Norway’s capital is chock full of unique sights and attractions waiting to be discovered and its tourist friendliness is a big plus. The city is not only a manageable size but many of the monuments and museums are within walking distance of each other. Even so, take it from us, don’t cut yourself short. Oslo offers some convenient ways to make tracks around town, both faster and more affordably. They range from an eco-friendly bike share program to a money savings pass that gives you free admission to some of Oslo’s prominent museums and attractions.
Flytoget Airport Express
One of the fastest and economical ways to get to the city center (Sentrum in Norwegian) from Gardermoen Airport is by taking the Flytoget train. Let me be frank … this is not an alternative but a “must.” Sure, we know that you’ll be craving to hop in a taxi but take our word for it and don’t! It takes just 19 minutes to get to the National Theatre station on this speedy train and you’ll be in the heart of Oslo. Can you believe it? After hitting the airport Starbucks to keep your eyes open, you’re just 19 minutes away from a little shuteye in your hotel before an afternoon stroll around the city.
This train is traveling fast, get it! At 210 km/h, it allows a punctuality of 3 minutes of the expected travel time. If you miss one, no worries, it departs every 10 minutes from the airport and every 20 minutes in the opposite direction for your return trip. The best part about the experience is that you can travel without a ticket by registering your credit card on their website in advance then swiping it at the card reader when boarding. And there’s plenty of space for storing multiple bags and plenty of time to collect them at your station.
City Bikes (Oslo Bysykkel)
One of the best ways to explore a city is by foot, but it’s not always the most practical. Pounding the streets of an unfamiliar town will wear down even the strongest trekker. That’s why Oslo offers a bike share. It’s a brilliant concept and we all know how fun it is to have wheels in an unfamiliar place. But it’s not only fun it’s good exercise.
Oslo’s City Bikes has installed over 100 bike stations all around the city, operating between 6 am and midnight. All you need to grab a bike and get rolling is an electronic smart card which you can purchase for 100 Kroner ($17.41 U.S.) at the Tourist Information Center located near City Hall. This and a refundable security deposit of 3,250 Kroner ($562.33) for the cycle gives you an unlimited 3 hours of freewheeling; you can exchange your bike for another one when the 3 hours are up. Make sure you return the smart card to the Tourist office when you’re finished (or risk the 250 Kroner penalty) and don’t lose track of that bike or you’ll lose your deposit.
Enjoy a summer day biking around the island of Bygdoy where you can picnic, swim and even museum hop but remember to have your bike back in a station by midnight.
Tourist Info Center
Fridtjof Nansens Plass 5
Phone: 47 815 30 555
Oslo Pass
To anyone that’s just spent a bundle on airfare, saving a few bucks on seeing Oslo’s attractions is no brainer. You’ll breathe a sigh of relief when you have enough spare change for a beer at the end of the day. The 72 hour Oslo Pass costs $86 and gets you free admission to more than 30 museums and saves money on the various attractions as well as free public transport, free parking in municipal parking lots, free entry to outdoor pools, free walking tours and discounts on sightseeing. If you’re only spending a weekend or less, you can choose either a 48 hour card for $68 or a 24 hour one for $47. But why not take advantage of the unlimited use of the metro and trams and see as much of the city as possible?
OK, so get with the program and take some time planning the perfect trip to Norway’s cultural hub by utilizing these three resources for a guaranteed adventure in Oslo, one of the world’s most beautiful destinations.