Oslo S (Oslo)

At Oslo S (Oslo Sentral) train station, the impressively cavernous departure hall in the main station building contributes to an airport-like atmosphere.

Another aspect of the station that resembles an airport is the multiple levels within the station building.
The departure concourse (main station building) sits above the trains and the station is also on an upper level to some of its surrounding streets.
The transit between trains and street can therefore involve multiple changes of level, though escalators and lifts are always available, as alternatives to the stairs.

The Flytoget airport train services have a separate concourse, at a lower level, to the south side of the main concourse.

The main information desk at Oslo S is also located on this south side concourse; and this concourse also houses multiple food/drink outlets and shops.

ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about taking trains to and from the main station in Oslo and answered them below.

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Yes - The spors (tracks / platforms) that the trains arrive at and depart from are at a lower level to the main concourse and station facilities, but the access to and from them is by sloped moving walkways or escalator and / or elevator - It depends on the specific spor (track / platform) that your train will be using.

The moving walkways provide the access to/from spors / tracks 1-12 from the station hall and both escalators and lifts are available when accessing spors / tracks 13-19.

Oslo Sentral train station, aka Oslo S. station doesn't quite live up to its name, as it's located on the eastern edge of the city centre.

Though Oslo S station is within walking distance of many city centre attractions including the Opera House and Akershus Fortress - for both of these, ideally leave the station by its south exit.

by bus

For the ship museums including the Fram Museum and Viking Ship Musuem, plus the open air Norwegian Folk Museum, take bus line 30 from Olso S heading towards Bygdøy.

For the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, take bus line 54 to Aker brygge.

by tram

Tram line 12 (direction Majorstuen) links Oslo S to the Vigeland Sculpture Park, leave the tram at the 'Vigelandsparken' stop.

by metro

All of the Metro T-Bahnen trains heading west from Oslo S station make their first call at Stortinget station.
This station is closer to the heart of the city, by the National Parliament Building, than any tram stop.

It may seem an indulgence to take the Metro for a one-stop hop, it's a 12-20 min walk to the parliament building along the street named Karl Johans Gate - but if you're arriving in the city for the first time, then taking the Metro is the less confusing option.

Also worth knowing is that the metro station at Oslo S station is named 'Jernbanestorget'

The public transport network in Oslo is managed by Ruter and in addition to single journey tickets it also offers a 24 hour ticket and a 7 Day ticket.

These types of tickets can be purchased from multiple outlets in Oslo-S station including the Tourist Information Office and the 7-Eleven stores.
Another option is to use the Ruter Customer Service Center, which is located in front of the station.
Tickets must be purchased pre-boarding the Metro or trams, but bus tickets can be purchased when boarding.

Though if you know that you will be making multiple journeys during your stay in Oslo, but the 24hr and 7-Day tickets won't offer you value for money, a travelcard can be the best option.
The card costs NOK 50, but once it has been loaded with credit, which can be done at the same outlets which tickets can be purchased from - it can be tapped on card readers which can be found at bus / tram stops and in the metro stations.

Most of the sit down meal options at Oslo-S are available in the adjacent, beautifully restored older east station which has been converted into a shopping and food hall.

No this facility is not available at Norwegian rail stations

Lockers are available which can be accessed during the station opening hours.

At Oslo S railway station there will only be main exit from the spor (track / platform) that your train will have arrived at.

If your train has arrived from Goteborg, Trondheim or Lillehammer, then this exit will be at the front of the train.
If your train has come from Bergen or Stavanger, it will be at the rear.
You will have to ascend to an upper level to exit the spor (track / platform), but there are either escalators OR moving walkways available; depending on which platform/track your train has arrived at.

Some of the spors (1-12) at Oslo S are through platforms, as they are used by trains which cross the city centre in a tunnel, so the trains to/from Bergen and Stavanger use these platforms.
Though to facilitate easier onward connections, trains to and from Stockholm and Trondheim can also use these spors (tracks / platforms), which are located on the north side of the station.
The access to/from these these spors is by moving walkways which connect them to the main concourse.

Arriving at the terminus (tracks / platforms)

The other spors (tracks / platforms) 13-19 are in a terminus part of the station -Among the services which use them are most of the Flytoget trains from the airport, as well as the trains from Goteborg and Halden
These terminus platforms are linked to the concourse which houses the station facilities by two sets of escalators - plus there is also a lift / elevator.

Ascend by the second escalator into the main station building if you will be:

• transferring to the metro,
• exiting by the main entrance,
• heading to accommodation to the north of the station, or
• will be transferring to the bus station.

The main entrance to the Metro is to the right of the main concourse and opposite it is a supermarket.
If you’re on a budget then stocking up on food/drink here to take to your hotel/hostel is a good option.

Exiting to the south of the station

Though taking only the first escalator and then turning to the left is a short-cut to the south side of the station - there is an exit from this level in the station on to the square (the Chr. Frederiks Plass) that is on the southern side of Oslo S.

