Pilgrim passport and the Olav Letter
On a pilgrimage through Norway, it is tradition to collect stamps in a pilgrim passport to document the journey. If you present your pilgrim passport at the pilgrim reception in Trondheim, with stamps that document that you have walked the last 100 kilometers, you'll recieve the Olav Letter.
A unique pilgrim tradition
The tradition of pilgrim passports dates back to the Middle Ages. The passport was originally used to document that you were a true pilgrim when you came to a new place as a stranger. Today, pilgrims carry on the tradition as a way to document the trip. Each stamp becomes a unique memory, and the passport itself becomes the "memory book" from the walk.
You'll find a list of places to buy the pilgrim passport at the bottom of this page.
Pilgrims can recieve stamps at the pilgrim hostels, the regional pilgrim centers, in some churches, some museums or other stops along the way. At accommodations that does not have a stamp, you can ask the host to give you a simple endorsement in the passport.
The Olav Letter
The Olav Letter is your proof of a completed pilgrimage. The letter is a great keepsake, and many pilgrims choose to hang it on their wall when they return home.
Walk, bike or travel by boat
The Olav Letter is a confirmation that you have walked the last stage, minimum 100 kilometers, of any of the St. Olav Ways to Trondheim. You need to present your pilgrim passport in person with stamps as documentation, in order to recieve the Olav Letter. The only place the Olav Letter is issued is the pilgrim reception, which is located close to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
Recommended walks that qualify for the Olav Letter:
- Berkåk to Trondheim on Gudbrandsdalsleden,
- Stiklestad to Trondheim on St. Olavsleden
– choose between the the inner trail and the outer trail. - Tynset to Trondheim on Østerdalsleden.
Alternatively, you can qualify for the Olav Letter by bike. This requires that you cycle the last last 200 kilometers to Trondheim. We recommend cycling from Åre, Sweden to Trondheim on St. Olavsleden.
Kystpilegrimsleia, our coastal route, is mostly travelled by boat, and the qualification rules there are a bit different: You have to collect stamps from at least 6 of the 26 official key places of Kystpilegrimsleia, as well as a recent stamp from Nidaros Cathedral, to be entitled to the Olav letter. The route is often travelled by public boat transfer combined with bus or car and hiking.
The pilgrim reception
We encourage and hope that all pilgrims visit the pilgrim reception on arrival at Nidaros Cathedral. There, the pilgrim passport is finalized, the completed pilgrimage is registered in the statistics and you recieve the "Pilgrimage town of Trondheim's gold coin". It gives you free enterance in Nidaros Cathedral and other advantages in the pilgrimage town of Trondheim.
Until October 2025, the pilgrim reception has been located at Nidaros Pilegrimsgård. From 1st October, the pilgrim reception will be temporarily moved to the Visitor Centre at Nidaros Cathedral. The Visitor Centre is located right next to the milestone in front of Nidaros Cathedral, and consists of a ticket desk, shop, and café.
Opening hours: Monday–Friday: 09:00–15:00. Saturday–Sunday: 09:00–16:00.
The pilgrim reception is primarily staffed by volunteer pilgrim hosts who are passionate about the St. Olav Ways.
For groups of more than 6 people, it is desirable that they fill in the group registration form that is attached here, and send it by email to trondheim@pilegrimssenter.no, in advance of arrival. This way, the volunteers in the pilgrim reception can prepare any Olav Letters and statistical work so that the visit to the reception will be easier for both the group and the hosts.
There is also a very nice pilgrim diploma, for pilgrims who do not qualify for the Olav letter.
You find more information about the pilgrim reception centre here: Nidaros Pilgrim Centre.
How to buy the pilgrim passport?
The pilgrim passport costs 50 NOK and can be purchased at regional pilgrim centers, as well as selected places (see list below).
It's currently not possible to order a pilgrim passport online from abroad.
GUDBRANDSDALSLEDEN:
Domkirken i Oslo
Karl Johans g. 11
0154 Oslo
Phone: + 47 23 62 90 10
Pilgrim Center Oslo and Oslo Bispedømmekontor (Diocesan office)
St. Halvards plass 3
0192 Oslo
Phone, Pilgrim center: +47 480 52 949
Phone, diocesan office: + 47 23 30 11 60
Pilgrim Center Hamar
Storhamargata 125
2305 Hamar
Phone: +47 47 47 82 66
Pilgrim Center Granavollen
Kommunehuset på Granavollen
2770 Jaren
Phone: +47 40 60 01 77
Bønsnes kirke
Bønsnes
3530 Røyse
Lillehammer Vandrehjem Stasjonen
Jernbanetorget 2-4
2609 Lillehammer
Phone: +47 61260024
Gildesvollen herberge
Gråvåbakken 5
2630 Ringebu
Phone: +47 959 40 499
Ringebu Prestegård
2630 Ringebu
Phone: +47 612 82 700
Pilgrim Center Dale-Gudbrands Gard
2647 Sør-Fron
Phone: +47 45 60 46 08
Bygdestua på Hoffsvangen
Tømmerholsvegen 320
2850 Lena
Phone: +47 908 87 582
Gammelbua i Rennebu
Voll, 7393 Rennebu
Phone: +47 995 42 018
Pilegrim Center Dovrefjell
2661 Hjerkinnhus
Phone: +47 911 43 651
ØSTERDALSLEDEN:
Kirkekontoret i Trysil ved kirkevergen
Liavegen 25
2420 Trysil
Phone: + 47 624 51 384
ROMBOLEDEN:
Hilde Kirkvoll
Kirkvollen, 7590 Tydal
Phone: + 47 73 81 53 57
ST. OLAVSLEDEN:
Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter
Phone: + 47 74 04 42 00
