The Royal Palace (Slottet) is the official residence of the King of Norway, a pale neoclassical building on a rise at the western end of Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main street. It was ordered by a French-born king, Charles XIV John, who never got to live in it, and it only became a permanent royal home after Norway gained full independence in 1905.
The Royal Palace at a glance
- Where: at the top of Karl Johans gate, surrounded by the public Palace Park (Slottsparken), with the Palace Square in front.
- Built: foundation stone laid in 1825; completed and officially inaugurated in 1849.
- By: designed by the Danish-born officer and architect Hans Linstow.
- What it is today: the King's residence and office, where the weekly Council of State meets; guarded by the King's Guard, and open for guided tours in summer.
- Time needed: 20 minutes for the square, the guards and the park; around an hour with a guided tour.
A palace built in a hurry and on a budget
In 1814 Norway left its union with Denmark and entered a new union with Sweden, under the Swedish king. Charles John, a former French marshal under Napoleon who had become Sweden's crown prince and then king, wanted a residence in his Norwegian capital, Christiania. He chose a site on the western edge of town in 1821, and in 1825 he laid the foundation stone under the future palace chapel. Money soon ran out: the Storting, Norway's parliament, refused extra funds in protest at the king's plans to tie the two kingdoms closer, and work stopped from 1827 to 1833. Linstow then drew a cheaper design with three storeys instead of projecting wings.
Charles John died in 1844 without ever living there, and his son Oscar I and Queen Josephine were the first to move in. The palace was inaugurated in 1849. When Norway dissolved the union with Sweden in 1905, Prince Carl of Denmark was elected king as Haakon VII, and he became the first monarch to live here permanently. He also started the tradition of greeting the children's parade from the balcony on 17 May. After a long renovation under King Harald V, the King and Queen moved back in 2001, and public tours began in 2002.
What to look for
- The balcony above the main entrance, where the royal family waves to the children's parade on Constitution Day, 17 May.
- The equestrian statue of Charles XIV John on the Palace Square, facing down Karl Johans gate.
- The guards of His Majesty the King's Guard in their dark uniforms and plumed hats, and the daily changing of the guard.
- The flag on the roof: when the royal standard flies, the King is in residence and acting as head of state.
- The view straight down Karl Johans gate towards the Storting and Oslo Central Station.
The Palace Park
The palace sits in Slottsparken, a 22-hectare public park with ponds, old trees and statues, open to everyone at all hours. It is a popular place for a walk or a picnic, and you can wander right past the palace walls. In the park, the former royal stables were converted in 2017 into the Queen Sonja Art Stable, a venue for exhibitions from the royal collections.
Tips for your visit
- Book a guided tour well ahead if you are visiting in summer; it is the only way to see the state rooms.
- Watch the changing of the guard on the Palace Square around midday; the ceremony is grander when the King is in residence.
- Keep a respectful distance from the guards and do not cross barriers or touch them.
- Walk down Karl Johans gate afterwards to the National Theatre, the Storting and the cathedral.
Nearby
- National Theatre: Norway's main stage, with statues of Ibsen and Bjørnson outside, a few minutes' walk down the hill.
- Storting: the yellow-brick parliament building on Karl Johans gate, about ten minutes' walk.
- Queen Sonja Art Stable: exhibitions from the royal collections in the old palace stables.
- Oslo City Hall: the brick town hall by the harbour where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, about ten minutes south.
See Oslo with World City Trail
Our Oslo scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 60 minutes of walking, and it includes places such as the Tiger statue at Oslo Central Station and Oslo Cathedral.
If you prefer a different format, Oslo also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Oslo scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Oslo →
Play the outdoor escape game in Oslo →
Facts checked in October 2026.