Oslo hop-on hop-off bus review
My verdict, and it is the blunt one on this site: at 4.1 from 2,559 reviews this is the weakest-rated of the six tours I cover, and the gap to the others is not small. Read the reviews and the reason is consistent. People book it expecting a tour and get transport. Judged as transport around a city whose sights are spread over a fjord, it is genuinely useful, and it will carry you up to Akershus without the climb from the harbour. Judged as a tour, it is the one that disappoints.
Why the score is 4.1
2,559 people is a large sample, and a large sample rarely produces a 4.1 by accident. What it usually means is a mismatch between what is sold and what is expected, and that is exactly what the review file reads like here. The people who are pleased describe getting places. The people who are not describe a recorded commentary that is no substitute for a guide, and waiting at a stop. Both groups are describing the same bus accurately.
So the useful question is not whether 4.1 is good. It is whether you are buying transport or a tour. If you want someone in front of you who knows Oslo and can be asked a question, that is the Central Oslo walk at 4.7, and the gap between those two numbers is the gap between a person and a headset.
What people who took it say
- “Brilliant. So handy, it stops off everywhere you need it to.” Gemma, Ireland
- “The perfect way to explore a city if it’s your first time there. Plenty of time to get out and explore” Catharina, Belgium
- “The route was as advertised, like we expected.” Nancy, Canada
Notice the vocabulary in the positive reviews. Handy. Plenty of time. As advertised. Nobody is moved by this bus, and the people who rate it well are not pretending to be. That is a reasonable transaction as long as it is the one you thought you were making.
What works
- It gets you up to Akershus Fortress without the climb from the harbour, which matters if hills are a problem
- Oslo’s museums are genuinely spread out, and Bygdøy is a long way on foot
- Nine languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish and Dutch
- 24 or 48 hours of validity, so a 48-hour ticket absorbs a rained-off afternoon
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off, discounted museum entry, headsets and onboard Wi-Fi are included
Worth knowing
- 4.1 from 2,559 reviews is the weakest score on this site and it is deserved as a tour
- The commentary is recorded, so nobody can answer a question
- You wait for buses, and a two-hour walking tour wastes none of your time that way
- Central Oslo is walkable, so a 24-hour ticket can be redundant if you are staying in the middle
- Food and drink are not included
Usually included
- An audio guide and headsets
- Onboard Wi-Fi
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Discounted museum entry
Not included
- Food and drink
- A live guide — the commentary is recorded
- Entry to the fortress grounds, which need no ticket from anyone
The case for booking it anyway
Two cases, and both are real. The first is the hill. The fortress sits on Akersneset and the approach rises from the harbour, with paths, slopes and stairs at varied levels inside the grounds; the sea-side gate that reopened in 2023 is a staircase with no lift. If that is a problem for you or for someone you are travelling with, a bus stop at the fortress solves something a walking tour cannot. The accessibility page goes through the terrain honestly.
The second is geography. Oslo’s museums are not in one district, and the Bygdøy peninsula in particular is a genuine journey. A 48-hour ticket used as a shuttle across a spread-out city is a different purchase from a 24-hour ticket bought as a sightseeing experience, and it is the one that tends to satisfy people.
If you are staying in the middle of Oslo and physically fine on hills, you probably do not need this. Karl Johans gate to the fortress is a short walk and Oslo Central Station to the fortress is 15 to 20 minutes on foot. Check how to get there before you spend a day of validity on a route you could walk.
Who should not book this
Anyone who wants to be guided. Anyone staying centrally for two days who is comfortable walking. Anyone whose main interest is Akershus itself, since the bus stops at it and tells you very little about it; for that, walk it with the Central Oslo tour, see it from the water on the fjord cruise, or go inside with the Home Front Museum tour. And anyone who would rather have two good hours than a day of adequate ones.
The alternatives, and they rate better
Most bookedOslo: Guided Walking Tour of Central Oslo with Local Guide
English or GermanOslo: Best of Oslo Walking Tour
From the waterOslo: Guided Sightseeing Fjord Cruise on Premium Silent Boat
Frequently asked questions
Why is the hop-on hop-off bus rated lower than the other Oslo tours?
Because 2,559 people judged a transport product as a tour. It rates 4.1 against 4.7 for the Central Oslo walking tour and 4.7 for the fjord cruise. The commentary is a recorded audio guide, and visitors who wanted a guide they could ask a question are the ones marking it down.
Does the bus stop at Akershus Fortress?
Yes, the fortress is a stop on the loop, and that is the strongest argument for the ticket. It puts you at the fortress without the climb up from the harbour. What it does not do is tell you much about the place once you are there.
Is it worth it if I am staying in central Oslo?
Often not. Central Oslo is walkable and the fortress is 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Oslo Central Station. The ticket earns its keep if hills are a problem for you, or if you are planning to cross to the Bygdøy museums. See how to get there and accessibility.
What is included with the bus ticket?
An audio guide in nine languages with headsets, onboard Wi-Fi, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and discounted museum entry. Food and drink are not included. Nothing on the ticket has any bearing on the fortress grounds, which are free for everyone.
Should I buy 24 hours or 48?
48 if you are using it as a shuttle across a spread-out city and want a spare afternoon for weather. 24 if you have one specific run to make, such as out to Bygdøy and back. The 48-hour ticket is the one people rate more kindly, because it is the one being used for what the bus is actually good at.