Heading directly to this south side exit from is a good option, if:
(1) you will be walking to a final destination that’s to the south of the station, or,
(2) your hotel is in the area around Prinsens Gate.

When planning a trip, finding convenient accommodation can be trickier than working out which train to take.
Hence ShowMeTheJourney has partnered with the innovative accommodation portal, Stay 22, to offer three options for discovering your optimum accommodation:

1: Use the map above to see which hotel rooms and Vrbo rentals, with easy access to Oslo-S station, are available.

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Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Scandic Byporten

Scandic Oslo City

Citybox Oslo

3: Or see what's available with Stay 22's accommodation partners; which include, Expedia, Hotels. com and Trivago - by clicking here.
Stay 22 will 'shuffle' the booking services so that you can be automatically directed to its partner that currently has the optimum availability at this location.

Try not to arrive too early for your train, aside from the food/drink outlets, Oslo S has few areas in which to sit and wait for a departure.
Head to the main concourse and keep an eye on the departure board, or if you’re in a cafe/snack bar, sit where you can see the departure monitors.

Trains are listed on the departure screens in order of departure, but the spor (track / platform) that the long distance 'Regiontog' trains will be departing from, won’t be confirmed until the train is ready for boarding; around 15 mins before departure.

You can then descend to the appropriate spor/track/platform by escalator or moving walkway.
If you’re taking a long distance (Regiontog) train, when you arrive on the spor/platform, the train conductor will be waiting and can answer any questions, and direct you to the coaches in which any reservations are located.

Nationaltheatret station is located at the opposite end to of the city centre to Oslo S, so it's on its western edge.
It's the closest station to The National Gallery of Oslo.

If you're heading into Oslo from the north and east and your train terminates at Oslo S, then the best option for accessing Nationaltheatret is to transfer to the frequent local trains on from Oslo Sentral.
Do this and it will save you the bother of having to transfer and descend to the Metro at Oslo S.

Though the express trains from Bergen and Stavanger pass through Nationaltheatret station and don’t call there.
So, if you’re heading to the area around Nationaltheatret to/from these locations, the easiest and fastest journey is to change trains at Drammen station.

The Bussterminalen which the long distance buses depart from can be reached on foot from Oslo S train station.
It's well signposted, you'll exit from the north side of the main concourse, with the metro entrance on the left and the supermarket on the right.
The route is an enclosed walk way above street level, but the transit will take 5 - 8 mins.

There are two options for travelling between Oslo and the Airport by train;

(1) Flytoget Airport Express trains
(2) regular trains operated by Vy - the national rail operator.

You also don’t have to use Oslo S station, both the Flytoget and Vy trains also operate between the airport and Nationaltheatret Station, which is located at the opposite (western) edge of the city centre to Oslo S.

When heading to the airport from central Oslo look for trains that are heading to ‘Oslo Lufthavn’.
On some timetables the airport station is ‘Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen’.

The key features of using this dedicated airport train service are:

• The journey time between Oslo S and Oslo Lufthavn is around 19 minutes, so they're faster than the regular trains.
• It's generally a very reliable service – Flytoget trains are given priority over regular Vy trains
• However, tickets are more expensive than the regular trains.
• Trains usually* depart every 10 mins in both directions between Oslo S station** and Oslo Lufthavn station.
  *Every 20 mins on Saturday and Sunday mornings and during most of July.

**4 x trains per hour operate between Nationaltheatret station and Oslo Lufthavn station

When the 6 x trains per hour service is operating. two of the trains commence the journey at Oslo S station.

So if you’re heading off from Oslo S, these trains which commence their journeys at the main station, have easier boarding.

In contrast to taking the Flytoget trains, the regular trains are:

• Slightly less frequent = they depart no more than 3 x times per hour
• All trains call at Olso S station and Nationaltheatret station
• They're only 5 mins slower - the journey time between Oslo S and Oslo Lufthavn by these trains = 24 minutes

When travelling from Oslo look for trains that are calling at Oslo Lufthavn, but are terminating (usually) at Eidsvoll or Lillehammer.

The Vy trains are generally busier than the Fltytoget trains, particularly the trains heading to/from Lillehammer.
So seats aren't guaranteed, particularly when heading to the airport on Monday - Saturday between 16:00 and 18:00

However, tickets are generally (much) cheaper - Aso rail passes are not valid on the Flytoget trains, but they are valid on these alternative trains.

There are also direct Vy trains between Oslo Lufthavn and Trondheim.

The efforts you will have made to reach Oslo by train will be rewarded by the plethora of attractions that the Norwegian capital can offer

Things To Do (Visit Norway)

Top 10 Attractions (Visit Oslo)

More than 30 Suggestions (Lonely Planet)

10 Must See Sights (Luxe Adventure Traveller)

To Do, To Eat, To Drink (The Independent)

40 Free Things To Do (Routes North)

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