Best hostels in Oslo

Oslo's accommodation map splits along a simple axis: the waterfront center where the trains, ferries, and museums cluster, and the residential ridgelines north and east where locals actually live. Budget travelers searching for hostels will find the cheapest beds away from Karl Johans gate — the ceremonial boulevard that connects the Royal Palace to Oslo Sentralstasjon — but even the center keeps prices manageable if you book apartments over branded hotels. The two neighborhoods below sit at opposite ends of that axis: Gamle Oslo puts you within walking distance of the Opera House and the Bjørvika waterfront; Grefsen trades proximity for quiet, forest access, and a hostel rate that undercuts the center by nearly half. Both connect to the T-bane network, so the trade-off is atmosphere and price, not access.

1. 1

   Gamle Oslo, Oslo

   Eastern waterfront district near Oslo Sentralstasjon and the Opera House

   Central-station proximity with self-catering apartments on the diverse Grønland strip, trading polish for transit access and street-level grocers.

   At about $76 a night, Central City Apartments sits where Gamle Oslo's eastern grid meets the Grønland T-bane station, within walking distance of Oslo Sentralstasjon and the waterfront Opera House. The apartment's 6.8 rating reflects bare-bones furnishings and self-catering kitchenettes, not the address — the address is strong, with Grønland's grocers, kebab shops, and the Akerselva river path all within a few blocks. Skip the overpriced hotel chains clustered around Karl Johans gate; this stretch of Gamle Oslo gives you the same transit access without the markup. The neighborhood wakes early with market traffic along Tøyengata and quiets down before midnight. It suits a budget traveler who wants a kitchen, a nearby supermarket, and quick rail connections over lobby polish.

   1. Budget

      Central City Apartments

      Apartment in great location - easy and picturesque walk or quick subway to central station and downtown area. Great little kitchenette to cook your own meals to save $ with supermarket nearby. Bathroo

      6.8 rating ~$76/night
      Check rates
2. 2

   Grefsen, Oslo

   Residential ridge neighborhood in northern Oslo near the Nordmarka forest edge

   Oslo's best-rated budget hostel on a quiet northern ridge, with included breakfast and forest trails from the door.

   Scoring an 8.9 at just $44 a night, HI Oslo Haraldsheim earns its reputation on the ridge above Grefsen, where the residential streets thin out toward the Nordmarka forest edge. The hostel's included breakfast — fresh, well-stocked — is part of the value equation, and the building stays warm and clean in ways that matter through a Norwegian winter. Don't bother with the glossy waterfront hostels closer to Bjørvika; the T-bane from Grefsen station drops you at Stortinget in the city center, and the return ride brings you back to quiet streets and actual trees. Grefsen is not a nightlife base — the last cafés close early and the sidewalks belong to joggers — but for a traveler who wants the cheapest clean bed in Oslo with forest on the doorstep, nothing downtown comes close.

   1. Budget

      HI Oslo Haraldsheim

      It’s a great hostel! It’s worth booking a stay with breakfast included because the breakfast is fresh, delicious, and offers a good selection—clean rooms and showers, nice and warm inside the building

      8.9 rating ~$44/night
      Check rates

This is an early version of the Oslo list. We add picks as we test more places.