🚇💼 Ruter travel passes and zones: how to choose the best option for remote workers

If you are coming to the capital region to ‘work and live’ for 2–4 weeks, it is important not to overpay for transport. Below is a simple guide to zones, ticket types and practical scenarios for remote work with occasional trips to the office.

🗺️ How zones are organised and what tickets are available

• The zone system covers the metro, trams, buses and Vy city trains within the region. The entire metro is zone 1. OSL Airport is 4N. A map of the zones is available on the Ruter website and in the app; the planner will calculate the zones you need.
• Ticket types: single (one-way), 24-hour, 7-day, 30-day, 365-day. A single ticket is valid for 60 minutes in one zone (+30 minutes for each additional zone), transfers are allowed.
• Where to buy: in the Ruter app (a physical card is also acceptable — sold at Narvesen/7-Eleven/Mix; costs 50 kroner). On board, you can only buy tickets on buses and boats, and they are more expensive; you cannot buy them on trams or the metro.

📊 How to choose a travel card for remote work (2–4 weeks, 3–4 office days/week)

• Calculation basis: single ticket in 1 zone — 44 NOK (72 NOK for 2 zones, etc.). The app offers a dynamic discount called Reis on single tickets — up to 40% off for frequent travel over the last 30 days.
• Ruter guidelines: the 24-hour pass pays for itself if you make more than 3 trips per day; the 30-day pass pays for itself if you make ≥30 trips per month. Converting to ‘office days’: this is approximately ≥15 office days (round trip) in 30 days.
• Example for 2 weeks with 3 office days/week: this is ~12 trips. Single tickets (taking into account the Reis tiered discount) are often cheaper than a 30-day pass.
• Example for 4 weeks with 4 office days/week: ~32 trips. Here, a 30-day pass for zone 1 (adult: 985 NOK) is usually cheaper than single tickets + Reis.

Quick test: if you plan to work ≥15 office days in 30 days, get a 30-day pass; 6–12 office days in 2–3 weeks — single tickets + Reis, sometimes a 7-day pass for a ‘busy’ week.

📅 7-day, 24-hour and ‘mixed’ schemes

• For a ‘busy’ week (5 office days, meetings, weekend trips), a 7-day pass for zone 1 is usually cheaper than 10 single tickets and also saves you the headache of transfers/timing. The approximate price for zone 1 is 366 NOK (check in the app when purchasing).
• If you have a lot of trips in one day (meetings/clients), go for a 24-hour pass: it pays for itself if you make more than 3 trips a day.
• For a ‘stretched out’ 2-3 weeks: a combination of one 7-day pass for the busiest week + single tickets (with Reis) for the other days is often cheaper than a monthly pass.

➕ If you live ‘beyond the ring’: how to calculate zones and avoid overpaying

• No need to manually calculate zones — enter ‘from/to’ in the Ruter planner, and it will select the ticket and zones automatically.
• There is an option ‘ticket for additional zones’ for your season ticket (24 hours/7 days/30 days/365 days) — convenient if, for example, you have a monthly ticket for zone 1 but sometimes travel to zone 2: the additional charge is from 44 NOK for 1 additional zone.
• Ruter tickets are also valid on Vy trains within the paid zones (this is often faster for the ‘Lillestrøm-Centre’, ‘Sandvika-Centre’ corridors, etc.).

🚇 Travel tips: metro/tram/trains and combining with a bike

• On weekdays, the fastest way to get around the city is usually the metro (all zones are zone 1) and Vy trains on key routes; trams are convenient for short trips in the city centre. Plan by time rather than by type of transport — tickets are valid everywhere within the zones.
• For rare trips outside the city, check the zone of your destination and buy a single ticket for the required number of zones or add ‘additional zones’ to your travel card.

🛒 Where to buy and how to activate

• Ruter app — a one-stop shop for planning, purchasing and storing tickets. You can choose the start date/time of your season ticket.
• Physical card: purchase and top up — at Narvesen/7-Eleven/Mix, metro service points in the centre, Ruter S at Jernbanetorget; card cost 50 NOK.
• Purchase on board (bus/boat) — more expensive and cash only; Tickets are not sold on trams/metro.

📝 Mini checklist for a quick start (2–4 weeks)

• Install the Ruter app and link your card.
• Assess your weekly routine: office days × trips → select single + Reis / 7 days / 30 days.
• Check your zone in the planner; remember that the entire metro is zone 1.
• If you are purchasing a monthly pass for zone 1, bookmark ‘additional zones’ in case of occasional trips.
• Need a physical card? Buy a plastic card for NOK 50 at Narvesen/7-Eleven and top it up.

For 2–4 weeks of ‘office + remote work’, a bundle of single tickets with Reis or a 7-day pass for a busy week will suffice. If you travel ≥30 times a month, switch to a 30-day pass. If you are unsure about the zones, use the planner, and keep a ‘ticket for additional zones’ handy for rare long trips. It's flexible and there are no extra charges.