Royal Palace (Kungliga slottet)

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Swedish monarch and the setting for much of the country's royal ceremony. It stands on the site of the medieval Tre Kronor castle and was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and completed by Carl Hårleman. The palace was ready for use in 1754, although work continued until 1771. With 1,430 rooms, it is a working palace where state visits, receptions and official ceremonies still take place.

Several attractions share the building. The Royal Apartments are the formal state rooms, used for receptions and banquets and filled with furniture, paintings and tapestries collected over centuries. The Treasury, in the cellar vaults, holds the regalia of Sweden, including crowns, sceptres and orbs. Museum Three Crowns, in the old cellar kitchens, tells the story of the earlier castle and the medieval history of the site, while Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities displays more than 200 classical sculptures that the king bought during a journey to Italy in the 1780s. The Royal Chapel is also part of the palace, and the Royal Armoury, Sweden's oldest museum, is housed in the building but sold on a separate ticket.

The changing of the guard in the Outer Courtyard is one of the most popular sights in Stockholm and draws large crowds, so arrive early if you want a place near the front. Guided tours run through much of the year and add a great deal of context to the state rooms; the palace recommends them for a fuller visit. Because the palace is in official use, rooms can close at short notice for state occasions, and opening hours vary through the year, so check the opening hours page before you set off.

The palace suits history lovers, families with older children and anyone interested in royal ceremony. Allow two to three hours if you want to see the apartments, the Treasury and one of the museums. Tickets are sold through the official ticket page and at the ticket and information entrance, where you will also find toilets and the gift shop.

The palace sits on Slottsbacken at the north-eastern edge of Gamla Stan. Gamla Stan metro station is about five minutes away on foot through Stortorget or Västerlånggatan, and Kungsträdgården station is about ten minutes away across the Strömbron bridge. The Nobel Prize Museum and Storkyrkan cathedral are a short walk away.