Where you should stay depends on what you want from your trip. In the city centre, you’re close to the restaurants and the departures for the northern lights tours, while Kvaløya, Sommarøy and the Lyngen Alps give you darkness, silence and nature right outside the door. Here are my recommendations for six areas.

The Best Areas in Tromsø

• Tromsø city centre - best area for first-time visitors and northern lights tours
• Telegrafbukta - best area for seeing the northern lights on foot
• Tromsdalen - best area for Fjellheisen and views over the city
• Kvaløya - best area for the northern lights away from city lights
• Sommarøy - best area for the midnight sun and white beaches
• The Lyngen Alps - best area for mountains and ski touring

Below, I’ll take you through the areas one by one, with maps, practical facts and hotels in several price ranges, so you can find the base that suits your trip, whether you’re coming for the northern lights in February or the midnight sun in June.

1. Tromsø city centre - best area for first-time visitors and northern lights tours

• Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying right in the middle of the city, around Stortorget, the harbour and the pedestrianised Storgata.
• Transport: Everything in the centre is within walking distance, and from here the city buses run to the rest of Tromsøya and across the bridge to Tromsdalen.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 10 to 15 minutes on the airport bus, which stops at several hotels in the centre.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £305 to £425 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: The centre is safe, in the evening too. The biggest danger in winter is icy pavements, so bring shoes with a good grip or a pair of ice cleats.

The centre is my top pick if it’s your first time in Tromsø and you’re mainly coming for the northern lights. Most northern lights tours, dog sledding trips and fjord cruises meet in the centre or by the harbour, so you can get back from a tour at two in the morning and be in bed ten minutes later.

The city sits on the island of Tromsøya, and the centre is compact. Along the harbour, you’ll find the hotels, the restaurants and most of the cafés, while the shops are on Stortorget and Storgata. Even though you’re staying in the middle of the city, you can see the northern lights from here when they’re strong, but the light from the streets makes them fainter than out on the islands.

See hotels in Tromsø city centre here.

If you want to be sure of getting away from the city lights, an organised tour is the easiest option. I’d look at a northern lights minibus tour with photos or a larger guided northern lights safari, where the guides drive to wherever the sky is clear. If you’d rather be out on the water, there’s also a northern lights cruise by electric boat from the harbour.

According to Visit Tromsø, you can see the northern lights from late August to early April, but you need darkness and a clear sky. February is a good compromise, because the nights are still long, while the days are light enough for dog sledding and fjord trips. Lots of people fly to Tromsø via Oslo, and if you’re changing planes there, you can read my guide to getting from Oslo Airport to the city centre.

The downside of the centre is the price. The hotels are expensive in the northern lights season, and the rooms are often small. In return, you save time and money on transport, and you’ve got restaurants and supermarkets just round the corner.

Places to Stay in Tromsø City Centre

The Dock 69 39 by Scandic - best luxury hotel by the harbour

The Dock 69 39 is on the waterfront in the northern part of the centre. It had the highest guest rating of the big hotels in my search, and guests praise the breakfast and the staff. On the other hand, the rooms aren’t big, and parking is expensive.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The place is beautiful and clean, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.”

See photos and book The Dock 69 39 by Scandic here.

Scandic Ishavshotel - best mid-range hotel with views over the strait

Scandic Ishavshotel is on the quay right in the middle of the centre, and guests praise the location, the view and the breakfast. The decor is simpler than at The Dock, and several guests mention that the family rooms are small.

One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “The location was excellent. The view was amazing.”

See photos and book Scandic Ishavshotel here.

Smarthotel Tromsø - cheapest pick in the middle of the city

Smarthotel is on Vestregata, a few minutes’ walk from Stortorget, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in the centre. It’s a simple hotel for those who use the room to sleep in between tours. The rooms are small, and guests mention that breakfast isn’t included, so check that when you book.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Good location and nice staff who were helpful.”

See photos and book Smarthotel Tromsø here.

2. Telegrafbukta - best area for seeing the northern lights on foot

• Distance from the centre: Around 3 km south of the centre, at the southern tip of Tromsøya.
• Transport: The city buses run along Tromsøya, and otherwise it’s about a 40-minute walk to the centre.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 15 minutes by car or taxi.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £150 to £570 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A quiet residential area. By the water, it’s dark, windy and cold in winter, so bring extra layers and a head torch.

Telegrafbukta is the small beach and park at the southern tip of Tromsøya, and it’s one of the most popular spots in the city to stand and look for the northern lights when the sky is clear. Here, you’ve got your back to the city and you look out over the water towards the mountains on Kvaløya, so the light from the streets interferes far less than in the centre.

If you’re staying in the residential streets in the southern part of the island, you can walk down to the water in a few minutes whenever the aurora forecast looks promising. That makes the area ideal if you’d like to try your luck several evenings in a row without paying for a tour every time.

See hotels near Telegrafbukta here.

In summer, Telegrafbukta is one of the city’s favourite spots for barbecues and bonfires when the sun doesn’t set. The accommodation in the area is mostly apartments and rooms in private homes, but St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa on Mellomvegen is a proper hotel with a pool and a spa.

I’d choose the area for a couple or a small family who are staying a few days, would like to cook for themselves and don’t need to be in the middle of the city all the time. You get more space for your money than in the centre, and lots of the apartments have views over the water.

The downside is that you’ll need to take the bus or walk quite a way when you want to go out to eat, and several northern lights tours only pick up in the centre. So check the meeting point before you book a tour, and allow a little extra time in the morning and evening.

Places to Stay near Telegrafbukta

St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa - best luxury hotel with a pool and spa

St Elisabeth is on Mellomvegen between the centre and Telegrafbukta and has an indoor pool, a spa and a gym. It was the most expensive of my three picks in the area, but also the only one with a pool, which is lovely after a cold evening outside. Guests mention that parking is expensive and that some rooms are small.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was fantastic. The room was so comfortable.”

See photos and book St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa here.

Apartment with a view - North - best mid-range pick with a view

Apartment with a view is in a residential area on the western side of Tromsøya. It’s an apartment with a kitchen, free parking and one of the highest guest ratings in the guide. Guests praise the view and the short walk to the bus. The only downside several guests mention is a small shower cubicle.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was good, because it was close to a bus stop, where we could catch the bus into town.”

See photos and book Apartment with a view - North here.

Koselig leilighet, nært sentrum - cheapest pick with your own kitchen

Koselig leilighet is an apartment with a kitchen and free parking in the neighbourhood between the centre and the southern part of the island, and it was the cheapest of the three places when I searched. The guest rating is lower than the others, and some guests mention that the entrance hadn’t been cleared of snow and that the cleaning could have been better.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “We had a fantastic stay in this apartment!”

See photos and book Koselig leilighet, nært sentrum here.

3. Tromsdalen - best area for Fjellheisen and views over the city

• Distance from the centre: Around 2 km. Tromsdalen is on the mainland, on the other side of the bridge from the centre.
• Transport: Bus 26 runs from Torgsenteret in the centre to Fjellheisen, and you can also walk across the bridge.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 15 to 20 minutes by car or taxi.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £180 to £290 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A quiet area. The roads up the mountainside are steep and slippery in winter, and it can be very windy on the bridge.

Tromsdalen is the district on the mainland opposite the centre, and it’s where you’ll find two of Tromsø’s best-known sights. At the end of the bridge stands the Arctic Cathedral, the white triangular church consecrated in 1965, and a little further up the mountainside is the start of the Fjellheisen cable car.

Fjellheisen takes around five minutes to reach the Storsteinen platform, 421 metres above sea level, where you’ve got a view over the whole city, the strait and the islands. The cable car runs until late in the evening, so you can go up and watch the northern lights over the city in winter or the midnight sun in summer.

See hotels in Tromsdalen here.

The accommodation in Tromsdalen is a mix of small hotels, cabins and apartments, and the prices are lower than in the centre. Tromsø Lodge & Camping is by the river further into the valley, where it’s darker than in the city and you can head out onto the cross-country ski trails in winter.

I’d choose Tromsdalen if you’d like a bit more peace and nature than in the centre, but still want to be able to get into the city in a quarter of an hour. It’s also a good choice if you’ve hired a car, because it’s easier to park over here.

The downside is that there aren’t many restaurants in Tromsdalen itself, so most evenings you’ll end up heading into the centre to eat. Also check whether your northern lights tour picks up guests in Tromsdalen, or whether you’ll need to get to the meeting point in town yourself.

Places to Stay in Tromsdalen

Havblikk Boutique Hotel Tromsø - best boutique hotel close to Fjellheisen

Havblikk is a small boutique hotel in a residential area close to Fjellheisen and the Arctic Cathedral. The price was almost on a par with the cabins at Tromsø Lodge & Camping when I searched, but you get a hotel room with a bar and a terrace. Guests mention that parking costs extra and that some rooms are small.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is good, and the staff are helpful and friendly.”

