Public transport in Oslo is operated by Ruter, which runs the metro, trams, buses and ferries, as well as regional trains operated by Vy.

Travelling around Oslo by public transport is fast, safe and relatively cheap. A single ticket costs 46 nok and, for example, a day ticket costs 137 nok.

We provide a detailed breakdown of tickets and the various modes of transport below.

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Public transport tickets

The whole of Oslo falls within Zone 1, so you don’t need to worry about other zones at all.

Zone 1 also includes all metro, tram and red bus routes, some of which extend beyond Oslo’s administrative boundaries in certain places. Even so, a Zone 1 ticket will suffice in these cases (for example, Bekkestua and Østerås stations).

The airport Oslo OSL falls within Zone 4. If, within a 24-hour period, you travel to and from the airport at least twice and then make at least one journey within the city, it’s worth buying a 24-hour ticket for all zones.

Ticket prices

The table below shows the prices of the most commonly used tickets. You can find current prices and the full range of tickets on the official websiteruter.no/tickets-and-fares.

	Validity	Price – 1 zone	Price – 4 zones
Single ticket	60 minutes	46 nok - adults 19 nok - 6–17 years 23 nok - seniors aged 67 and over	134 nok - adults 52 nok - 6–17 years 64 nok - senior citizens aged 67 and over
24-hour ticket	24 hours	137 nok - adults 69 nok - 6–17 years 69 nok - senior citizens aged 67 and over	314 nok - adults 157 nok - 6–17 years 157 nok - senior citizens aged 67 and over
7-day ticket	168 hours	379 nok - adults 190 nok - 6–17 years 190 nok - seniors aged 67 and over	918 nok - adults 459 nok - 6–17 years 459 nok - senior citizens aged 67 and over

👉 Our tip: find out whether the Oslo Pass discount card is worth it for you

A weekly ticket pays for itself after just a 3-day stay, provided you use more than 3 single-journey tickets each day.

The easiest way to top up your fare for an additional zone – for example, if you have a day pass valid only for Zone 1 – is via the Ruter mobile app. Simply enter your destination and the app will automatically suggest the fare top-up you need.

In this case, you’ll pay 46 nok for the journey to the neighbouring zone.

For example, if you have a day ticket for Zone 1 costing 137 koruna and are heading to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport in the evening, do not buy an airport ticket for 134 nok from the ticket machine; instead, top up your fare for the remaining journey via the mobile app for 134 nok.

Where can I buy tickets?

There are two ways to buy public transport tickets:

The Ruter mobile app

You can download the official app via Google Play / App Store.

You pay for your ticket and activate it via the app at a time of your choosing, and then you don’t have to worry about a thing.

You do not need to tap your ticket on the validator. Simply show it during a random ticket inspection.

Smartcard ticket

You can still buy a standard paper ticket with a chip.

There are no longer any ticket machines in Oslo, but you can buy tickets at all 7-Eleven, Deli De Luca, Narvesen and Mix outlets. You must always tap your paper ticket on the validator before entering a metro or train station, or whilst on board metro trains, trams, buses or boats.

In Oslo, you cannot pay your fare using your own contactless card.

Journey planners

Which websites are best for finding connections between different stops in Oslo?

You can find all metro, train, tram, bus and ferry connections via the transport authority’s official websites.

• ruter.no/en
• The Ruter mobile app

Timetables for individual routes in PDF format are available in Norwegian only on this page:ruter.no/rutetabeller-og-linjekart.

You can view maps of all routes on the website:ruter.no/route-maps.

google.com/maps also provides a good overview of current connections and departure times for all transport in Oslo.

Metro

There are a total of five metro lines in Oslo. In the city centre, between Majorstuen and Tøyen stations, all lines run together, forming a very busy backbone route beneath the historic centre.

The Oslo Metro provides a convenient way to travel to the mountains, ski resorts or hiking trails.

You can find detailed information on how to use metro tickets, where to find line maps and what the timetables are in a separate section –The Oslo Metro.

Trams

Oslo has a good tram network, with passengers able to use the service on 6 lines.

The distinctive blue trams are ideal for travelling around the city centre, as well as to the outskirts, where you can find cheaper accommodation.

Travelling by tram is quick and very straightforward. All stops are equipped with electronic departure time displays.

The following tram routes are the most useful for tourists:

• Line 12 – starts at Majorstuen, one of the main metro interchange hubs, and continues via Vigelandsparken and Aker Brygge (ideal for visiting the National Museum, the Nobel Peace Centre, Tjuvholmen, Akershus Fortress or City Hall) to the Opera House and the main railway station. It then continues northwards, running alongside the River Akerselva at a distance of around 200–300 metres.
• Lines 11 and 13– run through the city centre between the main railway station and Nationaltheatret station, where you can visit the Royal Palace

You can always use any of the doors to get on and off the tram.

Timetables and map

You can view a map of the tram routes in Oslo on this page:ruter.no/route-maps.

All tram routes have the following details:

• Weekdays – frequency during the day 10 to 12 minutes, late in the evening 15 to 20 minutes; service runs from approximately 5.30 am to 1.15 am
• Weekends – frequency of 15–20 minutes; service runs from approximately 6.30 am to 1.15 am
• Detailed timetable information: ruter.no/rutetabeller-og-linjekart/trikk/

Buses

Buses complement the metro and tram network and are particularly useful for travelling to the outskirts of Oslo.

There are two types of bus in Oslo.

