The Royal Palace, Kungliga slottet, is the huge Baroque block on the northern edge of Gamla stan, Stockholm's old town, and the official residence of the Swedish king. It stands where the medieval castle of Tre Kronor burned down in 1697, and took more than half a century to finish. With more than 1,400 rooms, it is still a working palace, and much of it is open to visitors.
The Royal Palace at a glance
- Where: Slottsbacken, on the island of Stadsholmen in Gamla stan, facing the water of Norrström.
- Built: from 1697 on the site of Tre Kronor; work stopped during the Great Northern War, resumed in 1727, and the royal family moved in in 1754.
- By: Nicodemus Tessin the Younger; after his death in 1728 Carl Hårleman completed it and designed much of the Rococo interior.
- What it is today: the king's official residence and workplace, with the royal court's offices, state rooms and several museums; the royal couple live at Drottningholm.
- Time needed: half an hour to walk around the outside and see the guard, two to three hours to visit the apartments and museums.
From Tre Kronor to Tessin's palace
The first building here was a fortress tower raised in the 13th century, traditionally linked to Birger Jarl, to guard the entrance to Lake Mälaren. Over the centuries it grew into a castle called Tre Kronor, after the three crowns on its tower spire. In the 1690s Nicodemus Tessin the Younger rebuilt the northern wing in a new Baroque style. Then, on 7 May 1697, a fire destroyed almost the whole castle, and Tessin was asked to design a completely new palace on the same spot.
Building began at once, but the costly Great Northern War stopped work in 1709, and it only resumed in 1727. Tessin died the following year, and Carl Hårleman took over, finishing the shell and creating many of the Rococo rooms. King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika moved in in 1754, though interior work went on into the 1770s. Since then the palace has changed surprisingly little from outside. A long programme to repair its weathered sandstone façades started in 2011, so expect scaffolding on some sides.
What to look for
- The changing of the guard: the Royal Guards have protected the palace since 1523; the ceremony takes place in the outer courtyard, more often in summer than in winter.
- Lejonbacken: the ramp on the north side towards the water, guarded by two bronze lions by the French sculptor Bernard Foucquet, cast in 1702 and 1704 from metal taken as war booty from Kronborg Castle in Denmark.
- The Hall of State: the ceremonial hall with Queen Christina's silver throne, made for her coronation.
- The Treasury: the crowns, sceptres and other regalia of Sweden, kept in vaults below the palace.
- The Tre Kronor Museum: the surviving cellar vaults of the medieval castle, showing what stood here before the fire.
The fire of 1697
The fire broke out in the roof of Tre Kronor on 7 May 1697, while the body of King Charles XI, who had died a few weeks earlier, was lying in state in the castle. It spread quickly through the old timber structure, and much of the royal library and archive was lost. The new king, Charles XII, was only fourteen. Out of the disaster came the palace you see today, one of the largest royal palaces in Europe.
Tips for your visit
- Check the day's schedule for the changing of the guard and get to the outer courtyard early to find a good spot.
- For the best view of the whole north façade, walk to the Strömgatan quay or the Norrbro bridge across the water.
- The palace is a working building: some rooms may close at short notice for official events, so check before you go.
- Combine your visit with a walk through the lanes of Gamla stan, starting at Stortorget just behind the cathedral.
Nearby
- Storkyrkan: Stockholm Cathedral, right next to the palace, with a large late-medieval wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon.
- Stortorget and the Nobel Prize Museum: the old town's main square with its coloured gabled houses, a few minutes' walk south.
- Riddarholmen Church: the burial church of Swedish kings, on the neighbouring island to the west.
- Riksdag building: the Swedish parliament on Helgeandsholmen, just across the bridge from the palace.
See Stockholm with World City Trail
Our Stockholm 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 40 minutes of walking. It includes places such as Gamla stan, Riddarholmen Church, the Nobel Prize Museum and the City Hall. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, Stockholm also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Stockholm scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Stockholm →
Play the outdoor escape game in Stockholm →
Facts checked in October 2026.