Download GPX file for this article
60.216711.1000Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The check-in hall at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Remark its extensive use of woodwork.

Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL  IATA) is the main airport serving Oslo (the capital of Norway) and most of East Norway. The airport is at Gardermoen about 40 kilometers north of Oslo about 20 minutes by train. The main railway line south-north runs through the terminal and the main road south-north runs close to the terminal. European route 16, the east-west route Bergen-Oslo-Sweden is connected directly to the terminal.

Understand

Caution Note: Due to the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic, overseas visitors will not be admitted as of 16 March, 2020. International and domestic flight arrivals and departures to and from the airport are strictly minimized due to the Covid-19 crises. The quarantine regulations in Norway are strict.

Norway's largest airport and the country's main international gateway. It is officially called just "Oslo Airport" (In Norwegian: "Oslo lufthavn"), but in practice "Gardermoen" is often added to the name. This is to prevent confusion with the other airport serving Oslo: Sandefjord Torp Airport) and the airport in Fornebu, which closed in 1998. The airport is at Gardermoen, an unincorporated area within Akershus, 37 kilometres north-northeast of Oslo. It is very well connected by ground transport and the terminal is very efficient, but because it is large, allow some time to transfer.

In May 2017 a new northern pier was put into service. This significantly increased the capacity of the airport. There is construction on the "Non-Schengen" part of the old terminal to increase capacity, as of December, 2019.

Flights

The control tower at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen

A large number of flights arrive and depart from the airport. Many airlines operate flights to and from international destinations. Most domestic flights within Norway are operated by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe.

There are flights to 112 international and 30 domestic destinations in Norway. There is a large number of intercontinental connections to the airport, as well as a dense network of short-haul connections to destinations throughout all of Europe, especially the Nordic countries. Severalt airlines operate direct flights to UK, Ireland and USA from Oslo Airport. There are around 30 airlines that operate at the airport that do have international flights. If you are transferring at Oslo, don't pick a flight with a too short connecting time.

Ground transportation

The train is fast and convenient; buses may be cheaper but have more destinations. Taxis are sometimes terribly expensive. The Oslo Airport website provides information on getting to and from the airport.

If you are unsure how to get to a destination by public transport in the Oslo area, click here.

Flytoget (The Airport Express Train) at Gardermoen Station (Oslo Airport). The railway station is in the basement of the terminal building, one level down from arrivals. Gardermoen station is also served by local trains to Oslo, Hamar and Lillehammer, and long distance trains to Trondheim.

By train

1 Gardermoen Station (Oslo Airport) is located in the basement of the airport terminals. The first trains arrive and depart at 5AM.

  • Vy (formerly Norwegian State Railways or NSB) operates trains from Gardermoen from or to all stations on the Norwegian railway network. There are trains both southwards towards the capital of Oslo and northwards towards stations such as Hamar, Lillehammer and Trondheim. Where there are no direct trains from the station, you have to change trains at Oslo S (Central Station). Vy trains to Oslo are slightly slower than the Airport express train, though the difference in travel time is only a few minutes considering the distance. From Oslo Central Station: kr 105 (one-way), 23 min. The one-way ticket includes about two further hours of transfer to Oslo's public transport network, Ruter.
  • Flytoget (The Airport Express Train). is the fastest option by train from or to Gardermoen towards Oslo S, F2 on to Nationaltheateret, Asker and Drammen. It costs more than NSB trains but runs more often. The simplest way to pay for the fare is to swipe a debit/credit card at the faregate's reader (found at the airport station). Alternatively, one can purchase a ticket online or using the mobile app and scan the barcode at the faregate reader. The website and app are also useful for creating an account and registering discounts one is eligible for (e.g. student, senior age fare). From Oslo Central Station: kr 196 (concession kr 98), 19-22 min. (Up to six trains an hour at peak times; first train from the airport at 05:30, last train 00:50.) Minutes waiting for the next train departure is displayed at the entrance to the platform. Flytoget (Q2167417) on Wikidata Flytoget on Wikipedia

By car

The E16 connects Hønefoss, Hallingdal, Valdres-Sognefjorden and Bergen to the airport.
The E6 connects Oslo airport to Oslo, Hamar, Lillehammer and towns south of Oslo.