See photos and book Havblikk Boutique Hotel Tromsø here.

Tromsø Lodge & Camping - best pick with cabins and a sauna

Tromsø Lodge & Camping has cabins and rooms by the river in Tromsdalen, with a sauna, a café and ski trails right next door. It’s a good choice for families and friends who want a bit more nature. Some of the cabins have a shared kitchen and bathroom, so check the cabin before you book, and expect compact bedrooms.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The lodge was very cosy and clean.”

See photos and book Tromsø Lodge & Camping here.

Fin leilighet i Tromsø - cheapest pick with a view

Fin leilighet is an apartment with free parking in Tomasjord, a little north of Tromsdalen, and it was the cheapest of my three picks. Guests praise the view and the cleanliness. The property doesn’t accept children, and the buses are infrequent, so it suits a couple with a hire car best.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was perfect!”

See photos and book Fin leilighet i Tromsø here.

4. Kvaløya - best area for the northern lights away from city lights

• Distance from the centre: Kvaløya lies just west of Tromsøya, and it’s about 25 minutes by car from the centre to Ersfjordbotn.
• Transport: You’ll need a car. Buses run to the largest villages, but not often, and many of the best spots are a long way from a bus stop.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 20 to 30 minutes by car, depending on where on the island you’re staying.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £200 to £1,725 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: The roads are narrow and often slippery. Only park in proper parking spots when you’re looking for the northern lights, and check Varsom for avalanche danger before you head into the mountains.

Kvaløya is the large island west of Tromsøya, and you drive over on the bridge from Tromsøya. After just a quarter of an hour, the city lights disappear, and you’re driving along fjords with steep, snow-covered mountains on both sides. This is where lots of the northern lights tours head on evenings with a clear sky.

If you’re staying on Kvaløya, you can step outside and watch the northern lights over the fjord without sitting on a bus for hours. Ersfjordbotn at the head of Ersfjorden and the area around Kaldfjorden are some of the most popular spots, and during the day the fjords are just as beautiful in the blue winter light.

See hotels on Kvaløya here.

The accommodation is mostly holiday homes, apartments and rooms with private hosts, often with a kitchen and free parking. That means you’ll need to do your shopping before you drive out, because the shops are few and far between. In summer, Kvaløya is a great place for hiking, and you can see the midnight sun from the mountains.

I’d choose Kvaløya for a trip of four or five nights where the northern lights are the main goal and you’ve hired a car. It’s also a good choice for families or friends who want to share a big house.

The downside is that you’re dependent on a car and the weather. In snow and storms, the drive takes longer, and you’ll have to keep an eye on the forecasts yourself. If you’d like to see the northern lights somewhere else in the North Atlantic, I’ve also written about where to stay in Iceland.

Places to Stay on Kvaløya

Kaldfjord Sea House - best luxury pick for large families

Kaldfjord Sea House is a large, modern house by Kaldfjorden with a sauna, a hot tub and its own beach, and it has one of the highest guest ratings in the whole guide. The price is for the whole house, so it only makes sense if you’re a larger group or family. Check-in isn’t until 6pm, and the house has strict quiet rules.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Warm, clean and modern. It was perfect for our family of six.”

See photos and book Kaldfjord Sea House here.

House of Ellie - best mid-range pick by Ersfjorden

House of Ellie is a bed and breakfast in Ersfjordbotn right by the water, with the mountains around the fjord as your view. Guests praise the view and the modern rooms. There’s no access to a kitchen, and some guests mention that quite a few tourists pass by, so privacy is limited.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view is absolutely amazing!”

See photos and book House of Ellie here.

Kvaløya Arctic Retreat - cheapest pick on Kvaløya

Kvaløya Arctic Retreat is a room with a private host on Kvaløya, and it was the cheapest of my three picks. Guests praise the peace and quiet and a quick-to-respond host. The facilities are simple, and you’ll need a car to get around.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The place was cosy, clean, nice and quiet.”

See photos and book Kvaløya Arctic Retreat here.

5. Sommarøy - best area for the midnight sun and white beaches

• Distance from the centre: Sommarøy lies at the far western edge of Kvaløya, and the drive from Tromsø takes around an hour.
• Transport: In practice, you’ll need a car or an organised tour. The islands are connected to Kvaløya by a bridge.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around an hour by car.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £170 to £245 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A small and peaceful fishing village. The weather changes quickly out by the sea, so check the forecast and the road conditions before you drive out.

Sommarøy is a small fishing village on a cluster of islands right out by the open sea, west of Kvaløya. The islands are known for white sandy beaches and turquoise water, and on a sunny day in June it looks more like the Caribbean than Northern Norway, even though the water is ice cold.

In summer, Sommarøy is one of the best places around Tromsø for the midnight sun, because you’ve got a clear view out over the sea to the north and west. According to Visit Tromsø, the midnight sun in Tromsø lasts from around 20 May to 22 July, so the whole of June is a safe bet.

See hotels on Sommarøy here.

In winter, it’s very dark out here, which makes Sommarøy an obvious place for the northern lights. The drive out takes you through fjords and valleys, and you pass several spots where you can pull over and look at the sky. Lots of northern lights tours take the same road on clear evenings.

I’d choose Sommarøy for one or two nights at the end of a trip to Tromsø, in both summer and winter. The village is small, so apart from the hotel restaurant there isn’t much choice in the evening.

The downside is the distance. It’s too far out to be a base for trips from Tromsø, and without a car you’re tied to the place. If the weather’s bad, you could end up seeing very little, so keep your plans a little flexible.

Places to Stay on Sommarøy

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø - best hotel by the sea

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is right on the water, with a restaurant, a bar and a sauna. It was the most expensive of my three picks out here, and guests praise the location and the breakfast. Some feel the rooms are basic for a four-star hotel, and several mention poor ventilation.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was fantastic.”

See photos and book Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø here.

Ecolodge Båthuset 69Nord - best mid-range pick on the beach

Ecolodge Båthuset is a small guesthouse by the beach on Sommarøy with a shared kitchen and lounge. Guests praise the view, the beds and the host. It suits you if you’d rather stay somewhere simple and close to nature than in a hotel.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Waking up to the view over the beach was all we needed to relax, and it was so soothing for the eyes.”

See photos and book Ecolodge Båthuset 69Nord here.

Eazy-Bed Norway’s Smallest Hotel - cheapest pick with a view from your bed

Eazy-Bed is a capsule hotel by the beach on Hillesøy, right next to Sommarøy, and it was the cheapest of the three places when I searched. Guests praise the beachside location and the view from the bed. The facilities are very basic, and there’s no shower, so it only suits a short stay.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The moment you wake up and the first thing you see is an incredible view right from your bed … it can’t be described.”

See photos and book Eazy-Bed Norway’s Smallest Hotel here.

6. The Lyngen Alps - best area for mountains and ski touring

• Distance from the centre: Lyngseidet lies east of Tromsø, and the drive takes around 1.5 to 2 hours including the ferry.
• Transport: The quickest route is the ferry from Breivikeidet to Svensby, which according to Visit Tromsø takes around 20 minutes and sails all year round.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 1.5 to 2 hours by car, depending on the ferry times.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £170 to £360 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: There’s avalanche danger in the mountains in winter. Check Varsom, and only go ski touring with a guide if you don’t have experience yourself.

The Lyngen Alps are a jagged mountain range on the peninsula east of Tromsø, with snow on the peaks for most of the year. According to Store norske leksikon, the range is almost 80 km long and has around 140 glaciers, and the highest mountain, Jiehkkevárri, reaches 1,834 metres.

In winter, people come from all over the world for ski touring, where you climb up the mountain and ski down to the fjord. There’s also dog sledding, snowmobiling and fjord trips, and because there’s hardly any light from towns, it’s one of the darkest places in the region for the northern lights.

See hotels in the Lyngen Alps here.

Lyngseidet is the main village in Lyngen, and from here the ferry continues across Lyngenfjorden to Olderdalen. Along the fjord north of the village towards Koppangen, there are several lodges and cabins. In summer, it’s one of the best areas for hiking in Northern Norway, and the midnight sun lights up the mountains all night.

I’d choose the Lyngen Alps for two or three nights if you want to ski or hike, and not just see the northern lights. It’s a good idea to combine a few nights here with a few nights in Tromsø city centre. If you’re heading further south in Norway, you can read where to stay in Oslo.

The downside is the distance and the fact that restaurants are few and far between. Choose a place with a kitchen or meals included, and remember that the ferries can’t be booked in advance, so arrive in good time.

Places to Stay in the Lyngen Alps

Lyngen Aurora Resort - best luxury pick with cabins by the fjord

Lyngen Aurora Resort has cabins at Koppangen, north of Lyngseidet, with views over the fjord and the mountains. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Lyngen, and guests praise the view and the warm cabins. However, several mention that communication from the property was limited and that it was hard to get information about parking and meals.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view and the landscape were incredible, and the cabin was warm.”

