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Hostels in Oslo

There are 6 hostels listed within about five miles of central Oslo, which is 1.0% of everything on offer in the city — a modest but real hostel scene. This page covers what that actually means for a trip: which hostels are here, how they rate against Oslo's hotels, and which are worth it if you are coming for a show.

How strong is the hostel scene in Oslo?

Two numbers answer that, and neither means much on its own. The first is how much of Oslo's accommodation is hostels rather than hotels — a city can have plenty of hostels and still be a hotel city. The second is how those hostels score against the hotels sitting next to them, which is the only fair benchmark, because guest scores drift by city and a 7.8 in one place is not a 7.8 in another.

MeasureOsloWhat it tells you
Hostels listed6Dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation within roughly five miles of the centre.
Share of all accommodation1.0%A modest but real hostel scene. Measured against all 619 properties listed in the same radius.
Average hostel guest score8.8/10Averaged across the hostels above. Supplied by our accommodation partner, not a StubOrder rating.
Average hotel guest score7.9/10The same measure for Oslo’s hotels, with hostels excluded so the comparison is not partly against itself.

The short version: hostels in Oslo score better than the city's hotels — a gap of 0.9 points. That is unusual and worth taking seriously. Hostels normally score below hotels simply because a dorm bed is a harder thing to like, so a city where they come out ahead generally has a few genuinely good ones carrying the average.

Hostels in Oslo, closest to the centre first

Distances are measured from the middle of Oslo. Pick your dates to see what a bed actually costs — hostel pricing moves more than hotel pricing does, because a dorm can sell out one bed at a time.

  • Bunks at Rode

    Bunks at Rode

    1.1 mi from central Oslo Long walk Guest score 8.6/10 (5,995 reviews)

    10 Københavngata, Oslo

    Convenient Location Located in Oslo, Bunks at Rode is just a stone's throw away from popular attractions such as Akershus Fortress and Oslo Bus Terminal. Cozy Accommodations Selec…

  • National Theater Dormitory Mixed

    National Theater Dormitory Mixed

    1.2 mi from central Oslo Long walk

    64 Parkveien, Oslo

    Central Location in Frogner District Discover Oslo's key attractions just a stone's throw away. Comfortable Rooms with Free WiFi Relax in cozy rooms featuring modern amenities and…

  • Oslo Vest

    Oslo Vest

    1.3 mi from central Oslo Long walk Guest score 8.3/10 (174 reviews)

    6 Frognerveien, Oslo

    Convenient Location: Located in the heart of the Frogner district, within proximity to major attractions such as Frogner Park and The Royal Palace. Comfortable Rooms: Well-equippe…

  • HI Oslo Haraldsheim

    HI Oslo Haraldsheim

    2.3 mi from central Oslo Drive or ride Guest score 10.0/10 (7,239 reviews)

    Haraldsheimveien 4, Oslo

    Green Oasis in Oslo's Grefsen Neighborhood Fully Equipped Kitchen and Garden BBQ Immerse yourself in the lush surroundings of Oslo at HI Oslo Haraldsheim. With a fully equipped ki…

  • StayPlus Budgeted Rooms - Hostel

    StayPlus Budgeted Rooms - Hostel

    2.7 mi from central Oslo Drive or ride 2-star

    Midtveien 13 A, Oslo

    Terrace with Views Enjoy stunning views from our terrace, the perfect spot to unwind and relax after a day of exploring the city. Complimentary Amenities Benefit from complimentar…

  • Oslo Hostel Rønningen

    Oslo Hostel Rønningen

    4.0 mi from central Oslo Drive or ride Guest score 8.3/10 (536 reviews)

    Myrerskogveien 54A, Oslo

    Modern Hostel in Tranquil Setting Convenient Amenities: Hostel Rønningen offers free WiFi, private parking, and a laundry room for guests' convenience. Entertainment Options: Enjo…

Staying in a hostel for an Oslo event

A hostel makes most sense on exactly the kind of trip StubOrder sends people on: one or two nights, built around a fixed start time, where you are out of the building all evening. The bed is somewhere to sleep afterwards, not somewhere to spend the weekend, and the saving against a hotel on a sold-out event night is usually the largest saving available on the whole trip — event nights are when city hotel rates spike and hostel beds barely move.

