Relax in the shadow of the royal residence and enjoy pageantry against a backdrop of tranquil lawns and ancient trees.

The Palace Park surrounds the Norwegian royal family’s residence in the centre of Oslo and extends over 22 hectares. It was constructed at the same time as the palace, making it one of the city’s oldest public parks. Many of the original trees are still standing, lending a timeless quality to this historic green lung.

The network of gravel paths provides a variety of different routes around the park, past restful ponds and neatly planted flowerbeds. Along the way you can see statues of famous Norwegians, including the British-born princess who married into the Norwegian royal family and became Queen Maud in 1905, and the famous sculptor Gustav Vigeland, who trained with Rodin and designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal.

The small bridge that traverses the Ice Pond is an atmospheric place to pause for peaceful reflection. The pond was once used to cut ice for the palace cellar and local breweries, but today its calm surface is covered with graceful water lilies that fill the air with their heady scent.

Come to the park at lunchtime to see the traditional changing of the Royal Guard. The colourful ceremony lasts around 40 minutes, as the old guards hand over to new sentries, before marching in step back to the barracks. The Royal Palace itself is open during the summer months for guided tours of the state rooms, dining room, chapel and hall of mirrors. A schedule of times and prices is published on the official website of the Royal House of Norway.

During the summer, Queen’s Park is also open to visitors. This pretty, private garden is off limits when the royal family are in residence, but is usually open from mid-May to the end of September.

Catch a metro, bus or tram to the Palace Park, or take a gentle stroll from the city centre. The park is free to enter but there is a charge for guided tours of the palace.