How to get from Copenhagen to Oslo
Visiting Copenhagen but want to see more of Scandinavia during your Europe trip? I don’t blame you.
I’m a big Scandinavia lover and of Norway in particular. It’s got cool cities like Oslo, the mountains in the west near Bergen and then the Arctic city of Tromsø (where we got married!), and the beautiful Lofoten Islands too. There’s a whole lot to love.
Copenhagen too is a very cool city with so many cafes, museums, parks and things to see and do.
If you’re looking for the best way to travel between Copenhagen and Oslo then you’re in the right place
Having done this journey before, I’ve done all the research and looked at the pros and cons of how to get from Copenhagen to Oslo.
Below, you’ll find price ranges, duration and how to book tickets (which I recommend so you can pack as much as possible into your trip without waiting for length changes).
If you decide to do a Scandinavia road trip and drive from Copenhagen to Oslo, I’ve got you covered from some cool cities to visiting along the way in Sweden.
You can also do the same if you’re travelling by train or bus meaning you get to visit 3 countries (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) while getting from Copenhagen to Oslo.
From Copenhagen to Oslo by ferry
- Duration: 17 hours
- Average cost: Prices start from about €56, average one way trip cost for 2 people and 1 car is around €250 in a standard cabin when booked a few months in advance.
- Pros: Relaxing, easy, port to port
- Cons: Takes a long time, can be pricey (but not too bad when all costs are considered)
- Where to book: Online at DFDS, advanced booking recommended
For a relaxing journey, the Copenhagen to Oslo ferry is a great option. It means you don’t have to drive for a long distance, you can sit back and relax in your private cabin, or wander around the deck to stretch your legs, and then drive off once you reach the other side.
Onboard you’ll find children’s play areas, shops and several restaurants. There are also swimming pools and entertainment.
DFDS run ferries between Copenhagen and Oslo on most days of the week. During the journey, you’ll cross the Kattegat Sea and the Skagerrak Strait which takes around 17 hours.
Personally, I enjoy these types of overnight sailings since you’ve then got a night’s accommodation included ad you can wake up in the morning a lot closer to your destination.
You can pre-book your meals at the time of booking for a discount, or buy on board/bring your own meals.
You can book cabins with or without a sea view and premium cabins come with wifi and you can bring your car too. However since Copenhagen and Oslo are so easy to travel around using public transport, a car is not necessary in my opinion.
Taking the ferry Copenhagen – Oslo can actually be cheaper than flying in many instances especially when you consider that your baggage is pretty much unlimited (it’s more how big is your car?), you can travel with your car to avoid rental prices and you get a night’s accommodation included.
Mini-cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo
- Duration: 2 days with time in Oslo and return transport
- Price: From €55 per person
- Pros: Cheaper prices, great for a short trip
- Cons: Doesn’t include car, limited time in Oslo
- Where to book: Online with GetYourGuide
DFDS also offer what they call a mini-cruise to Oslo from Copenhagen by ferry which gets you a return overnight crossing in a cabin without a car.
You get about 6.5 hours in Oslo to explore, and two nights accommodation/travel onboard the boat.
If you weren’t planning to travel with a car anyway and want to end up back in Copenhagen after visiting Oslo, this is a great option that can cost as little as €55 per person.
Book Copenhagen to Oslo ferry mini cruise
Copenhagen to Oslo train
- Average duration: 8.5 hours
- Average price: ~€75 per person
- Pros: Quick, comfortable
- Cons: Not direct, there may be bus replacement
- Where to book: Online through Omio
There is no direct train between Copenhagen and Oslo, you’ll need to change in Gothenburg (where I’d recommend spending a night to explore if you have the time!).
The total journey from Copenhagen to Oslo by train takes about 8.5 hours with this one change.
Trian rides between the two cities are comfortable and pretty scenic. You’ll be travelling at high speeds past beautiful countryside, fields, forests and sections of coastline.
You’ll also go over the Øresund bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö which is a pretty cool experience, especially if you’re a fan of Nordic Noirs and have watched the TV show!
Trains in Denmark, Norway and Sweden are very comfortable and the Swedish company SJ has great wifi. I imagine the others do too, but I haven’t tested them personally.
The cheapest way to book your tickets is to purchase it in two legs.
- Copenhagen to Gothenburg: 4 hours, around €44
- Gothenburg to Oslo: ~4 hours, around €32
The first leg of your journey is on the Øresundstag trains which are Danish and are comfortable with luggage storage racks.
The second runs on the Norweigan trains (Entur) and are slightly more expensive, but there’s not much in it.
If you’re travelling soon you will find you may need to get a bus as there is work being done on the railways between Gothenburg and Oslo. Some occasional trains Copenhagen to Oslo are still running but delays are expected.
Booking in advance is recommended in order to get the best prices in both direction including the Oslo to Copenhagen train.
Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!
Bus from Copenhagen to Oslo
- Average duration: 8 hours
- Average price: €50 per person
- Pros: Cheapest option, direct route available
- Cons: Often the least comfortable way to travel, subject to road traffic
- Where to book: Online through Omio or Flixbus
If you’re travelling around Scandinavia on a budget, taking the Copenhagen to Oslo bus is the cheapest way to travel. You can take a direct bus from Copenhagen to Oslo’s bus station right in the city centre.
