Royal Palace

Royal residence above Gamla Stan

The Royal Palace stands over the old town of Gamla Stan and is the official residence of the Swedish king. This imposing Baroque building has over 600 rooms, making it one of the largest palaces in the world still in active use – it's simultaneously the workplace of the monarchy, a museum complex, and the stage for the daily Changing of the Guard.

Unlike the more remote Drottningholm Palace, the Royal Palace sits right in the historic centre, so a visit combines easily with a stroll through the lanes of the Old Town.

From the Tre Kronor fire to the Baroque palace

Until 1697, the medieval fortress of Tre Kronor ("Three Crowns") stood on this site. When it burned down on 7 May 1697, architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger designed a new building in the Roman-Italian Baroque style. Construction dragged on from 1697 to 1754; after Tessin's death in 1728, Carl Hårleman took over as master builder. In 1754, King Adolf Fredrik moved into the finished palace.

The memory of the lost fortress lives on in the Tre Kronor Museum, housed in the surviving medieval cellar vaults and telling the story of the earlier building.

What to expect inside

A single ticket opens up several areas under one roof:

• the state apartments (Royal Apartments), with ceremonial halls and galleries,
• the Halls of the Orders of Chivalry and the Hall of State,
• the treasury, with the royal regalia deep beneath the palace,
• the Tre Kronor Museum, in the old fortress cellars.

In summer, Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities, with its classical sculptures, is also included. Individual state rooms can be wholly or partly closed during official receptions – the palace is, after all, a working royal residence, not purely a museum.

Photography for personal use is allowed, but without flash, tripod or selfie stick; drones and 360-degree cameras are banned. An official app supplements the visit with audio guides, and in summer there are also guided tours.

The Changing of the Guard

The best-known free event is the Changing of the Guard in the outer courtyard: Monday to Saturday at 12:15, Sundays and public holidays at 13:15, lasting around 40 minutes. In summer (roughly late April to August) the guard parades daily with a full march and military band; in the low season, the larger version with music only runs on selected days, including Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

For a good view, it's worth arriving a little before the ceremony starts. Times and locations can change at short notice, so it's worth checking the official site before you go.

Tickets, opening hours and prices

In summer (roughly June to September) the palace is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00; in the low season (October to May) it's open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00 (closed Mondays). Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the museums and state rooms.

Admission costs 220 SEK in the low season and 240 SEK in the high season (May to September) for adults; students pay 200 or 220 SEK, children aged 7 to 17 pay 110 or 120 SEK, and entry is free under 6. If you also want to visit the nearby royal burial church, the combined ticket for 270 SEK (adults) works out cheaper; an annual pass costs 500 SEK. The Changing of the Guard in the courtyard is always free.

Tickets are available in advance via the official booking site or on arrival. Current times and prices are listed on kungligaslotten.se.

Getting there and what to combine it with

The address is Slottsbacken 1 in Gamla Stan. The nearest Tunnelbana (metro) station is Gamla Stan, just a few minutes' walk away. Most areas are wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets at the entrance to the state apartments and in the Tre Kronor Museum. Large bags and backpacks must be left in lockers at the ticket and information office in the outer courtyard.

The palace makes an ideal centrepiece for a day in the Old Town: right next door stand Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral) and the central square Stortorget, while the medieval royal burial church Riddarholmen Church is just a short walk away. For more on the neighbourhood, see the overview Gamla Stan, and for planning your sightseeing, the guide Attractions in Stockholm is a useful starting point.