Oslo Palace Park (Slottsparken)

Construction of the park began in the 1820s by Hans Linstow, the same architect who built the palace, and took over 30 years to complete. Wander the grounds to admire the various monuments and statues honoring notable Norwegians such as sculptor Gustav Vigeland, author Camilla Collet, Queen Maud, and mathematician Nils Henrik Abel. One of the best ways to experience the park is via a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, which allows you to see 18 top attractions such as the Vigeland Sculpture Park and Akershus Castle and Fortress at your own pace. Informative audio narration accompanied each stop.

• Royal Palace Park is ideal for nature-loving travelers of all ages.
• The park is free to enter.
• The park is stroller-friendly and wheelchair-accessible.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes if planning to stroll around the pathways.
• Bring bread to feed the birds.

Slottsparken is located in the Nobel district in the center of Oslo near Nationaltheatret Station, easily accessible by public transportation. Most public transport takes you to the southeastern entrance at Karl Johans Gate, while trams 11, 17 and 18 stop at Holbergs Plass, roughly a 2-minute walk from the northern entrance.

The park is open daily until dusk year-round. Come during the day for a picnic on the lawn or by a pond. Peak season in Oslo coincides with the warm summer months (mid-June through August). Check the park’s official site for special summer programming. Also during the summer, the palace is open for guided tours.

As the main residence of the ruling Norwegian monarch, King Harald V,xa0 and his family, the palace is the main feature of the park. Come in the summer and you may catch a guided tour of some its most grand state rooms. Year-round, enjoy the park ponds honoring the royal family. Created to achieve the park’s signature romantic design, the Queen’s Pond and the King’s Mirror are connected by a stream.