Getting from Copenhagen to Oslo (or vice versa) is really easy, and you have plenty of options available: direct train, ferry, bus or a quick flight.
Today, I will tell you everything you need to know about each means of getting from one city to another.
But if you want the easy way out, the best way to get from Copenhagen to Olso is by plane, as it’s the fastest method and not a lot more cheaper than others.
If you prefer scenic routes, take the train from Copenhagen to Oslo or book a ferry. These take longer than flying does, but the amazing views totally make up for it.
With all these in mind, let’s get more in-depth and learn more about the various options you have from getting from Copenhagen to Oslo (and vice-versa).
Copenhagen to Oslo by Plane
Flying might not be as exciting as train travel, or as beautiful and luxurious as a mini-cruise, but you can’t beat the 1:10 hour to get there.
This is the quickest option, hands down, and it’s also surprisingly cheap. Norwegian Air usually has a plane every single day, but there might be other budget air companies offering solid deals.
Norwegian Air’s flight, though, costs between 100 and 300 Euros, depending on when you book. That’s decent for a 1 hour and 10 minutes flight!
Copenhagen to Oslo by Train
I love traveling by train – so much that I actually took a month-long train trip across Europe.
Therefore, I am a bit biased when I say that, unless you really want to get from Copenhagen to Oslo fast, you should go by train. You’ll also be treated with some of the most amazing views possible.
The train is the most popular option among Danes, too. There are multiple departures every day, including bank holidays, and the seats fill up quite nicely. You know an option is good when locals prefer it.
Is there a direct train from Copenhagen to Oslo?
There aren’t any direct Copenhagen to Oslo trains right now, but there are plenty of connection options for you. The fastest (but often not the cheapest) train combination is this:
- The hourly Öresund Link train to Gothenburg
- A Norwegian train from Gothenburg to Oslo Central Station
This way the journey takes you roughly 8.5 hours. The price is around 70 Euros for a one way trip, but make sure to double check as prices tend to go up – or you might even have various discounts available.
Another way to go is a bit longer and involves changing more trains. This would be your trips:
- Copenhagen to Malmo
- Malmo to Linkoping
- Linkoping to Katrineholm
- Katrineholm to Oslo
This will take longer (a little over 10 hours) and is not available on all days. If it is, though, it tends to be at least 30 to 40 percent cheaper… but I find it also a bit more stressful since you have so many connections to make.
There are rarely (if ever) any organizational problems. No delays, no overbooking, no unexpected changes of route, so even though you usually have around 10 minutes to make the connecting train, it’s possible.
How Much Is The Train From Copenhagen to Oslo?
The fares are flexible, much like with planes. This means that you can pay anything between 50 Euros and 120 Euros for a one-way trip.
The price is influenced by the connections you have to make and how much in advance you’re booking your trip.
Usually, the early booking sets you back around 370 DKK (or 50 euros) and if you are very particular about your departure date and hour (and you book later on) it can go up to 700 and over (100+ euros, that is).
As with plane tickets, train tickets tend to be cheaper if you buy them in advance and if you are flexible with your dates. Getting an Eurail Pass might help, if you plan to travel a lot by train.
Even if you are not a budget traveler per se, exploring Scandinavia can get expensive really quick (check the cost of living in Denmark, for example) and you want to try and get the most bang for your buck.
Bottom line about traveling by train:
Approach booking your tickets like you would booking flights. The earlier and the more flexible you are, the cheaper it will be. And expect to switch trains at least once, up to three times, depending on your choice.
For your train journey, you can either use this site or at this one. Bear in mind that the second website charges you a small booking fee.
How Would Your Train Ride Look Like?
I personally took the Copenhagen-Gothenburg-Oslo and I really enjoyed it, even though it’s 7 hours longer than taking the plane.
Here’s what to expect from it, though, based on my own experience on this route:
– The train to Gothenburg leaves from the Copenhagen Central Station, also known as Koebenhavn H (this is what it will say on the booking).
