Grand Hotel Oslo by Scandic

Probably the best hotel in Oslo. A hotel with a historic past with Nobel Peace prizes winners who stayed at this hotel and dined at the Cafe below. The rooms are a bit small for US standards, but no other complaints. The hotel is centrally located and within walking distance to the train station.

This hotel is advertised as a historic 5-star grand hotel. It is certainly historic—I’ll give them that—but it’s in serious need of updates throughout. The room felt depressing. The shower is difficult to step in and out of, the toilet is crooked, and the door opens in an awkward direction. The bed covering barely fits for two people, and there are no drawers for storage. The hallways are uneven with multiple small steps and odd layouts. Strangest of all, the elevator somehow goes to both floors 4 and 5 at once—maybe there’s a historical reason, but it just added to the confusion. Breakfast is included, but the experience is far from intuitive. You’re seated with no explanation, and left to figure things out on your own. It’s a buffet, but even getting beverages is unclear as you have cups on the table but no one fills them. Asking the kitchen for a made-to-order egg earned a confused look before they made it. I still have five more nights here, and I regret booking it. The only thing this hotel truly has going for it is the central location.

Check in was smooth, they changed room, it was too warm on top floor. ACs dont work that well. The most unpleasant thing, however, was the treatment we received during breakfast. A breakfast employee insisted that we sit in the middle of the room, while she preferred to place American tourist groups at the window tables. This gave the impression of discrimination based on nationality, which is perceived as both unprofessional and discriminatory. Overall, lots of stairs and not friendly for kids, even to get to elevator you have to lift the stroller up the stairs with baby every time. If you have stayed in 5 stars before, this one will disappoint, as this is more a 3 star hotel.

It's in the center of the city. Fantastic hotel. You could go walking to everywhere. Great breakfast. People incredible.

The property was beautiful and the room was large for non/US standards. Bed was very comfortable and bathroom nice sized. Not a lot of counter space, but that's a bit expected. It was WARM in Oslo and the A/C was minimal. There was no fan, so we opened the windows. We were on the back side of the hotel and the noise was so significant that we got very little sleep. There were a number of stairs to be navigated and we each had a large suitcase and carry-on. Those were our only issues. Staff was lovely.

Property was flawless.

We booked this hotel for location, not realizing the history and signifigance of the property. We thoroughly enjoyed the classic elegance and extremely friendly staff. Would stay here again if our travels return us to Oslo.

Terrible Experience – Not Worth the Hype or the Money (1/5) Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. I had high expectations for Grand Hotel Oslo given its reputation and “five-star” label, but it turned out to be one of the most disappointing hotel stays I’ve ever had. The service is painfully slow — and I mean really slow. Calling the front desk? Good luck. No one answers. Ever. When you finally do get through, they seem overwhelmed and uninterested. It’s very clear the place is severely understaffed. The rooms are tiny, like unbelievably small for the price you’re paying. There’s no air conditioning, no proper ventilation, and the room gets stuffy and uncomfortable quickly. Opening the window doesn’t help much, and when we asked for a fan, they were “out of stock.” Just wow. Everything is ridiculously overpriced, and I don’t mind paying for luxury — but this isn’t it. Not even close. The service, the room size, the comfort — all feel below three-star standard, yet they’re charging five-star prices. And let’s not even talk about the lack of basic amenities and the general attitude from the staff — cold, disinterested, and clearly under pressure. Not once did I feel welcomed or taken care of. Bottom line: this place relies on its location and name, but that’s about all it has going for it. Don’t be fooled by the “iconic” branding. There are plenty of better hotels in the same area that actually care about guests and offer far better value for money. Would absolutely not recommend. Save yourself the frustration.

Grand hotel is the best hotel in Oslo. No doubt about it. I have tried most of the ones in the city centre. Grand has pleasant, professional and helpful staff. There is quality in every aspect of the stay. Excellent breakfast and nice restaurants. I especially like the lunch option in the Palmen restaurant. Great location in the city centre at the same time as the room was calm. It is truly worth it. And I will for sure return again and again.

Top Hotel in the middle of the City. Hotel is old but in very good shape. Like a real Grand Hotel. Roof Top Bar is also top.