The two things to check before you book are the ones that catch people out. First, front-desk hours: a support act running long can put you back at 23:45, which is no use if reception closes at 23:00 and there is no night code. Second, whether the rate is per bed or per room — a private twin at £70 and a dorm bed at £35 each are the same money for two people, and the private room is the better buy.

What is on in Oslo

See all Oslo events →

Distance from a specific venue

The hostels above are measured from the centre of town. If you want to know what is actually walkable from the doors of one building, each venue has its own accommodation page that sorts every nearby property by real distance.

Dorm bed or private room?

This is the decision that actually determines what your stay is like, and it is not the same decision as hostel-or-hotel. Almost every hostel in Oslo sells both, at prices that overlap with the cheaper end of the city's hotels.

Dorm bedHostel private room
Priced byThe bed. Two people pay twice.The room, like a hotel.
Best forSolo travel, and meeting people.Two people, or anyone who wants a door that locks.
BathroomUsually shared down the hall.Often private, but check — many are not.
Getting in lateFine, but you will wake people.No issue.
LuggageA locker, usually needing your own padlock.In the room.
Versus a cheap hotelMuch cheaper, especially on event nights.Often similar money — compare properly.

The rule of thumb that holds nearly everywhere: travelling alone, take the dorm; travelling as two, price the private room against a budget hotel before assuming the hostel wins. On an ordinary weeknight the hotel sometimes does. On the night of a sold-out event, the hostel almost always does.

What to check before booking a hostel

Hostels vary in ways hotels mostly do not, and the variation is in the policies rather than the rooms. None of the following is unusual, and all of it is easier to find out now than at 1am.

  • Age limits. Some hostels are 18–35 only, some refuse under-18s without an adult, and a few are over-18 with no upper bound. This is a property-by-property rule, not a city rule.
  • Reception hours and curfews. A genuine curfew is rare now, but limited front-desk hours are common. If your event finishes late, confirm there is a night entry code.
  • Whether the rate includes linen. Mostly yes; occasionally a few pounds or dollars extra at check-in, which quietly changes the comparison against a hotel.
  • Lockers and padlocks. Nearly every dorm has lockers. A good number expect you to bring your own padlock, and the ones sold at the desk cost more than one from home.
  • Deposits. Some hostels take a key or damage deposit in cash at arrival and return it on checkout — worth knowing if you are travelling cardless.
  • Cancellation terms. The cheapest hostel rates are frequently non-refundable, which matters more than usual when the trip depends on an event that could be postponed.

Two of these — cancellation terms and what the rate actually includes — are shown on the booking screen once you pick dates, so check them there rather than assuming.

Plan the rest of the trip

Frequently asked questions

How many hostels are there in Oslo?

Our accommodation partner lists 6 hostels within about five miles of central Oslo, out of 619 places to stay in total — 1.0% of everything listed here. That count includes both dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation.

Are hostels in Oslo any good?

Oslo's hostels average 8.8/10 in guest scores against 7.9/10 for the city's hotels, so they score better than the city's hotels. Those scores come from our accommodation partner, not from StubOrder.

Does StubOrder sell hostel beds and tickets together?

No. Tickets come from our resale marketplace and accommodation from our booking partner. They are two separate bookings with separate confirmations, and neither depends on the other.

Is a hostel a sensible place to stay for a concert or a game?

For a one- or two-night trip built around an event, often yes — you are out of the building most of the evening anyway. The things to check are the front-desk hours and whether there is a curfew, because a show that ends at 23:30 is no use if reception shut at 23:00.

Are there hostels near the venues in Oslo?

The hostels on this page are measured from the middle of Oslo, not from any one venue. For distance from a specific building, use that venue's own accommodation page — each one is linked above and sorts every nearby property by real distance from the doors.

Can I book a private room in a hostel?

Most hostels sell private rooms alongside dorm beds, and they are usually cheaper than a hotel room of the same size. Whether a given property has one is shown when you pick your dates — if only dorm beds come back, that hostel has no privates free for that stay.