See photos and book Lyngen Aurora Resort here.

Magic Mountain Lodge - Lyngen - best mid-range pick for ski touring

Magic Mountain Lodge is in Lyngseidet, with views over the fjord, and has a restaurant, a bar, a sauna and a shared kitchen. It works well as a base for ski touring, and guests praise the staff and the view. Some feel, though, that the price is high for what you get.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A great place with a view over the fjord.”

See photos and book Magic Mountain Lodge - Lyngen here.

Solbakken 27 Apartment - cheapest pick with your own kitchen

Solbakken 27 is an apartment with a kitchen and free parking in Lyngseidet, and it had one of the highest guest ratings in the guide when I searched. Guests praise the hosts, the space and the view. A few mention problems with the key box on arrival.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hosts were very friendly and accommodating.”

See photos and book Solbakken 27 Apartment here.

Where should you avoid staying in Tromsø?

I wouldn’t stay far out on Kvaløya, on Sommarøy or in the Lyngen Alps if you’ve only got a weekend and don’t want to hire a car. The distances are greater than they look on the map, and in winter it takes time to drive on the slippery roads.

Also avoid choosing a cheap place in the residential areas in the northern part of Tromsøya just because of the price. You might save £20 or £30 a night, but you’ll have to take the bus into town every time, and many northern lights tours only pick up in the centre. Always check on the map where the property is, and read more about the seasons at Visit Tromsø before you book.

If it’s your first time in Tromsø and you’ve got three or four nights, I’d stay in the centre and take one or two organised northern lights tours. If you’ve got a bit more time and a hire car, add a couple of nights on Kvaløya or in the Lyngen Alps, where you can see the northern lights from the door. In summer, Sommarøy is the best place for the midnight sun, and Tromsdalen is a good compromise if you’d like a bit of peace close to the city.

If you’d like to combine Tromsø with another Nordic destination, you can also read my guides to Reykjavik and the Faroe Islands.

The post Where to Stay in Tromsø? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.

The hard part is choosing, because it depends on where you’re staying and whether you’re happy to pay to save a few minutes. Flytoget is the fastest and runs most often, while Vy’s regional trains take a few minutes longer and cost about half as much. Here you’ll find all the options with fares and journey times, where to get off and how to travel on around Norway straight from the airport. For the rough conversions I’ve used about £7.94 and $10.59 per 100 Norwegian kroner.

At a glance

• Flytoget: 276 NOK (about £22/$29), 19 minutes to Oslo S, departures every 10 minutes for most of the day.
• Vy regional trains: A Ruter ticket for four zones, about half the Flytoget fare, about 23 minutes to Oslo S, on average three departures an hour.
• Flybussen: 279 NOK (about £22/$29.50) online, allow 45 to 70 minutes, to Oslo Bus Terminal, Bislett and Majorstuen.
• Taxi: Price shown upfront at the booking machine, about 40 minutes to Oslo S without traffic.

Finding your transport at the airport

The railway station is easy to find. If you’re arriving from abroad, turn right when you come out of customs and follow the signs for Flytoget and the big board that counts down to the next departure. If you’ve landed on a domestic flight, take the escalator down from the arrivals hall, where an electronic board shows when the next train leaves.

Flytoget leaves from platform 3 on the other side of the ticket gates. The ticket machines are on both sides of the gates, and there’s a card reader at every gate. Vy’s regional trains also leave from the airport station, so check the departure board, and only board a Vy train if you have a Ruter ticket. Flytoget walks you through the whole way on its page about the train from the airport.

Flybussen’s ticket machines are by the information boards in the arrivals hall and outside the terminal at platform 11. The taxi rank is just outside the international arrivals hall, and next to it there’s a booking machine where you book your taxi and see the price before you set off. All the buses and trains are listed on the airport’s public transport page.

1. Flytoget to Oslo S and Nationaltheatret

Flytoget is the airport express train, and it’s my first choice from Gardermoen. The train runs via Lillestrøm to Oslo S in 19 minutes and continues through the city to Nationaltheatret, Skøyen, Lysaker, Stabekk, Sandvika, Asker and Drammen. The journey to Skøyen takes 29 minutes. There’s plenty of room, free Wi-Fi and power sockets, and every train has a carriage with straps for pushchairs.

Trains run every 10 minutes for most of the day. Early in the morning, late in the evening, at weekends and during the school holidays there are fewer departures, according to VisitOslo. The pitfall is Nationaltheatret: not every train goes there, so if that’s where you’re getting off, take a train terminating at Drammen or Stabekk. All trains stop at Oslo S.

Flytoget suits most travellers, especially if you’re staying in the centre, in Bjørvika or on the west side around Aker Brygge and Frogner. It’s more expensive than the regional train, but you get the most departures and rarely have to wait more than ten minutes.

Fares and tickets

An adult ticket costs 276 NOK (about £22/$29) to Oslo S, and the same to Nationaltheatret, Skøyen, Lysaker and Stabekk. To Lillestrøm it’s 218 NOK (about £17.50/$23), and all the way to Drammen 342 NOK (about £27/$36). Young people aged 16 to 20, students and travellers over 67 pay half price with valid ID, which means 138 NOK (about £11/$14.50) to Oslo S.

If you’re travelling with children, Flytoget is a good deal. All children under 16 travel free and don’t need a ticket when they’re travelling with someone over 16. The staff let them through the gates at the airport. The rules are on Flytoget’s page about travelling with children.

You can buy your ticket in the Flytoget app, online, from the ticket machines, which take both cash and cards, or simply pay with your bank card at the gate. Tickets are valid for 90 days, so you can buy your return journey straight away. A Flytoget ticket is only valid on Flytoget and not for changing to buses, trams or the T-bane (Oslo’s metro), and the Oslo Pass doesn’t cover Flytoget. You’ll find the fares on the Flytoget website.

Pay by card at the gate

The easiest way is to pay by card. At the airport, tap your card on the reader at the gates and choose the station you’re going to. Then you’re done, and you don’t need to do anything when you get off. On the way out to the airport, tap your card on the reader before you board, and again with the same card at the gates at the airport so you can get out.

If you’re a student or over 67, you’ll need to create a profile on Min side, Flytoget’s customer page, and register your card with your discount type to get half price when you pay by card. This is also where you can have your receipts sent to you automatically. Read more about paying by card on Flytoget.

Where to get off

Oslo S: The city’s main station is on Jernbanetorget at the eastern end of Karl Johans gate. From here you can walk to the hotels in the centre, and it’s only a few minutes on foot to Bjørvika with the Opera House and MUNCH. The T-bane runs beneath Jernbanetorget, and trams from here run towards Grünerløkka, among other places. If you’d like to stay right by the station, you can see hotels near Oslo S here.

Nationaltheatret: This station on the west side of the centre has three exits. From here you can walk down to Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen by the water, and the T-bane or a tram takes you on to Frogner and Majorstuen. Many of the city’s sights are within walking distance, and you’ll find them in my guide to things to do in Oslo.

Skøyen: The third stop in the city, 29 minutes from the airport. Get off here if you’re staying or working in western Oslo around Skøyen.

2. Vy regional trains to Oslo S

The regular train is the smart choice if you want to save money. All of Vy’s regional trains on the Skien, Oslo, Lillehammer and Trondheim line run via the airport, and so do the local trains between Kongsberg and Eidsvoll. According to Vy, the regional train takes about 23 minutes to Oslo S. That’s only 3 to 4 minutes longer than Flytoget, but it usually costs about half as much.

There are on average three trains an hour between the airport and Oslo, so you might have to wait a bit longer than for Flytoget if you’ve just missed one. It’s worth checking the next departure in the Ruter app while you’re waiting for your luggage. Trains towards Skien continue through Oslo after Oslo S, so they also work if you’re heading further west. You’ll find the timetable and fares on the Vy website.

The regional train suits budget travellers and anyone with an Oslo Pass, because the pass is valid on Vy trains along the whole line between Oslo and the airport. The pitfall is the other way round: if you board Flytoget with a Ruter ticket, you don’t have a valid ticket, because Ruter tickets aren’t valid on Flytoget at all.

Fares and tickets

Vy trains in Oslo and Akershus use Ruter tickets, and to the airport you need a ticket for four zones. You can see the price in the Ruter app before you buy. A single ticket is valid for 60 minutes for one zone and 30 minutes more for each extra zone, and you can change along the way as long as the ticket is valid. So with a four-zone ticket you can change to the T-bane or a tram at Oslo S and ride the last stretch to your hotel without buying a new ticket.

