Ullevaal is Norway’s national football arena and one of the easiest big venues to reach in Oslo. You will find it in the northern part of the city between Ullevål Hageby and Sogn, surrounded by residential streets, the university area, and a shopping center. Most visitors arrive by metro, but buses, bikes, and even the airport bus can be just as practical depending on where you start.
Short answer if you are in the city center: take the T-bane to the station called “Ullevål stadion.” It is typically served very frequently by Line 4 and Line 5, and the ride from Jernbanetorget or Nationaltheatret is usually around 10 minutes. On match days, services are often reinforced, but platforms do get crowded, so plan a little buffer.
I grew up in Oslo, and I have been to more matches and concerts at Ullevaal than I can count. Getting there is straightforward when you know the local shortcuts. Let’s walk through the best options, with simple step-by-steps and a few insider tips that save time.
Where Ullevaal Stadium Is and Why That Matters
The stadium sits just inside Ring 3 on Sognsveien, about 5 kilometers from the city center. That location means three useful things for you: the metro stops right by the stadium, several orbital bus routes pass outside on the ring road, and wide sidewalks make walking and cycling realistic for those staying in nearby neighborhoods like St. Hanshaugen, Majorstuen, Blindern, or Tåsen.
Getting There by T-Bane (Metro)
For most visitors, the metro is the easiest. Watch for the station name “Ullevål stadion.” Lines can change during works or special events, but in normal operation Line 4 and Line 5 stop at the stadium. From the city center, trains toward Ringen or Sognsvann are typically your friend. Announcements and platform boards will list “Ullevål stadion,” so you don’t have to memorize the branch names.
My simple habit: open the Ruter travel app, type “Ullevaal stadion,” and board the first Line 4 or 5 train that lists the station on its stop pattern. You will exit onto a plaza with clear wayfinding. From the metro exit to the turnstiles is roughly a 3 to 5 minute walk along Sognsveien. On match days, just follow the jerseys.
Pro tip: If you are staying near Nationaltheatret or Stortinget, you can catch the metro underground without walking over to Oslo Central Station first. This often saves 5 to 10 minutes.
Step-by-Step from Oslo Central Station
If you arrive by train to Oslo S (Oslo Central Station):
- Follow signs underground to Jernbanetorget for the T-bane entrance.
- Buy a Zone 1 ticket in the Ruter app or at the machines. A 60-minute ticket is enough for almost anyone heading to Ullevaal.
- Take Line 4 or Line 5 toward the western or northern branches that include Ullevål stadion in their stop list.
- Ride for about 10 to 12 minutes and hop off at Ullevål stadion.
- Walk a couple of minutes along Sognsveien to the stadium gates.
Time estimate door to door: usually 15 to 25 minutes depending on how quickly you navigate the station.
Coming from Oslo Airport (OSL)
You have three solid options:
- Airport Express Train (Flytoget) or Regional Train to the city. Hop off at Nationaltheatret or Oslo S, then switch to the metro as described above. This is the smoothest if you already planned to be downtown.
- Airport Bus (Flybussen). There is a stop on Ring 3 near Ullevaal. If you are carrying luggage and staying in the northwestern districts, this can be convenient because it drops you close to the stadium without a transfer.
- Taxi. It is comfortable but the most expensive. Use this mainly if you are traveling late at night with gear or a group.
Tip from experience: With bags, I like to ride the train to Nationaltheatret, then metro two or three stops to Ullevål stadion. It avoids the biggest crowds at Jernbanetorget.
By Bus
Several orbital and cross-town routes use Ring 3 and nearby corridors, stopping close to the stadium or the shopping center next door. If you are staying in neighborhoods like Økern, Nydalen, Tåsen, or Smestad, you may find a direct bus faster than going via the city center.
Bus stops are well signed. The Ruter app will show “Ullevaal stadion” or the adjacent shopping center as a destination. On event days, bus frequencies are often increased and there may be additional staff guiding foot traffic.
My rule of thumb: If the app says the bus gets you there within 20 minutes from where you are, take it. The bus stops on Ring 3 are a very short walk to the stadium.
What About Trams
The tram network does not stop right at the stadium gates, but stops in Ullevål Hageby and around the university bring you within a 10 to 15 minute walk. If you are already near a tram stop and prefer staying above ground, this can be a pleasant option, especially before afternoon kickoffs. The walk is straightforward and signed.
