How to get from Oslo Gardermoen airport to the city centre (train, bus, car)

Oslo Gardermoen airport is a genuinely nice airport with only one drawback: it’s a long way from central Oslo. A good 47 kilometres, in fact, which works out at 19 to 23 minutes by train and a solid 40-odd minutes by car.

Thankfully there are some really handy ways to get into the city centre, except that over this distance it takes a bit of time and, above all, it’s expensive.

We’ll look at options by bus, by train and by shuttle, and I’ll walk you through all of it. We’ll also see whether it’s possible to nip into town during your layover, depending on how much time you have on the ground.

Just a quick note: all the fares in this article were double-checked in August 2026, straight from the operators’ websites. Because in Norway, things move fast!

Oslo airport to the city centre: the comparison at a glance

Before getting into the detail, here are the 7 options side by side. All the fares are as of August 2026.

In short: for the vast majority of travellers, the Vy regional train at 134 NOK is the right choice. The Flytoget is worth its 268 NOK if you’re leaving early on a Sunday, late in the evening, with lots of luggage or with children under 16. The rest is comfort that comes at a steep price!

I go through each option just below, and there’s a whole section to help you decide between the two trains.

The train – Flytoget, the fastest way to get to central Oslo from Gardermoen airport

The Flytoget is the fast train that runs from Oslo airport to Oslo central station, right in the city centre, as well as to other central stations (such as the National Theatre). It’s ultra-handy, fast, efficient, clean… but pricey:

• price: 268 NOK per trip, i.e. 536 NOK return, or about €49 (free for under-16s)
• half price at 134 NOK for 16-20-year-olds, students (no age limit!) and those aged 67 and over, on presentation of proof
• duration: 19 minutes direct, 22 minutes if the train stops at Lillestrøm
• frequency: a train every 10 minutes during the day, every 20 minutes early in the morning and late at night
• first departure: 5.30am from the airport / 4.40am from Oslo Central
• last departure: 12.50am from the airport / 12.00am from Oslo Central

Buying tickets is very simple too:

• at the machines in the airport
• on the Flytoget app
• on the Flytoget website
• tickets you buy are valid for 90 days

And the Flytoget doesn’t only stop at Oslo S! If you’re staying in the west, it continues to Nationaltheatret, Skøyen, Lysaker and Stabekk for the same price, then Sandvika and Asker (308 NOK) and finally Drammen (324 NOK). Heading east, Lillestrøm costs just 210 NOK.

Good to know before you jump in:

• the Flytoget ticket gives you no connection to the metro or tram, unlike the regional train ticket
• seeing someone off at the airport? The “Kiss and Fly” ticket gives you a free return journey within 3 hours
• if the Flytoget is more than 30 minutes late and you miss your flight, Flytoget pays for the next flight. Handy.
• since March 2025, Flytoget has been owned by Vy. Nothing changes for you today, but by 2028 it’s due to be replaced by regional trains with a single ticketing system

The regional train

There are several regional trains that run from Oslo central station to the airport. All the ones heading to northern towns such as Lillehammer, for example, make a stop at the airport. Handy!

You’ll find the following lines:

• RE10 on the Drammen – Lillehammer line
• RE11 on the Skien – Eidsvoll line
• R12 on the Kongsberg – Eidsvoll line (no longer “RE12”, the line has been renumbered)

That’s 3 trains an hour departing from Oslo S. Except they’re not evenly spaced, and we’ll come back to that in a moment because it matters.

The upside is that it costs far less: 134 NOK, exactly half the Flytoget.

And the journey itself is barely any longer: 23 minutes against 19. Watch out though, those 4 minutes’ difference are a bit of an illusion, and I’ll explain why further down.

The downside is that it’s a regional train, so there are crowds. Mind you, this is still Norway, so it’s not exactly the Paris metro line 13.

