Getting to Oslo

With its seaside location in the centre of Scandinavia, Oslo is connected to the rest of the world by every form of transportation imaginable. Oslo International Airport offers excellent access to destinations around the world and is well-connected to the city centre. Visitors can also get to Oslo by rail, bus, ferry and car with relative ease.

By car

Although many auto routes to Oslo include a ferry crossing, there are several ways to get here from Central Europe by driving overland. Almost all trips will pass through Sweden, with which Norway shares most of its borders. The E18 motorway connects Oslo with Gothenburg and the E6 runs along the length of Sweden’s west coast through Heisenberg and Gothenburg before running to Oslo. However, if you are driving from mainland Europe, the fastest way to get to Oslo is to take the car ferry from Frederikshavn, Denmark.

By rail

Trains from Sweden, Denmark and continental Europe all arrive at the main Oslo Sentralstasjon (Oslo S), which is located in the centre of the city at the top of Karl Johans Gate (tel: +47 81 50 08 08). A new high-speed link between Stockholm and Oslo means travel time between these two capitals is just 4 hours, 50 minutes, with two or three trains each day. This station is open every day from 04:30 to 01:00. You can also take city trams to the major parts of Oslo from the main train station. 

By bus

The city’s central bus station, Oslo Bussterminalen Galleriat, is located right across the street from the Oslo S train station. Although most travellers choose to travel by train, you can catch buses to many long-distance destinations around Scandinavia and further abroad. Tickets can be bought at the terminal or directly on the bus.

By air

Oslo can be reached from most major European cities by direct flight into Oslo International Airport. Although it is located 50kms east of the city, there is excellent and speedy transportation between the airport and the city centre. Many international air carriers, such as British Airways, SAS, Icelandair and KLM, fly into the airport on a regular basis.

By ferry

The fastest way to reach Oslo by car is to take a ferry from Frederikshavn, Denmark or from Copenhagen, both of which dock at port towns in and around Oslo. Several ferry lines connect the UK with Oslo such as Color Line, DFDS Scandinavian Seaways and Stena Line. Ferries from Europe arrive at Oslo Port, a 15-minute walk from the city centre.

Oslo International Airport

Oslo International Airport is 50kms from the city centre and is by far the largest transportation hub in Norway. The newly refurbished terminal handles all domestic and international flights, servicing over 14 million passengers each year, from more than 60 destinations in Europe as well as from New York, Russia and Istanbul.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines is the main carrier, handling many of the international and domestic flights into the airport. Norwegian Air Shuttle services some flights from southern Europe and London. Other big carriers include British Airways, Aeroflot, Air France, Finnair and Lufthansa.

The airport’s modern new terminal has all the facilities a traveller needs. ATMs, currency exchange offices and a branch of Nordea Bank can be found in both the Arrivals and Departures areas as well as 16 restaurants, newsstands, gift shops and duty-free shopping. An airport information desk is located in the central part of the terminal (tel: +47 64 81 20 00).

Oslo International Airport transportation

There are several quick, convenient ways to get from the airport to the heart of Oslo. Frequent bus services from SAS depart for downtown Oslo every 20 minutes, stopping at the central train station and all of the SAS hotels within the city. The last scheduled departure from the airport leaves at 01:00. Flybussekspressen is another airport bus which makes 120 stops in and around the Oslo area.

An even better way to get downtown is on the Airport Express Train, called Flytoget (tel: +47 815 00 777). It takes just 19 minutes to reach the central train station and the fare is quite reasonable. Trains depart from the airport every 10 minutes from 04:40 until 01:16. All regional trains on the Skien-Oslo-Trondheim route also stop at the airport, but the Flytoget is by far the most convenient option.

Taxis are available outside the Arrivals Hall, but the fare into Oslo is astronomical. They have fixed rates to various points around the city and you can also hire one at the Taxi Information desk in the Arrivals Hall. Driving from the airport to Oslo takes about 50 minutes via the E6 motorway, which runs straight into the city.