The grand hotels of Oslo: the back story

About The grand hotels of Oslo: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Oslo Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Oslo’s grand hotels tell the city’s story. The Grand Hotel opened on Karl Johans gate in 1874, as VisitOSLO records, and the Continental, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, stands across from the National Theatre. Hotel Christiania Teater fills a theatre that opened in 1918. A newer generation has followed the city to the water and into its landmarks: The Thief opened on Tjuvholmen in 2013, Amerikalinjen fills the old headquarters of the Norwegian America Line on Jernbanetorget, and Sommerro has turned the Art Deco headquarters of Oslo’s Light Works into a hotel with seven restaurants and bars.

The classics on Karl Johan

Grand Hotel Oslo, at Karl Johans gate 31, has 284 rooms including 54 suites; its Palmen serves afternoon tea at weekends. Hotel Continental, at Stortingsgata 24/26, has 151 rooms and suites and Theatercaféen; Hotel Christiania Teater, at Stortingsgata 16, opened as a theatre in 1918. The Karl Johan Hotel and Savoy 1918 complete the classic centre.

The new houses

The Thief, at Landgangen 1 on Tjuvholmen, opened in 2013 beside the Astrup Fearnley Museet. Amerikalinjen, at Jernbanetorget 2, keeps the spirit of the transatlantic liners in its Pier 42 bar. Sommerro, in Frogner, has 242 rooms and suites, seven restaurants and bars and the Vestkantbadet baths; its private neighbour, Villa Inkognito, has 11.

Book early for December, when the julebord season fills the city’s restaurants.

In the hills

Lysebu, built in 1916 at the gateway to Nordmarka, and Scandic Holmenkollen Park, a hotel from 1894, look down over the city and the fjord.

Out of town

The Well, at Sofiemyr south of the city, is a spa hotel for adults, in its own words the largest spa and spa hotel in the Nordics.

Our advice: stay central for a first visit, and give a second night to the hills or the fjord.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Oslo: the back story before you go.