Norway
Photo: C. Hill / Wikimedia Commons- 16
- Routes
- 28
- Ports
- 13m
- Avg crossing
Ruter is a public transport in Oslo and Akershus and based in Oslo, Norway. It operates 16 ferry routes serving 28 ports. Across its network, crossings average about 13m.
Live board
Ruter departures today
Filtered to sailings that operate on today's date — open a departure for its full timetable.
Timetables
Which routes does Ruter operate?
16 routes with live schedules.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings | Operators | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aker → Nesoddtangen | 23m | 50 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Nesoddtangen → Aker | 23m | 49 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Nakkholmen → Lindøya vest | 4m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Lindøya øst → Gressholmen | 6m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Gressholmen → Bleikøya | 7m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Hovedøya → Lindøya øst | 7m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Aker → Hovedøya | 8m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Hovedøya → Aker | 9m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Lindøya vest → Hovedøya | 10m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Bleikøya → Nakkholmen | 11m | 22 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Lysaker → Nesoddtangen | 8m | 20 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Nesoddtangen → Lysaker | 8m | 19 / wk | 1 | Norway |
Aker brygge3 routes
Hovedøya2 routes
Nesoddtangen2 routes
Vollen2 routes
Bleikøya1 route
Gressholmen1 route
Lindøya øst1 route
Lindøya vest1 route
Lysaker brygge1 route
Nakkholmen1 route
Slemmestad brygge1 route
Network
Where does Ruter sail?
Ruter sails to 28 ports.
Experience
Onboard & services
- Operates public transport services across Oslo and Akershus, Norway.
- Provides a range of transport modes, including bus, T-bane (metro/subway), trikk (tram), and båt (boat/ferry).
- Offers a dedicated mobile application for travel planning and ticket purchases.
- Provides specific services such as school transport (Skoleskyss) and adapted transport (Tilrettelagt transport - TT).
- Informs users about traffic status and route changes, including special summer routes and event-related travel information.
About
About Ruter
Ruter is the public transport authority for Oslo and Akershus, and its boat routes are the part of the network that takes you off the city grid: a short hop from the quay at Aker Brygge and you are on an island in the Oslofjord. These are ordinary public transport services, not excursions — the same ticket you use on the metro works on the boat.
The island route
Line B1 from Aker Brygge serves five islands in the inner harbour, each with a different character:
- Hovedøya — the closest, about 6 to 9 minutes out, with medieval monastery ruins, woodland and walking paths.
- Lindøya and Nakkholmen — cabin islands, small wooden holiday houses and quiet shoreline.
- Gressholmen and Bleikøya — nature reserves, the quietest of the group.
At weekends line B21 runs further down the fjord to Drøbak and Son; the approach to Drøbak passes Oscarsborg fortress, which is worth the trip on its own.
The commuter route
Nesoddtangen is a different proposition — a genuine commuter crossing rather than a day out. Boats run from Aker Brygge in about 13 minutes and from Lysaker in about 8, frequently enough through the day that the peninsula functions as an Oslo suburb reached by water.
Numbers and practicalities
The boats carry serious volume: Ruter recorded over 1.3 million boat journeys in 2025, a record, and the season now starts earlier — April 2026 saw roughly 86,000 trips against 52,000 in April 2024.
Ticketing is the ordinary Ruter system: a period pass or single ticket covers the boat, so there is no separate ferry fare to buy. Aker Brygge is easy to reach by bus, metro, tram and city bike, and leaving the car behind is the sensible option.
Who actually operates the boats
Ruter plans and funds the routes but does not sail them. The inner Oslofjord boat services are run under contract by Boreal Sjø, on an agreement signed in January 2020 and running to 30 June 2034, with an option to extend. This is the standard Norwegian arrangement — timetables and tickets belong to the authority, the vessels and crews to the contracted operator.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where does Ruter sail?
Ruter operates 16 ferry routes and serves 28 ports in Norway, including Aker brygge, Aspond, Bleikøya, Drøbak, Fagerstrand, Filtvet, Fjellstrand, Flaskebekk and more.
How do I contact Ruter?
You can reach Ruter via their official booking site.
How early should I arrive for a Ruter ferry?
Arrive at the terminal at least 30–60 minutes before a Ruter departure as a foot passenger, and allow longer with a vehicle. Boarding and check-in times vary by port and route — confirm with Ruter.
How do I find Ruter ferry times?
Browse the live timetables for every Ruter route on this page. Schedules are updated as the operator publishes them — always confirm with Ruter before travelling, as sailings change seasonally.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated October 19, 2026.
Contact & booking
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