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Venue & Travel

Venue & Travel

Here you find practical information about the conference venue and how to get there. The conference will take place at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) campus in Ås, just 30 km (20 mi / 3 Norwegian miles) south of Oslo.

  • Getting to Oslo / Ås

    Sustainable travel options

    • For participants wishing to reduce their environmental footprint, there is unfortunately only a few low‑carbon travel alternatives.
    • While Norway is not directly connected to continental Europe by high‑speed rail network, it is possible to reach Oslo using a combination of rail services from major hubs such as Gothenburg (3h), Stockholm (5h), Copenhagen (8h), and Hamburg (13h). The Back on Track-Map might help. For tickets, check out Interrail (for European citizen) and Eurail (for Non-European citizen). Also consider the new Malmö-Oslo direct train (daily connection).
    • FlixBus also offers an overnight connection from Hamburg to "Ås (Korsegården E6)".
    • Several ferry routes, including daily overnight services by Color Line (Kiel-Oslo), and Stena Line (Kiel-Gothenburg). A new ferry connection between Eemshaven (The Netherlands) and Arendal (Southern Norway) is planned to commence in Q1 2027, operated by Njordic Ferry Lines.

    Traveling by plane

    Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL), is Norway’s largest and best-connected airport. It handles extensive European and intercontinental routes and is the primary hub for major carriers such as SAS and Norwegian. It offers flights to 164 international destinations and has excellent public transport links to Oslo and the surrounding region.

    Torp Sandefjord Airport (TRF) is an alternative airport for travelling to Oslo. It offers low‑cost carrier connections, particularly to destinations in Eastern Europe. From Torp Airport, travel time to Oslo city centre is approximately two hours, using direct airport buses or a combination of shuttle bus and train.

    Useful links for travelers:

    Travel from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to Oslo City Centre

    There are two main train options for travelling from Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) to Oslo city centre:

    • Regular train (Vy – recommended): The train operator Vy runs frequent and affordable trains to Oslo central station ("Oslo S") three times per hour (usually :03, :13 and :43) from platform 4. When entering the station area at the airport, keep to the left‑hand side (see picture). Tickets can be purchased via the Ruter app. Please de‑select “Airport express” in the filter settings to ensure you are buying the regular ticket. Also, there is a ticket vending machine and a staffed counter (operating during daytime hours). Travel time: 23min. Costs: 134 NOK.
    • Airport Express Train (Flytoget): The Flytoget Airport Express is a slightly faster, but more expensive option. Trains run every 10 minutes (usually :00, :10, :20, and so on) from platforms 2 and 3 (right-hand side in the picture). Travel time: 19min. Costs: 268 NOK.

    Signage for the different train options can be misleading and confusing. If you wish to travel by Vy (which we recommend), make sure to keep to your left when entering the station area and follow the route to platform 4.

  • Accommodation

    A list of recommended hotels will be published here in early 2027.

    Please be aware that there is no hotel located in Ås. Conference participants are encouraged to stay in one of the neighbouring towns, such as Drøbak or Ski. Alternatively participants might commute from Oslo, which offers a wide range of accommodation options. We also recommend checking AirBnB for local alternatives in Ås itself.

    LocationDescriptionTravel times
    Ås• Closest to the conference venue
    • No hotels available, only Airbnb/short‑term rentals    		• ~ 1 hour from the airport
    • 5-20 min walking to the venue
    Drøbak• Charming Oslofjord town
    • Pleasant coastal atmosphere
    • Several hotels    		• ~ 1.30 hours from the airport
    (by train to Ås and then by bus 510.
    Or by train to Oslo S and then by bus 500)
    • ~ 30 min to the venue (by bus)
    Ski• Well‑connected transport hub
    (a bit less charming town)
    • One modern four‑star hotel (Thon Hotel)    		• ~ 45 min from the airport (by train)
    • ~ 15-20 min to the venue (by bus)
    Oslo• Largest selection of hotels
    • Many cultural and dining options    		depending on your exact location
    • ~ 30-45 min from the airport
    • ~ 30-60 min to the venue

    A limited number of affordable accommodation places will be made available for PhD candidates in a shared cabin near Lake Årungen. The accommodation is basic, with shared four‑bed rooms, and is located approximately 4 km walking distance from the conference venue at the NMBU campus. Availability is limited. Booking will be part of the conference registration process. Allocation will be on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Information will follow.

