Stortinget
Stortinget – Norway’s Democratic Heart in the Centre of Oslo
The Storting is the Norwegian Parliament. It is the supreme arena for political debate and decision-making in the Kingdom of Norway.
In the very centre of Oslo, where Karl Johans gate opens towards Eidsvolls plass, Stortinget stands as one of Norway’s most important national symbols. This is the seat of the Norwegian Parliament, the country’s supreme arena for political debate, law-making and democratic decision-making. Yet Stortinget is not hidden away from the life of the city. It rises directly from the urban landscape, surrounded by pedestrians, trams, public gatherings, royal processions, school groups and visitors from around the world. For anyone wishing to understand Oslo — and Norway itself — Stortinget is one of the capital’s essential places.
A Parliament at the Heart of the City
Stortinget occupies one of the most prominent sites in Oslo, at Karl Johans gate 22, between the Royal Palace, the University of Oslo’s historic buildings, Nationaltheatret, Oslo Central Station and the old city quarters towards Kvadraturen. The building was constructed between 1861 and 1866 in yellow brick on a granite base, according to drawings by the Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet.
Its position is central in every sense. Stortinget is not merely placed in Oslo; it helps define Oslo. The building anchors the city’s ceremonial axis, with the Royal Palace at one end of Karl Johans gate and the Parliament at the other, while the University lies between them. This relationship between monarchy, knowledge and democracy has helped shape the symbolic geography of the Norwegian capital.
For visitors, this makes Stortinget a natural stop on any serious walk through central Oslo. It belongs to the same urban story as the Palace Park, Studenterlunden, Nationaltheatret, Eidsvolls plass, the old Christiania grid and the city’s modern political life. Few buildings in Norway carry so much meaning while remaining so openly present in everyday city life.
The Seat of Norwegian Democracy
Stortinget is the Norwegian Parliament and the supreme arena for political debate and decision-making in the Kingdom of Norway. Through Stortinget, the Norwegian people govern the country, pass legislation, authorise public spending, impose taxes and supervise the work of the Government.
There are 169 elected Members of the Storting, and parliamentary elections take place every four years. The Storting cannot be dissolved between elections, and there are no by-elections — features that give Norway’s parliamentary system a particular constitutional stability.
This democratic role gives the building a significance that goes far beyond architecture. It is here that national budgets are debated, laws are passed, governments are held to account and the great questions of Norwegian society are given public form. Education, health, transport, climate, defence, taxation, foreign policy, culture and the future of the welfare state all pass through this institution. In that sense, Stortinget is not simply a landmark. It is one of the places where Norway continually defines itself.
A Building Born from Debate
When the Storting building was completed in 1866, it was regarded as innovative. Its final appearance and location were not inevitable; both were fiercely debated over several decades. At one stage, the building might have taken the form of a neo-Gothic structure, and other locations were considered before the present site became definitive.
Langlet’s design was distinctive. Rather than imitating the grand parliamentary buildings of larger European powers, it gave Norway something more particular: a building that was dignified, moderate and civic in character. The Storting itself has described Langlet’s solution as modern for its time, reflecting values of openness, restraint and harmony with the people.
This is one of the reasons the building remains so powerful. It is monumental, but not imperial. It is formal, but not remote. It speaks of authority without overwhelming the public realm around it. In a country where democratic trust, transparency and civic participation are central ideas, the architecture feels remarkably appropriate.
Architecture with a Public Face
The Storting building is instantly recognisable: the rounded central façade, the rhythmic arches, the warm yellow brick, the green copper roof and the broad relationship with the open space in front. It does not stand behind a ceremonial void or a defensive wall. Instead, it meets the city directly.
From Eidsvolls plass, the building appears both solemn and accessible. Its curved front gives the impression of a gathering place, an architectural echo of deliberation and assembly. The approach from Løvebakken — the name given to the rise leading up to the Parliament — adds a quiet ceremonial dignity without removing the building from the street.
The result is one of the most balanced public buildings in Norway. It has enough weight to represent the state, but enough openness to belong to the people. For photographers, it is especially rewarding from Eidsvolls plass, from Karl Johans gate and from the surrounding streets where the building’s curves and angles reveal themselves gradually.
Eidsvolls plass – The Open Forecourt of Democracy
The small park in front of Stortinget is Eidsvolls plass, named after Eidsvoll, where the Norwegian Constitution was written in 1814. Today it is one of Norway’s most important public arenas for freedom of expression and civic engagement. More than 700 political, religious or humanitarian demonstrations are held here every year.
This gives the area a rare democratic intensity. A visitor may arrive to find a quiet green space, a school group taking photographs, a political demonstration, a national ceremony or simply the ordinary rhythm of Oslo passing by. The square is not an ornamental afterthought. It is part of the institution’s meaning.
To stand on Eidsvolls plass and look towards Stortinget is to see the relationship between people and power made visible. Citizens gather in front of the Parliament. Representatives work inside. The city moves around them both. In few places is Norway’s democratic culture expressed so clearly in urban form.
Inside Stortinget
The interior of Stortinget contains several of Norway’s most important political rooms, including the Storting Chamber, where parliamentary debates and decisions take place. The building also contains historic halls, works of art and ceremonial spaces that reflect the long development of Norwegian democracy.
Public access is possible in several ways. During the summer months, usually July and August, Stortinget offers guided tours for tourists. These tours are free and open to everyone, with a limited number of places per tour, and dates and times are normally published on the Storting website in May or June.
