Wondering where to stay when you visit Oslo?

In the central parts of Oslo there are five neighborhoods where I’d recommend you to find your accommodation: Bjørvika, Downtown (kvadraturen), Grünerløkka, Frogner/Majorstuen or Aker Brygge. To make it easy for you to pick the one that suits you best, check out this neighborhood guide for travelers to Oslo. I’ve also listed some hotel recommendations.

Bjørvika

is just east of the city center, located between the old Oslo and the Akershus Fortress. It’s a quite new neighborhood that started to emerge during the 2000s, as a plan of making Oslo into a fjord city, and re-developing what before was industrial areas to the public.
This is the place to stay if you are interested in modern architecture, contemporary art galleries and fancy restaurants + sauna and swimming in the fjord. Bjørvika is easy walkable, and you’re never far from the water. There are plenty of buses and trams connecting you to other neighborhoods, and the subway is also just a short walk away.

What I like:

• Close to the fjord (swimming & sauna)

• Well connected. Just next to the Oslo central station

• Big attractions!

• Walk on the roof of the Opera House

• A fun place for kids (playgrounds)

Things to check out:

• Oslo Opera House, Munch Museum, Deichman Library

• SALT (a cultural village by the fjord)

• Vaaghals Restaurant (International dishes made with meat, fish, vegetables etc from Norway)

• Oslo Badstuforening & KOK (public saunas on the fjord)

• Kösk (Contemporary Art Gallery)

>>Get Oslo Pass Including Public Transport here

My Hotel Recommendations

Clarion Hotel Oslo

A comfortable hotel with an amazing breakfast table. Superbly located just next to the Opera House and the Munch Museum

Book your stay here or Read my review first

Downtown (Kvadraturen)

The Downtown / City Center is the pulsating heart of Oslo, and stretches from the Oslo Central Station in the east, going west along the main pedestrian street Karl Johans gate and down to the Oslo fjord. Kvadraturen, which is next to the Akershus fortress, is also part of this area, and is where you find many of the historical buildings from the 1600s and the old Christiania.

This is a great area to stay in Oslo if you’re looking for cheap accommodation, but at the same time being close to “everything”. To further explore the downtown area I recommend heading over to Youngstorget and the Torggata street with many small shops, bars and restaurants.

You might also want to read: A Guide to Cheap Hotels in Oslo

What I like:

• Central location. An abundance of bars and restaurants

• Affordable accommodation

• Short walking distance to many attractions and different areas

Things to check out:

• Big attractions: Oslo City Hall, Akershus Fortress & WW2 Resistance museum, The Royal Palace and changing of the guards, Stortinget (The Parliament building)

• Karl Johans gate (main pedestrian street)

• Eat: Oslo Street Food, Restaurant Fjord (sea food), Kaffistova & Engebret Café (Norwegian food)

• Bars: Torggata Botaniske, Crow Bar, Internasjonalen, Last Train and many many more…

>>>Get Oslo Pass Including Public Transport here

My Hotel Recommendations

Citybox Hotel

One of the best budget hotels in Oslo. No breakfast, but the rooms are bright, clean, comfortable and affordable.

Book your stay here or Read my review first

Thon Hotel Cecil

A centrally located, but quiet hotel. Tasty breakfast and friendly staff. Sits just around the corner from the City Hall.

Book your stay here

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Fancy hotel just across from the Oslo Central Station. Stylish restaurant, rooftop and an elegant bar. The Hub got free sauna, steam bath and swimming pool access.

Book your stay here

Hotel Bristol

Charming hotel with antique-style furniture and interiors. A bit pricey, but well worth it if it’s within your budget.

Book your stay here

Grünerløkka

Grünerløkka is just north-east of the city center, and is considered the most hip and trendy neighborhood of Oslo. This is also very much an area where you can hang out with the locals, while sipping a fancy coffee or eating a nice meal on a sidewalk café. At night time there’s plenty of clubs and concert venues to keep you entertained.

