Oslo is a compact capital where the fjord is never far away. Most of what you’ll want to see is within a couple of kilometres of Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), and the T-bane metro, trams and trains make it easy to get around.
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.
Contents
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.
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.
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. 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.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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