11 Best Hotels in Oslo, Norway

Built as a guesthouse in 1912, this chic boutique hotel hidden behind an ivy-covered facade is one of our favorites in Oslo. The rooms are very Scandinavian, yet have a warm and inviting feel. It's in the West End, between stately embassies and prosperous-looking villas, a 15-minute walk from the center of Oslo. The hotel's restaurant offers an excellent lunch buffet.

Marble, brass, glass, eggs every which way. Clarion hit the mark, and in recent years have really splurged on the renovations and new openings. The feel here at the group's latest outpost is similar to the others: somewhere between business stay and small design hotel, which is a good blend when you're staying so central, in the very new district of Bjørvika on the waters that also birthed the new Munch Museum and copious bars and eateries in the last couple years.

People come flocking for the gigantic breakfast buffet, which stops at nothing and will leave you full for the better part of a day---great if you're visiting Oslo on a budget. Rooms are airy, extremely clean, with telephone, desk and minibar. Downstairs a bistro offers fresh oysters and steak, with the bar whipping up a good martini or mojito. Downsides are barely openable windows with dowdy blinds/curtains and an unimpressive gym---but the fjord and nearby floating saunas are all you need.

A stone's throw from the Royal Palace and near one of Oslo's premier shopping streets, this no-frills family-run guesthouse has reasonably priced, comfortable, and rather spartan rooms. Most have private bathrooms; some also have kitchenettes. The guesthouse can arrange for breakfast at nearby eateries.

In a handsome brick building, Oslo's first design hotel has smart lighting, a striking color scheme, and contemporary touches like a clever use of mirrors and glassed-in bathrooms. The critically acclaimed Madu specializes in Nordic cuisine. Maybe the best feature is the umbrella-shaded rooftop terrace with a bar serving creative cocktails.

Looking like it would be at home on any street in Paris, this grand dame with a mansard roof and Beaux Arts entrance is the choice of visiting heads of state, rock musicians, and Nobel Peace Prize winners. All the rooms have a regal touch, with the Mikado Suite—done up in cream, lilac, and red tones—being particularly palatial and plush. There are several different dining options, two bars, and a see-and-be-seen lobby. Norwegians book several years in advance for National Day, May 17, in order to have a room overlooking the parades below.

History meets modernity at this landmark—it's a sophisticated stay with stylish guest rooms and posh common areas. The handsome lobby lounge has Munch lithographs on the walls. Gracious service prevails throughout, but is especially notable in the restaurants: Theatercafeen, an Oslo tradition, and Eik Annen Etage, another great choice for dinner. The hotel is opposite the National Theater and close to many cafés, clubs, and movie theaters, making it ideal for leisure as well as business travelers.

The understated elegance helps keep the rooms filled at this business hotel. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with free high-speed Wi-Fi. Most rooms have great city views (the higher up, the better). The views from the popular bar and gourmet restaurant on the 34th floor (and from the treadmill in the gym on the 35th floor) are also spectacular. The location, next to Oslo S (Oslo Central Station), is also a plus: the Airport Express, the metro, and trains and buses are in easy reach.

Dating back to 1894, this stunning and distinguished hotel has a peaceful mountaintop setting with unparalleled views of the city below. Newly face-lifted guest rooms have relaxing color schemes and elegant wood furniture---public areas are vastly spaces and resemble Alpine lodges with an edge---including open fires and big couches. Next to the Holmenkollen Ski Arena, the property provides the perfect base for outdoor pursuits such as cycling, skiing, and running. It's worth a visit even if you don't stay here because of the excellent De Fem Stuer restaurant.

A stunning new residence, health spa and rooftop dining mecca, from an art and architecture perspective. This newly opened more-than-a-hotel is set in a restored Art Deco building from the 1930s with original details and murals from Norwegian painter Per Krogh. Design features include Oslo's first year-round rooftop pool and in-house wellness center, a gilded theater and suites dripping with Scandi contemporary design and antiques aplomb; 56 rooms, four restaurants, and three bars.

Oslo's most tongue-in-cheek boutique hotel is located on Tjuvholmen, meaning Thief Islet, hence the unusual name. The lobby area has a sleek, contemporary design and accommodates a bronze statue and other artworks from the adjacent Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. Rooms are palatial and sumptuously appointed, with gargantuan beds and TVs that can order room service. The indulgent spa has highly trained technicians on call, or you can just take advantage of the sauna, steam rooms, and neon-lit swimming pool. Breakfasts here hold nothing back, including every kind of cheese you can imagine (including Norwegian brown cheese). Hire the hotel's sleek boats to hit the fjord in style.

An unassuming facade hides one of the most stylish large hotels in Oslo. The guest rooms are comfortable and colorful, the staff is attentive, and the breakfast buffet get rave reviews, as does the Paleo restaurant. A delicious and generous supper on the 8th floor is included for guests. There's a spacious gym with free energy bars, and free coffee in the reception desk.