Oslo Transportation

Ryanair uses Torp airport for it's advertised flights to Oslo.

Whilst they are happy to advertise flights from a dozen or so european cities, they are less forthcoming about the fact their cheapie airport is bleeding miles from Oslo itself.

I think that the CEO, Micheal O'Leary only managed to get a very shaky grasp of European geography when studying for his leaving cert in Ireland.

Some say calling Torp airport Oslo amounts to false advertising. Just factor in the bus connection will take up to 2 hours and set you back 230kr return.

They also fly to oslo Rygge - that airport must be closer !

The best way to see the town (besides walking), you see the whole city by trikken (tram).

Oslo Tram is a 39,6 km tram system, with 6 lines and 99 stops. Oslo Tram was formed in July 2003 and is responsible for the management of tramway operation in Oslo.

6 tramlines
Line 11 Majorstuen - Disen (Kjelsås)
Line 12 Majorstuen - Kjelsås
Line 13 Lilleaker - Grefsen
Line 17 Rikshospitalet - Grefsen
Line 18 Rikshospitalet - Holtet (Ljabru)
Line 19 Majorstuen - Ljabru

The prices for a tram ride is the same as the T-bane (Metro). Adult 26 NOK, children 13 NOK, the ticket is valid one hour.

3 more images

A great way to travel in Oslo. Fresh metro wagons. The schedules was ok. A little tricky to take the right metro but after a while we got the hang of it.

Make sure to buy a ticket before you go on a t-bane and keep the ticket until you get of the t-bane. You can buy ticket from a ticket machine just before the entrance to the t-bane.

A singel ticket valid for one hour costs 26 NOK (Norwegian krowns) and for children 13 NOK.

We were in Oslo for 2 nights and we were using 24 travel card. YOu can buy it at the main bus station or nearly anywhere where they sell tickets for travelling around Oslo.
We used it for metro, bus, tram and even the boats! Great value. We paid 65 Korun per person.

We decided to buy the Flexikort (flexicard) because we weren't sure of how much public transportation we were gonna use, plus the Oslo Pass wasn't gonna save us some money on this visit.

The Flexikort has 8 coupons that you stamp on entering the subway or getting on the boat/tram/ferry and can be used by several people by stamping one field of the card per person. It will give you unlimited access to all forms of SL public transportation in Oslo (up until and including Lilleström and Skedsmokorset) within an hour.

As of Sept 2009 the cost of this card is 180 NOK for adults and 90 NOK for children.

This card includes all means of transportation within Oslo (up to zone 4) on NSB (the Norwegian railways) and SL (Stor-Oslo Lokaltrafikk). If you choose to get around by car, you can park for free with this card. The card comes in 24, 48 and 72 hours, and must be validated on the first use.

I find that this card will give you the most value for your money if most of the sights you're seeing are covered by it. The first time I visited Oslo, it definitely paid off to have one.

Buy it online in the comfort of your hometown, print the voucher you get on your e-mail and pick it up at Trafikanten at Karl Johans gate, the Tourist Information Centers or at some of the hotels as of visitoslo.com.

Edit Sept 2009: A map of Oslo's transport zones can be found here (PDF file). Note that the card includes transportation up until (and including) Lilleström and Skedsmokorset, and from there you pay the fare to/from Gardemoen airport.

The Trafikanten tower is just outside Oslo S and as it sticks out like a sore thumb, you just can't miss it. This is where the tourist office is and where you can get information about Oslo's superb public transport system. In this tower you can also get timetables and purchase tickets .

Bus, tram and metro ( t-bane) are the easiest ways to get around and timetables for the services are posted at the various stops throughout the city.

Though you can buy tickets from drivers, except on the metro of course, it is always cheaper to purchase them in advance. A single ticket for any public transport costs NOK 36 on board and NOK 25 in advance, when you buy it from a vending machine, subway station or kiosk like 7-Eleven or Deli de Luca.

A Day Card, with unlimited transport for 24 hours costs NOK 65 and a Weekly Card, NOK 200.
These represent excellent value for money.

We used trams mainly and never had to wait more than a minute or two. The public transport system here is one of the best I've had the pleasure to experience.

Torp is a tiny airport and immediately outside the main entrance are the bus stops where you can catch the Torp Express, direct coach service to Oslo. The journey takes about an hour and forty minutes and there are just two stops. In daylight it's a pleasant journey and almost immediately you leave the airport you are treated to typically Norwegian landscapes of farms and fields dominated by large wooden barns. Approaching Oslo, there are quite a few glimpses of the Fjord and the many harbours crammed with boats gives you another typically Norwegian vist vista.

The coach arrives into the Bus Terminal behind Oslo S, the city's biggest and busiest station. Follow the crowds and the signs through the station to come out by the Tourist Office on Jernbanetorget and from there you can catch a tram or bus to your destination. Or, as we did, orientate yourself with a map and walk. Oslo is a very compact city and most hotels are within walking distance of Oslo S.

The journey costs EUR 18 each way. Check with your driver about times for your return trip. Usually buses leave about three hours before flight departure times.