Royal Palace, Oslo

Although the exterior of the Royal Palace in Oslo is worth a visit, you can only visit the inside of the castle from June to August.

History

In 1905, Norway gained independence from Sweden and became a constitutional monarchy, with executive power in the hands of King Harald V of the House of Glücksburg. In the mid-19th century, the Royal Palace was completed and has been the residence of the royal family ever since.

The Royal Palace in Oslo, designed by the architect Hans Linstow, houses a chapel, a ballroom, the famous throne room and the renowned Bird Room. The entire interior is decorated with paintings by famous Norwegian artists. At the entrance to the palace, you can see the equestrian statue of Charles XIV, King of Sweden and Norway.

Royal Palace Gardens

As well as visiting the Royal Palace in Oslo, you can also take a stroll through the surrounding gardens, which are open to the public from mid-May until October. Built in 1840, the gardens are famous for their majestic trees and sculptures of important Norwegian historical figures.

Changing of the Guard

One of the main attractions of this residence is the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Oslo. Every day at 1:30 pm, the Guards of His Royal Highness march for 40 minutes.

The march starts half an hour earlier at Akershus Fortress, so you can follow the route if you're in the area. From here, the Royal Guard marches along Kirkegaten to the Karl Johans Gate at the Royal Palace.