When the Storting is in session, visitors may attend meetings from the public gallery without prior registration. Entrance is from Karl Johans gate, and all visitors must pass through a security check; outerwear and bags must be left in a locked cloakroom.
For those unable to visit in person, Stortinget also offers digital tours, and its official website provides access to live broadcasts and video archives of parliamentary sittings and many hearings.
Why Stortinget Matters to Visitors
For many international travellers, Norway is first imagined through fjords, mountains, northern lights, coastal villages and clean-lined contemporary design. Stortinget offers another, equally important way into the country: through its institutions.
This is where Norway’s political culture becomes tangible. The building speaks of a nation shaped by constitutional continuity, public debate, regional representation and the belief that power should remain visible and accountable. It tells a story not only of state authority, but of civic participation.
For visitors interested in history, architecture, politics or urban identity, Stortinget is therefore far more than a stop on Karl Johans gate. It is a key to understanding the Norwegian capital. Oslo is not only a waterfront city, a museum city or a gateway to nature. It is also the centre of a living democracy, and Stortinget is its clearest architectural expression.
A Landmark on Oslo’s Main Street
Karl Johans gate is Oslo’s most famous street, running through the centre of the capital and connecting several of the city’s defining institutions. Stortinget sits directly within this flow of public life. From Oslo Central Station, visitors can walk westwards past shops, cafés, historic façades and civic buildings until the Parliament appears ahead, opening towards Eidsvolls plass.
Continue further and the route leads towards the National Theatre, the old university buildings and the Royal Palace. In less than half an hour on foot, one can experience a concentrated sequence of Norwegian public life: commerce, transport, culture, education, monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
This makes Stortinget ideal for visitors with limited time in Oslo. It can be experienced as part of a short central walk, but it also rewards deeper attention. Pause in the square. Look at the façade. Notice the proportions, the materials, the open setting and the way the building interacts with the city around it. Stortinget is not only something to see; it is something to read.
Practical Visitor Information
Name: Stortinget – The Norwegian Parliament
Address: Karl Johans gate 22, Oslo
Architect: Emil Victor Langlet
Completed: 1866
Nearest public transport: Stortinget station, Nationaltheatret station, Oslo Central Station, and several tram and bus stops in central Oslo
Guided tours: Usually available for tourists in July and August; free and open to everyone, with limited capacity
Public gallery: Open when parliamentary sittings are taking place; no prior registration required
Security: All visitors must pass through a security check, and bags and outerwear must be left in a locked cloakroom
Nearby places: Eidsvolls plass, Karl Johans gate, Nationaltheatret, the Royal Palace, the University of Oslo’s historic buildings, Oslo City Hall and Kvadraturen
Short Facts
Stortinget is Norway’s national parliament and the country’s supreme forum for political debate and democratic decision-making. The Parliament has 169 elected members, chosen in parliamentary elections held every four years.
The Storting building was completed in 1866 and designed by Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet. Its location and design were the result of long debate, and the building has since become one of Oslo’s most characteristic public landmarks.
Eidsvolls plass, the park in front of the building, is one of Norway’s most important arenas for demonstrations, civic engagement and freedom of expression.
Final Perspective
Stortinget is one of those buildings that explains a city quietly. It does not dominate Oslo through height, spectacle or grand isolation. Instead, it stands in the middle of the capital’s daily movement — close to the trams, the trees, the public square, the main street and the people it exists to represent.
That is precisely why it matters. Stortinget gives physical form to the Norwegian idea of democracy: serious, open, practical, dignified and close to public life. For visitors, it is both a landmark and a lesson. To see Stortinget is to see where Norway’s political life is debated, tested and renewed — not in a remote palace of power, but in the heart of Oslo, in full view of the city.
Visiting and guided tours of the Parliament building
The Storting offers guided tours for tourists during the summer months (July–August). Options during the rest of the year includes visiting during Culture Night in September, attending meetings from the public gallery or one of our digital tours.
Guided Tours
The Storting offers guided tours for tourists during the summer months (July–August). These tours are free and open to everyone. Each tour can accommodate up to 30 people.
The pre-booked tours offered throughout the rest of the year are primarily for school classes. Unfortunately, visiting tourists cannot book these tours.
If you're curious about what the inside of the Storting looks like, why not join one of our digital tours?
Open House in September
Every September, the Storting opens its doors during Oslo Culture Night. Here, visitors can explore areas such as the Chamber and other well-known rooms at their own leisure.
Information about the event is published during the summer.
Parliamentary Sessions
When the Storting is in session, visitors can attend the meetings from the public gallery. No prior registration is required. The entrance is from Karl Johans gate.
All visitors must go through a security check, and outerwear and bags must be left in a locked cloakroom.
See the overview of dates and times for parliamentary sessions (in Norwegian only).
Eidsvolls plass
The small park in front of the Parliament building is called Eidsvolls plass. It is named after the place where the Norwegian Constitution was written in 1814. Eidsvolls plass is one of the country’s most important arenas for freedom of expression and civic engagement. Over 700 political, religious, or humanitarian demonstrations are held here every year.
Read more information about Eidsvolls plass and how to apply to hold a demonstration.
Art at the Storting
The Storting’s online gallery (in Norwegian only) gives you a chance to view a selection of the art found in the Parliament – from historical paintings and sculptures to photographic art and graphic prints.
Download brochures
The Storting and Democracy (pdf)