  • Getting to the Conference Venue

    The conference will be held at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) campus in Ås. Most sessions will take place in Urbygningen, the university’s main historic building.

    📍 Urbygningen, NMBU – (Google Maps link)

    Use MazeMap to find your way to the rooms within the buildings.

    From Drøbak (by bus)

    From Drøbak town centre, take a local bus (e.g. 500, 505 or 506) to "Dyrløkke". Transfer there to bus 510 (direction Ski "stasjon" or "Bøleråsen"). Get off at the bus stop “Universitetet i Ås”, which is located directly by the campus. From there, it is a short walk to Urbygningen. Travel time: 30min. Buses run every 10-15min. Costs: 46 NOK.

    From Ski (by bus)

    From Ski town centre, take bus 510 (direction Drøbak "Seiersten skole" or "Frogn vgs"). Get off at the bus stop “Universitetet i Ås”, which is located directly by the campus. From there, it is a short walk to Urbygningen. Travel time: 15-20min. Buses run every 10min. Costs: 46 NOK.

    From Oslo (by train)

    Take the train R21 (direction "Moss") from Oslo Central Station ("Oslo S") to Ås station ("Ås stasjon"). Trains run every 30 minutes, usually departing Oslo S at :22 and :52. If you are staying in the city centre or the west of Oslo, you may also board this train at "Nationaltheatret" station. Costs: 75 NOK.

    • From Ås station on foot:
      Urbygningen is approximately a 20‑minute walk from the Ås station. Walk west through town centre, cross the bridge, and follow "Høyskoleveien" towards the NMBU campus.
    • From Ås station by bus:
      After arriving at Ås station, use the underpass at the end of the platform (walking opposite the direction of train travel). Turn right in the tunnel, cross the road at the traffic lights, and continue to the bus stop “Ås videregående skole” (in front of Rema1000). Take bus 510 (direction Drøbak "Seiersten skole" or "Frogn vgs."). Get off at “Universitetet i Ås”. Your train ticket from Oslo is also valid for the bus ride in Ås. Travel time: less than 10min.

    All timetables and tickets are available in Ruter.

  • Visa Information

    Information on visa requirements when travelling to Norway is provided by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI):

    Visa Invitation Letters

    If you require a visa invitation letter, please indicate this during the conference registration process by selecting the relevant option, or contact us in advance by email at andreas.hengstermann@nmbu.no.

    Please note that visa invitation letters are issued only to authors of accepted abstracts.

  • Post-conference travel recommendations

    Later this year, we will add some travel recommendations here.

    Participants may wish to consider extending their stay in Norway, as the Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May) is celebrated with parades, festivities, and special events in Oslo (see program here) and across the country.

  • Practical information and helpful tips

    Currency & payments in Norway

    Norway’s official currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK). Prices are displayed in kroner, and payments are almost entirely digital. There is generally no need to carry cash, as credit and debit cards are accepted virtually everywhere, including shops, restaurants, hotels, and public transport. Contactless payment and mobile solutions such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used, and many places do not accept cash at all. Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable options. American Express is accepted less consistently. ATMs ("minibank") are available but rarely necessary.

    Weather & climate in May

    In May, Ås typically experiences mild spring weather with longer days (sunrise: 04:45, sunset: 21:45) and steadily greener surroundings. Daytime temperatures are usually around 10-15 °C (50-60 °F), while evenings and early mornings can be cooler, often 3-7 °C (37-45 °F). The weather can be changeable, with a mix of sunshine, clouds, and occasional rain showers, so conditions may vary from day to day.

    It is a good idea to check the forecast shortly before and during your stay, e.g. the current forecast for Ås and the general climate statistics for Ås.

    Useful links

    More

    This section might be updated with additional details at a later stage.

    If you need any additional information or support, feel free to reach out by email.