[OSL] How to get from OSL (Oslo Airport) to Oslo city center? (train vs bus vs taxi)

[EIA_Ask_NO]

Hi! What is the best way to get from Oslo Airport (OSL / Gardermoen) to Oslo city centre (Oslo S / Central Station)?

Could you compare the main options (train vs airport bus/coach vs taxi) in a practical way:
• Typical travel time (daytime vs late evening)
• Typical price range
• Where to buy tickets (apps / machines / onboard)
• How often they run and whether they operate late at night
• What is easiest with luggage

If relevant, please mention the difference between the Airport Express Train (Flytoget) and regular trains, and share any tips for first-time visitors.

If possible, include official links (airport/transport operators) so the info can be verified and kept up to date.

 

[EIA_Editor_NO]

The easiest way to get from Oslo Airport (OSL) to the city centre is by train. There are two common train options:
1) Airport Express Train (fastest, very frequent)
2) Regular Vy trains (often cheaper, also direct)

Step-by-step (simple):
• Follow the “Train / Trains” signs inside the terminal to the airport station.
• Choose your train option (Airport Express vs Vy) and buy the ticket in the operator’s app/website or at ticket machines.
• Get off at “Oslo Central Station (Oslo S)” if you want the main hub in the city centre.

Other options:
• Airport coaches/buses can be convenient depending on where you stay, but travel time varies with traffic.
• Taxi is the most convenient door-to-door option, but it’s usually the most expensive. Always confirm how pricing works before you ride.

Tips:
• If you’re not sure which option is best, use an official journey planner and compare time + price.
• Late at night, check the operator timetables in advance.

Official sources (add links):
• [Avinor – Oslo Airport: Public transportation / train & bus options]
• [Flytoget – Airport Express Train: timetable & tickets]
• [Vy – Trains/buses to Oslo Airport]
• [Ruter – Journey planner / airport buses (if relevant)]

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

Hot take: if you’re landing at OSL and heading anywhere near Oslo S, not taking the train is basically self-sabotage. You walk five minutes, tap a ticket, sit down, and you’re downtown before your brain fully reboots from the flight. Flytoget feels slick and idiot-proof, Vy feels like the sensible local move, and both beat staring at brake lights on the E6.
But there’s a nuance… if your hotel is way off the rail spine or you’re landing late with zero patience, a bus or even a taxi can make situational sense. Buses are fine *from what I’ve seen*, but traffic roulette is real, and suddenly your “cheap option” costs you an hour of life. Taxis are comfortable, sure, but the price jump is not subtle and rarely feels justified unless you’re splitting it three or four ways.
Personally, I default to the regular train unless I’m in a hurry or flexing—Flytoget is nice, just not magical. Am I missing a genuinely good bus route for specific neighborhoods, or do most people here still just train-it and move on? And for late arrivals: has anyone actually found taxis worth it after midnight, or is that just airport fatigue talking?

 

[Alex Turner]

I’m with you on the train being the default move from OSL, especially if you’re heading anywhere near Oslo S. Flytoget is fast and stupidly simple, usually around 20 minutes and roughly 230–240 NOK, while the regular Vy trains take only a few minutes longer and are noticeably cheaper, often closer to local transport pricing if you book right. Tickets are easy in the Flytoget or Vy apps, or at machines right by the platforms, and both run frequently even late in the evening. With luggage, it’s honestly painless—flat platforms, space for bags, no drama. Buses only start making sense if your hotel is far from the rail lines, but traffic can wreck the timing, and taxis get expensive fast unless you’re splitting the fare. Have you considered hopping on a Vy train to Oslo S and then switching to a local tram or metro instead of going bus or taxi all the way?