And there’s one thing nobody mentions, even though it’s the real selling point: those 134 NOK aren’t a “Vy fare”. It’s the Ruter 4-zone fare, the one for Oslo’s public transport, because the airport is in zone 4N. As a result:

• children aged 6 to 17 pay only 52 NOK, and it’s free for under-6s
• your ticket includes 2h30 of free connections on the metro, tram and bus within Oslo. You arrive at Oslo S, hop straight onto the metro to your hotel without paying again. The Flytoget, on the other hand, includes nothing at all
• if you plan to move around the city on the day you arrive, the 24h ticket at 314 NOK covers the airport AND the whole city

Watch out for the Oslo Pass, though: it only covers zone 1, so not the airport at all. Don’t count on it for your arrival journey, it’s a classic mistake.

And if you really want to pay as little as possible, there’s also the Ruter bus line 400: same ticket, same price, but 81 minutes of travel. It’s up to you whether the hour lost is worth the 0 kroner saved :p

To plan and book, I really recommend these two sites:

• the ENTUR planner, super handy and a user-friendly site, where you can buy tickets via the site or the (well-designed) app
• the train site VY.NO, which is also clear

One last thing, and it’s useful if you’re not staying right by Oslo S: the regional trains also serve Nationaltheatret, Skøyen, Lysaker, Sandvika, Asker and Drammen. So that’s not an argument reserved for the Flytoget, contrary to what you often read. Only Stabekk station is exclusive to it.

And with all that, you should be able to get to the airport nice and easy.

Flytoget or regional train: which should you really choose?

Right. On paper, the maths looks simple: half the price for 4 minutes more, case closed, take the regional train.

Except no. I looked at it closely, and that 4-minute gap is a bit dishonest. Here’s what you should really be comparing.

1. The real difference is the wait, not the journey

The Flytoget leaves every 10 minutes from 7am to 11pm. Full stop. You get off the plane, head to the platform, and wait 5 minutes on average.

The Vy trains run 3 an hour… but not evenly spaced. They leave at :03, :13 and :43. See the problem? Between the :13 and the :43, there’s a half-hour gap. On average you wait 11 minutes, and at worst 30.

So if you count the wait AND the journey:

• Flytoget: around 25 minutes
• Regional train: around 34 minutes

The real difference is therefore more like 9 minutes on average, and up to 18 minutes if you get unlucky. That’s a rather different story from 4 minutes!

2. A commuter train is still a commuter train

And this is THE point nobody mentions. These aren’t trains designed for the airport. They’re Oslo’s commuter trains, which happen to pass through the airport. There’s a difference.

The manufacturer’s figures say it all:

• the Flytoget (type 71 trainsets): 247 seats and zero standing space planned. The train is designed so that everyone gets a seat, with luggage racks next to every door
• the R12 line train (type 75 trainsets): 295 seats… and 266 standing spaces, with 10 doors per carriage. It’s a commuter train, and unapologetically so

Vy actually admits as much in black and white in its FAQ: at peak times, standing is part of how its trains normally operate.

So with two big suitcases on a Tuesday at 5.30pm, on the busiest line in Norway, it can quickly get sporty. Nice atmosphere.

Let’s be fair, though: the Flytoget doesn’t contractually guarantee you a seat either, and admits itself that some departures leave full. But we’re clearly not in the same league.

3. Two myths to throw out along the way

There are, however, two things you read everywhere that are false:

• “The Flytoget is direct”: only one in two! The departures at :10, :30 and :50 also stop at Lillestrøm and take 22 minutes. That’s… 1 minute less than the regional train
• “Only the Flytoget guarantees your flight”: also false. Vy also has an airport guarantee that reimburses you for a new plane ticket if the train is more than 30 minutes late. The Flytoget’s is just simpler to activate, directly on the spot

And when it comes to punctuality, the gap is far narrower than you’d imagine. Over 2025: 89.9% for the Flytoget FLY1 and 85.2% for FLY2… against 84.4% for the RE11. Hardly a chasm.

