Getting around · Oslo · Norway
Getting around Oslo
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Premeditated, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Central Oslo is walkable, and Ruter's integrated network of metro (T-bane), trams, buses and local ferries covers the rest on the same tickets. Zone 1 includes the whole city, Holmenkollen, Sognsvann and the inner fjord islands. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- OSL, TRF
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Ruter 24-hour and 7-day tickets
Ways to get around
Metro
Five T-bane lines share a tunnel through the centre and fan out to the suburbs; line 1 climbs to Holmenkollen and Frognerseteren, and line 5 ends at Sognsvann.
Buy tickets in the Ruter app before boarding; inspectors check regularly and fines are steep.
Tram
Trams serve Grünerløkka, Frogner, Aker Brygge and the Ekeberg hill, and are the easiest way to reach the Akerselva at Kjelsås.
Bus
Bus 30 runs year-round from the centre to the Bygdøy museums, and buses fill the gaps between tram and metro lines.
Ferry
Ruter's island ferries link the city waterfront with Hovedøya, Gressholmen and Lindøya, and a commuter boat crosses to Nesodden in about 25 minutes, all on standard tickets. A seasonal ferry runs from the City Hall pier to the Bygdøy museums.
Check whether the Bygdøy ferry is running during your visit; outside the warmer months, take bus 30.
Walking
Most central sights, from the Opera House to the Royal Palace, are within a 20-minute walk of each other along the harbour and Karl Johans gate.
Cycling
Oslo City Bike has docking stations across the centre, and a growing network of bike lanes follows the waterfront and the Akerselva.
Tickets and passes
Ruter 24-hour and 7-day tickets
Period tickets bought in the Ruter app cover unlimited metro, tram, bus and local ferry trips in the chosen zones.
Oslo Pass
Covers Ruter public transport in the city plus free entry to many museums, including several on Bygdøy, for 24, 48 or 72 hours.
From the airport
Oslo Airport Gardermoen is about 50 km north of the city. The Flytoget airport express reaches Oslo Central Station in about 20 minutes, and regional Vy trains on the same route take a few minutes longer at a lower price. Sandefjord Airport Torp, used by some low-cost airlines, is about 110 km south and linked by connecting bus and train or the Torp Express coach in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
Do you need a car?
No. Parking is expensive, the centre has toll rings and car-free streets, and public transport reaches the forest, islands and day-trip towns. Hire a car only for road trips into the fjord country.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Drøbak | About 1 hour by bus, longer by summer boat | Bus 500 from Oslo bus terminal, or a seasonal boat from Aker Brygge |
| Fredrikstad | About 1 hour by train | Regional train from Oslo Central Station |
| Lillehammer | About 2 hours 15 minutes by train | Regional train from Oslo Central Station |
| Nesodden | About 25 minutes by ferry | Ruter commuter boat from Aker Brygge |
| Kistefos sculpture park | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or organised transport in the main season |
| Tønsberg | About 1 hour 20 minutes by train | Regional train from Oslo Central Station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Oslo?
No. Parking is expensive, the centre has toll rings and car-free streets, and public transport reaches the forest, islands and day-trip towns. Hire a car only for road trips into the fjord country.
+How do you get from the airport to Oslo?
Oslo Airport Gardermoen is about 50 km north of the city. The Flytoget airport express reaches Oslo Central Station in about 20 minutes, and regional Vy trains on the same route take a few minutes longer at a lower price. Sandefjord Airport Torp, used by some low-cost airlines, is about 110 km south and linked by connecting bus and train or the Torp Express coach in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
+What is the best way to get around Oslo?
Metro: Five T-bane lines share a tunnel through the centre and fan out to the suburbs; line 1 climbs to Holmenkollen and Frognerseteren, and line 5 ends at Sognsvann.