For comparison, a single ticket in zone 1 within the city costs 46 NOK (about £3.70/$4.90) for adults, 19 NOK (about £1.50/$2) for children aged 6 to 17 and 23 NOK (about £1.85/$2.40) for travellers over 67. Children under 6 travel free. There’s no student discount on single tickets. You can buy your ticket in the Ruter app, in the Vy app or from Entur’s ticket machines, and you can also get paper tickets at Narvesen and 7-Eleven. The rules for single tickets are on the Ruter website.

3. Flybussen to Oslo Bus Terminal, Bislett and Majorstuen

Flybussen Connect runs three routes from the airport into Oslo. FB5 runs via Helsfyr, Grønland and Oslo Bus Terminal to Bislett and Radisson Blu Scandinavia, FB1 runs via Storo, Torshov and Bislett to Majorstuen, and FB3 runs via Økern, Storo and Tåsen to Smestad and Radiumhospitalet. Vy reckons on 45 to 70 minutes by bus between the airport and the city, depending on traffic and the route.

An adult ticket costs 279 NOK (about £22/$29.50) when you buy it online, and a little more on board. Students and travellers over 67 pay 174 NOK (about £14/$18.50), up to two children aged 6 to 17 travel free with a paying adult, and children under 6 always travel free. The bus doesn’t take cash, but you can pay contactless with the driver, at the ticket machines and in the Entur app. The ticket can be used up to 12 hours before or after the time shown on it, and on all the routes. You’ll find the fares on the Connect Bus website.

To be honest, Flybussen costs the same as Flytoget and takes longer, so it only makes sense if your hotel is near one of its stops, for example at Bislett or Majorstuen. If you have a 24-hour or 7-day Ruter ticket that covers all the zones on the journey, it’s also valid on Flybussen. If you buy a single ticket on board, you get a free transfer to Ruter’s buses, trams and T-bane. The rules are on Flybussen’s ticket page.

4. Taxi

The taxis wait just outside the international arrivals hall. Use the booking machine at the rank, where you can compare prices from several companies to most addresses in Eastern Norway. The car usually arrives within three to five minutes. You can also book in a taxi company’s own app or in the Vy app. The price depends on the time of day, the number of passengers and the address.

The airport advises against getting into a taxi you haven’t booked first, and against agreeing a price directly with a driver inside or outside the terminal. The driver must tell you the price before the journey starts. The trip to Oslo S takes about 40 minutes, and longer in heavy traffic. Read more on the airport’s taxi page.

A taxi is slower than the train and usually much more expensive. It makes most sense for four adults with lots of luggage. Four Flytoget tickets cost 1,104 NOK (about £88/$117), so compare that with the price on the machine before you decide.

Private transfer

If you’re landing late with children, or you’d like a driver waiting for you, you can book a private transfer from Oslo Airport here. The price covers up to three people and is agreed in advance, and the transfer must be booked at least 10 hours ahead.

Onward travel around Norway straight from the airport

If you’re not heading into Oslo, you can often travel straight on. Trains on the line towards Lillehammer and Trondheim run via the airport, so you don’t need to go into Oslo S first. If you’d like your ticket for a long train journey sorted in advance, you can buy train tickets from Omio here. Flytoget also runs directly west to Sandvika, Asker and Drammen.

There are also long-distance coaches straight from the airport. Vy Ekspress runs to Volda, Måløy and Førde in Western Norway, Valdresekspressen and Trysilekspressen head inland, and Vy’s airport bus FB11 runs to Fredrikstad via Sarpsborg. All the connections are listed on the airport’s Norwegian page about public transport.

Getting back to the airport

Flytoget is also the easiest way back, and from Oslo S it runs every 10 minutes for most of the day. Remember to tap your card on the reader before you board, and again at the gates at the airport. On board you can print baggage tags with Flytag, so you can skip the queue at bag drop. Check on Flytoget’s website whether this works for your airline.

If you’re catching an early flight, check the first departures the evening before in the Flytoget app or the Ruter app, because fewer trains run early in the morning. Several airlines recommend being at the airport at least two hours before departure. Vy has a travel guarantee: if your train is at least 30 minutes late, and you’d planned to be at the airport no later than 30 minutes before check-in closes, Vy covers a new flight ticket.

If you’re short on time on your last day and would rather be driven to the terminal, you can book a private transfer from the city centre to the airport here.

If someone’s dropping you off, it’s free to stop for up to 7 minutes at Kiss&Fly right by the terminal. After that it costs 70 NOK (about £5.60/$7.40) for every 20 minutes or part thereof, so if you need a longer goodbye, the short-stay car park next door is the better choice. The rules are on the airport’s Kiss&Fly page.

Which option should you choose?

Here’s what I’d recommend, depending on where you’re staying. The areas are the same as in my guide to where to stay in Oslo:

Sentrum and Karl Johans gate: Take Flytoget to Oslo S, or to Nationaltheatret if your hotel is at the western end of Karl Johans gate. If you’d like to save money, Vy’s regional train to Oslo S is almost as fast.

Bjørvika: Take Flytoget or the regional train to Oslo S, and walk the few minutes down to the water by the Opera House.

Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen: Take a Flytoget train towards Drammen or Stabekk to Nationaltheatret, and walk down to the harbour.

Grünerløkka: Take the train to Oslo S and the tram from there. With the regional train and a four-zone Ruter ticket, the tram is already paid for as long as the ticket is valid.

Frogner and Majorstuen: Take Flytoget to Nationaltheatret and the T-bane or a tram from there. If you’re staying close to Majorstuen, Flybussen FB1 goes all the way there.

Landing late in the evening: Check the next Flytoget departure before you leave the terminal, because fewer trains run late in the evening. If there are none left, a taxi booked at the machine is the safe choice.

Travelling with children: Take Flytoget. Children under 16 travel free with an adult, so it’s often cheaper than both the bus and a taxi.

Four adults with lots of luggage: Compare the price on the taxi machine with four Flytoget tickets. If the difference is small, the taxi takes you right to the door.

Practical tips for getting from Oslo Airport Gardermoen to the city centre

Don’t buy a Ruter ticket for Flytoget. Ruter tickets are valid on Vy trains and fully or partly on Flybussen, but never on Flytoget, not even period passes for all zones.

Use the same card all the way. If you pay by card on Flytoget on the way to the airport, you need to use the same card at the gates at the airport to get out.

Buy your Flybussen ticket online. It’s cheapest on flybussen.no and costs more on board.

Download the Ruter app before you land. You can use it to buy tickets for the regional train, the T-bane, trams and buses, and to see the next departures.

Choose your hotel with the connection in mind. If you stay near Oslo S, both Flytoget and the regional train stop right on your doorstep, and you can see hotels near Oslo S here. Flybussen FB1 stops at Majorstuen, and the T-bane runs from there into the centre, so you can see hotels near Majorstuen here. If you’d like to stay in Grünerløkka, a tram ride from Oslo S, you can see hotels in Grünerløkka here.

If you’re not sure which neighbourhood suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Oslo, and find ideas for your trip in my guide to things to do in Oslo. If your trip continues to Sweden, I’ve also written a guide to getting from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm.

The post Oslo Airport to the City Centre - Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Even so, the neighbourhoods give you very different stays. Hotels in Oslo are expensive, so it matters a lot whether your money buys you harbour views, café life or quiet streets. Here are my five recommendations for where to stay in Oslo, with hotels in three price ranges in each area.

The Best Areas in Oslo

• Sentrum - best area for first-time visitors
• Bjørvika - best area for culture and views over the fjord
• Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen - best area for waterfront luxury
• Grünerløkka - best area for cafés, vintage shops and nightlife
• Frogner & Majorstuen - best area for quiet streets and shopping

Below, I’ll take you through the five areas one by one, each with three hotels sorted by price range. Getting around is easy from all of them. According to Ruter, a single ticket for one zone is valid for 60 minutes, and you can use it on the city’s buses, trams, T-bane and boats and on Vy’s trains in Oslo and Akershus.

1. Sentrum - best area for first-time visitors

• Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying right in the centre. From Karl Johans gate, it’s around 700 metres to Oslo S.
• Transport: The T-bane from Stortinget and Jernbanetorget, trains from Oslo S and Nationaltheatret, and trams and buses in every direction.
• Time from the airport: 19 minutes on the Flytoget airport express train to the centre. The train stops at both Oslo S and Nationaltheatret, and my guide to getting from Oslo Airport to the city centre compares all the ways into town.
• Price range: High, but this is where you’ll find the biggest choice in every price range, from simple budget hotels to five-star classics.
• Safety: Safe. Keep a close eye on your bag and phone in the crowds around Oslo S and on Karl Johans gate.

Sentrum is my first choice for a first trip to Oslo. You’ll be staying between Oslo S and the Royal Palace, with Karl Johans gate as the main street, and most of what a first-time visitor wants to see is within walking distance. Oslo City Hall and the harbour are just to the south, and from Oslo S, it’s around 400 metres to the Opera House in Bjørvika.

