How to Get Around in Norway

Getting to and around Oslo

Getting From Oslo Airport to the City

Most international travellers arrive at Oslo Airport (Gardermoen). The airport is located about 50 km from the city, so you’ll need onward transport.

AIRPORT EXPRESS TRAIN (FLYTOGET)

• Fastest option (~ 20 minutes)

• Direct to Oslo Central Station

• Very reliable and frequent departures

• Book here from ~20–25€

REGULAR TRAIN (VY)

• Same route as Flytoget but much cheaper than the airport express

• Runs frequently

• Best value option

TAXI OR RIDESHARE

• ~ 35–50 minutes depending on traffic

• Expensive compared to trains

• Door-to-door convenience

• Better if traveling with 2+ people

AIRPORT BUS

• ~ 40–60 minutes

• Connects to different parts of the city

• Good option if your accommodation isn’t near the train station

• Mid-range pricing

Getting around Oslo

Oslo is one of the easiest cities to get around in Europe. The public transport system is modern, reliable, and covers the entire city, meaning you rarely need a taxi. Most travellers will use a mix of: Metro (T-bane) (fastest for longer distances), Trams (best for central areas and sightseeing), Buses (to fill the gaps and reach outer neighborhoods) and ferries (to connect islands in the Oslofjord). Good news: everything is integrated into one system, so you don’t need separate tickets.

Oslo’s entire transport network is operated by Ruter, and it’s very straightforward to use (they also have an app). One ticket works across metro, trams, buses, and ferries. A single ticket is valid for all transport within a time window.

Alternativela, Oslo is very walkable, especially in the city center. Most main sights are close together and waterfront areas are easy to explore on foot.

Traveling within Norway

When to Fly Within Norway

Domestic flights are useful when you are short on time, you’re combining north and south or if overland travel would take too long. Airlines to consider:

• SAS (Swedish airline, but has many flights to Norway)
• Norwegian
• Widerøe (regional airline owned by Norwegian)

Flights are not cheap in Norway, but neither are buses or trains (or extra nights if you’re stuck somewhere!). Booking a flight for long distance travel (especially up far north) might actually save you a lot of money. Best routes to fly:

• Oslo → Tromsø
• Oslo → Lofoten / Evenes
• North Norway routes
• Oslo → Svalbard

Do You Need a Car in Norway?

Not always, but sometimes it’s worth it.

You do NOT need a car for Oslo, Bergen and Classic train routes. You can even visit the Lofoten islands without a car.

You should consider a car for:
• Lofoten Islands
• Fjord road trips
• Remote areas
• Flexible travel

Downsides:
• Expensive
• Parking in cities
• Ferry costs
• Winter driving conditions

Traveling Between Cities in Norway

For moving around Norway, you’ll mainly choose between trains and buses.

Train Travel in Norway

Train travel is one of the best experiences in Norway. Trains work really well, as they are comfortable and spacious, go from city centre to city centre, and many times are incredibly scenic. Plus, you don’t have any driving stress or costs. Trains are best for: Southern Norway itineraries, Fjord routes and First-time visitors. Book early, especially in summer! – train tickets in Norway are dynamically priced, getting more expensive closer to departure (similar to flights). Popular routes:

• Stockholm → Oslo
• Oslo → Bergen
• Oslo → Trondheim
• Oslo → Stavanger
• Bergen → Flåm (via Myrdal)

Unlike many countries, Norway has a few different train operators, but everything is coordinated under one system. Book tickets:

compare multiple providers via Omio

Vy is the main national operator (runs most routes)

SJ Nord operates routes in central and northern Norway

Go-Ahead Nordic runs some southern routes

Bus Travel in Norway

Buses are more important than most people expect. They connect small towns, hiking areas, fjord villages and train and ferry routes that otherwise you couldn’t get to. In many places, buses are not the budget option. They are simply the only option.

What to expect:
• Reliable and clean
• Fewer departures in remote areas
• Essential outside main train routes

Who operates buses in Norway?

Norway doesn’t have one single national bus company. Instead, there are several regional operators. The most common ones are:

• Vy Buss → part of the main transport network

• Nor-Way Bussekspress → long-distance routes between cities

• Skyss (Bergen region) → local buses around fjords

• Ruter (Oslo region) → local transport in and around Oslo

How to book buses in Norway

The easiest way to plan and book bus travel is via Entur. Entur is the official journey planner for all public transport, and the best starting point because it shows buses, trains, ferries and connections across companies (they even have an app to download on your phone!). Alternatively you can also book using the Vy website (or app) for many major routes, or Nor-Way Bussekspress for long-distance buses.

Ferries and Boats in Norway

Ferries are a core part of traveling in Norway. Unlike many countries, they’re not just a tourist activity, but part of the actual transport system. If you’re visiting fjords or traveling along the west coast, you will almost certainly use ferries at some point. There are 5 types of ferries in Norway.

1. Local car ferries (most common): Used for short crossings (10–30 minutes), they run frequently and are used by cars, buses, and pedestrians. Usually there’s no need to pre-book. These are part of everyday travel in Norway.
2. Passenger ferries & express boats: Mean faster connections between towns. They are mostly used in fjord regions and the north and sometimes require booking.
3. Coastal ferry cruises (transport + experience): Are designed more for sightseeing. They are slower, more expensive and generally optional (not strictly required for transport). A famous company for this is Hurtigruten. It’s not just a ferry, and not quite a cruise either. It’s a coastal route running between Bergen and Kirkenes, stopping at dozens of ports along the way. They offer multi-day journeys (classic route takes ~11–12 days round trip) but you can also book shorter segments. There’s sleeping cabins, restaurants, and onboard services.
4. Luxury cruises (experience only): Some companies (like Windstar Cruises or Lindblad Expeditions) operate Norway cruises – these are NOT transport routes, but private expedition experiences lasting several days (similar to for example a caribbean cruise trip). As expected, these can be booked completely separately from the usual ferry tickets.
5. Fjord cruises (short, scenic): For pure sightseeing. These are designed specifically for tourists and scenery and most often focus on famous fjords (like Geirangerfjord or Nærøyfjord) and typically last a few hours. They have higher prices compared to public ferries and are not for practical transport.

Who operates ferries in Norway? There is no single nationwide operator. Ferries are run by regional companies. Common ones include: Fjord1 (one of the largest operators in western Norway), Norled (fjords and express boats) and Torghatten Nord (northern routes). You don’t need to memorize this or be familiar with these brands, planning tools handle it. The easiest way to plan and book ferry travel is via:

• Entur (entur.no) → best all-in-one journey planner

• Google Maps → surprisingly accurate for ferry routes

• Operator websites → for specific routes if needed

Do you even need to book ferries? Most of the time no. For short car ferries just show up and queue  – payment is usually done onboard or automatically (for cars). You only need to book in advance for longer routes, express boats and popular summer routes in remote areas.

What ferry travel is actually like

Norwegian ferries are efficient and punctual, clean and comfortable and designed for both locals and travelers. Most have indoor seating, cafés or vending machines and outdoor decks (best for views). Even short crossings can be incredibly scenic.

Ferry travel tips (this will save you stress)

• Don’t overplan → many ferries run frequently

• Check schedules in remote areas → frequency drops significantly

• Arrive early with a car in peak season

• Factor ferries into your travel time

• Use them as part of the experience, not just transport