Public transportation in Oslo
Public transportation in Oslo and the surrounding county Akershus is easy, convenient and safe. It is operated by Ruter (ruter.no) and part of the same ticket and price system.
- There are several alternatives when it comes to public transport in Oslo: Buses, trams, metro (T-bane), local trains and bicycles are all efficient ways of getting around the city.
- Information on public transportation is available at the Ruter’s Customer Service Centre and Service Points (public transport in Oslo and Akershus) (ruter.no) and on its website (ruter.no).
- Single tickets and travel cards can be used on all public transport within the city limits, including NSB local trains and boats to the local islands, Bygdøy and Hovedøya, see overview of tickets and fairs (ruter.no).
- Most people buy tickets through the RuterBillett app (ruter.no) on their smart phones.
- Single tickets can be bought directly from the driver at an extra charge (possible on buses, trams and trains but not on subways).
- Travel cards can be bought at ticket machines located at all stations and stops. Travel cards and transportation passes can also be bought at 7-eleven shops, Narvesen kiosks and at major subway stations (e.g. Central Station, National Theatre, Majorstua).
Oslo City Bike
- For NOK 399 you can get a season pass on Oslo City Bike (oslobysykkel.no). Day passes are available for NOK 49, and a 1-month pass cost NOK 99. The bicycles are placed at over 200 locations within Ring 3, i.e. the larger city area. You use an app on your phone or an SMS code to get your bike. This bicycle is yours to use for up to 3 hours at a time. Check out where you find City Bike stands on UiO campuses.
- Familiarize yourself with the Norwegian bicycle rules before mounting a bike for the first time in Norway!
Driving
Driving licence
- Driving licences from EEA/EU countries are valid in Norway.
- Driving licences from most countries outside the EU/EEA can be used in Norway for up to three months. Driving licences from only a few of these countries can be exchanged for a Norwegian driving licence, provided you pass a new practical driving test (and in some cases also a theory test) within given deadlines. If you wish to settle in Norway, you must exchange your driving licence for a Norwegian driving licence within 12 months.
- For further information about exchanging driving licences, please see the website of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (vegvesen.no). You can also contact them directly. Their office in Oslo is:
Statens vegvesen Risløkka trafikkstasjon- Postal address: P.O. Box 342 Økern, 0513 Oslo
- Phone: +47 22 07 30 00
- Email: firmapost-ost@vegvesen.no
- Visiting address: Østre Aker vei 50, Oslo, map (finn.kart.no)
- Office hours: Monday 09:00-15:15; Tuesday-Friday 08:00-15:15
Toll roads
Norway uses road toll payment as a means of financing the building of bridges, tunnels, and roads. 27% of road construction comes from toll road revenues. The fees vary on major toll roads, but are normally between NOK 15-30 for lighter vehicles.
If you plan to drive a car in Norway, please familiarise yourself with the toll road system AutoPASS (autopass.no) and the toll ring around Oslo (fjellinjen.no).
Further information on driving in Norway
- Parking at UiO
- Motor vehicles (nyinorge.no)
- Norwegian Traffic Rules (nyinorge.no)
- Norwegian Road Signs (wikipedia.org)
- Norwegian National Tourist Routes (nasjonaleturistveger.no) - routes through Norway's most spectacular countryside
Car rental
- Cars can be rented from a wide range of car rental companies (google.no).
- An inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to owning a car are car pool services like Oslo car pool (bilkollektivet.no) (Norwegian) or Hyre.
ISMO's services
We offer advice on getting around in Oslo.