How to travel by public transport on May 17th
Last updated: 12.05.2026, 13:22
The National Day is one of the busiest days of the year for public transport. In fact, almost 250,000 single tickets and 24-hour tickets were sold on May 17 last year.
In other words, a great many people are travelling in the city, especially to downtown Oslo to watch the children’s parade. We have several tips for those of you who will be taking the bus, tram or metro.
Allow a bit of extra time, plan your journey and be patient. That’s the recipe for a pleasant day for everyone travelling by public transport on the national day.
Changes to public transport on May 17
How the metro operates
The metro is running on a Saturday schedule. This means it runs every fifteen minutes on all lines for most of May 17. Some lines may be more crowded than usual.
If you are going to downtown Oslo, it is recommended that you get on and off at the stations Stortinget or Jernbanetorget. Avoid Nationaltheatret metro station.
How the tram is operated
Due to events in Oslo city centre, all tram lines will be diverted between 08:00 and 17:00. Check the journey planner to see where the trams run during the day.
These tram stops are closed on 17 May: Nationaltheatret, Øvre Slottsgate, Dronningens gate and Stortorvet.
How the bus operates
Many bus routes are running with detours or changed stops between 08:00 and 17:00, especially in and around central Oslo. Some departures are cancelled. Use the journey planner to see what applies to your trip.
Travel advice and tips for the day
- Buy your ticket in the Ruter app. That way you avoid the onboard surcharge, and everyone gets to their destination faster.
- Plan your journey using the trip planner in the Ruter app or at ruter.no. On a day like May 17th there are many detours and changes, so your trip may look different than it usually does.
- Remember the family discount! You can bring up to four children under 18 for free if you are over 18 and traveling with a valid ticket.
- Allow plenty of time. Many people will be traveling that day, and in some places children’s parades will also be using bus and tram routes, which can lead to delays and detours.