8 hours in Oslo airport

Hi all, we have an 8 hour layover in the Oslo airport and wondered if anyone can tell us if 1) is the city close enough to taxi to, 2) would there be something to do/see, 3) anything to keep us busy in the airport for that long (2 adult), 4) there are two walking distance hotels, does anyone know if they rent day rooms?

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi all, we have an 8 hour layover in the Oslo airport and wondered if anyone can tell us if 1) is the city close enough to taxi to, 2) would there be something to do/see, 3) anything to keep us busy in the airport for that long (2 adult), 4) there are two walking distance hotels, does anyone know if they rent day rooms?

 

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

It's a pretty small airport. 8 hours would be a long time to kill. There is a high speed train that will take you right to downtown. It is faster than a taxi and less expensive for a couple, From the train station you can walk to the waterfront a few museums etc.

The Raddisson Blu has day rates. Not sure what they are though. Not sure if the Park Inn has day rates or not but you could email both places via their websites and inquire.

The Speed train leaves every 10th minute and takes 20 minutes into the city centre. The station is situated next to the Oslo Opera which is a must to visit!

Screwcork

Yes, take the airport train to the Central Station and you will be close to the Opera House, the old fort/palace, shops, and restaurants around the Central Station. You can buy your ticket from a vending machine right in the luggage pick up area. Not sure if they have luggage storage (if you need that) at the airport, but they do have it at the Central train station.

I advice you to NOT use the airport express train. The regular trains use about four minutes more to and from the city centre, but is about half the price. They run a little less frequent, but at least three times each hour each way.

Hi all, we have an 8 hour layover in the Oslo airport and wondered if anyone can tell us if 1) is the city close enough to taxi to, 2) would there be something to do/see, 3) anything to keep us busy in the airport for that long (2 adult), 4) there are two walking distance hotels, does anyone know if they rent day rooms? Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Yes, there is much to see and do in a short time in main Oslo. Much depends on your exact personal interests, travel style/desire, etc. How much for arts, culture, history, shopping, architecture, etc.?? How flexible is your budget?? Tell us more.

A plus with a cab is that the driver could allow you to make a key stop or two as you downtown and/or in going back. If you get the right driver, it becomes like a super-charged personal tour and being able to get your various questions answered, etc. Contemporary arts are a super plus in this town, if that fits your interests.

Below are some of the highlights/options that would interest me if I was doing this venture/opportunity that you have.

People will sometimes ask how Oslo compares to Stockholm and Copenhagen. Much of the difference is about the contrast of Oslo's more contemporary great art/design . . . versus . . . the more significant depth of history/design and royal background associated with both Copenhagen and Stockholm. Both of these capitals of Sweden and Denmark have had much longer recent histories of power and wealth, while Oslo is "newer" in many ways.

Questions, reactions??

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 203,085 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Vigeland Park has a wide variety of outdoor sculptures in a super, wonderful setting that is a highlight for Oslo. There is a wide variety of art, water features, spectacular settings, etc. Its admission is free and the views and art are "priceless". It is open 24/7, so hours are not an issue.:

This picture shows the main, historic Akershus Fortress/Castle next to where many cruise ships dock in Oslo. The fortress construction started around the late 1290’s. It successfully survived all sieges, primarily by Swedish forces. It surrendered without combat to Germans in 1940 when the Norwegian government evacuated the capital in the face of the German invasions of Denmark and Norway. The very interesting and moving Norwegian Resistance museum can be visited there. Norwegian Royalty have been buried in the Royal Mausoleum in the castle. A portion of this fortress was replicated at the Norway pavilion at Disney’s Epcot Center.:

At the National Museum in Oslo, there is Munch art, including one of his two famed Scream painting that are in this Norway capital. At the separate Munch Museum, just a little distance away from central Oslo, there is the other Scream painting in Oslo. There are many other of his painting at this museum by the famed artist.:

Here is Oslo’s City Hall exterior and one of its large interior spaces where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually on December 10 each year. This structure houses the city council and city administration, plus art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931 with the main structure completed in 1936. The German invasion of Norway in 1940 caused construction to stop, and it was not resumed until 1947. This City Hall was official opened in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony makes it one of Oslo's most famous buildings. The roof of the eastern tower has a 49-bell carillon which plays every hour. This City Hall is situated in central downtown Oslo dramatically overlooking the scenic harbor area.:

Norway’s Royal Palace and a main Oslo shopping area. This 173-room palace was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the King of Sweden (when they ruled Norway) and is now the official residence of the present Norwegian monarch. It was in 1905 when Norway became completely independent from Sweden.:

Not only is the regular train ticket much cheaper than the Flytoget airport express, you can buy a 24-hour pass for 190 NOK (compared to 180 for the one-way Flytoget ticket). That will cover the trips into the city and back, and you can also use it to get around town on any public transit (bus, trams, metro, and public ferries).

Just find the Ruter public transit counter in the arrivals hall, and they'll sort you out.