What actually is the cheapest weekend trip from Oslo?
Oslo Gardermoen has real budget-airline competition thanks to Wizz Air, Ryanair, Norwegian, and SAS all fighting for the same routes. That competition is your friend, but it's concentrated on specific corridors — mostly eastbound to Poland and Hungary — rather than spread evenly across Europe. This page ranks destinations by what return flights from OSL actually cost, based on the fare data we track daily, not by which cities get the most "cheap flights" blog posts.
If you're flexible on where you go and just want the lowest total cost for a weekend away, start at the top of this list and work down.
Tier 1: Under 500 NOK return
Gdańsk, Poland
Wizz Air's Oslo–Gdańsk route is consistently the cheapest weekend fare out of OSL. A rebuilt medieval Old Town, Baltic beaches a short tram ride away, and prices for food and beer that make your NOK go further than almost anywhere else in Europe.
Kraków, Poland
Slightly pricier than Gdańsk but still routinely under 500 NOK in off-peak months. Wizz Air and Ryanair both compete here, which keeps fares aggressive year-round except around Easter and Christmas markets season.
Tier 2: 500–1000 NOK return
Budapest, Hungary
Wizz Air and Ryanair both fly Oslo–Budapest direct. Thermal baths, ruin bars, and langos for the price of a coffee at home. One of the best cost-per-day destinations from Oslo once you land.
Warsaw, Poland
Less touristy than Kraków but with a genuinely interesting modern history and a rebuilt Old Town that's a UNESCO site. LOT and Wizz Air both operate the route.
Tier 3: 1000–1500 NOK return
Prague, Czech Republic
A touch more expensive than Budapest or Kraków from Oslo, but Prague's beer prices and Gothic architecture make the extra couple hundred kroner easy to justify.
Berlin, Germany
Multiple daily departures on Norwegian, SAS, and easyJet keep this route competitive. Berlin is more expensive to eat and drink in than Eastern Europe, so factor that into your total trip cost, not just the flight.
How to book the cheapest possible weekend from Oslo
The sweet spot for short-haul European routes from OSL. Earlier rarely helps; later usually costs more.
Thursday evening departures are consistently cheaper than Friday, and Sunday returns beat Monday mornings.
Wizz Air and Ryanair's base fares are the headline prices you see — checked bags can add 30–50% to the total.
Autumn break (week 40), winter break (weeks 8–9), and Easter push every route's prices up regardless of destination.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single cheapest weekend destination from Oslo?
Gdańsk consistently ranks as the cheapest, with Wizz Air fares regularly under 500 NOK return in off-peak season. Kraków and Budapest follow close behind.
Why are Eastern European routes so much cheaper from Oslo?
Lower demand relative to capacity, plus aggressive competition between Wizz Air and Ryanair on the same routes. Western European and southern sun destinations see higher demand from Norwegian travellers, which keeps those fares higher.
Is it cheaper to fly midweek instead of on a weekend?
Yes, generally, but for a weekend trip you're constrained to Thursday/Friday departures and Sunday/Monday returns anyway. Within that window, Thursday-out and Sunday-back is usually the cheapest combination.
Does Oslo Torp offer cheaper fares than Gardermoen?
Sometimes, since some Ryanair routes operate from Torp with lower airport fees. Factor in the extra 1.5-hour journey and bus/train cost to Torp before assuming it's the better deal overall.