In a nutshell
- For your first short trip, your best bet is to stay in Sentrum. Our hotel pick: Thon Hotel Cecil — a stylish hotel in a central location with a fantastic breakfast.
- In the modern Gamle Oslo & Barcode District, you’ll be centrally located and close to the train station. Our hotel pick: Clarion Hotel — the breakfast alone is worth it.
- In Frogner, you can treat yourself to great shopping, luxury hotels, and outstanding food. Our hotel pick: The Thief — a seriously luxurious hotel with spacious rooms and a spa area.
The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Oslo — on a Map
Oslo, with 1 million residents, isn’t particularly large for a capital city. You’ll find that you can cover a lot of ground on foot.
Most of the attractions in Oslo are located in the center. So the rule of thumb is: the closer you stay to the center, the better. That said, prices tend to go up the closer you get to downtown.
That’s why, in addition to the center, we’ve picked out a few neighboring districts as great alternatives. Keep in mind, though, that some of these stretch quite far into the outskirts of Norway, so when choosing your specific hotel, take a closer look at the exact location.
- Sentrum: Ideal for a first short visit — everything is within walking distance.
- Grünerløkka: Ideal for those who love a hip, trendy atmosphere.
- Gamle Oslo & Barcode District: Ideal for architecture lovers.
- Uranienborg & Majorstuen: Ideal for stylish stays among locals.
- Frogner: Ideal for a luxurious city trip.
- Fornebu: Ideal for those looking to spend as little as possible.
For a rough overview, you can find the neighborhoods and some of the most important landmarks marked on a map below:
Now let’s dive into the six neighborhoods we’ve picked. Each one has its own distinct charm and character.
After a quick rundown of the pros and cons, we’ll recommend a few hotels in different price ranges for each area.
For Sightseeing: Hotels in Sentrum
Sentrum is the best place to stay in Oslo if you’re visiting for the first time and want to see as many highlights as possible in a short amount of time.
In Oslo’s city center, between the main street Karl Johans Gate and the waterfront promenade in front of the City Hall, you can easily explore everything on foot. In addition to the most important sights, Sentrum offers a wide selection of bars, cafés, clubs, and plenty of shops.
To the south of the central axis, the neighborhood extends all the way to the fjord. In the grid-like streets around Akershus Fortress, you’ll find some of the city’s oldest buildings.
Advantages of staying in Sentrum
- The most important attractions are within walking distance
- Historic buildings and architecture
- Lots of bars, cafés, and restaurants
- Numerous shops and shopping options
- Excellent public transportation connections
Disadvantages of staying in Sentrum
- It can get noisy in the evenings
- Very touristy
- High price level
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Sentrum
Our top pick here is the Thon Hotel Cecil. Ideally located, with spacious and comfortable rooms — and the breakfast is simply fantastic. Perfect for a city trip!
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
For Trendsetters: Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is Oslo’s answer to Kreuzberg in Berlin or Södermalm in Stockholm: a former working-class neighborhood that’s now hip, colorful, and packed with cultural offerings.
Numerous trendy bars, a legendary café scene, and fashionable restaurants keep the neighborhood buzzing well into the evening. Many cafés stay open late into the night. After that, a visit to one of the many live music venues is always a popular choice.
Grünerløkka is also great for shopping. The neighborhood is defined by countless small, independent stores — secondhand shops mixed with designer boutiques.
Grünerløkka borders Sentrum to the north. To the west, it’s bordered by the Akerselva river, where you’ll find plenty of green spaces and walking paths.
Advantages of staying in Grünerløkka
- Lots of bars, cafés, and live music venues
- Plenty of unique shopping options
- Relaxed & hip atmosphere
- Close to parks and green spaces
- Easy access to our lesser-known spots in Oslo
Disadvantages of staying in Grünerløkka
- Relatively far from the city center
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Grünerløkka
The Radisson Red Oslo Okern has a really modern and stylish design. The breakfast is delicious and the value for money is great.
For Architecture Lovers: Gamle Oslo & Barcode District
If you love modern architecture, Gamle Oslo — and especially the Barcode District — is the place for you. The neighborhood lies to the east of the main train station and stretches from the old harbor far to the east along the Grünerløkka neighborhood.
Gamle Oslo is home to the famous Opera House. Beyond that, the old harbor and industrial district is characterized by modern offices and apartments, as well as restaurants and shops. The Barcode District is famous for its high-rises by the water, which from a distance resemble a barcode — pretty striking, honestly.
When choosing your hotel in Gamle Oslo, pay close attention to the exact location — the more remote areas are too far out for a city trip.
Advantages of staying in Gamle Oslo & Barcode District
- Interesting architecture
- You’re close to the main train station
- Good public transportation connections
Disadvantages of staying in Gamle Oslo & Barcode District
- From the eastern parts, the city center is very far away
- Fewer nightlife options than in other neighborhoods
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Gamle Oslo & Barcode District
Our top pick here is the Clarion Hotel. Great location near the train station, and the breakfast is an absolute dream!
