Planning your trip to Norway and flying to Oslo and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival at Oslo Airport? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data plans. This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Oslo Airport.
Find out everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Oslo Airport with where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per April 2024, the best e-sim cards for Oslo, my recommendation, info about international sim cards and more.
Depending on the length of your trip to Norway a prepaid sim card or an e-sim card is the best way to stay connected and save money on high roaming charges. One of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad is figuring out what is the best way to stay connected and whether to order an e-sim card on the internet or buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival.
Having internet on your phone while traveling makes life so much easier. In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival but nowadays I mostly order an e-sim card on the internet for visiting Norway.
E-sim cards are simply so convenient to arrange online, be online as soon as the plane lands and have internet on my phone like at home without paying high roaming charges.
As Traveltomtom is on a journey to visit every country in the world and I like to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Dubai, New York, Bogota, Colombia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Douala, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Brazil, Algeria, Curacao and many more.
This sim card guide is specific for Oslo Airport, but of course Traveltomtom also wrote a comparison of the best prepaid sim cards for Norway in 2024.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does not directly recommend buying a prepaid sim card at Oslo Airport, but recommends getting an e-sim card for Norway. E-sim cards are easier to get and above all even cheaper than prepaid sim cards at Oslo Airport.
E-sim cards for Norway already start from $4.5 USD and for $32 USD you get an e-sim with 20 GB data. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Norway via either SimOptions or Airalo.
If you really want to buy a prepaid sim card at Oslo Airport then there is no choice but getting a Lycamobile sim card. It is the only available prepaid sim card for tourists at Oslo Airport. The cheapest sim card plan 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 2024 and find many cheap 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.
If you are visiting several European countries on your trip then definitely check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024.
Best e-sim cards for Norway
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Oslo in 2024 is an e-sim card. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.
You order an e-sim card for Oslo on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Norway e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Oslo it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Norway.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
Here are the Airalo e-sim card plans for Norway for 2024:
- 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 for more info or to order an e-sim card for Norway via Airalo.
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.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions sim cards for more than 5 years now.
SimOptions is specialized in international e-sim cards as well as e-sim cards that include calling and texting. Pretty much all the e-sim cards from SimOptions are valid in all of Europe.
- 1 GB data-only for 7 days = $4.50 USD
- 6 GB data-only for 15 days = $14.9 USD
- 10 GB data-only (5G ready) for 30 days = $22.90 USD
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $23.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Norway via SimOptions.
Before ordering an e-sim card for Norway make sure your phone is unlocked and your phone is e-sim compatible. E-sim cards only work in the newer smartphones. To make sure simply ask Google, they know everything!
There is another e-sim provider tested and reviewed by Traveltomtom and although they sometimes have great e-sim card deals it is not Traveltomtom's first recommendation. Personally I have faced some issues with Nomad e-sim cards and unless they are not improving on reliability and performance Traveltomtom is not recommending Nomad e-sim cards over Airalo and SimOptions.
Not every phone is e-sim compatible and for therefore you can also still order a physical international prepaid sim card for Norway via SimOptions. For $44.90 USD you get 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe. Click here for more info or to order a physical prepaid sim card for Norway.
Norway prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
Although Norway is not part of the EU, most Norway sim cards have free EU data roaming included. Always check first with the mobile internet provider when buying a Norway sim card. Unfortunately the Lycamobile sim card plans at Oslo Airport do NOT include free EU data roaming. 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 2024 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, spacious and easy going. I like Oslo Gardermoen Airport a lot! All airport staff speaks very good English and I am 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 sim card at Oslo Airport
On arrival I looked around and asked for a place to buy a tourist sim card for Norway, but there is not much choice. There is only 1 sim card shop 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 weekdays from 8.00 am till 5.00 pm and in weekends from 10.00 am till 5.00 pm.
If you arrive at Oslo Airport outside these hours it is not possible to buy a tourist sim card on arrival at Oslo Airport. Even more reasons to get yourself an e-sim card for traveling in Norway.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for finding the best Norway prepaid sim card for tourists in 2024 and I tell you exactly where to get a sim card and how much it cost.
Prices Norway sim card at Oslo Airport
All prices and info about Norway prepaid sim cards are updated as per April 2024. Prices are in Norwegian Kroner: $1 USD = 10.7 NOK and 100 NOK = $9.3 USD.
As of April 2024 it is not possible to get an e-sim card at Oslo Airport, only physical prepaid sim cards are available 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
As mentioned before the prepaid sim cards for Norway at Oslo Airport are pretty expensive. Did I already mention that there are e-sim cards for Norway that start from $4.5 USD?
Order a prepaid sim card for Norway online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Oslo online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Oslo with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Oslo, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Norway:
1. O2 Go Card - $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data
- €2 EUR calling credit
- Valid 30 days
2. Three Data Pack - $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90 USD
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls in Europe
- Valid 30 days
5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 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.
Traveltomtom has used both the Bouygues, Three as well as the Orange physical prepaid sim cards in the past and I was always satisfied. However, it is no secret that nowadays I rather use e-sim cards for traveling to Europe instead of physical prepaid sim cards.
If your phone is e-sim compatible then here is a last reminder that you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Norway via either SimOptions or Airalo.
Order a data-only e-sim card for Norway via Airalo or an international e-sim card for Norway including calls/sms and EU data roaming via SimOptions.
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 USD. 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 below.
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 April 2024 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!