3 Best Hostels in Oslo, Norway – Not your Typical “Where to stay in Oslo” Guide

Are you looking for the absolute BEST hostels in Oslo, Norway? Then you’ve come to the right place! This is the only first-hand experience guide you will find with some juicy insider tips.

Your Shortcut:

1. Oslo Hostel Rønningen – best choice for couples and groups
2. Anker Apartment – for backpackers
3. Extra: Anker Hostel Oslo – cheap accommodation

Thinking of staying in hotels in Oslo or an airbnb Oslo? You might want to check your budget first. Oslo is certainly not a cheap destination. No worries though, this is your guide on hostels in Oslo Norway and  where to stay in Oslo on a budget.

Those of you familiar with Hostelgeeks may be wondering why this guide only has two hostels and not three.

Honestly?

We only want to show you the hostels we would recommend to our friends and family. For Oslo, we looked hard for you and found 2 cool hostels we think fit the bill for comfort, social vibes and great location.

After all, you only need 1 cool place anyways. So you should be fine.

This trendy capital city and its cultural life is rich in music, arts and dance. Yes it’s expensive, but don’t let that put you off.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when …

• tired of bad and crappy hostels
• want to avoid the “young party kids”
• happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience

This is the only guide you need!

Of course we have other great hostels in Norway for you to discover.

If you’re heading to Bergen be sure to check out Marken Gjestehus and tick off a few things from our guide to 27 Fun Things to do in Bergen.

Quick Introduction to Oslo Hostels

Average price for a bed: Hostel Norway Oslo start from 20€ per night up to 35€ per nights for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 50€ up to 100€. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:

• How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
• 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
• How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide

The Best Hostels in Oslo

Let’s jump right into our chosen Oslo hostels.

Quick overview:

1. Oslo Hostel Rønningen – best choice for couples and groups
2. Anker Apartment – for backpackers

We put all accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler:	Anker Apartment
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler:	Oslo Hostel Rønningen
🎒 For Backpackers:	Anker Apartment
👩‍❤️‍👨Couple Hostel:	Oslo Hostel Rønningen
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel:	Anker Apartment
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads:	Oslo Hostel Rønningen
🧘 Cozy Hostel:	Cochs Pensjonat

1. Oslo Hostel Rønningen (highest point in Oslo)

Let’s be honest here; Oslo Hostel Rønningen is not your typical hostel.

It is in fact a school dormitory building that is rented out during holiday periods.

What makes this super cool is that you can expect a brand spanking new building and facilities as good as an expensive hotel, but at hostel prices!

Book Oslo Hostel Rønningen here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

There are no shared dorms here. Instead choose from:

• Single rooms
• Twin rooms
• Double/Deluxe double rooms
• Triple rooms
• Family rooms (up to 5 people)

Facilities such as the bathroom and kitchen are shared which is where the hostel aspect comes in.

If you’re keen to socialise, we recommend picking one of many board games to help break the ice. There’s also a lovely TV lounge and library for relaxing in.

Either that or enjoy the mountain and city views right outside the building. You will be staying at the highest point in Oslo, after all!

Bonus: there is free parking on-site. A rarity in Oslo and a real money saver.

Although located 7km from the city centre, a tram stop and train station are nearby.

This is one of the best hostels in Oslo for:

• Female solo travellers looking for down-time
• Anyone wishing to be away from the city centre

Book Oslo Hostel Rønningen here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

2. Anker Apartment

Anker is a brand new property in Oslo, making this one of the very few places that offer shared accommodation!

We actually almost bypassed this place because of the name – but rest assured it’s an excellent option for many traveller types.

Anker Apartment features an on-site bar and an enormous rooftop with a city view. This hostel is spacious and decorated with bright colors to help guests to relax.

Dorms and private rooms are available in this hostel with personal security lockers. Rooms come with their own kitchenettes, so guests can make meals at their own convenience.

Other perks at Anker Apartment:

• Parking
• Free WiFi
• Family rooms
• Non-smoking rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• 24-hour front desk
• Bar

The rooftop area and bar make this place stand out in terms of it being a great place to meet other people. Heck, on a sunny day where else would you want to plonk yourself?!

