Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm

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Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm

Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm

Right in the cultural bloodstream of Stockholm sits the Royal Swedish Opera—a place where velvet curtains, royal boxes, and dramatic high notes have been part of the décor since the 18th century. The venue rubs elbows with serious company: the Royal Palace, the Riksdag, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lives in the old Crown Prince's Palace just across the square. Not bad neighbors, if you're into monarchy and policymaking...

The whole show began thanks to King Gustav III, who had a flair for theatrics and a passion for founding things. Alongside the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, he launched the opera company in 1773 with "Thetis and Phelée"—the first opera sung in Swedish by actual Swedes. A revolutionary concept at the time.

But Gustav wasn’t content with a one-night gig. He wanted a proper opera house, and by 1782, he had one. Designed by Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz, it came complete with neoclassical swagger, a four-tiered auditorium, and an entrance that looked like it belonged on Mount Olympus. Sadly, that building took its final bow in 1892, making way for a fresh production.

The new house was rolled out in 1897 under King Oscar II. Architect Axel Johan Anderberg kept the classical elegance but trimmed the size, creating a 1,200-seat venue known simply as Operan. Inside: gold-drenched foyers, a marble staircase worthy of dramatic entrances, and the Royal Box. Here, Sweden’s royal family watches the show from a throne-like perch above the orchestra pit.

Over the years, the Royal Swedish Opera has hosted some heavy hitters—both Swedish and international singers—whose vocal firepower is enough to raise the roof (if only it weren’t so historic). Performances are typically sung in their original languages with Swedish subtitles, all backed by the Royal Court Chapel, one of Europe’s oldest orchestras—still going strong after nearly 500 years.

Hot tip:
Grab your tickets online—easy and efficient. Better yet, take a guided tour. You’ll get backstage access, peek into the Royal Box, and see where the magic happens—no crown necessary...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Stockholm. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ϳԹ: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Royal Swedish Opera on Map

Sight Name: Royal Swedish Opera
Sight Location: Stockholm, Sweden (See walking tours in Stockholm)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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