The station is not connected to the Metro system yet, but it is in the center. Get a bus or a cab if you have a lot of luggage and/or you’re not close to it. In all other cases, just walk. It’s quick and free.
– Although high-speed trains to Sweden now require border controls and identity checks before you even board the train, the Öresund is a regional train. You would stop at the border of Sweden instead.
– The passport control station is Kastrup. It usually doesn’t take long but I would allow for 15-30 minute delay when planning my connection.
– The train arrives to the central station at Gothenburg. Your connection to Oslo leaves from the same station.
– There is no passport check or any sort of border control between Sweden and Norway. You can’t even tell that you change countries, and if it’s a night train you might sleep right through it.
– You arrive at the Oslo central station, after taking in some amazing views, no matter if it’s summer or winter.
Copenhagen to Oslo by Ferry
Ferries are a lot of fun, plus this particular one feels more like a cruise.
The ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo sails every night, leaving at around 16:30 and arriving around 9:45 (make sure to double check!). It is not cheap, but it can be classified as affordable luxury.
If you are traveling in summer you would still have some light hours to enjoy the view from the sea. In winter, night falls early and it might already be dusk when you are leaving.
In terms of cabin options, you have:
- Standard cabins with 2, 3 or 4 bunk beds and an en-suite bathroom, shower, and WC.
- Sea view cabins for 1 to 5 people, also with bunk beds and en-suite bathrooms.
- Premium class (Commodore) cabins that range from standard, deluxe, and owners’ suite. These have real double or twin beds with the option of a sofa bed for an extra person. They have flat-screen TV, seating area, and a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. All of the Premium cabins are sea view and almost all give you access to an exclusive lounge area with drinks, snacks and quick Wi-Fi.
As you have probably guessed, the Premium class can get pretty expensive but some of the standard cabins are surprisingly affordable.
You can book them for around 100 euro, provided you buy the tickets in advance. The cheaper cabins sell out the fastest. Pay with a debit card if you can, as credit cards get an additional 5 euro surcharge.
Alternatively, make sure you use a travel credit card that gives you bonus points for that category (they’ll be worth more than the 5 euros in most cases).
Another budgeting tip for the ferry is to pre-book your meals.
You are not allowed to bring food or drinks on the ferry, and if you don’t want to starve you would have to buy their food anyway.
There are four restaurants on board – the Breakfast Restaurant, the Explorers Steakhouse, the Marco Polo Restaurant, and the 7 Seas buffet. The buffet is your most affordable option – the Marco Polo is the fancy place to bring your girlfriend.
You can also book shuttle transfers for a reduced price but you should always double check the price. You could find a better deal if you shop around a bit. If you are in a rush, though, the shuttle is affordable and very convenient.
The Copenhagen to Oslo ferry is available here. They are a British company so you shouldn’t have any language problems with their website, since you probably speak English already.
Copenhagen to Oslo by Bus
You also have the option to take a bus from one place to another, although this is not my preferred method of travel since the trip is pretty long and not as comfortable as the train ride.
It’s better to choose the train, in my opinion (as you can always get up and move and go to the toilet whenever you want to) or the plane if you want to get there fast. Or, of course, the ferry if you’re up for an amazing experience.
But if you REALLY want to, you can definitely take a bus from Copenhagen to Oslo. The main advantage is that they are really cheap, usually cheaper than any of the other recommended methods.
The companies on this route are Flixbus and VyBuss, and they are pretty comfortable and nice. There are toilets on board (but sometimes not working and other times pretty smelly), as well as free WiFi.
The bus ride from Copenhagen to Oslo takes around 8 hours and 30 minutes, while ticket prices can be as low as 28 Euros, but they can go up to 75 Euros depending on when you book. Again, booking in advance usually gives you the best price.
So if you’re really on a low budget and you can’t find a cheaper or similarly priced option via train, then taking the bus could be the best alternative. However, I would always check all the other options first.
Wrapping up
Whichever travel option you choose, I hope you have a fun Copenhagen to Oslo trip – and a blast during your travel in Scandinavia. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!