Best for
All visitors; families for the park; royal history fans for the tours
Time needed
30 minutes–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — the free park and exterior are always worth it
Skip if
Skip the paid interior tour unless you are very interested in royal history
About Royal Palace & Slottsparken
The Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott) stands at the western end of Karl Johans Gate, surveying Oslo from a modest hill in the heart of the city. Built between 1825 and 1849, it is a restrained neo-classical building in pale yellow render — less grand than many European royal residences, but dignified and genuinely central to Norwegian national life.
King Karl Johan — Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, the French marshal who became King of Norway and Sweden — commissioned the palace shortly after his accession. The site at the top of Karl Johans Gate was chosen deliberately: the palace would close the view of the main boulevard and could be seen from any point along it, giving Oslo a monumental axis comparable to those of other European capitals. The design by Linstow was classical in the tradition of French neo-classicism, but scaled to the modest ambitions of a small Scandinavian capital.
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The palace has been the primary residence of the Norwegian royal family since its completion, though the family uses it as an official rather than a private home — the current king and queen maintain private residences elsewhere. The palace is a working royal household: offices, state rooms, a chapel, and residential apartments are all in active use.
The palace is surrounded by Slottsparken — a public park that Norwegians use freely year-round for jogging, dog-walking, and summer picnicking on the lawns below the palace terrace. The park is open 24 hours and is one of the most pleasant green spaces in central Oslo. The equestrian statue of King Karl Johan at the main entrance is one of the most photographed subjects in the city.
The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 13:30. The ceremony — precise, unhurried, and somewhat low-key compared to equivalents in London or Copenhagen — involves the palace guard marching from Akershus Fortress (their barracks) along Karl Johans Gate and up to the palace. Worth timing a city walk to catch.
Summer tours of the palace interior (July only, in English and Norwegian) cover the state rooms, the throne room, and the banqueting hall, all maintained in their 19th-century formal style. Tickets must be booked in advance; tours sell out weeks ahead. The palace is a 5-minute walk from the National Theatre or a 20-minute walk from Oslo Central Station along Karl Johans Gate.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Iconic neo-classical palace completed in 1849
- 2Views down Karl Johans Gate from the palace steps
- 3Slottsparken — 220-acre beautifully landscaped royal park
- 4Changing of the Guard daily at 13:30 — free to watch
- 5Summer guided tours of the state rooms (July–mid August)
- 6Memorial to King Haakon VII
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Insider Tips
Changing of the Guard is free and worth timing your visit around (13:30 daily)
Summer tours book out fast — reserve online in advance
The park is perfect for a morning or evening stroll
Walk down Karl Johans Gate from here to the city centre
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Getting There
Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo
Open in Google Maps →- 1T-bane to Nationaltheatret, then 10-minute walk west up Karl Johans Gate
- 2Tram 12 or 19 to Nationaltheatret, then walk
- 3Bus 31 or 32 to Slottsparken
- 4Walk from Oslo Central Station: 20 minutes along Karl Johans Gate
- 5Slottsparken accessible from multiple entrances — main gate on Karl Johans Gate
Where to stay
Hotels in Oslo
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want the classic Oslo view down Karl Johans Gate
- You're combining with a walk along the main boulevard
- You want to see the Changing of the Guard (free, 13:30 daily)
- You're visiting in July for the summer palace tours
Skip if...
- Paid interior tour is optional — grounds alone are worth it
- Interior tours run summer only
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Oslo
National Museum
Norway's largest art museum — successor to the original National Gallery — home to Munch's The Scream and 7,000 years of Nordic and European art.
Oslo City Hall
Where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every December — free entry, with floor-to-ceiling murals by Norwegian masters and a prime waterfront location.
Oslo Cathedral
Norwegian baroque cathedral from 1697 on Karl Johans Gate — free entry, with spectacular stained glass windows by Emanuel Vigeland.
Karl Johans Gate
Oslo's main boulevard — 1.5 km pedestrian street from Central Station to the Royal Palace, passing the Parliament, National Theatre, and Oslo Cathedral.