Royal Swedish Opera (Kungliga Operan)
Gustav Adolfs Torg 2, Stockholm, SWE
The Royal Swedish Opera (Kungliga Operan) is Sweden’s national theater and houses the Royal Swedish Opera, Ballet, Orchestra, and Choir. It was founded in 1773 by King Gustav III who was an avid supporter of the arts and paid for the opera house’s operations out of his own pocket.
With the desire to hire a Swedish opera troupe to perform Swedish operas, Gustav III laid the groundwork to build a national theater, the likes of which had never been seen before in the country. The opulent opera house was inaugurated in 1782, but 10 years later Gustav III was assassinated at the theatre during a masquerade ball. Subsequently the national theater shuttered.
After being closed for 100 years after the king’s death, a new opera house was built in its place. The current Royal Swedish Opera was built with a neo-Renaissance exterior and neo-Baroque interior, complete with a grand staircase, golden foyer, massive crystal chandeliers, and lavishly-designed auditorium. Most walk and sight-seeing tours stop for a photo op outside but it’s worth coming back later for a tour of the interior.
- The opera house is wheelchair accessible and has elevators to access each floor.
- For an interactive experience, the Royal Swedish Opera has a phone app that provides more information on performances and the box office.
- Whether you are on a tour or at a performance, the theater has several different dining venues including a main restaurant, terrace (open only in summer), and bar. Reservations are recommended.
There are several ways to get to the Royal Swedish Opera. On the metro/underground take lines 10 and 11 to Kungsträdgården station and exit the underground at the Gustav Adolfs torg/the Royal Swedish Opera exit. Or take bus lines 53, 62, and 65 to Gustav Adolfs torg, or lines 2, 55, 57, and 76 to Karl XII:s torg. And if you want to drive, parking is available at the nearby Galleriagaraget garage.
The box office is open Monday through Friday 3 to 6pm, and on Saturday from 12 to 3pm. It’s closed on Sunday. Guided tours of the Royal Swedish Opera are offered on most Saturdays at 12:30pm. You must reserve your spot online. And if you are interested in catching a theatrical performance, plan ahead for a night at the opera.
Directly across from the Royal Swedish Opera is the Royal Palace, a baroque-facade building that was once home to Sweden’s nobility. While it is unoccupied today, the palace remains an important historical structure and monument.
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