Whilst it’s definitely not a party hostel, it does offer wonderful spaces for sociable opportunities.

Having said that, it isn’t exactly a buzzing hostel so we’d recommend taking the 25-minute stroll into the city if you’d like to get amongst the activities and nightlife.

This is one of the best hostels in Oslo for:

• Backpackers
• Families
• Solo travellers

Location: Located in Grünerløkka district, this place is a 4 minute walk away from Birkelunden Tram Stop, Thorvald Meyers Gate and Markveien shopping streets are both a 5 minute wak from the property, Sofienberg Park is 400m away, Oslo Central station is 2.7km away, and restaurants can be found just outside this hostel.

Book Anker Apartment here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

What about cheapest hostels in Oslo?

Oslo hostels cheap is the key word and you’re lucky to find this article. Of course, there are always cheap hostels in Oslo.

We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.

Why?

The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.

Yet, it’s no secret that Norway is an expensive destination. If you’re really set on saving coins, we have a recommendation for a cheap hostel in Oslo.

Open to all ages and known as one of the cheapest options in the city is Anker Hostel Oslo. It is a cheap accommodation in Oslo Norway.

• Pros to staying here: it’s in a trendy central location close to bars, parks, shops and restaurants.
• Cons to staying here: linen and towels are obligatory and at an extra charge. Minimal plug sockets in shared rooms.

This is a minimalistic hostel with free Wi-Fi and shared spaces including a bar, lobby and lounge area.

Book Anker Hostel Oslo here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

There are other ways to find a budget hostel in Oslo.

1. Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Oslo
2. Order the listing by price

Simple as that. Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price. Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.

Best Hostels in Oslo for Solo Travellers?

What is the best hostel in Oslo for solo-travellers?

Obviously: Saga Poshtel Oslo Central.

Update: Since Saga Poshtel closed, we recommend Anker Apartment as the next best bet for solo travellers.

The location is great for budget-concious backpackers and the trendy design and safety is great for ladies that wish to travel in style.

Again, it is really the only Oslo Hostel we enjoy and can recommend to friends and you. It is the best backpackers hostel in Oslo, and also great for smaller groups.

 

Party Hostels in Oslo

Looking for the best party hostel Oslo Norway has ever seen? Sorry party lovers; there doesn’t seem to be an official party hostel in Oslo – shock horror!

But don’t fret. Oslo is the capital of Norway and with every big city comes a great nightlife scene.

In which case, we recommend staying at Anker Apartment to be close to the nightlife. From here it’s a short walk to some of the liveliest areas of the city.

Just remember: party in the city and respect your fellow roommates by keeping it quiet when you get back late/early.

And even more important: Other cities offer a bunch of crazy party hostels and are cheaper for a fun night out. Check out

• best hostels in Amsterdam
• best hostels in Prague
• best hostels in Barcelona

Book Anker Apartment here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

 

How to book?

We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations. These are the two best hostel websites out there.

Booking.com is the biggest and safest platform for hotel and hostels reservations. Their cancellation policy is one of the best, normally 100% refundable until 24h before the stay.

Hostel world is also super safe and the biggest booking platform for hostels.

On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Here is the overview:

1. Oslo Hostel Rønningen: Booking.com
2. Anker Apartment: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Here is our guide on how to use Hostelworld – in a review.

More Oslo Hostel worth a mention

We hope that by now you already have a hostel in Norway in mind. Check availability right away!

The Saga Poshtel Oslo Central and Oslo Hostel Ronningen are our personal favorites and they really standout in our0 reviews but there are a lot of other hostels that you can consider.

We listed more Hostels in Oslo Norway that you want to look at.

• Oslo Youth Hostel Haraldsheim – can handle large number of guests
• Cochs Pensjonat – perfect for families

Hostels are indeed the best option compared to Oslo hotels because they are more affordable.

Oslo Youth Hostel Haraldsheim

This hostel has 270 beds and 71 rooms and capable of handling a large number of guests. All rooms are are non-smoking rooms and provides lockers. This hostel also provides free wifi and free parking.

HI Oslo Haraldsheim features wooden floors, simple decor and a work desk. Guests can take advantage of the library and laundry room, along with vending machines.

