The Royal Palace

Oslo's royal residence

Built in the early 19th century, the Royal Palace is the official residence of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. The royals are popular figureheads in Norway and represent one of the oldest monarchies in Europe.

When they are not here, the family spend time at their Royal Farm on the peninsula of Bygdøy, in Oslo. The palace is home to the Royal Court, and still hosts official functions such as gala dinners and visits from foreign heads of state.

The serene palace gardens are open to the public and are a great place to relax and feed the ducks by the water. The rest of the palace is open for guided tours from the end of June to mid-August, and the ever-popular changing of the guard occurs each afternoon at 1 PM.