• Red– city routes, all of which run entirely within Zone 1
  • You can get on and off through any of the doors
• Green– suburban services, whose routes always run from Zone 1 to towns and villages outside Oslo or purely around Oslo without going directly into the city centre
  • You can only board via the front door, where you must show the driver your ticket from the mobile app or a paper ticket purchased in advance
  • On these services, the driver also sells tickets, but at an additional charge 20 nok

The following bus routes are most useful for tourists:

• Route 30 – runs through the entire city centre and goes to the Bygdøy museum peninsula
• Route 41– runs from Røa metro station to the Wyller ski resort
• Route 48– runs from Voksenkollen metro station to the Tryvann ski resort

Timetables and map

You can view a map of bus routes in Oslo on this page:ruter.no/route-maps.

City buses travelling through the city centre on busy routes run every 10–15 minutes on weekdays and every 15–30 minutes at weekends.

• Detailed timetables for city buses: ruter.no/rutetabeller-og-linjekart/bybuss
• Detailed timetable for suburban buses: ruter.no/rutetabeller-og-linjekart/buss

Trains

For quick travel around the city, you can also use the regional train services operated by Vy.

Ruter tickets are not valid on long-distance trains operated by Vy, Go-Ahead and SJ, or on the Flytoget express train to the airport.

You can use Ruter tickets on lines L1, L2, RE10, RE11, R12, R13, R14, RE20, R21, R22, R23, RE30 and R31.

The following train stations are located within Zone 1:

• Route from Oslo S -> westbound: Nationaltheatret, Skøyen, Lysaker, Stabekk
• Route from Oslo S towards Lillestrøm: Bryn, Alna, Grorud, Haugenstua, Høybråten, Lørenskog 
• Route Oslo S → towards Ski: Nordstrand, Ljan, Hauketo, Holmlia, Rosenholm
• Route Oslo S → towards Gjøvik: Tøyen, Grefsen, Nydalen, Kjelsås, Snippen, Movatn

Popular routes

Trains effectively replace the metro for journeys from the city centre to Oslo’s western suburbs. On the Oslo S – Nationaltheatret – Skøyen – Lysaker – Stabekk section, and onwards towards Drammen, trains run every 2–6 minutes.

Frequent services also run to Oslo Gardermoen Airport (lines RE10, RE11, R12).

The easiest way to find connections and timetables is on the Ruter.no website.

Tickets

Tickets purchased via the Ruter mobile app simply need to be stored on your mobile and shown to the conductor.

Ruter chip tickets purchased at newsagents must be activated by holding them up to the reader on the platform.

Paper tickets purchased from ticket machines do not need to be validated in any way; again, simply present them to the conductor when asked.

Ferries

The ferry service, which forms part of the public transport network, comprises several ferry routes, all of which depart from the central ferry terminal at Aker Brygge.

The ferries sail to picturesque islands in the Oslofjord, all of which are in Zone 1, meaning you do not need to pay any extra on top of your day ticket for the ferry journey:Hovedøya,Lindøya, Gressholmen, Langøyene, Nakkholmen and Bleikøya.

Book a hotel with a view of the fjord

There are two ferry routes serving these islands:

• B1– a year-round service running every 20 minutes in summer and every hour in winter, serving all the islands except Langøyene
• B2– a summer seasonal route, running every 30 minutes and serving the islands ofHovedøya,Gressholmenand Langøyene

Other busy year-round routes, running every 30 minutes, connect the town of Nesoddtangen on the peninsula:

• B10 – Aker Brygge
• B11 – Lysaker

Nesoddtangen is already in Zone 2, so if you have a day ticket for Zone 1, you’ll need to pay extra via the Ruter mobile app 27 nok.

The less frequent routes B20, B21 and B22 are also part of the Ruter network and sail to destinations in Zones 2, 3 or 4.

You can search for services and buy tickets via the website ruter.no.

RouteB9, which connects Aker Brygge with the Bygdøy museum peninsula, is not part of the public transport network, and you must purchase a ticket on board for 79 nok (card payments only).

The ferries are equipped with both indoor and outdoor decks, offering magnificent views of the islands and Oslo city centre.

Inside the ferry, you’ll find power sockets and toilets.

Shared bikes

If you’re interested in a different, slightly faster and more active mode of transport than walking, you can hire a bike from public and fairly busy bike racks for a small fee.

The bike-sharing scheme is operated by Oslo Bysykkel.

To unlock a bike, you’ll need to install the Oslo Bysykkel mobile app, which you’ll also use to pay for your ride.

The prices are as follows:

• 25 nok – 60 minutes’ ride on a standard bike; for electric bikes, the first 5 minutes are included in the price, after which the charge is 2,50 nok per minute
  • If you ride for more than an hour, the charge of 15 nok per minute will automatically apply for every 15 minutes or part thereof
  • The maximum hire period is 3 hours, after which the bike will be locked
• 119 nok – A 72-hour pass, each ride of which includes 180 minutes. However, the number of rides within the 72-hour period is unlimited; for electric bikes, only the first 2 minutes of each ride are included in the price, after which the charge is 2,50 nok per minute
• 169 nok – A 30-day pass, each ride lasting 60 minutes; for electric bikes, only the first 2 minutes of each ride are included in the price; after that, the charge is 2,50 nok per minute
  • Membership is automatically renewed and must be cancelled manually

Taxi

Despite their high fares, taxis are popular in Oslo and you’ll see plenty of them on the streets.

You can safely hail a standard taxi on the street by waving. Most taxi drivers only accept payment by card and do not take cash. Taxis always operate on a meter, and dishonest behaviour on the part of taxi drivers is extremely rare in Oslo.

You can check the fares for standard taxis, for example, on the website of the city’s largest taxi company:oslotaxi.no/en/prices

The Uber and Bolt mobile apps are widely used in Oslo, with Bolt usually being the cheaper option. However, it’s always worth comparing prices on both apps.

• Download the Uber app
• Download the Bolt app