Perks at Haraldheim Hostel:

• Free parking
• Free WiFi
• Family rooms
• Non-smoking rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• 24-hour front desk

Location: This place is ideally situated in the Grefsen neighbourhood making it 4km away from the Oslo city centre, 2km from Oslo Ski Centre and Ulleval Stadium. Norwegian Museum of Science, Technology and Medicine is a 6-minute drive from this hostel.

Book Oslo Youth Hostel Haraldsheim here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

 

Cochs Pensjonat

Another cheap accommodation Oslo has to offer or we could  say it is a value for money.

Cochs Pensjonat offers clean, tidy and non-smoking rooms. Some rooms have a kitchenette, boiler, and a fridge.

This hostel doesn’t offer free breakfast but they have a small tea kitchen and guests can buy breakfast packages at a special price. A little far from the city center but great location for the royal palace.

Perks at Cochs Pensjonat:

• Free WiFi
• Family rooms
• Non-smoking rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• 24-hour front desk
• Lift

Location: This place is located just behind the Royal Palace making it accessible to the top attractions of the city. Karl Johans Gate is a 10 minute walk, Dalsbergstein Tram Stops and Homansbyen are both a 3 minute walk away and outside the hostel are plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants.

Book Cochs Pensjonat here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Any Discounts?

Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Oslo. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.

All Hostels put on a map + sights

Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all two best Oslo hostels on a map.

We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:

• The Vigeland Park
  
• Viking Ship Museum
• Akershus Fortress
• Frogner Park
• The Royal Palace
• Oslo Opera House
• The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
• Munch Museum
• The Fram Museum

If you have time, we highly recommend taking a 2-hour cruise around the Oslo fjord.

(You can deactivate and activate the different layers in the left sidebar. Open the map in a new tab here.)

FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

Flights to Oslo?

We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Oslo.

This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Europe and find the cheapest rates for the area.

Here is our review of Kiwi.

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Oslo.

We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations outside of Norway:

• best hostels in Bergen
• best hostels in Stockholm
• coolest party hostels in Stockholm
• best hostels in Denmark
• coolest hostels in Copenhagen, Denmark
• best hostels in Aarhus, Denmark
• best hostels in Reykjavik (full guide to the best hostels in Iceland)
• best hostels in Helsinki, Finland
• best hostels in Vilnius, Lithuania
• best hostels in Sweden

Don’t forget to visit Bergen if you have time and stay at Marken Gjestehus.

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?

Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Oslo hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.

Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.

Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.

We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!

Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.

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CLOSED: Saga Poshtel Oslo Central (at hand 24/7)

Update: Our former #1 hostel sadly closed its doors.

If you’re looking for a hip accommodation in a central location, you’ll be happy to spend time at Saga Poshtel Oslo Central.

It’s a new concept and one of its kind in Norway.

Thanks for the new renovations and state of the art facilities you can enjoy a chic, trendy, vibrant and homely atmosphere all in one!

In fact, Saga Poshtel Oslo is the ONLY cool hostel in Oslo we recommend. It is an Oslo Hostel Central, it’s cool, fun, obviously clean. This is for everyone looking for a cool backpackers Oslo hostel, a fun Youth Hostel in the heart of the town.

Stay here, you will have a great time!

Central location means less money spent. In this case, landmarks such as Oslo’s Opera House and Akershus Fortress are just around the corner.

Transport of every kind is within minutes from the hostel, and it’s super easy to stumble in to great bars, restaurants and nightlife nearby.

When you have a look on our map, you will see that even our #2 recommendation is not downtown, but outside.

So what about the all important common areas? Walk around and find:

• Dining hall w/ morning buffet breakfast for all
• Living area w/ TV and books
• Fully-fitted communal kitchen
• Reception is open 24/7 and has key card access.

Great: the buffet breakfast includes vegan options.

There’s a big variety of rooms including a cosy Poshtel private and larger 12-bed dorms. Expect big lockers and windows in shared rooms.

No matter what your comfort level, it will be matched at this low-budget high-standard accommodation.

As there are no organised activities we’d recommend this to couples and small groups of travelling buddies.

This is one of the best hostels in Oslo for:

• couples
• friends
• backpackers