Arriving by plane will be most people’s preferred choice. Although traveling with your bike can be a logistical operation and thus we have dedicated a separate page to this very subject. For those living in a neighbouring Scandinavian or Northern (mainland) European country the ferry maybe a more practical option. If you’re travelling by motorised vehicle you’ll need to set up an ‘autopass’ account to ensure hassle free charges on toll roads and ferries.
Lastly there are trains from Sweden to Norway which connect with the rest of Europe. Unfortunately, the Swedes have a funny rule of not allowing bikes on their long distance trains. You can, however, travel with a bike box and there is one Danish train to Gothenberg. You’ll find more about this and other transport options below.
Oslo Gardermoen airport is the county’s main hub and has direct flights from most major European cities. It also has direct flights to the Middle East, North America, and a handful of Asian destinations. Torp Sandefjord which is a two hours bus ride from Oslo is Norway’s budget airline airport and is used by the likes of Ryanair and Wizz Air. Bergen’s new airport is slowly becoming a great alternative and is now reaching more of Europe directly. In the north, Tromsø is the main airport and has some direct European flights but the majority will require a transfer to Oslo or Bergen.
Other international airports include Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and Ålesund. If you’re planning a long journey around Norway perhaps consider flying into one Airport and departing from another. Arriving in Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, or Tromsø and flying out of Oslo works well for many long-distance cycle routes. If Oslo is the most convenient to fly to but your planned route starts many miles away then sometimes combining the train network is a cheaper option than a flight transfer. Research both options.
For those wanting to start their journey at Nordkapp flying into Alta (via Oslo connection) and taking the bus to the top is probably the most economical solution. You can also fly to Honningvåg and cycle 30km to the top but this domestic flight might be very expensive. There are over 50 domestic airports in Norway and it’s very easy to reach other remote parts of the country with domestic flights. You will find more about this on the ‘getting around’ page.
Other related pages
Departure hall Oslo Gardermoen airport.
An airport is usually your first impressions of a country. Norway puts on one hell of a welcome!
Oslo Gardermoen Airport is one of the world's most beautiful. It's modern, clean, stylish and incredibly efficient.
Flytoget Oslo Airport to the city centre in 19 mins
Waiting for the Airport express bus with a bike box (Ålesund town centre).
Bike on a local train heading to Oslo central.
Only Sweden connects Norway by train
From Copenhagen, you can take a train to Gothenburg via Malmo and then connect to Oslo.
As I mentioned above, Sweden’s no-bike rule on intercity trains causes a lot of inconvenience for those coming from Europe. The Gothenburg – Oslo train does allow a bike (use the VY app) but Malmø to Gothenburg does not. If traveling from the UK, France, Holland, Belgium, or Germany taking a train to Copenhagen or other Danish port towns which have ferry links to Norway is a good option. You can find out more in the ferry section below. Taking bikes on Danish trains is well established and set up and shouldn’t be a problem if this is a good option for you.
UPDATE:
If you take the Öresundståg (which leaves from Copenhagen), you can actually take your bike all the way to Gothenburg by train. There is a train every hour or so (during day time). https://www.oresundstag.se/en/
(Tickets for the Öresundståg are most conveniently bought with the Skånetrafiken App. You’ll need a bike ticket add-on to go over the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmö, but as of writing this, for the rest of the trip to Gothenburg, you can take the bike without additional costs).
My favorite train website Seat61, has a really detailed overview of traveling by train from Europe to Oslo.
The Scandinavian Train network.
Sleeper cabin on a Norwegian train
Gothenberg to Oslo Train (VY operator)
Several boat services connect Norway with mainland Europe. It’s very easy to take your bike onboard and for many, this is a great way to reach Norway. In addition, there are usually discounts for seniors, students, and children. Some ferries will require you to book a cabin which can be quite costly for single travelers. Other ferries, especially in Northern Denmark, have a seat-only option that brings the price down dramatically.
Denmark:
Sweden:
Germany:
Holland:
UK: Unfortunately there are no longer any ferries from Newcastle to Bergen but there is a plan to reinstate this line from the spring of 2026.
Your own boat: there are guest marinas with facilities all along the coastal towns.
A busy bike departure in Oslo from Frederikshavn, Denmark
Seaside Seating - Reclining Seat (Frederikshavn - Oslo). A lot cheaper than a cabin.
The boat from Halmstad in Sweden to Grenaa in Denmark
It’s difficult to travel by bus with your bike. Sweden’s no bike rule means you will need to ensure it is in a bike box. And this does not guarantee it will be accepted in the undercarriage. The driver will have the final say based on the space available.
The VY express is a modern and comfortable fleet of buses connecting Norway and Sweden
You can pay for extra leg room and a wider seat
Oslo Bus Terminal waiting for the Gothenburg bus
Cycle Norway is dedicated to making Norway, safer and more enjoyable to experience by bike and to inspire and inform a growing audience of the opportunities available.