To the airport: It is easy to get to the Gardermoen from the E16 or the E6 motorway (a four-lane slip road right up to the Airport Terminal). Follow the signs to Gardermoen on the E6 until the exit for RV 174. Follow the signs to Terminal all the way to the Airport.

Close to the terminal, the ground traffic area is for arrivals, the upper is for departures. There is a 7-minute limit to stay in the dropoff area for free, enforced with camera-operated license plate readings. Long-term parking areas are west of the runways (see map).

Further to Oslo: Travelers to the capital of Oslo are advised not to bring a car to central parts of the city. There are few and expensive parking spaces and a very well functioning public transport system.

Car parking, long-term

Like any other modern airport, Oslo Airport has a huge car park facility, ranging from cheap long-term spots connected with a free shuttle bus, to expensive parking house right next to the terminal, as well as a valet service on the departures. These facilities are operated by Avinor, the airport owner.
In addition there are several independent car park operators in the area, also offering free shuttle busses to the terminal.:

Rent a car

Oslo Airport has several large car rental operators. They are to be found in the parking garage which you can walk to from the arrivals area of the airport.

Price comparison website.

Rent a motorhome

By bus

Buses that stop just outside the airport:

Bus companyRoutes (to and from)
Ruter (see travel planner)Local buses within the Romerike area.
Flybussen to / fromAirport bus Oslo-Gardermoen-Oslo (around 40 minutes) NOK 150,- one way
Nor-Way BussekspressExpress buses to and from Oslo and many other destinations
Vy BussShuttle Buses to hotels and buses to many other destinations
Askeladden ReiserSunnvolden - Ringerike - Jevnaker - Gardermoen - Sunnvolden
Shuttle busses You'll also find shuttle busses to some parkering areas and hotels nearby. Some are free.

By taxi

The taxi stops are located to the south, right outside the terminal building. Be aware that taxis in Norway can be extremely expensive. Airport hotels are served by shuttle buses. Downtown Oslo is faster and cheaper by train.

Get around

Map
Map of Oslo Airport, Gardermoen

The halls for arrival and departure at the terminal are relatively compact, but due to the size of the airport the distances may seem great. As in any big airport travellers need to allow generous time for moving around inside the terminal. However, it is quite easy to orient yourself in the terminal area.

Orientation

View of the new North Pier, center of the terminal.

The terminal area consists of four floors:

  • The railway station is in the basement.
  • The arrival terminal is on the ground floor.
  • The departure terminal is on the first floor.
  • The second floor of the departure terminal (some domestic flights)

In the first floor, there is only one, huge 4 check-in-hall. (Connected to the security area)

There are three "piers", all consisting of a number of gates:

  • 5 The west pier (Domestic flights (Norway)).
  • 6 The north pier (The newest pier; opened in May, 2017). The international departure section (D gates) of this pier is on the first floor and connected with the east pier. The north pier part of the domestic terminal (C gates) is on the second floor.
  • 7 The east pier (international flights). The E gates are for Schengen flights. The F gates (on the extreme east) are for non-Schengen flights.

There are a large number of restaurants and shops both in the arrivals hall and within the security check in the departure hall. The floors in the airport terminal outside the security control are connected with stairs, escalators and lifts. The check-in hall is well signposted. Baggage trollies are available.

In the vicinity of the airport, buses are the cheapest and best option.

  • Parking companies have free shuttle service to the parking areas.
  • Free or low-fare buses to hotels.

On foot

Walking to the hotels or other facilities that are in quite close proximity to the airport will not take long.

The hotels, the long-term-car-parking-spaces and the museums west of the airport's runways or the hotels southeast of the airport are further away, so it is not recommended to walk there if you are carrying heavy luggage. Use a shuttle bus instead.

Wait

Oslo Airport has three lounges. Access policy can be decided from based on your ticket and membership status. Most lounges includes comfortable seating and a buffet.

