Checked out IKEA-bussen, and it's definitely not your typical massive IKEA maze. This is a…read moresmaller-format store, so you won't find the endless showroom or full warehouse vibe you might be used to. Instead, it's more of a compact, city-friendly version where you can grab essentials, browse some displays, and order bigger items for delivery. I stopped in for a well-priced bottle of water and a USB-C cable in that classic IKEA yellow making it super easy to spot at night, which I actually loved. It's convenient if you live nearby or just need a few basics without trekking to the giant IKEA outside of town. But if you're after the full IKEA experience andwandering through endless rooms, grabbing big pieces on the spot, and topping it off with meatballs then this isn't it. Still, for quick trips and small hauls, it definitely does the job.

Quick and easy, every hour to each of two IKEAs so a bus every 30m.read more

Gayle and I used Oslo Taxi twice during our recent visit to Oslo. The first time was from our…read moreOceania Cruise ship to the Bristol Hotel. The second was from the Bristol Hotel to the Gardermoen Airport. The first was a relatively short city hop, while the Oslo airport is way the hell out-of-town. Service in both cases was efficient, albeit a little quiet (Scandinavian Reserve?), while the fares were quite reasonable. Our only regret was not getting a chance to tip the Airport guy as he ran the transaction without. In-between those 2 bookend rides, Gayle and I did a lot of walking!

Made mistake of flagging down a taxi near the hotel I was staying at. Gave the driver the address…read morebut he seemed confused but assured us everything ok. Didn't speak good English. Was not Norwegian. Took us in the wrong direction then back in direction of hotel and when we complained, he apologized and said he wasn't going to charge us but willing to keep trying to get us to the pier where we were meeting a boat for a cruise at a specific time. Finally 40 minutes later after we gave him landmarks we arrived. I felt bad not to give him some money but that is when he wanted 100 kr more. We refused and left him with what I thought was fare but maybe even over priced for what should have been a 10 min ride that turned into 40 mins of anxiety. Btw, I never saw him turn on a meter.

Took the train in and out of Oslo Sentral last week and it was a quick and easy experience. The…read morelocal commuter train from the airport took 25 minutes and it was easy. On the train out, leveraged the grocery store, restaurant on the upper level, and coffee shops before heading on my long distance train out of Oslo. The train station was orderly and uniformed staff were available to help.

The Oslo Sentralstasjon is the train station in the center of the city. If you're planning to take…read morepublic transit or travel throughout the country, with Oslo en route, you will make a stop or start or end here at Oslo Sentralstasjon. I was so impressed by this train station, reminding me that America once again lags in public transit systems. I recommend getting an accommodation walking distance to the Oslo sentralstasjon if you're visiting and planning to travel throughout the country. My experience here every time was pleasant. I first arrived to this station from the airport, taking a dedicated train service that gets you directly from the Oslo airport to here. Then I had to visit the train station again when I was traveling westward from Oslo. Make it a point to be nearby this train station for your trip planning. The train station is very clean and easy to navigate. There are signs everywhere of train departure times and locations and it's in English. There were also plenty of places to sit, relax and lots of eateries in the station and nearby. Many hotels are also next to this train station, and there's an area for car pick-up, taxis, etc. I was pleased to have this station so accessible for my Norway vacation, making it easy and pleasant to travel around.