South of the main street is Kvadraturen. VisitOslo says the district between Akershus Fortress and Karl Johans gate takes its name from its square grid of streets. This is where you’ll find many of the city’s hotels, and it’s a short walk to both the fortress and the water.

See hotels in Sentrum here.

The biggest advantage is the arrival. The Flytoget airport express train runs every 10 minutes from the airport and takes 19 minutes to the centre, and an adult ticket to Oslo S or Nationaltheatret costs 276 Norwegian kroner according to Flytoget’s fare list. If you’d like to save money, Vy’s regional trains take 23 minutes and usually cost about half as much.

The downside is that Sentrum is busy. Around Oslo S and on Karl Johans gate, there are people about from morning until late in the evening, and many of the rooms in the older hotels are small. If you’re a light sleeper, I’d ask for a room away from the street.

Within Sentrum, the streets differ too. The hotels by Oslo S are practical if you’re arriving with heavy luggage or travelling on by train. If you’d rather stay close to the Royal Palace, City Hall and the harbour, look for a hotel at the western end by Nationaltheatret, where Flytoget also stops. Kvadraturen is a good compromise, with a short walk to the fortress, Aker Brygge and Bjørvika.

Places to Stay in Sentrum

Hotel Continental - five-star classic by Nationaltheatret

Hotel Continental is my pick if you want to stay somewhere classic and central. The hotel is on Stortingsgata, around 200 metres from Nationaltheatret station, so the Royal Palace, City Hall and Karl Johans gate are all just a few minutes’ walk away.

The standard rooms measure 21 square metres and come with a minibar and a coffee machine, and the suites go up to 53 square metres. There’s a 24-hour gym, restaurants, a bar, a concierge and room service. The bar and lounge are open to everyone, not just hotel guests, and a few guests mention noise from the street and from the lounge area.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The breakfast was fantastic, the room was very nice and the location was superb.”

See photos and book Hotel Continental here.

Hotell Bondeheimen - mid-range hotel with breakfast right by Stortinget

Bondeheimen is on Kristian IVs gate, around 150 metres from Stortinget station and a short walk from Karl Johans gate. The breakfast buffet is included, and the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a gym.

I’d choose it if you want to stay right in the centre without paying for a five-star hotel. On the other hand, the standard double room is only 12 square metres, and one guest complains about noise with the window open. If you need space, look at the larger room categories.

Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “The breakfast was really good, and so was the location. Right in the centre.”

See photos and book Hotell Bondeheimen here.

Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station - simple budget hotel close to Oslo S

Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station is on Fred Olsens gate, around 250 metres from Oslo S, so you can wheel your suitcase straight from Flytoget to reception. The hotel has a 24-hour reception, a bar with snacks and soundproofed rooms.

The rooms are small, from 11 square metres in the compact double, and the hotel doesn’t serve breakfast. That’s why it suits you best if you want to stay cheaply and centrally and don’t mind having breakfast out.

One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “The location right by the train station is ideal.”

See photos and book Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station here.

2. Bjørvika - best area for culture and views over the fjord

• Distance from the centre: The Opera House is around 400 metres from Oslo S and just under 1 km from Stortinget.
• Transport: Oslo S, with trains, the T-bane, trams and buses, is a few minutes’ walk from the Opera House.
• Time from the airport: 19 minutes on Flytoget to the centre, then around 400 metres on foot from Oslo S to the Opera House.
• Price range: Mid-range to high. There are more modern hotels and apartments here than cheap rooms.
• Safety: A safe, open area with lots of people along the harbour promenade.

Bjørvika is Oslo’s new district on the fjord, just south of Oslo S. The Opera House and MUNCH stand right by the water, and behind them the slim high-rises of Barcode rise up like the lines of a barcode. It’s a new part of the city built in glass and concrete, so don’t come here looking for old wooden houses.

The Opera House is the reason many people choose the area. According to the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, the architects wanted to make the roof a platform everyone has access to, and you can walk up the marble and look out over the fjord. It’s one of the best places in the city for an evening stroll.

See hotels in Bjørvika here.

Bjørvika is also a good place if you’d like to get in the water. VisitOslo mentions the shallow sandy pool at Sørenga and the sauna village at Sukkerbiten, and the waterfront is open to everyone. That makes the area an obvious choice if you’re travelling in summer or want to try a fjord sauna.

MUNCH is a couple of minutes’ walk from the Opera House. The museum is dedicated to Edvard Munch, and if you want to spend half a day on his work, it makes sense to stay here. Check the opening hours and tickets on the museum’s own website before you go. In the evening, I’d walk up onto the Opera House roof and then along the quay out towards Sørenga.

Oslo S is close by, so arriving from the airport is almost as easy as in Sentrum. The downside is that there aren’t many hotels, and the few there are sit in the same price bracket. That’s why my cheapest suggestion is a set of apartments, which give you more space than an ordinary hotel room.

Places to Stay in Bjørvika

Clarion Hotel Oslo - hotel with breakfast between the Opera House and MUNCH

Clarion Hotel Oslo is on Dronning Eufemias gate, around 200 metres from both the Opera House and MUNCH and around 400 metres from Oslo S. It’s the most expensive of my three suggestions in Bjørvika, and you get a restaurant, a bar, a gym and room service.

The rooms range from 16 square metres in the smallest to 40 square metres in the suites, and breakfast is included in the price. A few guests write that the cleaning wasn’t always up to scratch, but most praise the staff and the breakfast.

Here’s how one guest puts it on Booking.com: “It was the staff and the breakfast that made my stay.”

See photos and book Clarion Hotel Oslo here.

Comfort Hotel Grand Central - mid-range hotel right by Oslo S

Comfort Hotel Grand Central is on Jernbanetorget right by Oslo S and around 400 metres from the Opera House. In other words, you’ll be staying on the edge of Bjørvika, with Flytoget, the T-bane and the trams right outside.

The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a gym that’s open around the clock. Breakfast costs extra, and the rooms range from 12 to 32 square metres. The complaint that comes up again and again is precisely that the rooms are small, so choose a larger category if there are two of you with big suitcases.

One guest writes about the hotel on Booking.com: “The breakfast was excellent. The location is perfect.”

See photos and book Comfort Hotel Grand Central here.

Bjørvika Apartments - apartments with a kitchen close to the Opera House

Bjørvika Apartments are spread across several addresses around Dronning Eufemias gate, around 250 metres from the Opera House. The apartments range from 38 square metres with one bedroom up to 75 square metres with three, and they all have a kitchen.

They suit families, friends travelling together and anyone who wants to cook some of their own meals in an expensive city. There’s a washing machine and a roof terrace with a view. Check-in is from 3 pm, and you’ll be told how to collect the keys before you arrive. A few guests weren’t happy with the pillows.

One guest highlights on Booking.com: “Everything is well maintained and as good as new, and there’s all the kitchen equipment you need.”

See photos and book Bjørvika Apartments here.

3. Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen - best area for waterfront luxury

• Distance from the centre: Around 600 metres from Nationaltheatret and around 1 km from Stortinget.
• Transport: Trains and the T-bane from Nationaltheatret, plus trams and buses in the streets behind the harbour.
• Time from the airport: Flytoget to Nationaltheatret, then around 600 metres on foot. Allow about half an hour in total.
• Price range: Usually the most expensive area in the city, especially if you want to stay right by the water.
• Safety: Safe and well kept, with lots of people on the promenade. Take the usual precautions late in the evening.

Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen are Oslo’s most stylish waterfront address. Aker Brygge is a long harbour promenade with restaurants and bars west of City Hall, and out at the tip is Tjuvholmen, with modern architecture, small canals and apartments right down to the fjord. In the two marinas, the pleasure boats lie side by side, and this is where you stay if you want to look out at the fjord over your morning coffee and walk to dinner along the water.

VisitOslo calls the Astrup Fearnley Museum one of the leading museums of international contemporary art in the Nordic region. The museum stands at the very end of Tjuvholmen, with a large sculpture park and a beach right outside the door.

See hotels near Aker Brygge here.

You’ll be close to most things. City Hall is at the end of the promenade, Akershus Fortress is on the other side of the harbour, and it’s less than a kilometre to the Royal Palace and Karl Johans gate. Nationaltheatret is the nearest station, with both Flytoget and the T-bane.

The price is the big downside. The waterfront hotels are among the most expensive in Oslo. If you want to stay here without paying for a five-star hotel, I’d choose one of the hotels in the streets just behind the harbour, where you’re still only a couple of minutes from the water. Thon Hotel Vika Atrium and Hotel Filip below are exactly that type of hotel.

The promenade is at its best in the evening. From here, you can walk along the water past City Hall and Akershus Fortress all the way to the Opera House in Bjørvika, a walk of a couple of kilometres. VisitOslo also singles out the restaurants on Tjuvholmen for their high standard and beautiful setting, so this is a good place to eat if your trip is a celebration.

