With its oil wealth, this overlooked city surrounded by mountains, fjords and mountains has quietly stepped forward into a new cultural era. In true Nordic form, wealth is infused in the angular design, art, and architecture projects that are mainly found along the harborfront. National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design (Scandinavia’s largest) designed by German architects Kleihues + Schuwerk, and the towering Munch Museum by Spanish architect Estudio Herreros—a skyscraper seemingly melting like the painter’s infamous Scream Just about brushes off the melancholic Norwegian skies.
Oslo’s art and culture brief extends to the many festivals it hosts throughout the year, including the legendary Oslo Jazz Festival. Yes, there’s more money to mobilise it, but the city’s creative, literary spirit was there long ago—back in the 18th and 19th centuries when Oslo (then Christiana, the provinces of Denmark and Sweden), was considered an outpost. Even back then, wealthy families supported artists, architects, musicians, writers and sculptors in the same way that state coffers do now, but on a much larger scale. It is the perfect way to avoid the stifling, eye-sore vulgarity of the new money cities such as Dubai. It’s also the ultimate weekender for the culturally-inclined, with so much of the city’s new offering on the house… and with its burgeoning (sea)foodie scene, floating saunasThere are also nature trails.
Oslo has a variety of hotels, some dating back to the pre-independence years in 1905 and others expressing Norway’s dark minimalism. In a city full of ideas and money, there is an odd absence (or limited choice) of beautiful hotels. Norwegians may have a lot of oil money, but tourism accounts for only 4%. It isn’t a scream to the chains. Instead, it’s a gentle push to the independent hoteliers and family-run hotels who know how to create a boutique that is charming, well designed, and well anchored. Here are our top picks for the best hotels to stay in Oslo.
How to choose the best hotels for your stay in Oslo
Our editors have independently chosen and reviewed each hotel in this list. Condé Nast Traveler A journalist who is familiar with the destination, and has visited this property. Our editors look at properties in all price ranges to find the best hotels that give an authentic, insider experience. We also keep design, location, customer service and sustainability credentials in mind.
