Planning a journey between the Norwegian capital and the biggest city in Southern Norway? Here's how to travel from Oslo to Kristiansand by train, bus, car or plane.
Oslo and Kristiansand are two of Norway's most popular city destinations, but they offer very different experiences.
Norway's capital Oslo is the entry point for many international visitors, while Kristiansand's location on the southern coast makes it an important gateway for travellers arriving by ferry from Denmark.
I spent two years living in Oslo and still visit the city regularly. Kristiansand is somewhere I've returned to several times, both as a destination in its own right and while travelling around Southern Norway.
The two cities are approximately 320km apart by road, so there are several realistic ways to travel between them.
For most visitors,聽the train or bus will be the best choice. Driving makes sense if Kristiansand is part of a longer road trip, while flying is really only worth considering in certain circumstances. Here's a closer look at all the options.
Introducing Oslo and Kristiansand
Before looking at the journey itself, it's worth understanding how different the two cities are.
Norway's capital Oslo deserves at least a couple of days if you've never visited before. From the waterfront architecture of Bj酶rvika to the museums of Bygd酶y, there's more than enough to fill your time.
Kristiansand has a very different feel. Known throughout Norway as one of the country's best summer cities, Kristiansand combines a compact city centre with beaches, a busy harbour and easy access to the Southern Norwegian coastline.
It's particularly popular with families thanks to attractions including Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park, better known in Norway simply as聽Dyreparken. So, how should you travel between them?
Kristiansand Travel Resources
Make the most of your trip to Kristiansand with these essential travel resources (affiliate links):
聽in Kristiansand with our partners at Booking.com.聽 in Oslo or Kristiansand. from Oslo to Kristiansand. And whatever you do, don't travel without comprehensive聽Travel Insurance!
Train From Oslo To Kristiansand
For many international visitors,聽the train is my preferred option. Direct trains run from Oslo Central Station to Kristiansand on the S酶rland Line, continuing afterwards towards Stavanger.
The fastest journey takes approximately聽4 hours 30 minutes, although exact journey times vary by departure. There are several direct trains each day.
Unlike the bus and the main driving route, the railway doesn't simply follow the southern coastline.
From Oslo, trains travel via Drammen and Kongsberg before crossing through Telemark and the inland areas of Agder on their way to Kristiansand.
That makes the journey interesting in its own right, especially if this is your first time travelling through this part of Norway.
Kristiansand railway station is also very conveniently located. You'll arrive right beside the city centre, within walking distance of many hotels, shops, restaurants and attractions.
The S酶rland Line is currently operated by聽Go-Ahead Nordic, although this will change soon.
Tickets and journey planning are available through the operator or through聽Entur, . Entur can sell train tickets without an additional booking fee.
Prices vary considerably depending on demand, departure and how far in advance you book. If your travel dates are fixed, booking ahead is usually worthwhile.
One thing to watch for is engineering work. Railway maintenance can occasionally result in replacement buses or changed departure times, particularly at weekends, so check your journey shortly before travelling.
Bus From Oslo To Kristiansand
Don't overlook the bus. In fact, depending on your departure time,聽the bus can be faster than the train.
Direct coaches between Oslo and Kristiansand can take around four hours, although traffic around Oslo and along the E18 can increase the journey time.
There are also considerably more bus departures than trains, which makes the coach particularly useful if you're trying to build the journey into a tight itinerary.
The two main operators are聽聽(affiliate link) and聽. Vy operates the VY190 route, while NOR-WAY's NW192 Konkurrenten also links Oslo with Kristiansand and destinations farther west.
Modern Norwegian long-distance coaches are generally very comfortable. Expect reclining seats, toilets, air-conditioning, charging facilities and Wi-Fi on many services. Some Vy double-decker buses also offer upgraded seats with additional space.
Another major advantage is that the journey is city centre to city centre. Buses leave from Oslo Bus Terminal and arrive at Kristiansand's bus station, right beside the railway station and just a short walk from the heart of the city.
If price is your main concern, compare bus and train tickets before booking. Both use dynamic pricing and either one could be the cheaper choice on a particular day. For flexibility, though, the bus has become a very strong option.
Driving From Oslo To Kristiansand
Driving makes most sense if Kristiansand isn't your final destination. The main route follows the聽E18 southwest from Oslo, passing through Southern Norway before reaching Kristiansand.
Under good conditions, expect the drive to take roughly four hours, although summer traffic, roadworks and congestion leaving Oslo can increase that considerably.
If you're simply travelling from one city centre to the other, I would personally choose the train or bus instead. But for a road trip, having a car completely changes the possibilities.
The route provides easy access to places such as T酶nsberg, Sandefjord, Larvik, Krager酶, Ris酶r, Arendal and Grimstad, although some require a detour from the E18 itself.
This stretch of coastline contains many of Norway's classic聽S酶rlandet聽towns, known for their white wooden houses, harbours and lively summer atmosphere. In that case, rather than treating Oslo-Kristiansand as a four-hour drive, consider turning it into a journey of a day or two.
Rental cars are widely available at Oslo Airport, in Oslo itself and in Kristiansand. Remember that driving in Norway involves additional costs beyond the rental price. Depending on your route and vehicle, these can include road tolls, parking and fuel or charging.
Private Transfer from Oslo to Kristiansand
If you don't have your own car and money isn't a concern, consider a (affiliate link) between the two cities. Although pricey, you'll travel in style and comfort in an air-conditioned, luxury vehicle with an English-speaking driver.
Flying From Oslo To Kristiansand
Yes, you can fly. Both聽SAS and Norwegian聽operate direct flights between Oslo Airport Gardermoen and Kristiansand Airport Kjevik, with several departures on many days.
The flight itself takes only around聽50 minutes. That sounds considerably faster than spending four hours on a train or bus, but it's not quite that simple.
Oslo Airport is around 50km north of central Oslo. The train journey from Oslo Central Station to Gardermoen takes a little over 20 minutes, before you factor in the time needed for airport security and boarding.
At the other end, Kristiansand Airport is also outside the city centre. So if you're travelling from central Oslo to central Kristiansand, the time saving from flying can quickly disappear.
Flying makes much more sense if you're聽already at Oslo Airport. For example, if you're arriving on an international flight and your final destination is Kristiansand, connecting to a domestic flight could be much more convenient than travelling into central Oslo and taking the train or bus.
It can also make sense for business travellers when the flight schedule happens to work especially well.
Getting From Kristiansand Airport To The City
Regular local buses connect Kjevik with Kristiansand. Route 35, together with selected departures on route 36, serves the airport and Kristiansand city centre.
These are ordinary local buses operated as part of the Agder public transport network, so normal local fares apply.
There's one important difference compared with a dedicated airport coach: the buses operate according to a fixed timetable. They don't wait for delayed flights.
Check the current schedule with聽聽before travelling, especially if your flight arrives late in the evening. Taxis are, of course, also available.
Should You Take The Train Or Bus?
For most visitors, this is the real decision.
I like the train because there's room to move around, the inland route provides a different view of Southern Norway, and both Oslo and Kristiansand stations are centrally located.
But the bus has some compelling advantages. There are many more departures, the quickest buses can beat the train on journey time, and the E18 route takes a completely different path through Southern Norway.
If I'm planning the trip myself, I'd simply check both options for my intended travel day and choose the best combination of price and departure time.
Both Oslo and Kristiansand are major transport hubs, and with around four hours separating them by surface transport, there's really no need to fly unless it makes sense for your particular itinerary.
How do you prefer to travel between Oslo and Kristiansand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
