Can I pay on board buses and trams in Oslo?
Cash on the bus, no sales on the tram, and the cheaper app option.
Short answer
You can buy a ticket on board Ruter buses and boats in Oslo, but only with cash, while trams and the metro sell no tickets at all. Adults pay NOK 20 extra on board, children and seniors NOK 10, and notes above NOK 200 are not accepted. The Ruter app takes cards, Vipps and Apple Pay.
Why
- Ruter states that you must pay in cash when you buy on board a bus or boat, and that it does not accept banknotes larger than NOK 200.
- Buying on board adds NOK 20 for adults and NOK 10 for children and seniors, on top of the NOK 46 adult single fare for zone 1.
- Ruter's transport regulations say an electronic ticket must be activated when you board or before you enter a ticket control zone.
Details
Ruter tickets can also be bought in the Entur, Vy and Brakar apps. If you prefer a card, a physical travel card with a ticket is sold at Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Mix kiosks and at Ruter's customer centre at Jernbanetorget. A mobile ticket lets you board once its countdown has started.
Tip
Download the Ruter app before you arrive and buy the ticket at the stop, so it is already active when the tram or bus comes.
What may differ
Other cities have other rules: in Bergen, Skyss buses sell single and 24-hour tickets on board for cash or card, but you cannot buy tickets on board Bybanen.
Common misconception
You can tap a bank card to pay when you board a Ruter bus.
What actually happens
On board Ruter buses and boats you can only pay cash; card payment works in the Ruter app and the other ticket apps.
People also ask
- Can I buy a ticket on the bus in Oslo?
- How do I pay for the tram in Oslo?
- Can I pay by card on Ruter buses?
Sources
- Ruter: Buy tickets hereChecked at:
- Ruter: Single ticketChecked at:
- Ruter: Transport regulationsChecked at:
- Ruter: The Ruter appChecked at:
- Skyss: Buying tickets on boardChecked at:
Prices change, so check Ruter before you go.
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