Places to Stay in Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen

The Thief - design hotel with a spa out on Tjuvholmen

The Thief is on Tjuvholmen right next to the Astrup Fearnley Museum, and it’s Oslo’s most obvious choice for a romantic break with the fjord outside the window. The standard double room measures 24 square metres, and the junior suites are 40.

The hotel has a spa with a hammam, a sauna and an indoor pool, plus a gym, a restaurant, a bar and 24-hour room service. Breakfast is only included in some of the rates, so check when you book. A few guests complain that the air conditioning didn’t work properly.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Super location, super staff, very comfortable room, really good breakfast and good facilities.”

See photos and book The Thief here.

Thon Hotel Vika Atrium - four-star hotel just behind Aker Brygge

Thon Hotel Vika Atrium is on Munkedamsveien, around 150 metres from Aker Brygge and around 500 metres from Nationaltheatret. The breakfast buffet is included in the price, and the hotel has a gym and a 24-hour reception.

The rooms range from 13 square metres up to 34.5 square metres in the business category. It’s a good choice if you want to stay close to the harbour without paying five-star prices. Some rooms have windows that don’t open and face an inner courtyard, so ask for a street view if that matters to you.

One guest says on Booking.com: “The location is lovely, close to the trams, the waterfront and restaurants.”

See photos and book Thon Hotel Vika Atrium here.

Hotel Filip - self-catering hotel with large rooms

Hotel Filip is on Munkedamsveien, around 200 metres from Aker Brygge, and it’s my budget suggestion in the area. The hotel is set up for self-catering, so breakfast isn’t included. On the other hand, the largest category, an executive studio of 31 square metres, has its own kitchen.

The standard rooms start at 13 square metres, and there’s a gym, a garden and a shared laundry. A few guests miss having a fridge in the room and have complained about the cleaning, but many praise the space and the location for the price.

Here’s how one guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “The location is excellent. The rooms are much bigger than in a typical city hotel.”

See photos and book Hotel Filip here.

4. Grünerløkka - best area for cafés, vintage shops and nightlife

• Distance from the centre: Olaf Ryes plass, in the middle of the district, is just under 1.5 km from Stortinget.
• Transport: Trams through the district and the T-bane from Carl Berners plass at the eastern end.
• Time from the airport: Flytoget to Oslo S, then a tram or a walk of just under 1.5 km. Allow a good half hour in total.
• Price range: Mid-range. There are few hotels but more apartments, and prices are often a little lower than in Sentrum.
• Safety: Safe, but there’s nightlife at weekends, so choose a room away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.

Grünerløkka, or just Løkka, is the district for cafés, vintage shops and bars. It lies north of the centre on the east side of the Akerselva river, and the streets are full of old apartment buildings, small parks and places to eat where the locals sit.

VisitOslo explains that Grünerløkka was a working-class district in the 19th century and that the Akerselva forms its western boundary. The path along the river leads past Mathallen and old factory buildings, and on Sundays there’s a flea market in the small park of Birkelunden.

The parks are a big part of life here. Birkelunden has lawns around a pavilion from 1926, and according to VisitOslo, Sofienbergparken is a popular spot for picnics and table tennis in summer. The shops are a mix of vintage and independent stores, so you’ll find something different from the big chains here.

See hotels in Grünerløkka here.

I’d choose Grünerløkka if you’ve been to Oslo before or would rather stay where the city’s own residents go out than by the big sights. Trams run through the district, and it’s a 15 to 20-minute walk to Oslo S and Karl Johans gate. In the evening, the bars are lively, especially at weekends.

You should know that the district has few hotels and no real luxury hotels. The price difference between my three suggestions is therefore smaller than in the other areas, and the two hotels are often close to each other in price. Many people choose an apartment instead, and that’s also my cheapest suggestion here. Pay attention to where in the district your hotel is: Scandic Vulkan is by the river in the west, Anker Hotel on the southern edge and the apartments at the eastern end.

Places to Stay in Grünerløkka

Scandic Vulkan - hotel right by Mathallen and the Akerselva

Scandic Vulkan is right next to Mathallen by the Akerselva and around 500 metres from Olaf Ryes plass. It’s the most complete hotel in the district, with a restaurant, a bar, a gym and bike rental, and the rooms range from 15 to 35 square metres.

It suits you if you want the food hall and the riverside path right outside the door. Breakfast is a buffet, and it gets plenty of praise. On the other hand, some guests mention worn walls and floors and small windows in some of the rooms.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The breakfast is excellent, and the staff are wonderful.”

See photos and book Scandic Vulkan here.

Anker Hotel - hotel between Grünerløkka and Oslo S

Anker Hotel is on Storgata on the southern edge of Grünerløkka, around 600 metres from Olaf Ryes plass and around 750 metres from Oslo S. That puts both the cafés and the train station within walking distance.

The rooms measure 18 to 20 square metres, and the hotel has a lobby bar, a garden and parking. Breakfast is only included in some of the rates. The complaint that comes up again and again is the limited space for luggage when there are several of you in the room.

Here’s what one guest singles out on Booking.com: “Fantastic breakfast, clean room, polite staff and a perfect location for the hotel.”

See photos and book Anker Hotel here.

MAYA Apartments Carl Berner - apartments with a kitchen at the eastern end

MAYA Apartments is on Trondheimsveien, around 300 metres from Carl Berners plass T-bane station and around 800 metres from Olaf Ryes plass. The apartments range from 23 to 58 square metres, and they all have a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

There’s no reception, just self check-in, so it suits you best if you want space and like to make your own breakfast. Guests miss basics such as salt and oil, so pick them up at the supermarket.

One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Good location, very clean, good beds, spacious, well equipped and easy check-in.”

See photos and book MAYA Apartments Carl Berner here.

5. Frogner & Majorstuen - best area for quiet streets and shopping

• Distance from the centre: From Solli plass, it’s around 1.4 km to Stortinget, and from Majorstuen station, it’s just under 2.5 km.
• Transport: The T-bane and trams from Majorstuen, plus trams through Frogner to the centre.
• Time from the airport: Flytoget to Nationaltheatret, then the T-bane or a tram onwards. Allow 30 to 40 minutes in total.
• Price range: Mid-range to very high, and apartments are the cheapest alternative.
• Safety: One of the quietest areas in central Oslo.

Frogner and Majorstuen make up Oslo’s west side, where the city is at its most elegant and peaceful. The area stretches from Solli plass behind the Royal Palace up to Majorstuen, and the streets are full of ornate apartment buildings, galleries and small cafés.

VisitOslo describes these neighbourhoods with their decorated houses, art galleries and antique dealers, and Bogstadveien and Hegdehaugsveien are the two shopping streets leading up to Majorstuen. Here, you’ll shop where the locals shop too, not just in souvenir shops.

The area is large, so think about which end you want to stay in. Around Solli plass, you’ll be closer to the Royal Palace and Aker Brygge, while Majorstuen is best if you want the T-bane and Frognerparken close by. My three suggestions are spread from Solli plass up towards Majorstuen, so you can choose based on what matters most to you.

See hotels in Frogner and Majorstuen here.

The big attraction is Frognerparken with Vigelandsparken. According to the City of Oslo, the park is open around the clock with free admission and is home to more than 200 of Gustav Vigeland’s sculptures. From Majorstuen station, it’s just under 900 metres to Vigelandsparken, so you can walk over early in the morning before the crowds arrive. It’s the largest park in central Oslo, so there’s also room for a run or a picnic.

I’d choose this area if you want peace and quiet in the evening and don’t mind taking the T-bane or a tram into the centre. The downside is precisely the distance: from Majorstuen station, it’s just under 2.5 km to Stortinget, and the evenings are quieter than in Sentrum and Grünerløkka.

Places to Stay in Frogner & Majorstuen

Sommerro - five-star hotel with a rooftop pool

Sommerro is around 200 metres from Solli plass and around 400 metres from the Royal Palace. If you want a pool, it’s my luxury choice in Oslo: there’s a rooftop pool, a sauna, a gym, a restaurant, a bar and a terrace.

The rooms range from 20 to 80 square metres, and breakfast is served as a buffet or à la carte. A few guests feel the smallest rooms are small for the price, so I’d choose a category above the cheapest.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Aesthetic design, excellent location and a comfortable room.”

See photos and book Sommerro here.

Saga Hotel Oslo - small four-star hotel on a quiet side street

Saga Hotel Oslo is on Eilert Sundts gate between Majorstuen and the palace park, Slottsparken, around 750 metres from the Royal Palace and just under 900 metres from Majorstuen station. Breakfast is included, and there’s a bar and a 24-hour reception.

