Transport and Driving in Norway

When using transport and driving in Norway, you'll have access to one of Europe’s most efficient and well-connected systems, with most of the country covered by trains, bus services and ferry lines. Getting around in Norway is straightforward and hassle-free, with regular services connecting major cities and smaller towns alike.

Norway’s investment in green transport makes public options particularly attractive, with excellent connectivity between different transport modes throughout the Norwegian network.

Getting Around in Oslo
Getting Around in Bergen
Getting Around in Stavanger

Public transport in Norway

Public transport in Norway ranks among the most punctual and reliable networks in Europe, particularly in major cities like Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. Each city runs its own transport system – Ruter in Oslo, Skyss in Bergen, and AtB in Trondheim – with dependable bus, tram and train routes that take you wherever you need to go. Buses and trams typically depart every 5, 10 or 15 minutes during peak hours. Outside normal hours, they leave every 20 or 30 minutes within the city limits.

Long-distance trains and buses have schedules for each city, which you can easily find online using journey planners like Entur. Norway’s public transport can be pricey, but there are cost-effective options for long-term use, such as season tickets and discount programmes like Ruter’s ‘Reis’ in Oslo and Skyss’s Travel Discount in Bergen. Most transport systems now offer mobile apps for ticket purchases, making your journeys more convenient.

Trains

When travelling in Norway by train, you’ll find that the Oslo Central Station (Oslo Sentralstasjon) serves as the main hub for rail travel throughout the country. Vy (formerly NSB) remains the primary train operator offering domestic services, although other operators like SJ NORD and Go-Ahead now run some routes as well. International trains connect Oslo to Gothenburg, Stockholm (via Karlstad), northern Sweden and down to Malmö.

Buses

Oslo’s central station sits next to the main bus station, where all express and international buses depart and arrive. You can reach the city by bus from most of Europe. Norway’s respective counties manage their individual public bus services, while various private local and international companies run long-distance bus services. The bus network provides excellent coverage even to remote areas not served by trains.

Ferries

Since much of Norway hugs the coast, ferries often provide the fastest form of transport. The Hurtigruten ferry service follows the entire coastline from north to south and offers a scenic introduction to your new home country. From Oslo, regular ferries take passengers to Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Ferry lines also connect the south of Norway to the UK, although services vary seasonally.

Useful links

• Vy: Norwegian State Railway
• Hurtigruten: Ferry Service
• Entur: National Journey Planner

Taxis in Norway

Taxis in Norway offer convenience at a premium price. You’ll spot official taxis at designated ranks in city centres, railway stations and airports, or you can order them by phone or mobile app. Major cities have several taxi companies, with Oslo Taxi leading in the capital. Ride-hailing service Bolt now operates in larger cities like Oslo, although traditional taxis still dominate the market. Unlike many other European capitals, Uber has very limited operations in Norway due to regulatory hurdles.

Most taxis accept payment by credit card, and while tipping isn’t expected, rounding up to the nearest 10 kroner is common practice. For safety and fair pricing, stick to official taxis that display their company logo and licence number. Many taxis now offer fixed-price options for airport routes, helping you manage costs for these common journeys.

Useful links

• Bolt: Ride-Hailing App
• Norgestaxi: National Taxi Service
• TaxiFix: Taxi Comparison App

Driving in Norway

When driving in Norway, you’ll drive on the right-hand side of the road. While some expats buy cars, you’ll need to master driving in the country’s challenging winter conditions before taking to the roads. Norway’s vast network of electric vehicle charging stations makes it perfect for EV owners, reflecting the country’s push toward 100 percent zero-emission new vehicle sales.

Major roads in Norway shine in quality, but this changes once you leave the south. The sparsely populated areas and rugged, mountainous terrain mean that major roads are few and often only consist of two lanes. On weekends and holidays, these roads back up with traffic for hours, so plan for delays. The scenic tourist routes get particularly busy during the summer months.

Regulations on cars and driving don’t mess about. Fines are based on your salary; the more you earn, the harder your wallet gets hit for speeding. Norway has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving, with steep fines and prison sentences for offenders.

The country uses a points system (prikkbelastning) to handle traffic offenders. Two points land on your record for most violations, except in minor speeding cases.

If you accumulate eight or more points during a three-year period, your driver's licence gets temporarily revoked, usually for six months. Each point disappears when three years have passed since the violation. After serving the six-month ban, your driving record gets wiped clean. Road authorities conduct regular checks for appropriate tyres during winter months, with a minimum tread depth of 3mm required for winter tyres (compared to 1.6mm for summer tyres).

Driver’s licences

Depending on where your driver's licence comes from, you can use your home country licence in Norway, but you may eventually need to exchange it for a Norwegian licence. When exchanging your foreign driver's licence, you must send it to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration with an application for exchange. 

As of April 2024, there are updated regulations for exchanging non-European Economic Area (EEA) licences, with specific rules for countries like Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, and the USA. You might need to take a driving test, which involves substantial fees. EEA residents can use their home country driver's licence as long as it remains valid, although if it was originally exchanged from a non-EEA country, different rules apply.

If you want to pursue a Norwegian licence, expect to invest significant time and money. Beyond basic skills, you’ll learn to drive on ice and handle snowy conditions. Winter driving courses form part of the mandatory training, with specific instruction on handling vehicles in slippery conditions – knowledge you’ll appreciate during Norway’s long winter season.

Useful links

• Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Driving Licences
• Vegvesen: Foreign Driving Licences in Norway

Domestic flights in Norway

Domestic flights in Norway provide a critical transport option throughout this vast country, with Norway having more flights per capita than any other European country. The routes connecting Oslo to Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger rank among the 10 busiest in Europe. The main carriers are Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Widerøe, which primarily serves regional routes to smaller airports.

Partnerships between airlines have improved in recent years, with Norwegian and Widerøe extending their interline agreement to allow passengers to connect to points on both airlines’ networks on a single ticket. Widerøe now operates from five bases in Norway – Bergen, Bodø, Oslo, Sandefjord and Tromsø – serving more than 50 destinations across the Nordic region.

Useful links

• Scandinavian Airlines
• Norwegian Air Shuttle
• Widerøe
• Norse Atlantic Airways