foot, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of what you are looking at, so you notice details you would otherwise walk past. One ticket covers your whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.