Planning a trip to Norway, flying to Oslo and wondering what is the best way to get connected? Avoid high roaming costs and buy a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for traveling in Norway. This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Oslo Airport. Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per June 2023, the best e-sim cards for Oslo, my recommendation, info about international sim cards and more.
Buying a local prepaid sim card or ordering an e-sim card online is the best way to avoid high roaming costs and it is a super easy and the most reliable way to stay connected. Getting connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country and because I am already a digital nomad and travel blogger since 2012 I already wrote more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world. Especially since I am also trying to visit every country in the world.
So next time when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Some example of sim card guides: Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Dubai, New York, Bogota, Colombia, Hong Kong, Douala, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Brazil, Algeria, Curacao and many more.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a sim card at Oslo Airport, but recommends getting an e-sim card for Norway. Much easier and even cheaper. E-sim cards for Norway already start from $4.5 USD.
If you really want to buy a prepaid sim card at Oslo Airport then there is no choice but getting a Lycamobile sim card, as that is the only option! The cheapest sim card costs $34 USD and you get 15 GB data.
Because a prepaid sim card at Oslo Airport is pretty expensive Traveltomtom also recommends looking into an international sim card for traveling to Norway. Read my article about the best international travel sim cards in 2023 and find many cheaper travel sim cards.
Personal recommendations are: 3 UK sim card for $24.90 USD with 10 GB data and unlimited calls in Europe or an e-sim card for Norway with 10 GB data for $21 USD.
Best e-sim cards for Norway
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Norway in 2023 is an e-sim card. No more swapping physical sim cards and finding a sim card shop. Just order an e-sim card online, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and done.
Check out the following Norway e-sim cards plans:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to order a Norway e-sim card directly online.
The above data-only e-sim cards for Norway are from Lofotel and data is only valid in Norway. Lofotel operates on the Telenor 4G/LTE network in Norway.
There are also international e-sim cards for traveling to Norway valid in all of Europe and up to 70 countries. Big plus about these e-sim cards is that they also include calling and texting.
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for traveling to Norway.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before buying an e-sim card for Norway. Also your phone has to be unlocked to make an e-sim card work.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible and you want to order a sim card on the internet before your trip then check out international prepaid sim cards. These sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Norway and you save the hassle of buying a Norway sim card at Oslo Airport on arrival. For $24.90 USD you get 10 GB data + unlimited calls in Norway and Europe. Click on the link or the banner above for more info.
Norway sim cards and traveling in Europe
Although Norway is not part of the EU, most Norway sim cards have free EU roaming included. Always check first with the mobile internet provider when buying a Norway sim card. Unfortunately the Lycamobile sim card plans they sell at Oslo Airport do NOT include free data roaming in Europe. So if you travel to any other country in Europe after visiting Oslo you will have to buy another sim card again.
To avoid this check out my comparison of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023 and order a sim card online that works in all of Europe.
Oslo Gardermoen Airport
Oslo Gardermoen is a very modern airport and has two arrival halls. It is very easy to navigate, modern, spacious and easy going. I like Oslo Gardermoen Airport! All the staff speaks very good English and Im sure you won’t have a problem getting around the airport.
Be aware that there is another Oslo Airport in use which is actually an hour southwest of Oslo. It is called TRF Oslo and is mostly used by low cost carriers for flights within Europe.
Where to buy a Norway sim card at Oslo Airport
I looked and asked around for a sim card shop but everyone gave me the same answer: there is only 1 place where you can buy a Norway sim card at Oslo Airport and that is at a little Lycamobile kiosk in front of the 7Eleven shop.
The Lycamobile shop at Oslo Airport is only open on week days from 8.00am till 5.00pm and in weekends from 10.00am till 5.00pm.
May you arrive at Oslo Airport outside these hours you are basically not even able to buy a sim card for Norway at Oslo Airport. Even more reasons to get yourself an e-sim card for traveling in Norway.
If you can wait till Oslo city center you can find much better prepaid sim card deals for Norway. Check out my guide for the best Norway sim card for tourists in 2023.
Prices Norway sim card at Oslo Airport
In the picture above you can see what the Lycamobile kiosk at Oslo Airport looks like. The very friendly guy will help you set up everything and get you connected. A Lycamobile sim card for Norway is for free if you buy one of the prepaid data plans.
This Norway prepaid sim card will be registered on your name so have your passport ready for the registration.
Lycamobile Norway offers the following data plans.
Data only:
- 15 GB data for all of Europe = 299 KR - $27.4 USD
- 30 GB data for all of Europe = 399 KR - $26.5 USD
- 100 GB data for all of Europe = 699 KR - $63.9 USD
All the above packages are valid for 30 days and a hotspot is available.
Data & calling:
- 6 GB data for all of Europe + 1,000 minutes and 200 sms in Norway + 200 international minutes = 299 KR - $27.4 USD
- 15 GB data for all of Europe + unlimited calls and sms in Norway + 500 international minutes = 399 KR - $26.5 USD
- 30 GB data for all of Europe + unlimited calls and sms in Norway + 500 international minutes = 499 KR - $45.6 USD
Did I already mention that there are e-sim cards for Norway that start from $4.5 USD?
Buy a sim card for Norway online
Don’t waste finding a place to buy a sim card in Oslo city center or at the airport. Order a an international prepaid sim card for Norway on the internet and get it shipped to your home address before your trip. The following sim cards for traveling in Norway are valid in all of Europe and up to 70 countries around the world and include calling minutes.
Check out these international sim cards for Norway:
Three data pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data in Europe and in the UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and the UK
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Norway directly online.
Personally I can recommend the Orange Holiday Europe sim card that I have used multiple times in the past and never had any issues. However, nowadays I use e-sim cards for traveling to Europe.
Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can easily order a data-only e-sim card for traveling in Norway or an international e-sim card for Norway including calls and sms.
How to get from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to the city center
There are several ways to get back to the city. A taxi will cost you close to $100 USD and it takes about 40 minutes, an Uber is much cheaper and will cost around $80. Still really expensive compared to a train or bus ticket. There is a direct Oslo Airport city link that costs about $30 USD, but it is just 5 minutes faster than the local train that costs only $12 USD.
There are also busses that connect Oslo Airport with the city center, but I recommend you taking the train from Oslo Gardermoen Airport.
I hope some of the above tips for buying a sim card at Oslo Airport were helpful for your upcoming Norway holiday. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to leave me a comment or contact me on social media for Norway travel tips.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of June 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Oslo!
Some links in this article about the best Oslo sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!