Here are all the practical things you need to know before travelling to Oslo in Norway. Take a look at this travel guide and you’ll be ready to make your Oslo trip an unforgettable success!
Why you should visit Oslo
Oslo has something for everyone. With its many restaurants and food halls, it’s a great place to explore for foodies. There are many interesting museums for those who like to learn more about the history of Norway or have a passion for art. Nature is less than 30 minutes away for all the adventurous travellers who like to take a hike around Oslo’s forests. You can even go sledding or skiing during the winter! Oslo is a capital city, but despite being Norway’s largest city it feels very relaxed and laidback, making it the perfect spot for a week or weekend getaway!
Language
Norwegian is the primary language spoken in Oslo. However, we found that most people in Oslo also speak fluent English. Many restaurants have menus printed in both Norwegian and English, and sometimes even only in English. Many of the historical sights also have information boards in both Norwegian and English. All important websites that are tourism-related and even public transport websites (and apps!) have an English option. You'll have absolutely no problem communicating with locals or finding your way around the city.
Currency
Norway is a northern European country, but it's not part of the European Union. Therefore they don't use the Euro (€) but have their own currency, the Norwegian Krone (NOK). There’s no need to exchange any money though, since Oslo is mostly cashless. Everywhere you go you can pay by (contactless) cards or mobile payment apps. In our entire week in Oslo, we haven’t used cash once. At the time we visited Oslo 100 NOK was worth around €9 or $9. So to make it easier for ourselves, we simply moved the decimal one spot. For example, when something costs 100 NOK we knew it was a little less than €10.
Another money-related issue you might wonder about is: 'Is Norway expensive?'. The answer really depends on the prices you are used to right now. As in most Scandinavian countries, prices are higher than in the rest of Europe. We can say that we definitely spent more money in our week in Oslo than we did in our week in Paris, to give you a reference. Especially alcohol, which is taxed by the government, is way more expensive than you're probably used to. Prices can also vary a lot depending on the type of cafe or restaurant you go to. As everywhere, there are budget options for everyone. Fast food chains or food halls will have lower prices compared to higher-end restaurants. To give you an indication of what to expect here is a list of the general prices we paid for some snacks, foods and drinks:
- Sandwich: 100 - 200 NOK (€10 - 20 Euro) (For the lower end you get a simple takeaway sandwich, the higher end is sitting down at a bakery or lunch place.)
- Cinnamon bun or croissant: 50 NOK (€5)
- Hamburger: 200-230 NOK (€20-23)
- Side of fries: 70 NOK (€7)
- Buddha Bowl: 200 NOK (€20)
- Kombucha (0,5L): 80 NOK (€8)
- Cocktail: 170-200 NOK (€17-20)
- Flat white / cappuccino: 50 NOK (€5)
- Glass of wine: 100 NOK (€10)
Tap Water Safety
Tap water in Oslo is perfectly safe to drink. Norway has high standards for water quality and is renowned for having some of the purest and cleanest drinking water in the world. So you’re safe to fill up your reusable water bottle and stay hydrated during your trip. Many restaurants will also serve you complimentary tap water when you’re sitting down to eat.
How to get around in Oslo?
Oslo has a very walkable city centre, but also a well-developed public transport system. Here are the pros and cons of several ways to get around in Oslo.
- On foot: Many of Oslo’s attractions, neighbourhoods and parks are within walking distance of each other. Oslo is also a very safe city, so we found walking the best way to explore this beautiful city and discover all kinds of wonderful surprises along the way.
- By bike: Oslo is a very bike-friendly city. You’ll notice dedicated bike lanes and bike rental services throughout the city. Getting around by bike is a popular way to explore the city in the warmer months.
- Public Transport: Oslo has an excellent public transport network. They have a metro (T-Bane) that connects the city centre with its suburbs and surrounding area. It’s a wonderful way to get out of the city and into the surrounding nature for a hike in the mountains. Trams and buses provide convenient options for shorter trips. There are even ferries that will take you from the city centre to the islands of the Oslo Fjord. Download the Ruter App to plan and pay for your trip. We used this app to buy T-Bane tickets to get up the mountain and found it very easy to use. Simply connect your credit card, plan your trip and buy your desired ticket. The app also shows real-time departure times.
