Oslo Cathedral

Oslo Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Oslo Cathedral stands on Stortorvet square in the centre of Oslo, Norway, near the main shopping street, Karl Johans gate, and entry is free. It is the main church of the Church of Norway in Oslo and is used for royal and state events, including royal weddings and funerals. Walking tours of Oslo pass the cathedral on the way between the Central Station, the Royal Palace, the Parliament and the Opera House.

The cathedral holds regular concerts, including organ recitals and a Wednesday lunchtime concert series, and it has a café in the bazaar halls behind the church, a curved arcade of shops and cafés from the nineteenth century. The church is active, with daily services, and visiting pauses during services. Opening hours are limited at night, except on certain evenings when the church is open late. Trams and buses stop at Stortorvet, right beside the cathedral.

Visiting Oslo Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral, Oslo Domkirke, was consecrated in 1697, and it is the third cathedral in the city's history. It was designed in a simple baroque style, with a tall tower, rebuilt in the nineteenth century with a green copper spire. Inside, the church is richly decorated, with a carved pulpit and altarpiece from the seventeenth century, the altarpiece showing the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, and a royal box. The ceiling was painted between 1936 and 1950 by Hugo Louis Mohr, with scenes from the Bible, in a style that combines modern and traditional elements. The stained glass windows were designed by Emanuel Vigeland. The bronze doors, made in 1938, show biblical scenes. The cathedral's organ, built in 1930 and restored, is one of the largest in Norway.

After the attacks of 22 July 2011, the square in front of the cathedral was covered with flowers in a sea of mourning. The cathedral's ceiling paintings cover about 1,500 square metres. The altarpiece is carved in wood and was donated in the seventeenth century. The royal box, in the gallery, is used by the royal family during services. The cathedral's tower holds bells, including one that rings for important national events. The stained glass windows by Emanuel Vigeland show biblical scenes in rich colours. The bazaar halls behind the church house craft shops and cafés. The square in front of the cathedral has a flower market. The organ's façade is decorated with carvings.

Oslo Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily. Oslo has long summer days and short, cold winter days. Summer is the best season for walking around the city and the fjord. The Christmas market on Spikersuppa and concerts in the cathedral are highlights of December. Constitution Day on 17 May brings parades and celebrations through the city centre. The cathedral is sometimes closed for weddings and events. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and walk along Karl Johans gate to the Royal Palace. The Oslo Opera House, with its roof that visitors can walk on, is about fifteen minutes' walk to the waterfront.