Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger Domkirke): Tickets, Opening Hours, and Visitor Information

Stavanger Cathedral is the medieval stone cathedral in central Stavanger, set directly by Breiavatnet lake and the city’s main pedestrian streets. It is an active Church of Norway cathedral, which means opening hours can change at short notice when there are services, rehearsals, weddings, or concerts. For most visitors, this is a compact, high-impact stop. You can see the main architectural features in under an hour, and it is easy to combine with a walk to Vågen harbor or Old Stavanger on the same day.

Last updated: 2026

Quick overview and key details

• Best for: medieval history, architecture, stained glass, a quiet indoor stop in the city center

• Typical visit length: 20 to 45 minutes (plan 60 minutes if you read details slowly or attend a service)

• Where it is: Domkirkeplassen, beside Breiavatnet in central Stavanger

• Admission: NOK 75 for tourists and visitors (see ticket rules below)

• Typical visiting window: 10:00 to 15:00 Monday to Saturday as a general guideline, with Sunday access tied to services

If you are building a broader Norway plan, start with Norway Travel Information 2026 for transport, costs, seasons, and regional trade-offs.

Stavanger Cathedral tickets, prices, and entry rules

Standard admission (tourists and visitors)

• The cathedral’s official visitor information lists an admission fee of NOK 75 per person.

Local exemption note

• The same official page also states that the cathedral is free for “the region’s population”. This is not defined clearly on the page, so treat NOK 75 as the default unless staff confirm an exemption on arrival.

Payment methods

• The official visitor information states that they accept payment cards and Norwegian cash.

Services versus sightseeing

• Sightseeing access can be reduced or paused during services, rehearsals, weddings, and events. If your main goal is to see the interior, plan a weekday visit and keep a backup time window.

Stavanger Cathedral opening hours, service times, and last entry

General visiting guideline

• The cathedral’s official visitor page gives a general rule of Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 15:00, and Sunday access in connection with church services.

Why hours can change

• The church can be closed to visitors due to rehearsals, events, or weddings, even during the normal window. Use the official calendar before you go and re-check on the day if your timing is tight.

Practical last-entry advice

• If you want an unhurried interior visit, arrive no later than 14:15. That gives you a realistic 30 to 45 minutes before the typical afternoon close.

Exact location, entrances, and on-the-ground orientation

Address and setting

• Stavanger Cathedral sits on Domkirkeplassen, directly beside Breiavatnet lake, in the most walkable part of Stavanger city center.

Which entrance to use

• Outside service times, visitor access is usually via the main entrance that is open and staffed.

• If one door is closed, walk the perimeter first. In active churches it is common that only one entrance is used for visitor control.

On-the-ground orientation

• Use Breiavatnet as your anchor. If you can see the lake, you are typically within a 2 to 5 minute walk of the cathedral square.

How to get to Stavanger Cathedral

Public transport

Stavanger Cathedral is a city-center stop. The simplest transport plan is to travel to central Stavanger and walk the final minutes.

• Nearest stop area: Breiavatnet

• Other central stop points: Byparken, Kongsgata, Klubbgata, Stavanger bus terminal, and Stavanger central station

Because routes and stop patterns change, the most reliable approach is:

1. Use the official journey planner from Kolumbus.

2. Set your target stop to Breiavatnet (or Stavanger bus terminal) and walk the last stretch.

Walking routes

If you stay in central Stavanger, walking is usually faster than buses.

• From Vågen harbor, plan roughly 8 to 12 minutes on foot, depending on your exact starting point.

• From Stavanger central station, plan roughly 5 to 10 minutes on foot.

Driving and parking

Streets around Domkirkeplassen are busy and not designed for drop-off stops. Park once and walk.

Closest parking option

• P-Domkirkehallen has an entrance from Kongsgata just off Domkirkeplassen, and is one of the most central garages in Stavanger.

Good backup parking in the city center

• P-Jernbanen is by Stavanger Central Station and the city terminal, and it is a short walk to the cathedral.

If you visit on summer weekends, arrive before 11:00 to avoid the worst availability squeeze in the core center garages.

What to expect inside Stavanger Cathedral

This is a working medieval cathedral, not a museum, so the interior experience is defined by architecture and atmosphere rather than exhibit signage.

What you will typically notice:

• A long-church layout with Romanesque and Gothic elements in the same building

• Historic stonework and a subdued interior light level that rewards slow looking

• Details that many visitors focus on, such as the pulpit, altar area, and stained glass

If you want a deeper historical layer, recent research and restoration work has added new detail to the cathedral’s story. Findings publicized from restoration research in 2023 include newly documented medieval wall paintings and updated dating work connected to the Gothic choir.