My verdict

Take the Flytoget if:

• you’re leaving early on a Sunday or a public holiday: the first Vy train is at 6.43am, the first Flytoget at 5.30am. A 1h13 difference could quite simply make you miss your flight
• you’re travelling after 11.43pm, the time of the last regional train (the Flytoget runs until 12.50am)
• you have a tight connection or no margin
• you have lots of luggage, or a pushchair: one carriage is fitted with securing straps
• you’re travelling with children under 16: they’re free, and from 3 children onwards the Flytoget actually works out cheaper than the regional train!

Take the regional train if:

• you simply want to pay half price and you’re arriving outside peak hours. That’s the most common case anyway
• you’re continuing beyond Oslo: Lillehammer, Hamar, Kongsberg, or even Tønsberg, Torp airport and Sandefjord, without changing trains. The Flytoget stops at Drammen
• you need the metro and tram connection included in the ticket
• you’re travelling with children aged 6 to 17, at 52 NOK instead of 134

Two little rules all the same. If you take the Flytoget with contactless payment from Oslo S, be sure to tap your card before boarding: otherwise you’re charged the fare for the longest route, i.e. 324 NOK instead of 268. And on the Vy side, there are no barriers, but there are inspectors, and the fine is 1,470 NOK. Don’t push your luck :p

The Flybussen buses

There are also plenty of buses running between Oslo Gardermoen airport and central Oslo. Well, not just the centre; it’s a bus with several stops along the way, which is what makes it appealing.

Because if you’re heading to the city centre, it’s honestly not the best option. Since the April 2026 price rise, the Flybussen has even become more expensive than the Flytoget… while being three times slower. So the bus is only useful if you’re going somewhere that happens to be one of this bus’s stops.

• list of stops and journey planning on the Flybussen website
• Fare: 279 NOK buying online, 289 NOK at the machine and 319 NOK on board. Return is 449 NOK
• free for under-6s, and above all 2 children aged 6 to 17 travel free per paying adult. For a family, that changes everything!
• Duration: around 65 minutes to Jernbanetorget, the stop closest to the central station

Watch out for a recent change: the Flybussen no longer serves Oslo bus station. It has become a multi-stop line around the city (Helsfyr, Carl Berners plass, Bislett for line FB5, Storo and Nydalen for FB3). Double-check your stop before booking.

So off the bat, it’s not always the best option. It really depends where you want to get off.

Taking a TAXI / UBER between Oslo Gardermoen airport and the city centre

Ride-hailing apps like UBER

Uber works well, but it’s expensive.

For a trip from the airport to the city centre, prices depend on the type of car. They range from 900 NOK to 1,540 NOK, no less, i.e. between €82 and €140, with plenty of surcharges. Bolt, the other app well established in Oslo, shows roughly the same fares.

In short: it’s more expensive than a fixed-fare taxi. Which is rare enough to be worth pointing out!

You can book it in advance via the app or the website.

Taxis

Taxi prices are very unpredictable; there are fixed prices… but per taxi company.

At Oslo Taxi, the biggest company, it’s a flat fare by zone. And there’s a catch: it’s not the same price in both directions!

• 729 NOK (€66) from the airport to the centre, for 1 to 4 people
• 829 NOK (€75) the other way, from the centre to the airport
• and up to 1,049 NOK (€95) if you’re staying in an out-of-the-way district

Except that surcharges get tacked on top, and they hurt: +300 NOK outside the Monday-Friday 6am-5pm window (so every evening and all weekend), +400 NOK on public holidays, and +250 NOK from the 5th passenger. A night trip to the airport quickly comes to 1,100 NOK, i.e. around a hundred euros.

That said, to book, don’t do it in advance online, it smells like a scam. Do it at the taxi ranks directly at the airport. You get the prices live, by company, and it can be cheaper.