  • The OSL lounge is accessible to anybody, for a fee of 275 kr. It is free for status holders with some Oneworld and Skyteam airlines. Opening hours are 05:45-20:30. Located after the large tax free shop on International departure.
  • The SAS Lounge International which is free for any traveller holding a Star Alliance Gold card, or that are traveling on business class on these airlines. Other Star Alliance ticketholders can purchase access. Same location as OSL Lounge.
  • The SAS Domestic Lounge has the same rules as SAS Lounge International, and are located close to gate A2.

Eat and drink

For a complete overview, click here.
  • Several kiosks sell simple food, soft drinks and coffee.
  • Both hotels at the airport have a breakfast buffet. See Sleep section, below.
  • Free water drinking and bottle filling stations available several places in the terminal. Don't drink water from toilet sinks.

Arrival

  • Peppes Pizza (The arrivals hall), +47 2222 5555. 9AM-11PM, weekends 10AM-10/11PM. Norway's largest pizzeria chain (American style and Italian style pizza) Take-away service. Peppes Pizza (Q911973) on Wikidata Peppes Pizza on Wikipedia

Domestic terminal

  • Humle & Malt : Beer, Norwegian craft brewery traditions.
  • Bølgen & Moi Food Garage: Specialities:Komper (Rutabaga and salted lamb) and a rare creamy fish soup.
  • Two Tigers: Asian flavors and specialties. On the menu there are sushi, sashimi and noodles.
  • TGI Fridays: Authentic American cuisine and legendary drinks.

International terminal

  • Norwegian Aquavit Bar
  • Real American Sportsbar!
  • Kon-Tiki Kitchen (International terminal), +47 64811616. Serves some pre-made hot meals for kr 119 (small portion), kr 159 (huge portion). Not too tasty, but it works. On the second floor there's power and free internet (Ask the cashier for username/password)
  • Havsalt (International terminal). For those who love Norwegian seafood or trying it for the first time.
  • Hunter Bar. The menu is based on good Norwegian ingredients from the inland, including finnbiff (reindeer), reindeer wrap, moose burger and Norwegian moose breadwurst.

Buy

Duty free

See also: Duty free shopping

Note: In Norway, both alcohol and tobacco are very expensive, but stick to the strict duty free quotas. Then you'll avoid having trouble with the customs office.

Speciality stores

  • Apotek1, Oslo Lufthavn (Pharmacy at the arrival hall)
  • Rolling Luggage (Arrival hall), where you find bags, suitcases as well as all the travel accessories you need.
  • Æra Dame (International terminal) offers trendy fashion as well as simple, classic and timeless garments, bags, shoes, accessories and clothes for ladies, while Æra Men/Æra Active nearby offers finer gentlemen's tipping.
  • Tanum (International and domestic terminal) sells Norwegian and English books, including new releases, bestsellers, classics, fiction and travel guides.
  • Way Nor (International terminal) offers a wide range of Norwegian souvenirs and tourist gifts.
  • Elkjøp Travel (International and domestic terminal) offers electrical components and information technology.
  • Fine Food - Salmon House (International terminal) offers Norwegian salmon, cheeses, game products, seafood and cured meats.
  • Ting (International terminal) offers brand-named Norwegian and Scandinavian design.

Sleep

Lillestrøm, a suburb to Oslo, is the express train's first stop before Oslo central station.

Save your money: don't take a cab. Virtually all hotels here have pick up services, sometimes for a small fee. Just give them a call on arrival.

Airport hotels

There are two hotels at the airport

  • 1 Park Inn Gardermoen Airport hotel (Don't confuse with the Park Inn hotel west of the runway), +47 67 02 40 00. Next to the airport. Breakfast buffet from 05:00 to 09:30 (Sa Sun until 10:30): kr 150 (June 2017).
  • 2 Radisson Blu Airport Hotell, Oslo Gardermoen, Hotellvegen (Connected to the airport by a covered pedestrian bridge), +47 63933000. Breakfast buffet from 05:00 to 09:30 (Sa Su until 10:30): kr 195 (June 2017).. Five hundred guest rooms and suites. Well-equipped meeting facilities.

