Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), Stockholm

4 more images

The last thing we wanted to see at the Royal Palace, was the changing of the Guard's.
We walked higher up the hill, and saw that already people were waiting behind barrier's. It was in full sun, so we walked further and found a shady spot. There were already a lot of people here, at least half an hour before.

On the pavement, you will see a painted line, make sure you stand behind that if you do not have any rope's to stand behind. The guard's will keep on coming and moving you all the time, and in the end, they get sick and tired of people not doing as they are told, and become aggressive.

We saw the guard's come marching in, the ceremony and then they marched out. There still was more going on, but to tell the truth, we were not that impressed.
A little sloppy, and the dark blue uniform's looked dullish and drab, if I had my time again, I wouldn't be bothered, and spend my time elsewhere!
Perhap's if they had been in the bright Blue uniform and on Horse's, it would have been a lot better.

May - August: The changing of the guard and Military Band daily at 12.15 hours (Sundays and holidays at 1.15pm). In the summer season, you may even see guards on horses approaching Stockholm's Royal Palace (especially in May)!

April, September, October: The Swedish changing of the guards can be seen Wednesdays & Saturdays at 12.15 hours, and Sundays at 1.15 pm.
Around April 30th - the King's birthday - look for horse displays as well.

3 more images

Walking up the hill from the Royal Armoury, we came to another Palace guard standing at the entrance way to the Royal Palace.

The palace was built on the foundation's of the medieval castle - Tre Kronor (Three Crowns), dating back to the mid 13th century which was destroyed by fire.

It took 57 year's to build the new Palace, and no wonder!
It has 1430 rooms, 660 with windows and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world still in use for its original purpose.
I thought the way it's set out is interesting. The palace consists of four rows: western, southern, eastern, and northern, each represent's something different. The southern facade represents the nation, the west facade represents the king, the east facade represents the queen, and the northern facade represents the common royal. These four rows surround the inner courtyard.

The Royal Apartments are said to be magnificent, ranging in style from baroque to rococo to Gustavian neo-classisism, like the Pillar Hall, and on to the eclectic styles of the 19th century.
We didn't do a tour, as we wanted to see the changing of the guard's, and you had to buy a time-slot.

Entrance tickets are sold at the Ticket & Information office in the Outer Courtyard during regular opening hours.
Tickets are also sold at the entrance to the Treasury and the Tre Kronor Museum.

OPEN.....
15 May–16 September: Daily 10:00–5PM
17 September–14 May: Tuesday–Sunday 12:00–4PM

ADMISSION IN 2011.....
Adults SEK 150
Children 7–18 years old and students SEK 75
Free entrance for children under 7 years of age in the company of a guardian.
Includes visit to the Royal Apartments, the Treasury and the Tre Kronor Museum within seven days.
From 15 May to 16 September, Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities is also included.

The guided tour takes approx 45 minutes. To follow a guided tour simply buy your entrance ticket and meet at the designated time and place for the start of the tour.

Excellent value!

2 more images

The Royal Palace is a huge complex, so I will cover it over several tip's.

First, it is the home of His Majesty The King, and also a place of work for the King and the Queen.
It's where monarchy's official receptions are held, and is also open to the public, making this an unique Royal Palace.

The palace, built in baroque style, is formed as a Roman palace and has more than 600 rooms divided between seven floors, with a state apartment facing the city and smaller living rooms facing the inner courtyard.

When I first came upon the Palace I was walking along the water front. Here, there was a high wall with statue's and some flower's, so I went up the step's to see what I could see. A nice gate, a view of the Palace, and the Palace guard.
I couldn't say I was at all impressed with the guard, very sloppy and wouldn't pass in most countries!

1 more image

The Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) is the official residence of the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav. It has more than 600 rooms and is therefore the biggest palace in the world still used by a head of state. The Royal Palace was build between 1697 and 1754 on the place of a former medieval castle.

Directions:
The Royal Palace is situated on the small island of the Old Town "Gamla Stan". The nearest Metro stop (T-bana) is Gamla Stan.

4 more images

Here you get a very good introduction how we started to sell and buy. the museum let you know how we did in early years when we did not have any money system, and how it has developed during all decades and generations. You will be able to see coins from vey early time to nowdays, and many coins from all over the world. You will be bale to see the most heaviest coin in the world. I would like to see that when you lift it and try to go to McDonalds for example, and you want a hamburger. It would never work. You can see how the money system has developed and compare it to other changes during the history. This is a worth a visit here. It is not just amuseum with boring coins and old stuff. No, here you learn something.

Mondays are free and you can go here and visit it. There are very clean toilettes here and beside the museum you have a restaurant. It has an interesting shop too, where you can find different kind of gifts.

I recommend the purchase of a combination ticket (130 SEK). This allows you to visit The Royal Apartments, The Treasury, The Tre Kronor Museum and the Gustav III Museum of Antiquities (separate admission of each place would cost 90 SEK each). The combination ticket is valid for 30 days from the day of purchase, so you don't have to do everything in one day.

With 608 rooms, the Stockholm Royal Palace is the biggest palace in the world still used by a head of state - King Carl XVI Gustav. The palace houses several of the greatest and most interesting sights in Stockholm - the Royal Apartments, the Hall of State, the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry, the Treasury, the Tre Kronor Palace Museum, the Armoury and the Museum of Antiquities of Gustav III. The Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12.15 and on Sundays and public holidays at 13.15.

In the summertime things change around the Royal Palace and the square comes alive with a major attraction: the changing of the guards. In June, July and August the guard, complete with a military band, changes at the Royal Palace in Stockholm every day. In the wintertime there is only a small ceremony of the changing of the guards. Off-season the changing of the Royal Guards takes place with a smaller part of a Military band and a march from Mynttorget around the Stockholm Palace. This small winter ceremony takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 o'clock and on Sundays at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. So far I've only been able to see this small ceremony (see picture). You can check out this website to see what is happening at what day.: Weekly schedule of the changing of the guards