When visiting Stockholm and the historic Gamla Stan district, you won’t want to miss the huge Royal Palace (in Swedish, Kungliga Slottet), where the famous Changing of the Guard takes place. A real show not to be missed.
Below you will find all the practical information you need about the palace and the changing of the guard (ticket, visiting time and schedule)….
Visit the Royal Palace in Stockholm
A little history
Stockholm’s Royal Palace is one of the residences of the King of Sweden. It also houses the Court offices, staffed by around 200 people, and hosts numerous royal receptions.
The present palace was built after the devastating fire of May 1697. It comprises over 600 rooms, spread over seven floors. The palace, a little austere on the outside, is packed with treasures on the inside, so don’t hesitate to visit.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, now without executive power, and has been in place for over a thousand years.
Today, the royal family sees itself as a role model for the Swedish people. It includes King Charles XVI Gustave and his wife, the Queen, Silvia Sommerlath, and their children, including Victoria of Sweden, the Crown Princess, and her husband Daniel.
During our guided tour of the historic center, we learned that Swedes are very attached to their royal family. Because it aims to be close to the people and multicultural (the King and Queen have French origins). Members of the royal family are free to marry whomever they wish.
Where does the Swedish royal family live?
Since 1981, the royal family has also lived at Drottningholm Castle, some ten kilometers from Stockholm, which we recommend you visit if you wish to explore the surrounding area.
Where is the royal palace?
As mentioned above, the Royal Palace is located at the following address: Kungliga slottet, Storkyrkobrinken, 111 29 Stockholm, right in the historic center. When visiting this part of Stockholm, you won’t want to miss this imposing building.
Opening hours
The Palais Royale is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. depending on the month. You can find details of opening times for each day on the official website.
Ticket prices
220 SEK (approx. €19) – students 200 SEK (approx. €17) – free for children under 7. Museum included in Citypass Stockholm
What to see at the royal palace
The Palais-Royal (in Swedish, Kungliga Slottet) is made up of over 600 rooms, so of course you won’t be able to visit it in its entirety. We recommend that you concentrate on the following parts:
- Royal apartments: consisting of a succession of rooms, bedrooms, banqueting halls… not lacking in tapestries and porcelain objects. Maybe you’ll find a little inspiration for your future castle!
- Hall of Treasures: this is an incredible part of the museum, where you can see the treasures (as the name suggests) of the Swedish monarchy (crowns, sceptres, capes…).
- RoyalArmory (paid admission since 2023): this section features a collection of carriages, weapons, armor and period clothing. At the far end, there are 2 rooms for children to discover, with costumes available.
Unlike other museums in Stockholm, such as the Vasa Museum or the Skansen Museum, we found that there were few activities for children.
Changing of the guard Stockholm
In Stockholm, the rèleve de la gardeis a small, free ceremony lasting around 30 minutes and featuring live horseback musicians. Every day, the musicians play traditional and popular music (Avincii, Abba, Queen…).
Where to see the changing of the guard in Stockholm in 2023?
The changing of the guard takes place at Stockholm’s Royal Palace at the following address: Kungliga slottet, Storkyrkobrinken, 111 29 Stockholm.
The royal palace is located in the historic and picturesque Gamla Stan district, and the ceremony takes place on the Palais-Royal esplanade. The location is well signposted, so you really can’t miss it.
What time is the next shift?
The changeover takes place from Monday to Saturday at 12:15pm, and at 1:15pm on Sundays and public holidays, from June to August.
Be sure to check the schedule before you come, as changeovers do not take place every day in the off-season. Come early to be in the best position to see something, because it’s packed.
Does the guard changeover take place in winter?
Yes, the changing of the guard takes place in winter in Stockholm. Note that in winter, the ceremony is shorter, a little less impressive and doesn ‘t take place every day.
Visiting time and our opinion
Concentrating on the 3 points of interest mentioned above, allow 2 to 3 hours inside the palace. Then 40 minutes for the changing of the guard.
During your visit to Stockholm’s historic center (Gamla Stan), we recommend that you don’t miss the Changing of the Guard show (free of charge).
As far as the Royal Palace is concerned, while it’s not the most interactive museum in Stockholm (unlike the Abba Museum) and looks like many other European palaces, we were able to observe some beautiful pieces and objects of incomparable richness.
If you’re coming to Stockholm, we think it’s worth learning more about the royal family.
Where to sleep in Stockholm?
For easy access to the main points of interest, we recommend the Norrmalm district (today’s city center) .
Hotel Birger Jarl: Noormalm district: the hotel’s location is perfect for visiting central Stockholm on foot. In a beautiful, completely renovated building, our accommodation was spacious with a mini fridge and carefully decorated, excellent value for money where you’ll feel right at home. We would definitely go back. (with breakfast)
We wish you an excellent trip to Stockholm, and one last word of advice: don’t miss its incredible archipelago!
Feel free to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
