Car Hire Oslo

Car Hire

Few European national capitals are as easy to navigate with car hire as Oslo, which is not only Norway's largest and most populous city, but the third biggest in all of Scandinavia. The surrounding Oslomarka Forest is the main reasons why Oslo has become one of the world's largest national capitals in terms of area. Driving around Oslo itself is fairly simple, and exploring neighbouring attractions like the TusenFryd Amusement Park or Drobak's beaches should not be missed. Oslo also contains no fewer than three airports and an extensive public transit network.

Who to Book With
The widest selections of car rental firms in Oslo are situated within the city's three international airports, the biggest and busiest of which is Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Hertz and Avis are two of the five car hire representatives situated in Gardermoen airport's Arrivals hall. The smaller Moss Airport, Rygge and Sandefjord Airport also include plenty of low cost car hire options. Bislet Bilutleie and Birger N Haug are two independent dealerships found throughout Oslo. Book online in advance to get the best deals.

Best time to go
Summer brings the biggest crowds, the hottest weather and costliest vehicle and hotel rental rates to Norway's notoriously expensive national capital. However, Oslo's climate is surprisingly mild throughout the year for its relatively northern location, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream waters along its coast. Great bargains can often be found during the autumn and spring off seasons. Outdoor ice skating and skiing at the neighbouring Tryvann Vinterpark are Oslo's most popular winter pastimes.

Need to Know Essentials
These documents need to be displayed when picking up rental cars:

- A valid national driving license or International Driving Permit
- A passport or other form of legitimate photo identification
- Proof that the motorist is 19 years of age or older
- A valid credit or debit card

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Norway's major north to south motorway, the E6, runs directly through Oslo's eastern suburbs and leads to the Swedish cities of Malmö and Gothenburg. Oslo is where the E6 connects with the other major motorway, the E18, which links the city with Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg. Other important Oslo motorways include the E134 to Haugesund and the E16, which travels west to Bergen. Ring 3 and Ring 2 are Oslo's two main ring roads.

A complicated one-way street network is the biggest challenge facing driver in Oslo, where motorists will encounter far fewer traffic jams than in most other European capital cities. An Oslo Card, allowing for free parking in all city car parks, is a good investment for drivers. Metered street parking is usually easy to find, but expensive. Pedestrians and trams always have the right of way at Oslo intersections, which are often without traffic lights or stop signs. The £2.86 road tax charged to all motorists driving into Oslo is used to fund the city's public transit network and road construction, but drivers entering Oslo from the west at Lysaker are charged an extra £1.43 tax that is put towards the construction of a new westbound road. All major Oslo roads are dotted with toll booths. Photos of license plates are taken and all toll fees are billed to the homes of vehicle owners.

See our guide to Norway for even more driving tips.

Transport

An Oslo card gives visitors free daytime access to all of the city's many public transit options, free municipal parking and free admission to more than 30 museums and attractions. Oslo Passes cost less than £31 for a 24-hour adult pass, £45.26 for a 48-hour pass, and £56.72 for a 72-hour pass. Ruter operates Oslo's Tunnelbane metro system as well as the city's bus, tram, above ground train and boat network. Taxis are privately owned and expensive.

Besides Oslo Cards, public transit passengers can also purchase £3.09 Travelcards with pay as you go credit. Individual public transit tickets valid for 24 hours cost £8.59, seven-day tickets cost £25.20 each, 30-day tickets cost £71 each, and tickets valid for an entire year cost around £710. Visitors can get further ticket price details at the Ruter website or in person at the Ruter Service Centre at the foot of the clock tower outside Oslo Central Station. The service centre also supplies free city maps.

Trains
There are half a dozen different lines running on Oslo's popular Tunnelbane subway network, which locals call 'T-bane' and which is ranked among Europe's most extensive underground train networks. T-baen stations are easy to spot by white and blue round logos baring the letter ‘T’. All six lines meet at a single tunnel in the middle of the city centre. Oslo also has an extensive above-ground rail network that travels throughout the city and to its surrounding municipalities. Only passengers with pre-validated or stamped tickets can board the cars with orange doors marked 'carriage without conductor' and 'ubetjent.'

Taxis
As Oslo's only privately operated public transportation options, taxis are the most expensive way to travel around the city. Companies like Oslo Taxi charge at least £9.16 per journey, a fee which doubles to £18.32 on weekend nights. Passengers can catch taxis in front of rail stations or hotels, call in advance or flag them down from the street. Credit cards are commonly accepted.

Buses & Trams
Oslo has no central bus station, so most city buses wait by the National Theatre or the Jernbanetorget rail station. The 31 and 37 buses run all night, while most other routes begin at 06:00 and stop at midnight on weekdays and as late as 04:00 on weekends. Trams use the same tickets as buses and mainly cover districts not served by the T-bane. All tram lines converge at Jernbanetorget; they run every 10 minutes during daylight hours and every 20 minutes at night.

Exploring

On weekends, many Oslo residents retreat to the large green Oslomarka forest that encircles the city or the Nordmarka woods immediately south of the forest. Tryvann Vinterpark may be Oslo's closest skiing spot, but many visitors believe the slopes of Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, are worth the 111-mile drive. In summer, the beaches of Drobak and Kalvoya become the most popular holiday retreats. Vinterbro's TusenFryd Amusement Park's thrilling rollercoasters and VikingLandet provide plenty of amusement for fun-seekers of all ages.

Recommended Drives

TusenFryd Amusement Park - Families who visit Oslo between its warmest months from June to December should make the short 12-mile drive south of the city to TusenFryd Amusement Park. Thrill seekers will undoubtedly enjoy the wide variety of roller coasters at this Vinterbro park, while those preferring more sedate attractions can dine at any of the numerous restaurants, ride on the carousels, or learn more about Viking lifestyles at the nearby VikingLandet. Children under a certain height get in free, while seniors enjoy discounted fees.

Drobak - Another popular summer road trip from Oslo is the 22-mile journey to Drobak, a picturesque seaside village whose main attractions are its beaches and its museums dedicated to lutefish and maritime memorabilia. Visitors can also take scenic boat journeys to the historic Oscarsborg fortress.

Tryvann Vinterpark - Once Oslo receives its first snowfall of the year, Tryvann Vinterpark transforms into Norway's most visited ski resort. More than 10 lifts take skiiers to the 18 slopes of various difficulty levels. This winter park no more than a half-hour drive from central Oslo, and the ski season typically lasts between November and April.