Oslo
The history of the city can be traced back over 1,000 years. Oslo was founded in 1048, by the king Harald Hardråde. The city became capital of Norway around 1300, but lost its privileges during the Danish-Norwegian union from 1348 to 1814. In 1624, a fire devastated old Oslo, and the city was moved some kilometres west to gain protection from the fortress at Akershus. The city was renamed Christiania, after the Danish King Christian IV, a name that remained until it was officially renamed on January 1st 1925 to Oslo. Traces have been found close to [Ekeberg] indicating settlement as far back as 10,000 bc.
After the devastating 1624 fire, old Oslo (around the mouth of river Aker) was largely abandoned and the ruins converted to farmland. Today, a few church ruins are still visible under the Ekeberg hill (across the water from the new operahouse, between road E18 and the railway). Beyond these ruins there is virtually nothing remaining of medieval Oslo. Ironically, the new city Christiania was established outside the borders of Oslo, and ‘Oslo’ remained the name of the small, surviving settlement outside the new city borders. During Christiania’s rapid expansion in the 19th century, as the capital of a new state, the site of the original Oslo (old Oslo, or ‘Gamlebyen’) was included in the city. Due to the rapid inclusion of surrounding agricultural areas in the 19th century, a large number of remains from the city’s farming history is still clearly visible in place names and farm houses. The remains of historical pastures can be found at parks, St. Hanshaugen for example is now used as a recreational park for Oslo’s residents.
More information on Wikitravel
Be aware that most Internet flight booking sites will show flights to all mentioned airports when searching for Oslo Airport. Make sure to check the actual airport from the search results before booking. If you don’t want to land in an airport that is far away from Oslo, Gardermoen and Rygge airports are your best choice.
- Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (IATA: OSL, ICAO: ENGM) is Norway’s largest, and Scandinavia’s second largest airport, located in Gardermoen, 47 kilometres northeast of Oslo. Direct flights are available to a multitude of Norwegian and European airports, as well as several intercontinental destinations. The largest airlines in Norway, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Norwegian Air Shuttle, operate most of the flights. Flights by about 30 other airlines make this airport easy to reach from most of the world. There is free wifi at the airport, a card with username and password is available at any sales outlet. Just ask.Airport Transfer
- Train
Flytoget, operates high speed express trains, generally taking about 20 minutes to reach Oslo Central Station (Oslo S). Trains depart every 10 minutes. Tickets cost NOK 170 when bought in a ticket vendor machine or by credit card, NOK 200 when bought manually from the ticket desk (NOK 85/100 retired, kids and students younger than 31 with a student ID. Tickets are not valid for transfer in Oslo). Every second train continues past Oslo S to Drammen, stopping at Nationaltheateret station, which is more convenient for destinations in the western end of the city center.NSB operates trains via Oslo to Drammen, then on to Kongsberg or Skien. This is the more popular and cost effective way to get into Oslo – trains depart from the adjacent platforms to the Flytoget express. The trip takes 23 minutes, and trains depart twice per hour. Tickets cost NOK 90 (NOK 60 with valid Oslo public transport ticket, valid for transfer in Oslo). Single tickets can be bought from the machine but thenyou must board a conductor carriage.
- Bus
Flybussen operates buses to Oslo city center which take roughly 45 minutes to reach the city center (NOK 150, return ticket valid for 1 month NOK 250, valid for transfer in Oslo, cheaper fares if bought online, 50% discount (65 NOK one way if bought online) for different groups, including students younger than 31).Flybussekspressen operates buses to various destinations in the Oslo area. There is an information stand inside the terminal, which can provide information about all bus services from the airport.
- Taxi
Taxis can, and should, be ordered in the booth inside the terminal for different fixed prices from approximately NOK 700+ to Oslo city center. Going outside to flag one from the queue always ends up much more expensive. Most people with a destination in Oslo will be far better off getting the Flytoget, Flybussen or local train to Oslo S, and get a taxi or local public transport from there.
- Train
- Sandefjord Airport Torp
Sandefjord Airport Torp (IATA: TRF, ICAO: ENTO) near Sandefjord and Tønsberg, 118km south of Oslo. The following airlines operate at Torp: KLM (Amsterdam), Norwegian Air Shuttle (Alicante), Ryanair (Alghero, Alicante, Barcelona-Girona, Bremen, Edinburgh, Frankfurt-Hahn, Liverpool, London-Stansted, Milan-Bergamo, Marseille), Widerøe (Bergen, Bodø, Copenhagen, Stavanger, Tromsø , Trondheim), and Wizz Air (Gdańsk, Katowice, Poznań, Riga, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Kyiv-Zhuliany, Bucharest, Belgrade)Airport Transfer
- Train
NSB operates trains between Torp Airport Train Station and central Oslo. The train station is linked to the airport via free shuttle buses. - Bus
Torpekspressen operates between the airport and Drammen and Oslo (1 hour 45 mins) and costs NOK 240 for a single ticket, NOK 420 for a return (discounts for students (NOK 340), ISIC Card Holders and senior citizens). Torpekspressen buses are scheduled to accommodate arriving flights, so after you get off the plane, most likely there will be a bus to Oslo waiting for you. If you miss the bus scheduled for your flight, you may end up waiting a long time for the next bus. - Taxi
Taxis are very expensive; a taxi to Oslo costs around NOK 2000.
- Train
- Moss Airport, Rygge
Moss Lufthavn Rygge (IATA: RYG, ICAO: ENRY) airport near Moss is a third airport in the Oslo area. It is now Ryanair’s main Norwegian hub, and there is also some domestic service by Danish Air Transport. The airport is close to the cities of Moss, Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg and is only 70km from Oslo.Airport Transfer
- Bus
Ryggeekspressen buses will meet all incoming international flights, and leave from Oslo central station for all outgoing flights. A one way ticket to Oslo costs NOK 170/adults. A return ticket costs NOK 300/adult, NOK 230/student (discount for students is for return ticket only). Buy tickets from the bus driver (you have to pay in cash in Norwegian kronas; bus driver may also accept another currency like €, but it is usually overpaid). One way journey will take approximately one hour. - Train
NSB operates trains between Rygge train station and central Oslo and Halden. A shuttle bus leaves the airport for Rygge train station approx. 15 minutes before scheduled train departures. The shuttle bus is included in the price of your train ticket. Tickets are sold by the bus driver, you can usually pay by credit card. 3 trains per day operate from Rygge to Gothenburg, Sweden. A ticket to/from Oslo costs NOK 147/adults, NOK 110/student.
- Bus
