The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Oslo. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Oslo Oslo guide
About The Royal Palace
A calm Neoclassical palace crowning the hill at the top of Karl Johans gate, official home of Norway's monarch, ringed by an open public park and a daily changing of the guard.
The Royal Palace (Det kongelige slott, commonly Slottet) was built between 1824 and 1849 to a design by the Danish-born architect Hans Linstow. It was commissioned by King Charles III John, known in Norway as Karl Johan, who reigned over both Norway and Sweden and wanted a royal seat in his northern capital. The Neoclassical building holds 173 rooms and stands at the western end of Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main street. King Haakon VII made it a permanent royal residence from 1905, after the dissolution of the union with Sweden, and it remains the official residence of the Norwegian monarch and the royal family.
The surrounding Palace Park (Slottsparken) covers about 22 hectares and is one of Oslo's largest public parks, open freely year-round. On Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace, an equestrian statue of Karl Johan by Brynjulf Bergslien was raised in 1875. His Majesty The King's Guard performs a changing of the guard each day. A major renovation of the palace was completed in 2001, and guided summer tours of the interior have run since 2002.
Did you know? The palace has 173 rooms, yet for most of the year no fence keeps the public out: the surrounding Palace Park, about 22 hectares, is one of Oslo's largest green spaces and open to anyone, at any hour.
How long is a visit to The Royal Palace?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for The Royal Palace. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is The Royal Palace worth your time?
The Royal Palace is among the 22 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Oslo, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Oslo
Day 2 of the Oslo in 2 days itinerary →Day 3 of the Oslo in 3 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of The Royal Palace
Preview the Oslo tour free in the Gingerguide app.