How to get to Akershus Fortress
Walking from Oslo Central Station
Fifteen to twenty minutes, and the simplest thing you will do all day. The fortress sits on Akersneset, the headland in the middle of Oslo’s harbour, so you are walking towards the water and slightly left. Come in through the main entrance at Kirkegata and you arrive at the top of the site rather than at the bottom of a climb.
Walking from the harbour promenade
The promenade runs along the water and connects the fortress with the Opera House in one direction and Aker Brygge in the other. It is flat, it is obvious, and it is the nicer approach in decent weather. The catch is that it delivers you to the bottom of the headland, so you finish with a climb.
In March 2023 a small west-facing gate in the fortress wall, opposite Shed 38, reopened after twenty years. It gives a staircase link straight up from the Harbour Promenade, about 300 metres shorter than going round via Kongens gate. It is a staircase, with no lift and no ramp — if that rules it out, the accessibility page covers the alternatives.
If you are arriving at the fortress after 18:00 between October and April, use the main gate at Kirkegata. The side gates close at 18:00 in that season while the main gate stays open until 21:00 all year. The full gate schedule is on the opening hours page.
Public transport
- Tram — to Kontraskjæret, at the north-west corner of the site. This is also where the guard parade forms up in summer.
- Metro — to Stortinget or Nationaltheatret, then walk down towards the water.
- Train — to Oslo S or Nationaltheatret. From Oslo S you may as well walk the rest.
I am not printing tram or bus numbers. Oslo reshuffles its tram routes often enough that a number written today is a wrong answer in eighteen months, and Ruter’s journey planner gives you the live one. If you are carrying an Oslo Pass, Ruter travel in zones 1, 2, 3, 4V and 4N is already included.
Arriving by water, and arriving by bus
The fortress was built to be seen from the fjord, and it still looks best from there. A sightseeing cruise from Rådhusbrygge 2 has the fortress as its first sightseeing point after departure, which is the only way to get the whole headland in one view. If the climb from the harbour is the problem rather than the distance, the hop-on hop-off bus stops at the fortress on its loop and saves you the ascent.
Getting in, once you are there
There is no ticket desk, no barrier and no bag check for the grounds. You walk through the gate. The visitor centre, the long red building by Karpedammen, is where you buy museum tickets and where the drop-in tours start. Drones are banned across the site and anything organised with a camera needs prior approval from the commandant’s office, because this is a working military headquarters rather than a park.
If the climb is the problem
The hop-on hop-off bus stops at the fortress and covers Oslo’s spread-out museums without the walk between them. It rates 4.1, the lowest of the tours here, and the reviews read as useful rather than delightful — people who wanted a tour rather than transport are the ones who mark it down. Booked as transport, it does the job.
Ways in
Skip the climbOslo: 24 or 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus
From the waterOslo: Guided Sightseeing Fjord Cruise on Premium Silent Boat
Most bookedOslo: Guided Walking Tour of Central Oslo with Local Guide
Frequently asked questions
How far is Akershus Fortress from Oslo Central Station?
Fifteen to twenty minutes on foot. Head towards the harbour and come in at the main entrance on Kirkegata. There is no ticket and no barrier — see is it free.
What is the address of Akershus Fortress?
Akershus festning, 0151 Oslo. Akershus Castle itself is at Rådhusgata 32, and the main entrance to the grounds is at Kirkegata. The site occupies Akersneset, the headland in the central harbour.
Which tram goes to Akershus Fortress?
Trams stop at Kontraskjæret, by the north-west corner of the site. I am not printing route numbers because Oslo changes them; use Ruter’s journey planner for the current line.
Can I walk from the harbour promenade up to the fortress?
Yes. Since March 2023 a west-facing gate opposite Shed 38 has been open again after twenty years, giving a staircase link about 300 metres shorter than the route via Kongens gate. It is stairs only, with no lift.