Walking and Cycling
Ullevaal is absolutely walkable from large chunks of the inner city. From Majorstuen it is a 25 to 30 minute walk, mostly flat. From St. Hanshaugen or Bislett, allow 35 to 45 minutes depending on your pace. Sidewalks are wide and lit.
Cycling is popular in Oslo, and Oslo City Bike stations are normally available around the stadium area. There are also bike racks near the entrances. If you cycle, avoid Sognsveien’s narrowest pinch points right around kickoff and full time. I usually lock up a block away and walk in.
Driving and Parking
I will be honest: driving to Ullevaal on match days is rarely worth it. Traffic on Ring 3 can crawl, and parking fills quickly. There is paid parking at the stadium complex and around the shopping center, often with short free periods that switch to a progressive hourly rate. You will also find EV chargers nearby, but they are in high demand.
If you must drive, arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes early, use a parking app, and read the signs carefully. A better tactic is to park at a metro station further out and ride the T-bane in for the final few stops.
Picking the Best Route From Popular Neighborhoods
- Sentrum, Aker Brygge, Karl Johans gate: Walk to Nationaltheatret or Jernbanetorget and jump on Line 4 or 5 to Ullevål stadion. Quick and painless.
- Grünerløkka and Torshov: Your choice. Often the fastest is a bus toward Ring 3 or a quick ride to Jernbanetorget then Line 4 or 5.
- Majorstuen: Metro a few stops is simplest. If the platforms look packed, walking up Kirkeveien and Sognsveien can be just as fast.
- Blindern, Gaustad, Rikshospitalet: Either walk 15 to 20 minutes or use a short metro hop.
- Nydalen and Storo: Buses along Ring 3 are excellent, or metro via Sinsen and around the ring.
Accessibility and Family Logistics
Ullevål stadion station has step-free access with elevators and ramps. The walk from the station to the stadium is short and flat, and the stadium concourses are wide. On busy days, staff often create one-way flows to keep crowds moving.
If you are bringing children, arrive a bit earlier so you can settle in without rushing. Restrooms and family-friendly concessions are easiest to access if you enter 30 to 45 minutes before kickoff. Strollers are allowed outside the seating bowl but check local guidance for storage.
Matchday Crowd Strategies That Actually Work
- Buy and activate your ticket in the Ruter app before you enter the station. Inspectors are active around big events and queues form fast at machines.
- Aim for the second or third door when boarding the metro. Crowds pack the nearest car first; walking 10 meters along the platform often gets you breathing room.
- After full time, let the first crush go. I usually grab a hot dog or just stroll around the plaza for 10 minutes. The next trains are typically less packed, and you get home just as fast without the squeeze.
- If there are planned works affecting the western downtown tunnels, the ring lines still get you there; your app will show any detours or replacement buses.
After the Game: Getting Home
Trains run frequently after events, but staff sometimes hold people at the station entrances in short waves to keep platforms safe. This is normal. If you prefer to walk, the lit route along Sognsveien and Kirkeveien toward Majorstuen or St. Hanshaugen feels straightforward and takes 30 to 40 minutes into the core.
Taxis line up near the shopping center exit, but queues can be long and traffic slow to clear on Ring 3. If you want a car, consider walking 10 minutes away from the stadium before hailing to avoid the bottleneck.
Tickets, Zones, and Little Things That Help
You are traveling entirely inside Zone 1 for Ullevaal. A 60-minute ticket is fine for most trips to or from the stadium, though many locals carry a 24-hour or 7-day pass during busy weekends. Remember that kids and youths often have discounted tickets, and senior discounts apply as well. Conductors accept mobile tickets, and gate lines move fastest when people are not fumbling with card payments.
A few final local habits that make life easier: dress for the wind, since the plaza can feel breezy even in summer; bring a small bag only, as security is strict on large backpacks; and if you want a quick exit after the match, sit closer to the end of your stand that is nearest the metro entrance.
With those basics, you are sorted. Ullevaal is one of the least stressful big venues in Scandinavia to reach. Metro, bus, bike, or a brisk walk, it all works. If you plan your route in the app, arrive a touch early, and let the first post-match crowd go, you will glide in and out like a local.