Nearby

Scandic airport hotel

Hotels

There are also hotels with shuttles in the nearby Jessheim and Eidsvoll. Within the city boundary of Oslo, farther away from the airport, there are a large number of accommodations.

Connect

There is free access to Wi-Fi at the airport and at the hotels nearby.

Static internet kiosks are also available at some departure gates. Payphones are located at various points. There are also wireless phone charging points in the terminal. Fax and photocopying services are provided at the information desk in the arrivals hall.

Cope

For more information on coping in the city of Oslo, see the Oslo#Cope article.
Airport express train terminal downtown Oslo. All signs are in Norwegian and English.

Most people you meet at the airport will respond in English. Also airport signage has an English version.

There is a staffed information desk in the arrivals hall which offers airport information, hotel reservations and tourism information.

The airport is well-suited for disabled people. If any disabled person needs extra assistance, it can be arranged in advance.

Showers are available for free in the toilets close to gate A2. If you're traveling internationally this can be accessed before going into the international zone.

DNB at Oslo Airport has many ATMs (in Norwegian: Minibank), serviced branches in both the Arrivals Hall and the Departure Hall, a cash service, exchange services, and currencies in addition to several banking and advisory services. All shops and eateries accept payment cards. For more contact information, click here

If you are looking for even more information about the airport than you have already found on this page, an own app is available for download.

Stay safe

For airport security information, click here

Emergency numbers

  • Police, 112.
  • Fire, 110.
  • Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance), 113.

If you are unsure which emergency number to call, 112 is the central for all rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.

For non-emergencies, the police is to be called on 02800 or Gardermoen Police Station at +47 64 81 95 00 (responsible for the border control at the airport). The police post in the Arrivals Hall is open 24/7.

Medical services

  • Medical Assistance, 113 (Emergencies only).
  • Doctor (at Jessheim), +47 63974000, 116 117 (in country only).
  • Apotek1, Oslo Lufthavn (Pharmacy), at the main entrance of the arrival hall on the ground floor, +47 63980020, . Open every day 7AM. to 9PM.. Contact the pharmacist for any questions regarding access to prescription medications. (Smart thing to do before arrival from abroad).
    Note: If you are traveling by ground transportation to the airport, you do not need a security check to get to the pharmacy, which means that customers who live in the area next to the airport can also use the pharmacy as well.

Nearby

  • Jessheim is the closest city (bus 420-440-450).
  • If you have more than a couple of hours between flights, Oslo is within reach via the Airport Express Train.
  • A somewhat closer, and cheaper, option is Eidsvoll, a lakeside town where the Norwegian constitution was drafted.
  • 1 Ullensaker Golfklubb, Sjøkjosveien 32 (Between the airport and Jessheim), +47 63984030, . Proshop: open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (weekends to 5 p.m.). For golf enthusiasts, this 9 hole course is best way to shorten the wait.
  • Ski Hurdal (local bus 815 to Hurdal skisenter), +47 63920200. If you want to spend the wait skiing, the nearest ski resort is in the neighboring municipality Hurdal. Ski equipment rentals, alpine and cross country skiing.

See

The Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection

Close to the airport

  • 1 The Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection (Forsvarets flysamling på Gardermoen), Museumsvegen 35 (in a modern building southwest of Oslo Airport), +47 64 93 67 85. Weekends 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Offers insight into the cost and sacrifices of securing peace and freedom during Norway`s modern history. Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection (Q7060995) on Wikidata Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection on Wikipedia
  • 2 Ullensaker Museum, Tunvegen, Gardermoen (by one of the oldest drill grounds in Norway, Lilleplassen), +47 66 93 66 47. Local museum with a focus on this area, which has played a central role in the Norwegian military history and related to the development of the main airport.

Go next

Routes through Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Trondheim Lillehammer  N  S  Oslo Göteborg
Bergen Hønefoss  W  E  Kongsvinger Gävle


Create category

This huge airport travel guide to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is a usable article. It has information on flights and ground transportation as well as some complete entries for food and beverage options at the airport. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.