If you want to book your taxi in advance so it’s waiting for you, don’t go through the apps, do it via Booking Taxi as I explain just below.

Booking a driver in advance

If you don’t want the hassle, you can book a driver in advance who’ll be waiting for you at the airport, in the arrivals hall.

I’ve just run a simulation with Booking Taxis, and the fares are a touch cheaper than the taxi, namely around a hundred euros for up to 3 people.

So it’s a fair-sized budget, but I’d say that’s the price of peace of mind.

4 recommended places to stay in Oslo

How long a layover do you need to nip into Oslo

You have a layover in Oslo and you’d like to make the most of it to explore the city. With the Flytoget it’s easy, because the train is super fast.

Getting out of the airport is very quick too, as is going through security to come back.

So basically, you could say that an hour after getting off the plane you can be in the city centre.
If you want to stay at least 2 hours on the ground, enough time to explore the waterfront and take a quick look at the centre, then you’ll need to catch the train 1h30 before your flight.

Which means you’ll need a layover of at least 4h30 to be able to take a look at the city. It’s a bit of a rush, and it costs quite a lot because the Flytoget return works out at €49. On the regional train, though, it drops to €24 for 4 minutes more, and for a simple layover that’s more than enough. But why not!

Beyond 5 hours I strongly recommend going, especially if the weather’s nice, because it’s a very pleasant city 🙂

If you have a night on the ground, it can be worth staying at Oslo Gardermoen airport rather than lugging your suitcases into the centre only to head back the next day. That’s what I did and I don’t regret it! The airport hotels are no more expensive, quite the opposite, they’re very decent, and since there are lots of trains running late into the night, you can enjoy Oslo without the suitcases.
In the following article, I suggest the good hotels to stay at near Oslo Gardermoen airport.

Hiring a car at Oslo Gardermoen airport

If you want to hire a car at Oslo airport, it’s a good idea unless you’re planning to drive around the city with it. Because parking in Oslo is very complicated and very expensive.

So I’d recommend hiring one after visiting the city.

But after that, to set off on an adventure, absolutely! You’ll find all the main hire companies at Oslo Gardermoen. So it’s hard to single one out, as it varies every time depending on the price.

Definitely compare; prices vary from one day to the next, from one company to another, for no real reason. I use Kayak to compare.

Then there are two brokers I use regularly for hiring because the prices are quite competitive (well, once again, it really depends on the day, hence the importance of comparing):

• Above all Discover Cars for the clarity of the information
• and Booking.com

It’s worth taking a bit of time to compare it all and save a little money. Pay attention to the rating of the agency you’re hiring from, do read the reviews, and watch out for the mileage.

In conclusion

There you go, now you know it all! So we have several options:

• The Flytoget, the fastest (19 min) but also the more expensive of the two trains: 268 NOK
• The regional train, half price (134 NOK) with the metro connection included, but less frequent and noticeably less comfortable with suitcases. My default recommendation outside peak hours!
• the Flybussen (279 NOK), slower AND more expensive than the Flytoget, but with the advantage of stopping at plenty of places around the city
• the fixed-fare taxi (729 NOK from the airport) and Uber, which are expensive, but handy
• the private driver waiting for you, more expensive but more convenient

Each mode of transport has its advantages, so it really is up to you to see what suits you best, but in every case it’s fairly expensive.

And if you’re torn between the two trains, scroll back up to the comparison section: it comes down to frequency and your luggage, far more than the 4 minutes of travel 🙂

Other resources on Oslo and Norway

Here are a few extra articles and links to help you make the most of your stay in Oslo and Norway:

• Discover the most beautiful places in Oslo
• How to find a hotel in Oslo
• Where to register to pay tolls in Norway
• What to do in Bergen
• Discover Tromso and its region
• A trip to the Lofoten Islands
• The fjord region of Norway
• All the information for your trip to Norway
• A 2-week itinerary in northern Norway

If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask me by clicking here 🙂How can I help you ?