The Royal Palace of Stockholm

The Royal Palace of Stockholm, also known as Kungliga slottet, was the official home of the King.  The King and Queen, however, currently reside at Drottingholm Palace only staying at The Royal Palace for official functions.  The Palace can be toured most days except when it is being used for official business.

The Palace is located on the island of Gamla Stan.  Although you can tour the courtyard and outer part of the building at your leisure, palace entry is along Slottsbacken.  Tickets to the Palace include four different parts, the Treasury, The Royal Palace, Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, and The Tre Kronor Museum.

The Treasury

Your tour will start by travelling several flights of stairs down to the cellars where you will find The Treasury.  The Treasury includes glass display cases of the crown regalia including crowns, scepters, and capes. Another notable item displayed is a gorgeous silver baptismal font, created in 1706 and still used today for royal christenings.

The Royal Palace

Following the stairs back up to the entrance to start The Royal Palace tour.  The tour begins in the Hall of the State originally used by the Parliament.  It is now used for special celebrations and banquets. 

From there you can walk through the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry to view garments, pins, and jewelry representing the four orders. While in the Apartments of the Orders or meeting rooms, you will also learn the vast history of the Orders and monarchy of Sweden. 

Cross the grand limestone and marble Western Staircase to enter the Bernadotte Apartments.   These elegant rooms are used regularly for ceremonies, presentations, and meetings. They are much like the State Apartments and The Grand Guest Apartments, decorated in the Rococo style with hand painted artwork on ceiling and walls.

Follow the next stairwell up two fights to The State Apartments used by the King and Queen for Gala banquets and official dinners when state officials visit. 

The Grand Guest Apartments are next to The State Apartment. They are still in use today for official visiting heads of state. The rooms are still decorated and furnished in the Rococo style; they are supplemented with up-to-date accommodations while heads of state are visiting.

Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities

The Museum of Antiquities entrance is be found in the palace through a small door on Lejonbacken.  This small museum containing Gustav III’s collection of sculptures and busts is only open during the summer season.

The Tre Kronor Museum

The Tre Kronor Museum entrance is on Stottskajen, but the museum is located below the palace in the original cellars of the palace. Tre Kronor, the original palace, was burned down in 1697. During the fire everything was destroyed but the North Wing and the cellars below. While in the museum, you will see many preserved artifacts and models of Tre Kronor before it was destroyed. You will also learn Tre Kronor history and detailed facts of the original medieval defensive fortification of Tre Kronor.

Entrance into the Royal Palace Museums is 180 SEK per adult and 90 SEK for children 7-17 years and students.  Additional packages are available for guided tours and additional Gamla Stan museums.  To confirm the museum is open and to book tickets in advance go to The Royal Palace.

There are also options to tour several of the Stockholm area palaces.  To find out more about palace tours go to The Royal Palaces.

Next week’s Stockholm Museum Series will feature Stockholm Toy Museum. Read about other museums in our first article Stockholm Museums.