Oslo Cathedral, Oslo, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Oslo Cathedral (Oslo Domkirke) is the main Lutheran church of Oslo, standing on Stortorvet square in the heart of the city centre. Completed in the late 1600s, it is the church where Norway's royal family and government mark major public occasions, and one of the oldest buildings in the central streets.

The story behind it

The cathedral belongs to the city of Christiania, founded after a great fire in 1624 and later renamed Oslo. A new church was raised in the late 1600s and consecrated in 1697 as Our Saviour's Church (Vår Frelsers kirke). Today it is known as Oslo Cathedral.

It is still a working church for services and concerts, and it is also the setting for state and royal events. Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby were married here in 2001. The church also became a place of public mourning after the attacks of 22 July 2011, in which 77 people lost their lives.

What to look for

• The tall tower and the sturdy brick body of the church rise above Stortorvet, and they look different from every side of the square.
• Inside, the ceiling is covered in 20th century paintings by Hugo Lous Mohr, which reward a slow look upwards.
• The stained glass windows by Emanuel Vigeland add colour to the interior, especially when the light is strong.
• The baroque pulpit and altarpiece recall the church's 17th century origins.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes if you go inside, or a few minutes for a look at the exterior from the square.
• Visitors can usually enter outside services and events, but check current opening hours before you go.
• Morning and softer afternoon light suit the stained glass and the exterior photos best.
• The cathedral sits in the middle of Sentrum, so shops, cafes and other city sights are a short walk away.

See it on a quest

Oslo Old Town: Viking Tales is a good way to meet the cathedral as one stop on a longer walk through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Sentrum, Oslo takes you on foot through the same central streets with a mystery theme. You reach each stop, hear about it, and work out a puzzle from what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

In the footsteps of Amalie Skram, Oslo follows a literary theme through the city centre. Playing it means you walk the streets around the cathedral, learn about places as you get there and solve puzzles along the way. One ticket covers the whole group.