Oslo is the perfect year-round destination so your visit will depend on whether you’d like to explore the city during the long days in some summer sun or would rather be gliding down the numerous ski slopes.
To get to Oslo from other major European cities, you can get a train or bus. Oslo’s port also has daily ferry arrivals from Kiel, Germany and Denmark’s Frederikshavn and Copenhagen. Getting around in Oslo is easy. Buses, trams and the underground metro (T-bane) comprise an efficient and affordable public transport system.
Getting from the airport
Oslo Airport (OSL) is situated 29 miles (47km) northeast of Oslo. Once your flight lands an airport bus will take you from the arrivals gate to the Oslo Bus Terminal in the city centre. You can also catch the Airport Express train or hail a cab.
What is good to know if travelling to Oslo?- The open-air Norwegian Museum of Cultural History features 155 authentic buildings from different national regions. In 2004, Bygdo Royal Farm merged with the museum and the farmyard, fields and grazing lands are now part of the museum grounds. Indoor exhibits feature Norwegian folk art and dress, Norway’s First Parliament Hall and … antique toys. The Christmas Fair is Oslo’s largest pre-Christmas event. Houses are traditionally decorated and there are more than a hundred stalls selling arts and crafts, foods and seasonal treats.
- Karl Johans gate is the main pedestrian street, which connects the railway station with the Royal Palace. It’s a buzzy street with shops, cafes and lively performance artists.
- The Oslo Domkirke, the city cathedral, dates from 1697 and boasts elaborate stained-glass windows. Concerts and exhibitions are held there and the square is a nice place to rest.
- Aker Brygge was originally a dockyard and an industrial site – operated by Aker Mekaniske Verksted AS. It was rebuilt in the 1980s and now the area boasts offices, shops and restaurants, apartments and marina. Aker Brygge attracts millions of visitors each year.
- Museums, museums, museums. Oslo seems to have one to suit every interest. These include the Football Museum, Ibsen Museum, Munch Museum, Norwegian Scout Museum, Oslo Fire Museum and Norway’s Resistance Museum.
- The Nobel Peace Centre, opened in Rådhusplassen in 2005, is where you can learn – through exhibits, films lectures, and interactive installations – about the various Peace Prize Laureates and their activities as well as the history of Alfred Nobel.
Oslo Airport handles more than 18 million passengers each year and is the second-largest airport in Scandinavia. Situated in Gardermoen, just 47km (29 miles) north of Oslo, the airport is well connected to many cities across Norway. It takes less than 20 minutes to get from Oslo Airport to Oslo Central Station on the fast and efficient Airport Express Train.
A single terminal with two piers branching from it, Oslo Airport is easy to navigate. Passengers using the airport will find that it’s well stocked with shopping opportunities and duty-free options in the departures and arrivals sections of the airport. The restaurants and bars at the airport are also great, but they can be a little pricey if you’re travelling on a budget.
There are more than 20 domestic flights to Oslo Airport and close to 100 international flights to Oslo Airport. The airport is a hub for Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Wideroe. It is used by several other international airlines and charter companies as well.
Oslo Airport’s terminal is well designed, in terms of architecture and passenger flow. There’s also a fun selection of public art on display at the airport – making for a more interesting airport experience. Oslo Airport is a great introduction to the region.