Have you ever wanted to visit a real royal home? When you visit Norway, you have the opportunity to walk through the halls of the Royal Palace in Oslo, which is packed with history, importance, and lavish decorations.
Even though you won’t mix with the Norwegian Royalty when you visit their house, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know the ins and outs of the Royal Palace in Oslo. In this article, we tell you all you need to know, and then some, about one of the most iconic buildings in Norway.
What is the Royal Palace of Oslo?
Norway is not ruled by a King or queen, as it was a couple of hundred years ago. When the country broke free from Danish rule in 1814, it entered into a union with Sweden and was no longer ruled by a King. It is still a monarchy, but the duties of the King are almost purely representative and ceremonial. The Royal Palace in Oslo is one of many castles in Norway that are owned by the state and hold significant cultural value.
So, which functions does the Norwegian Royal Palace hold? It is at the disposal of the head of state, which is the current head of the Norwegian Royal Family. This is where the King and Queen receive state guests, have audiences, and hold official dinners. This is also the workplace of most of the members of the Royal Court and where foreign heads of state stay when they visit Norway on official business.
Where is the Norwegian Palace?
If you want to visit the Royal Palace in Norway, you must visit the western part of the capital city of Oslo. Here, you follow Karl Johans Gate (Kar Johan’s Street) northwest until you reach the palace gates. The massive structure sits in the middle of the Palace Garden and is impossible to miss as you travel through the capital.
Unlike many other similar places around the world, the Royal Palace in Oslo is not heavily fenced, and you can reach it from multiple streets around the Palace Garden. The palace partly serves as one of the many museums in Oslo, and the public has access to the gardens at any time during the year.
The History of the Royal Palace in Norway
Norway has a long and complicated history with rulers. The proposal to raise a palace solely for the royal family was made by the Storting – the Norwegian parliament – in 1821. The proposition was followed up the next year, and the foundation stone was placed under the altar of the future Royal Chapel by King Carl Johan on the first of October 1825. The Royal Palace in Oslo wasn’t officially finished yet when it was inaugurated by King Oscar I 25 years later, in 1849.
The Royal Palace in Oslo was supposed to be shaped as an “H”, but the plans had to be revised and simplified since most of the budget was spent too fast at the beginning of the construction. The Storting refused to approve an increased budget due to the poor relationship with the monarch at the time.
This was when Sweden and Norway were still in a union, and the current King was Swedish-born and attempting to strengthen the bond and cooperation between the countries, which didn’t go well with the Norwegians.
This clashed with current nationalistic movements, and the construction halted between 1827 and 1833 before the King of the union managed to mend relationships and the Storting approved an increased budget. The Royal Palace in Oslo has since undergone multiple changes and renovations and is now an intricate blend of old architecture and modern technology.
Do the Royals Live in the Oslo Royal Palace?
The Norwegian King and Queen use the Royal Palace in Oslo as their main residence throughout the year. Apart from living in the Royal Palace, in Oslo, the Royal Family owns several properties around the country that they use as holiday homes and private estates for private matters.
Since all state-owned Norwegian Royal Palaces are used by the Royal Family for official purposes and also function as museums for the public, it’s understandable that a break from the constant noise and movement is necessary from time to time.
The Crown Prince and Princess, for example, live in the Skaugum Estate in Asker rather than a state-owned property. This has traditionally been the home of the crown prince and princess since 1968 when it was gifted to the then Crown Prince Harald by the then King Olav V.
Plan Your Visit to the Royal Palace in Oslo
Now you know what, who, and how. It’s time to put the plan in motion and step into the Royal Palace of Norway. We have gathered some key information below to ensure that you have all the necessary info before you visit:
When is the Royal Palace in Oslo Open?
First and foremost, the Norway Palace is only open in the summer. Since the Norwegian summer is short, the palace is pretty much only open for just over 3 months a year. The rest of the time, it’s solely for official state business and for the King and Queen to reside in.
Ticket Prices
In 2024, the prices were:
Adults aged 18 years and over: 220 NOK ($20.65)
Children aged 6-17 years and students: 110 NOK ($10.35)
Children 0-5 years: free
If you move with the help of a wheelchair: 110 NOK ($10.35)
If you book a group of up to 40 people: 6,000 NOK ($562.80)
All tickets are sold via Ticketmaster and come with a 25 NOK ($2.35) ticket fee. The prices are announced sometime around the end of February for each year and might change slightly.
What to See Inside
There are many rooms in the Oslo Palace besides the ones mentioned below. But most of them are used for official state business or as living quarters for the King and Queen of Norway. When you go on a tour of the palace, these are some of the noteworthy rooms you’ll walk through:
The Bird Room
Despite the name, there are no living birds here, but rather 43 painted illustrations of birds. This is one of the most well-known and famous rooms in the Norway Royal Palace, the room where people wait for an audience with the King and/or Queen of Norway.
The Banqueting Hall
If you are lucky to be invited to a banquet at the Royal Palace in Oslo, this is where you will enjoy a four-course meal. It is 300 square meters and can seat more than 200 people on a gala night.
The Council Chamber
Every Friday at 11 in the morning, the King sits down with the Council of State to discuss matters of the country. The King sits in a throne chair at the end of the table with the Prime Minister of Norway on his right-hand side throughout the meeting.
The Family Dining Room
Just like mere mortals, the royal family needs to eat. Whenever there are informal meals to have, this is the room in the Royal Palace in Oslo that is utilized. It is also used for smaller official lunches and dinners, such as when the government steps down or when the Royal Family invites officials to Christmas lunch.
The Great Hall
This is the most lavish and expensive room in the palace and was considered the only grand room in the building by the architect of the Royal Palace in Oslo.
What to See Outside
The adventure continues outside the palace in Oslo, as there are things to do and see in the immediate vicinity:
Changing of the Guards
Every day at 1:30 pm, there is a changing of the guards at the palace. This is a daily routine that can be accompanied by drill exercises or concerts in the summer months.
Queen Sonja Art Stables
In a separate building in the Palace Gardens, you’ll find the old Royal Stables. After the Second World War, the stables at the Royal Palace in Oslo were used as storage and would be converted into an art gallery in 2017 by Queen Sonja. The stables are open all year, and the tickets are:
Adults: 140 NOK ($13.15)
Children between 6-17 years and students: 70 NOK ($6.70)
Family ticket: 350 NO ($32.85)
Groups up to 350 people: 3,500 NOK ($328.30)
Children under 6 years old and escorts of people with movement disabilities have free admission.
The Palace Gardens
The gardens have many paths to walk and are worth a stroll in all weathers and seasons in Norway. If you happen to visit Norway when the Royal Palace in Oslo isn’t open, this is a perfect alternative. The best part of the Palace Gardens is that it’s completely free and open to the public.
Prepare for a Royal Adventure
The Norway Royal Palace holds an important spot in Norwegian history and is an impressive piece of architecture. The insides are lavish with all kinds of amazing artifacts, historical pieces, and intricate illustrations, so we encourage anyone to take the time to go on a guided tour.
When you rent a motorhome in Norway, the palace in Oslo is an excellent place to either start or end your journey. All you need to do is remember to visit in the summer to get a chance to see the inside. Otherwise, the outside is still impressive and well worth a visit.