Stylish Among the Locals: Uranienborg & Majorstuen
For those who want to stay in style among historic apartment buildings, Uranienborg and Majorstuen are the perfect choice. You’ll be living among locals and getting a real feel for everyday Oslo life.
The neighborhood is an affluent residential area with beautiful villas and older buildings. The main street, Bogstadveien, is lined not only with most of the lodging options but also with plenty of shops and restaurants.
To the east of the central axis, you get closer to the university, and the vibe shifts accordingly — more student energy, with small shops and coffee bars giving way to a lively club and bar scene in the evenings.
Majorstuen is beautifully framed by two large parks: Vigelandsparken and Slottsparken, home to the Royal Palace. From the Palace Park, you’re just steps from downtown. The neighborhood also has good tram connections.
Advantages of staying in Uranienborg & Majorstuen
- Beautiful villas and architecture
- Plenty of parks for relaxing and walking
- Oslo’s hotspots are easily accessible by public transportation
- Lots of restaurants and shops
- Plenty of nightlife options in the evenings as well
Disadvantages of staying in Uranienborg & Majorstuen
- Fewer hotel options than in other neighborhoods
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Uranienborg & Majorstuen
We especially recommend The Sweet Apartments. Excellent value for money, and the apartments are decorated with real taste.
For Luxury Lovers: Frogner
If you want to stay somewhere exclusive, enjoy exquisite cuisine, and do some luxury shopping, Frogner is where you want to be.
The central street is Bygdøy allé, flanked by exclusive boutiques, art galleries, antique dealers, and modern furniture stores. You’ll also find some truly outstanding gourmet restaurants here.
Frogner borders directly on the popular entertainment and shopping district of Aker Brygge on the waterfront. From Aker Brygge, you can easily walk into the city center. From Frogner, you’re also just a short trip away from the water and the ferries that cross to other islands.
Advantages of staying in Frogner
- You’re surrounded by upscale buildings and partly grand villas
- You’re close to the water
- Plenty of exclusive restaurants and shops
Disadvantages of staying in Frogner
- Prices here are generally high
- Since it’s a residential neighborhood, there are only a few hotels
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Frogner
If you really want to treat yourself to some luxury, we recommend The Thief. Amazing spa area, seriously fancy rooms, and simply outstanding service.
For Budget Travelers: Fornebu
If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend checking out hotels in Fornebu.
If you’re traveling on the weekend, you’ll find some large business hotels here with solid value for money. During the week, prices tend to climb, as the hotels cater primarily to business travelers.
That said, a new residential area has also developed here. In the green surroundings, you have plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities — walking paths and fjord beaches are right on your doorstep.
Fornebu is located a bit outside the city and technically isn’t even part of Oslo anymore, but by train you can get from the peninsula to the city center in about 25 minutes.
Advantages of staying in Fornebu
- Affordable accommodations for weekend trips
- You’re close to the water
- Plenty of nature for outdoor activities
Disadvantages of staying in Fornebu
- It’s a pretty long ride into the city center
- There’s not much going on in the evenings
- There are only three hotels on the entire peninsula
Our Recommendations for Accommodations in Fornebu
The Quality Hotel Expo has great connections to the city center and is set in a peaceful environment. An affordable place to stay with a lovely outdoor area.
Bonus Tip: The Hotel with the Best View
As promised, here’s our bonus tip. The hotel with the best panorama over Oslo is located right next to the Holmenkollen ski jump: the Scandic Holmenkollen Park.
From the outside, this traditional mountain hotel almost looks like a small castle, and the view is seriously magical. The value for money is great, and the train connection is convenient too.
That said, the ride into the city center takes a full 40 minutes, so this hotel is really only worth it if you’re staying in Oslo for a longer period and also want a good base for day trips into the surrounding area.
General Tips for Staying in Oslo
Finally, here are a few general pointers to keep in mind when booking a hotel in Oslo.
#1 Prices
Oslo is generally an expensive city trip destination in Europe. You should budget at least around 80 euros per night, with the average price exceeding 140 euros for a double room.
If your budget is on the tighter side, your options will be more limited. Budget hotels are hard to come by, and even budget accommodations tend to cost about the same as a decent mid-range hotel would in other cities.
A few hostels offer a more affordable alternative, though there aren’t many of them in Oslo. Occasionally you’ll also find small guesthouses with good value for money.
On the flip side, Oslo has plenty of stylish luxury hotels. With the right budget, you can choose from a wealth of top-tier places to stay in prime locations.
#2 Apartments and Vacation Rentals
If you want to save money on your Oslo city trip, it’s worth considering an apartment or a small vacation rental.
Eating out in Oslo can get expensive. Cooking in your own place can help cut costs significantly. Of course, you don’t have to do it for every meal — dining out at a restaurant is, at least for us, simply part of any city trip.
There are countless apartments available throughout the city. Even on Booking.com you’ll find plenty of stylish options.
Some of them are part of so-called aparthotels, so you don’t have to give up a small breakfast restaurant. Many apartments are just as centrally located as hotels and aren’t necessarily more expensive.