Best time to visit Stavanger Cathedral

For the calmest interior visit, aim for:

• Weekdays between 10:00 and 11:30, when you are most likely to avoid large groups

• A shoulder-period day outside peak summer, when Stavanger sees fewer day-trippers in the center

Avoid:

• The middle of the day on cruise-heavy summer dates, when foot traffic around Breiavatnet and the pedestrian streets rises sharply

Tip: The cathedral square is busiest along the most direct path between the lake edge and the shopping streets. If you want a cleaner exterior photo, walk the perimeter first, then return to the main entrance when you see a gap in foot traffic.

Accessibility (wheelchairs, step-free routes, and practical limitations)

Stavanger Cathedral is an old stone building, so accessibility can involve trade-offs.

Expect potential constraints such as:

• Thresholds at doorways

• Uneven surfaces

• Narrower circulation points than a modern attraction

If you need step-free access or want to confirm which entrance works best, use the official contact details before arrival. For the fastest decision-making, ask whether the visitor entrance is step-free on the day you plan to go.

On-site facilities and amenities

Facilities inside active churches are often limited, but the cathedral’s city-center location makes logistics easy.

Toilets

• If the cathedral does not have public toilets available for visitors, the simplest fallback is to use a nearby public facility in the city center.

Food and coffee nearby Within a 2 to 8 minute walk, you will find multiple cafes and bakeries around Breiavatnet, the shopping streets, and the harbor direction.

Photography, drones, and filming rules

Inside the cathedral

• Assume you must keep photography quiet and discreet.

• Avoid flash, avoid blocking aisles, and pause if a service or rehearsal begins.

• If you plan to use a tripod or professional gear, ask staff first.

Drones

• Do not assume you can fly near the cathedral in central Stavanger. Urban drone flying increases risk and may breach local safety rules. Use a safer, less crowded location and follow Norwegian regulations for distance to people and controlled zones.

Safety, etiquette, and visitor rules

• Dress and behave as you would in a place of worship.

• Keep your phone on silent.

• If a service is in progress, keep movement minimal and follow any posted guidance.

Common visitor problems and how to avoid them

Problem: You arrive during a closure

• Solution: Check the official calendar before you go, and keep a backup window later the same day.

Problem: You only have 15 minutes

• Solution: Focus on one slow loop: entrance area, nave, altar area, and a quick scan of key details. You will still get a meaningful impression in 15 to 20 minutes.

Problem: You want a quiet visit but it is busy

• Solution: Return closer to opening, or aim for a weekday morning. The difference between 10:00 and 13:00 can be dramatic in city-center attractions.

Nearby attractions to combine with Stavanger Cathedral

All of these are easy add-ons on foot:

• Old Stavanger (historic wooden houses and quiet lanes)

• Norwegian Petroleum Museum (harbor-side museum, strong for families)

• Stavanger Maritime Museum (local maritime history)

• Sølvberget (library and cultural venue, useful as an indoor reset)

If you also need entry-rule planning for Norway as part of a broader itinerary, use Norway Visa and Entry Rules (Updated 2026).

Useful links

• Official visitor info (tickets and general opening hours): Opening hours / Åpningstider

• Official calendar (day-by-day updates): Domkirken og St. Petri calendar

• Official contact details: Domkirken og St. Petri contact

• Tourism listing (overview and context): Stavanger Cathedral on Visit Norway

• Public transport operator: Kolumbus

• City-center parking options: Stavanger Parkering P-hus overview

Frequently asked questions about Stavanger Cathedral

Do you need a ticket to enter Stavanger Cathedral?Yes. The official visitor information lists NOK 75 admission for tourists and visitors.

Is Stavanger Cathedral free for locals?The official visitor information states it is free for “the region’s population,” but it does not define the exemption clearly. If this matters for your plan, confirm with staff.

What are the normal opening hours for sightseeing?The official visitor information gives a general guideline of Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 15:00, with Sunday access tied to services.

Can the cathedral be closed even during the normal hours?Yes. Rehearsals, weddings, events, and other church activity can override sightseeing access.

How long should you plan for the visit?Most visitors spend 20 to 45 minutes.

Is the cathedral open on Sundays?Sunday access is typically connected to services rather than sightseeing.

Can you take photos inside?Usually yes during quiet visiting time, but you should avoid flash and stop if it disrupts worship or events.

Is Stavanger Cathedral wheelchair accessible?It may be possible, but historic buildings often have thresholds and uneven surfaces. Confirm step-free access with the official contact before arrival.

What is the fastest way to get there by public transport?Use the Kolumbus journey planner and route to Breiavatnet or the city terminal, then walk.

Where should you park if you drive?For the most central option, use P-Domkirkehallen near Domkirkeplassen, or P-Jernbanen near the station.

Is it worth visiting if you only have a short city stop?Yes. Because it is centrally located, you can do a high-value interior visit in 20 minutes if it is open.

What should you combine it with nearby?Old Stavanger and the Norwegian Petroleum Museum are the two simplest add-ons on foot.