Markveien is the main street, where you can find plenty of vintage stores. Don’t miss out on Olaf Ryes plass and Sofienbergparken, two parks where you can have a picnic and enjoy parkliv (park life). Grünerløkka also sits next to the idyllic Akerselva (aker river), a popular recreational area for the “Oslonians”. From Grünerløkka you can stroll along the river all the way down to the Bjørvika area.

What I like:

• Local/bohemian vibe

• Green parks and the Aker river

• Nice architecture from the 1850s-1900s

Things to check out:

• Stroll along the Aker river and enjoy park life

• Eat: Vulcan Oslo Food Hall, Markveien Mat & Vinhus, Le Benjamin Bar & Bistro, Haralds Vaffel

• Bars: Grünerløkka Brygghus, Aku-Aku Tiki Bar, Glød, Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri

• Concerts: Parkteateret, Blå

• Tim Wendelbo (best coffee in Oslo?)

My Hotel Recommendations

Anker Hotel

Large comfortable rooms with writing desks and armchairs. Just a short walk across a bridge from Grünerløkka, and also close to downtown.

Book your stay here

Scandic Vulcan Hotel

Modern rooms with wodden floors and work desks. It sits just next to the Aker river and the Oslo food hall. Offers free gym and a bike rental.

Book your stay here

Frogner & Majorstuen

Frogner is on the westside of Oslo, and is a residential area with the highest real estate prices in Norway. It’s sort of a more posh version of the Grünerløkka neighborhood (mentioned above), and if you want peace and quiet with good shopping and a nice selection of restaurants and bars then this is a place to stay.

It’s an ideal place to stroll around and observe everyday life, perhaps enjoy some park life in the Frogner park, and if you want a bit more hustle and bustle you can walk over to Majorstua and the Bogstadveien shopping street.

From Frogner you can catch the trams to go downtown, or take the subway at the Majorstua station. All lines take you to the city center, and the line 1 takes you up to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump.

What I like:

• Peaceful and quiet

• There’s a local vibe with a lot of parks and small cute cafés

Things to check out:

• The Vigeland Sculpture Park (must see!)

• Art galleries

• The Royal Palace Gardens

• Majorstua (Bogstadveien shopping street)

• Litteraturhuset (if you’re interested in litterature)

• Eat: Lorry, Lofotstua, Berserk

• Bars: Gamle Major, Brød og Bar, Oslo Mikrobryggeri

>>Get Oslo Pass Including Public Transport here

My Hotel Recommendations

Cochs Pension (budget)

Saga Hotel Oslo Premium (mid-range)

The Sweet by the Apartment Company (mid-range)

Frogner House Apartments (top-end)

Aker Brygge

Aker Brygge was once an industrial part of Oslo, but today it’s been re-developed into a residential area with plenty of shopping, restaurants, bars, art and modern architecture.

The buildings from the old mechanical garages are still standing, making a nice contrast between old and new. A canal parts the area in two, and the a big marina is just next door, great if you’re interested in the maritime (like me).

The locals flock here on sunny days to stroll along the waterfront or for a swim in the fjord. At both ends of Aker Brygge you find word class art museums. A great place to stay when you visit Oslo (if you can afford it…).

You are also just a short walk away from the Oslo City Hall, and the Nationaltheatret subway and train station, with trains straight to the Oslo Airport.

>>Get Oslo Pass Including Public Transport here

What I like:

• Cool architecture

• Proximity to the water

• Beautiful sunsets

• Chill vibe

Things to check out:

• Astrup Fearnley Museum of Contemporary Art

• The National Museum (opens June 2022)

• Oslo Fjord Spa Sauna

• Eat: Rorbua, The Salmon, Døgnvill, Hanami

• Bars: Beer Palace, Piren, Underbar

My Hotel Recommendations

The Thief Hotel (top-end)