The rooms range from 15 to 28 square metres, and it’s a good choice for a couple who want a quiet stay and a good breakfast. Several guests say the bathrooms are small, so check the room description if that matters to you.

One guest writes about the breakfast on Booking.com: “Wonderful breakfast, probably the best hotel breakfast we’ve had.”

See photos and book Saga Hotel Oslo here.

The Sweet - apartments with a kitchen near Slottsparken

The Sweet is part of The Apartments Company and is on Josefines gate, around 600 metres from the Royal Palace. You can choose between studios of 15 to 25 square metres and one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments of 38 and 55 square metres, and they all have a kitchen or a kitchenette.

There’s no reception, so you check yourself in and need to let them know when you’re arriving. A few guests mention dust and a lift that was out of order, but the price is usually the lowest of my three suggestions in the area.

One guest describes the place on Booking.com: “Lovely place with history, close to the centre. Everything you could wish for.”

See photos and book The Sweet here.

Where should you avoid staying in Oslo?

I wouldn’t stay by the airport unless you have a very early flight. Flytoget makes the journey into the city quick, but a return trip every day costs both time and money, and you won’t get much of the city in the evening.

Watch out for the cheap hotels on the outskirts of the city too. They often look tempting on price, but they’re a long way from the sights, so you end up spending time on transport every day. Always check the distance to the nearest T-bane or train station before you book. And check whether breakfast is included in the price, because in Oslo it makes a big difference to the bill.

If I had to choose one area for a first trip, it’d be Sentrum for the location and the easy arrival from the airport. Bjørvika is the choice if you want to stay by the Opera House and MUNCH with the fjord right outside your door, and Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen are the place if you have a big budget.

Grünerløkka suits you if you’d rather sit in a café than queue at the sights, and Frogner and Majorstuen give you the quietest streets and Vigelandsparken within walking distance.

Once you’ve found your hotel, you can use my guide to the best things to do in Oslo to plan your days. If your trip continues to another Nordic capital, I’ve also written about where to stay in Stockholm and the best areas in Reykjavik. If you’re heading north to see the northern lights, have a look at my guide to where to stay in Tromsø, from the city centre to Kvaløya and the Lyngen Alps. And if you like cities where the water is part of everyday life, take a look at my guide to the best things to do in Amsterdam.

The post Where to Stay in Oslo? The 5 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Here are my picks for the 17 best things to see and do in Oslo, with prices, opening hours and tips on getting around. Prices are in Norwegian kroner, and at the time of writing, 1 Norwegian krone is worth about €0.09. Oslo is an expensive city, but many of the best experiences are free, including the roof of the Opera House, Vigeland Park and Akershus Fortress. If you haven’t found somewhere to sleep yet, read my guide to where to stay in Oslo.

1. Oslo Opera House

The Opera House opened in 2008 and was designed by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta. The building is made of white Carrara marble, oak and brushed aluminium, and it slopes all the way down to the water. The best thing about it is that the roof is free and open to everyone. You just walk up the slope and get a view over the Oslofjord and the new district of Bjørvika.

Inside the foyer, Olafur Eliasson’s work The Other Wall glows, and in the water in front of the building lies Monica Bonvicini’s glass sculpture She Lies, which seems to float on the fjord. The building is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm and on Sundays from noon to 4pm. If you’d like to see behind the scenes, there are guided tours in Norwegian and English, and the Oslo Pass gives you a 15 per cent discount on them.

The Sydney Opera House is the most famous in the world, but here in Oslo you’re allowed to walk on the roof. If you’re heading to Australia one day, I’ve also written a guide to where to stay in Sydney. My tip is to walk up onto the roof in the late afternoon and see MUNCH and Deichman on the same trip, because they’re in the same neighbourhood.

2. MUNCH

MUNCH has the world’s largest collection of works by Edvard Munch. Munch left more than 26,000 works to the City of Oslo in his will, and today they hang in the museum’s tall new building by the water in Bjørvika, which was designed by estudio Herreros. The exhibitions are spread over 13 floors, so set aside a couple of hours.

A version of The Scream (Skrik) is always on display, so you’re sure to see his most famous motif. A ticket costs 220 Norwegian kroner (around €21), young people under 25 pay 100 Norwegian kroner (around €9.50), and children under 18 get in free. The museum is open Sunday to Tuesday from 10am to 6pm and Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm.

On the first Wednesday of the month, entry is free from 6pm to 9pm, except in July, August and September. You collect the free tickets at the museum without booking in advance. MUNCH is about a ten-minute walk from Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), and the nearest tram and bus stop is called Bjørvika. I’d recommend one of the late evenings midweek, when you can take in both the exhibitions and the evening light over the fjord.

3. Vigeland Park

Vigeland Park in Frogner Park is Gustav Vigeland’s life’s work. It has more than 200 sculptures in granite, bronze and wrought iron. Vigeland worked on them for over 40 years, and most of them were put in place between 1940 and 1949. The highlight of the park is the huge granite column known as the Monolith, and another of the best-known works is the fountain.

The park is free and open around the clock all year, so you can come whenever it suits you. Take tram 12 or 15 or bus 20 to the Vigelandsparken stop. The Vigeland Museum is by the Frogner plass stop, is closed on Mondays and charges an entrance fee.

My tip is to come early in the morning or on a light summer evening, when there are fewer groups. If you’d like the stories behind the figures and their symbolism, you can take a guided tour with a local art guide. It lasts about an hour and a half.

Book a guided art tour of Vigeland Park.

4. Akershus Fortress and Akershus Castle

King Håkon V began building Akershus in 1299, and it was completed during the 14th century. Under Christian IV, the medieval castle was rebuilt as a Renaissance palace, and restoration work began in 1899. The fortress grounds are also home to the Armed Forces Museum and Norway’s Resistance Museum.

The fortress grounds themselves are free. The main gate is open every day from 6am to 9pm, while the side gates close at 6pm from October to April and at 9pm in summer. Inside the castle, you’ll see the banqueting halls, the castle church and the Royal Mausoleum with the royal sarcophagi. The castle has its own ticket, but the Oslo Pass gives you free entry.

The castle has shorter opening hours than the fortress and can close at short notice when the government uses the halls, so check the opening hours with the Norwegian Armed Forces Museums before you head up there. My tip is to take a walk along the walls, where you can look out over the harbour and the fjord. A guided walking tour passes the fortress, City Hall and the Royal Palace.

Book a guided walking tour of central Oslo.

5. The National Museum

The National Museum, Nasjonalmuseet, opened in a new building on 11 June 2022 and brings Norway’s art, architecture and design together under one roof. In the Munch Room hang some of Edvard Munch’s best-known paintings, including The Scream from 1893.

A ticket costs roughly 220 Norwegian kroner (around €21), and students pay 120 Norwegian kroner (around €11) if they show a student card at the desk. With the Oslo Pass, entry is free. Outside summer, the museum is closed on Mondays, open from 10am to 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from 10am to 5pm on the other days. In summer, it’s also open on Mondays.

Both MUNCH and the National Museum have works by Munch, and I think you should see both if you like his art. Here, the famous painted version of The Scream hangs alongside the rest of Norwegian art history, while MUNCH has his large collection. Come on one of the late evenings if you’d like quieter rooms.

Book a ticket to the National Museum.

6. City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center

Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) faces the harbour, and this is where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The building is the seat of the city council and the city government, but it’s open to everyone, and you can walk around on your own. You can even get married in the Munch Room.

City Hall is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and closed on Sundays. All visitors have to go through a security check, so there may be a queue, and parts of the building can be closed on days with events. The bells play every hour on the hour from 7am to midnight.

Nearby is the Nobel Peace Center, the Peace Prize’s own museum, with exhibitions about the laureates and their work. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm and until 8pm on Wednesdays, it’s closed on Mondays, and children under 18 get in free. Check the current exhibitions and prices on the centre’s website before you go.

7. The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Slottet) is the King’s official residence in Oslo. It was designed by the Danish-Norwegian architect Linstow and completed in 1848. The building is simpler than the palaces in Copenhagen and Stockholm, and it’s surrounded by the Palace Park (Slottsparken).

Come for the changing of the guard by the King’s Guard, which takes place in front of the palace every day at 1.30pm. It’s free to watch. The Palace Park is open all year, covers about 22.5 hectares and has several statues, so it’s a good place for a break between the sights in the centre.

You can only go inside the palace in summer, when there are guided tours for the public. If you’re travelling in the summer holidays and want to go inside, keep an eye on the Royal House’s website well in advance. My tip is to be in the square a little before 1.30pm, so you get a spot in front of the guards.

8. The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum) on Bygdøy is an open-air museum with more than 150 old buildings from all over Norway. The highlight is the stave church from Gol, which dates from around 1200. There are guided tours of the church and the Hove farm from Tuesday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

A ticket costs 200 Norwegian kroner (around €19), students pay 140 Norwegian kroner (around €13), and children under 18 get in free. From 1 May to 4 October, it’s open every day from 10am to 5pm, and for the rest of the year it’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Take bus 30 from the centre to the Folkemuseet stop, or take the ferry from Rådhusbrygge 3 to Dronningen and walk for about ten minutes from there.

The Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy is closed for a long rebuild as the new Museum of the Viking Age, so check whether it has opened before you plan your day. Otherwise, combine Norsk Folkemuseum with the Fram Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum, which are also on Bygdøy. With over 150 buildings, the museum is big, so allow at least a couple of hours if you want to see more than the stave church.

9. The Fram Museum

The Fram Museum is about the Norwegian polar explorers, and in the middle of the building stands Fram, the strongest wooden ship in the world. It’s the original ship, and you can go on board. The museum also has Gjøa, which was the first ship to sail all the way through the Northwest Passage.

A ticket costs 180 Norwegian kroner (around €17) for adults and 70 Norwegian kroner (around €6.50) for children. The museum is open every day of the year from 10am to 5pm. It’s at Bygdøynesveien 39, and the Kon-Tiki Museum is close by, so you can easily see both in an afternoon.

Allow at least an hour, because it takes time to walk around on board. There’s also a polar simulator where you fly with Roald Amundsen towards the North Pole in 1925. If you’d like transport and a guide included, there are tours that combine Fram with the other highlights.

Book a guided tour with Holmenkollen, Vigeland Park and the museums on Bygdøy.

10. The Kon-Tiki Museum

The Kon-Tiki Museum tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions, and here you’ll see the original Kon-Tiki raft from his most famous expedition. The museum also has the papyrus boat Ra II and lots of objects from his other journeys. It isn’t a big museum, so an hour is enough for most people.

A ticket costs 140 Norwegian kroner (around €13) for adults, and students and children aged 6 to 17 pay 50 Norwegian kroner (around €4.50). It’s open every day of the week from 10am or 11am to 5pm, depending on the season. Bus 30 runs every ten minutes from Jernbanetorget by Oslo Central Station, and from April to October the ferry sails from Rådhuskaien every 20 minutes to Bygdøynes, about 200 metres from the museum.

My tip is to take the ferry out and the bus back. That way you get the boat trip, and you can decide for yourself when to leave Bygdøy.

Book a ticket to the Kon-Tiki Museum.

11. Holmenkollen

Holmenkollbakken is Oslo’s famous ski jump, high up on the hill above the city. Next to the jump is the Ski Museum, which was founded in 1923 and has been here since 1951. It has the world’s largest collection of skis and winter equipment, including skis that are around 1,000 years old, and exhibitions about the polar explorers.

The ticket gives you access to both the museum and the top of the jump tower, where you’ve got a view over the whole city and the surrounding area. It costs 200 Norwegian kroner (around €19) for adults and 100 Norwegian kroner (around €9.50) for children aged 6 to 17. It’s open every day from 10am to 4pm from October to April and from 10am to 5pm from May to September.

Take T-bane (metro) line 1 towards Frognerseteren and get off at Holmenkollen station. From there, it’s a steep walk uphill of about ten minutes. Come on a clear day, because the view is the whole reason to come up here.

Book a sightseeing tour to Holmenkollen and Vigeland Park.

12. Boat Trips and Island Hopping on the Oslofjord

The Oslofjord is one of the biggest reasons to visit the city in summer. The cheapest way to get out on the water is with Ruter’s ferries. Line B1 sails from Aker Brygge out to the islands of Hovedøya, Lindøya, Gressholmen, Bleikøya and Nakkholmen, and an ordinary Ruter ticket is valid on board.

Line B1 sails all year, but in winter there are only seven or eight departures a day. From June to August, line B2 also sails. You can’t buy tickets out on the islands, so buy your return ticket in the Ruter app before you set off. Bring a packed lunch and swimwear if the weather’s good.

If you’d rather go on a guided boat trip, quiet electric boats sail from the harbour. A two-hour trip takes you close to the city’s highlights, and the guide tells you about the history and nature along the way.

Book a guided cruise on the Oslofjord by electric boat.

13. Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen

Aker Brygge is the harbour promenade with restaurants and shops facing the water. If you carry on out to Tjuvholmen, you’ll come to the Astrup Fearnley Museum, a museum of modern art that was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Outside is the Tjuvholmen sculpture park.

The Astrup Fearnley Museum is at Strandpromenaden 2 and is open Tuesday to Sunday. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays it’s open from noon to 5pm, on Thursdays from noon to 7pm and at weekends from 11am to 5pm. In July and August, the museum is also open on Mondays. A ticket costs 180 Norwegian kroner (around €17), students and pensioners pay 100 Norwegian kroner (around €9.50), and children and young people under 20 get in free. It’s also free with the Oslo Pass.

Eating on the promenade is expensive, so I’d rather recommend buying a cup of coffee and sitting on the steps by the water. At sunset, Tjuvholmen is one of the best places in the city to watch the light over the fjord.

14. Grünerløkka and Mathallen

Grünerløkka is one of Oslo’s most alternative and hip neighbourhoods, with vintage shops, independent stores and cafés. The Akerselva river forms the western edge of the neighbourhood, and the path along the water runs through parks and past old brick factories from the industrial era. On Sundays there’s a flea market in Birkelunden park, and in summer Sofienbergparken is full of people having picnics.

By the Akerselva, in the Vulkan area, you’ll find the food hall Mathallen, with stalls selling meat, fish and cheese, bakeries, coffee and restaurants. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm and on Sundays from 11am to 6pm, and it’s closed on Mondays. Some of the restaurants stay open later.

My tip is to walk along the Akerselva from the centre up to Grünerløkka, have lunch in Mathallen and finish at one of the cafés around Birkelunden. If you’d like to eat your way through the neighbourhood with a local guide, there are food tours too.

Book a food tour in Grünerløkka.

15. Ekebergparken

Ekebergparken is a sculpture park where art, nature and cultural history come together. The park has works by artists such as Jaume Plensa, Elmgreen & Dragset, James Turrell, Yinka Shonibare, Salvador Dalí and Pipilotti Rist. It’s one of the places many tourists miss, and that’s exactly why I like it.

The park is open around the clock all year and free to visit. The museum and shop at Kongsveien 23 are open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. There are guided tours, workshops and restaurants in the area, and you’ll find the best way to get up there in the Ruter app.

My tip is to combine the park with MUNCH or the Opera House on the same day. The park is free and open even when the museums are closed, so you can easily head up there in the evening and wander among the works at your own pace. Wear good shoes, because you’ll do quite a bit of walking in the park.

16. Deichman Bjørvika

Deichman Bjørvika is Oslo’s new main library, on Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass right next to the Opera House. It might not sound like a sight, but the building is one of the best examples of the new architecture in Bjørvika, and from the top floor you’ve got a view over the Oslofjord.

The library has books, a cinema, workshops, a café and a sound studio, and there are free events such as talks and films. It’s a public library, so you can walk in without a ticket. On weekdays it’s open from 8am to 10pm, and at weekends from 10am to 6pm.

Look out for the silent room of the art project Future Library. Here, 100 new books are being kept for 100 years, and they won’t be available to readers until 2114. My tip is to use the library as a warm and free pit stop after you’ve been up on the Opera House roof in winter.

17. The Storting

The Storting is Norway’s parliament, and the building is right in the centre, with its entrance on Karl Johans gate when the chamber is sitting. It’s a place few tourists think of, but in summer you can go inside for free on a guided tour.

The Storting offers free guided tours for tourists in July and August, and they’re open to everyone, with room for up to 30 people per tour. Outside summer, the pre-booked tours are reserved for school classes, so as a tourist you can’t book a tour then.

If you’re travelling to Oslo in the summer holidays, check the times on the Storting’s website before you set off, and arrive in good time, because there’s limited space on each tour. Otherwise, you can settle for seeing the building from the outside as you walk up Karl Johans gate.

Practical Travel Tips for Oslo

Oslo is expensive, which is why the Oslo Pass can pay off if you want to see several museums in a short time. It costs 580 Norwegian kroner (around €54) for 24 hours, 845 Norwegian kroner (around €79) for 48 hours and 995 Norwegian kroner (around €93) for 72 hours. It gives you free entry to more than 30 museums and sights, including the National Museum, Akershus Castle and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, as well as free public transport, including to and from Oslo Airport Gardermoen.

Without the Oslo Pass, you buy tickets for buses, trams, the T-bane and the ferries to the islands in the Ruter app.

If you’re not sure which area to choose, read my guide to where to stay in Oslo, or see all hotels in Oslo on Booking.com. If you’re heading on to Sweden, I’ve also written about the best things to do in Stockholm.

The post 17 Best Things to Do in Oslo: Sights, Prices & Tips appeared first on Destination Well Known.