There are a few companies with buses between Copenhagen and Oslo; Ørestunstag, Bus4You and Flixbus. Since you can book Bus4You and Ørestunstag online in advance on Omio very easily they’re my choices.
All the bus companies offer free wifi and have charging points and toilets on board. With Ørestunstag you can pay slightly more for a first class ticket which gets you more legroom. It’s usually less than €10 more so I’d recommend it, especially if you’re travelling overnight.
Another thing to note is that Ørestunstag’s buses from Copenhagen to Norway are not direct and you’ll need to change at least once depending on the exact one you pick. This is good if you want to see some more places along the way, but not great if you just want the easiest and quickest route to Oslo from Copenhagen.
The cheapest prices can be found in advance and you can book a bus overnight if you want to avoid paying for accommodation though obviously, it’s not the most comfortable solution.
The buses leave multiple times through the day daily, with slightly more options available through Flixbus at weekends if that’s when you’re travelling.
You can book the bus online in advance through Omio to find the best prices.
Driving from Copenhagen to Oslo
- Average price: €130 for tolls and petrol. Car rental fees vary. Price per group.
- Duration: 6-7 hours
- Pros: Can be cheaper per person if a family, most flexible, fairly quick
- Cons: Can be expensive if renting a car, especially if dropping off in a different place to where you booked
- Where to book: You can rent a car through DiscoverCars or RentalCars to find the best deals. I usually search both.
I love a road trip and if you’re living in Scandinavia or renting and travelling with a car then driving between the two cities is a great way to explore the countries as you pass through them.
Though this option is a bit more reliant on you (staying awake, planning the route etc), it is easily the most flexible.
Though you can easily explore Oslo without a car, it is nice to have one if you plan on getting out of the city to explore more of the beautiful outdoors. It’s also handy if you’re travelling as a family or as a group where you can split costs between you.
There are some tolls along the way which will cost about €60 if driving in a standard vehicle. Fuel prices in Norway, and Scandinavia in general, are very high due to taxes.
I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!
Copenhagen to Oslo flights
- Average duration: 1 hour
- Average price: €150 per person, one-way (+ additional baggage fees)
- Pros: Quickest route
- Cons: Least environmentally friendly, often expensive + have to hang around in airports
- Where to book: Skyscanner
While flying is the quickest way to travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, it’s he worse environmentally and can often be the most expensive with frequent delays and waiting around in airports rather than seeing places.
When there are such good public transport options available it seems a shame to fly but if you must fly here’s what you need to know.
Copenhagen to Oslo by plane takes about 1 hour and you can book with Norwegian Air or SAS with the former generally having lower pricing options. I’ve flown with Norwegian Air several times from Norway to the UK and never had any issues, but friends did have severe delays returning from our wedding on their SAS flights. No airline is perfect, but I’d choose Norwegian.
Book as far in advance as possible to get the cheapest prices and the best deals on flights from Copenhagen to Oslo or on your Oslo to Copenhagen flights.
Also, bear in mind that you’ll need to factor in the price of trains to and from the city centre to the airport and vice versa. Oslo’s Gardemoen Airport is fairly far out of the city centre itself. You can get a quick direct train that’s quite expensive, or a cheaper slower one depending on whether you value time or money more.
Where to stop between Copenhagen and Oslo
If you’re looking to break your journey up between Copenhagen and Oslo, here are some great places to visit in Sweden along the way.
Malmö
Malmö sits just across the bridge from Copenhagen in Denmark and is a super cute city that I loved.
It has pretty beach areas, beautiful parks and a super cute old town area as well as plenty of shopping, bars and restaurants.
Check out the colourful old buildings off of Stortorget (the main square), glance up at the Turning Torso skyscraper and visit Malmö Castle.
Copenhagen to Malmo is also a great day trip idea!
Helsingborg
Helsingborg is a pretty town along the coast between Malmö and Gothenburg that has a great mix of history culture and beautiful places.
You can check out the medieval fortress of Helsingborgs Slott, walk along the picturesque waterfront promenade, or enjoy views of the Öresund Strait.
The city also has some beautiful beaches, including the popular Råå Vallar.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is Sweden’s second-largest city and has a great mix of city attractions and beautiful outdoor places.
The old town, cobbled streets of Haga is a must-visit for cafes and vintage shops, while Liseberg, Scandinaia’s largest theme park is fun for all ages.
Be sure to check out the Gothenburg archipelago and the parks too from the Botanical Gardens to the lakes and woodland trails of Delsjön.
FAQS about the best way to travel from Copenhagen to Oslo
How long is the ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo?
Can you take a train from Copenhagen to Oslo?
Is there a Copenhagen to Oslo night bus?
Is the train from Copenhagen to Oslo scenic?
How far is it from Copenhagen to Oslo?
Final thoughts on getting to Oslo from Copenhagen
There are various ways of travelling between Copenhagen and Oslo and the ultimate decision comes down to what you’re looking for.
For the cheapest option pick the bus or the mini-cruise by ferry if you’re looking for a return journey.
For the option with the most flexibility, pick renting a car and driving between Copenhagen and Oslo or if you want a scenic, trip where you can sit back and relax the train is the best option
Ultimately we decided to travel by train and I would highly recommend doing that too. However, if you’re looking to travel from Oslo to Copenhagen for a day or two, then the minicruise is a great, affordable option.
If you’re travelling from Oslo to Copenhagen you can use the information above, just in reverse!
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