- Taxi & Bolt: Taxis are readily available in Oslo, as is Bolt. Bolt is a ride-sharing service like Uber. While a taxi or a Bolt is more expensive than public transport it does offer more convenience and flexibility. We’ve used Bolt to get to a restaurant on New Year’s Eve and we were very happy with their service.
Getting from Oslo airport to the city centre
Depending on your budget and time restraints there are several options to get to and from the airport. The most popular airport near Oslo is Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), which is about 48 kilometres (30 miles) away from the city centre.
- By car: The most comfortable way to get from the airport to exactly where you need to be is by car. It will take about 40 minutes to drive to the city centre. Keep in mind this is also the most expensive option. A taxi will cost around 945 NOK (€94) during the day (the price increases to 11.560 NOK (€110) during specific hours and on weekends).
- By train: We used the Flytoget Airport Express Train to get from the airport to Oslo Central Station. At the time, a one-way ticket cost us 240 NOK (€21) per person. From the airport, you can directly access the train platform and get to the city centre in only 20 minutes. Every 10-20 minutes another train departs (depending on the time of day) so you never have to wait long for the next train. Another good thing to note is that you can print your luggage tags on the train itself! We tried this on our way back and it worked like a charm. Simply scan your digital boarding pass at the designated printer inside the train, print your luggage tag, put it on your suitcase and drop off your luggage when you arrive at the airport. We downloaded the Flytoget App as soon as we landed and easily bought our train tickets. Make sure you don’t forget to activate the tickets before boarding the train.
- By bus: The Flybussen Bus is another option. Travel time from the airport to the city centre is around 45 minutes. A single adult ticket will cost 239 NOK (€21). You can buy your tickets in advance on the Flybussen website, or on the bus itself (this last option will be more expensive).
When to visit Oslo
Oslo is an amazing city for an unforgettable trip, but do keep in mind you’ll get a very different experience depending on the season you visit. Each season has its unique pros and cons. Summertime will be slightly busier, but compared to other capital cities Oslo is still quite calm and relaxed.
- Spring: Springtime in Oslo is a great time to visit this city, the temperatures start rising and it’s a perfect time for outdoor exploration. March is still quite wintery with temperatures around 2 ℃ (35 ℉). From April onwards the temperature will start to rise to above 10 ℃ (50 ℉).
- Summer: During the summer months you can enjoy long days of sunshine. Temperatures will still be mild with highs around 20 ℃ (68 ℉). It’s a popular time for hiking and water activities.
- Autumn: From September onwards the temperatures will start to drop again. Nature will look stunning with the turning of the leaves, but expect the weather to become more grey, cold and rainy. October will be around 9 ℃ (48 ℉) and in November the first snow usually falls, with temperatures dropping to around 0 ℃ (32 ℉).
- Winter: Winter in Oslo is magical. Expect snowy landscapes and enjoy winter activities like sledding, (cross country) skiing and winter hikes. During the month of December Oslo be transformed into a festive winter wonderland with lots of magical lights and Christmas markets. Temperatures will be below 0 ℃ (32 ℉). We were there in December and January and had an average temperature of around -10 ℃ (14 ℉) with extremes going as low as -20 ℃ (-4 ℉). So make sure to wear layers and bring a warm coat!
Daylight Hours
A special thing to note about Oslo is the number of daylight hours. The length of daylight hours can vary greatly depending on the time of year. In June you can expect daylight to last about 19 hours, whereas in the wintertime you get as little as 6 hours of light per day. In the winter the sun will set as early as 15.00 o’clock! Keep this in mind when planning your trip. We had no problem walking around in the dark, but some activities are more fun during the daytime when you have a nice view. Even though it gets dark early, the city and its parks are still lively with people strolling around, shopping and generally enjoying life.
More Oslo Travel Inspiration
Coming Soon
Stay tuned for more in-depth articles about what to do, see and eat in Oslo, Norway. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter so you’re the first to know when new articles go up on the blog!
- Oslo Food Guide
- Visiting Oslo in winter
