Vår Frelsers gravlund is in the Gamle Aker district, north of Hammersborg in downtown Oslo. The burial ground has an area of (86 dekar) 21,25 acres (US/UK) and was inaugurated on June 17, 1808 by Bishop Frederik Julius Bech. From then until 1833, Vår Frelsers gravlund was the city's only civilian cemetery, while the military was buried in Krist's cemetery.

After establishing several cemeteries in the city in 1833, these took over as the city's ordinary cemeteries. Those who could not afford to pay for a grave (festeavgift) at Vår Frelsers gravlund were buried elsewhere. In this way, a class distinction arose, and the cemetery received an exclusive touch.

The old chapel is facing Akersveien and was inaugurated in 1864 - has been changed a number of times. As there are very few new burials in the cemetery, it has been entrusted to the Orthodox Holy Olga congregation, which has consecrated it as Our Savior's (Vår Frelsers) Orthodox Church.

By 1911 the cemetery was full. After this, only new graves were created where one could take over an old grave (festetiden hadde utløpt). After 1952, no more burial sites were created, but it was still possible to use family graves where there was space. From 2014 it is again possible to get an urn grave on Vår Frelsers gravlund.

The cemetery has over 4,500 preservation-worthy headstones that will not be removed after the grave can be reused (etter festetiden har gått ut). It is not allowed to replace any of the headstones, including ones that are not worthy of preservation, with modern headstones, as one wishes to preserve the distinctive character of the entire cemetery. You can take over a grave with the existing headstone, where the old inscription has been removed.

Vår Frelsers gravlund is divided into five parts; Vestre, Søndre, Østre and Nordre part and Æreslunden - the latter was created in 1903. The first to be buried there was the painter Hans Gude, the last was Borghild Hammerichs in 1981. The plan is that no new graves will be created, but that Æreslunden should be preserved as a cultural-historical memory.

The Catholic Church has been closely associated with the cemetery, as it is right next to, among other things, their cathedral. It is a dedicated burial ground for Catholic priests, and an area for the Sisters of St. Joseph. None of these have been used since coffin burial is no longer allowed.

In the southern part of the cemetery is a war sailor's memorial and an urn grave for sailors. The memorial consists of a bronze relief mounted on a wall with several nameplates. The nameplates on the wall point to urn graves under a grave plate (gravplate) on the ground. The memorial is set up by Norges Sjømannsforbund (the Norwegian Seamen's Association).

A small bell tower stands on the eastern part of the cemetery. This has never been used at funerals; It was used to call at the beginning of working hours and at the end when there were many employees working in the cemetery.