5* THE THIEF

THE THIEF has the good fortune to sit right on Tjuvholmen, surrounded by water, contemporary architecture and the Astrup Fearnley Museum. Better still, your room key currently gets you complimentary museum entry, so there’s really no excuse not to wander next door. Art and design run through the hotel itself, alongside beautifully styled rooms, a seasonal rooftop overlooking the fjord and one of Oslo’s best hotel spas. THIEF SPA has a 12-metre heated pool, Finnish sauna, steam room and sensory showers; hotel guests can book spa access at a reduced rate, while the gym is available around the clock. Aker Brygge is just across the footbridge, while the central gay bars are a little farther away but easily reached when you want a night out. GayMapper tip: The one to choose when the hotel is part of the holiday – spa, art, fjord views and all.

Oslo Guldsmeden has its own look entirely: Nordic restraint meets Balinese textures, organic products and enough warmth to stop Scandinavian design feeling clinical. Its Vika location also gives you Aker Brygge, the waterfront and the Royal Palace within easy reach. The hotel’s small Turkish-inspired hammam is a lovely bonus, with dry and infrared saunas, steam bath, large bathtub and relaxation area available to book privately. Breakfast follows the same sustainability-minded approach, with organic produce, free-range eggs and fair-trade coffee. You’re slightly west of the main cluster of LGBTQ bars rather than directly among them, but Oslo’s compact centre makes nights out straightforward by tram or on foot. The quieter location is particularly pleasant when you’ve finished with them. GayMapper tip: A great couples’ choice if you want something intimate and distinctive, with spa time and the waterfront high on the agenda.

Youngstorget is a great place to base yourself if you want Oslo to feel young, social and a little less polished. Comfort Hotel Xpress Youngstorget sits among bars, music venues and casual restaurants, with the city’s longstanding gay institution London Pub only a short walk away. The rooms are simple and colourful, but the fun happens in the shared spaces: there’s a rooftop terrace, 24-hour gym, Barception for drinks and snacks, table tennis and a guest laundry. It’s relaxed, informal and designed for people who would rather spend money going out than on marble bathrooms. Karl Johans gate and Central Station are also comfortably walkable, while Grünerløkka begins just to the north. GayMapper tip: Still our favourite Oslo choice for a lively weekend – especially if nightlife location and sensible pricing matter more than traditional hotel frills.

Oslo is not a city famous for bargain prices, which makes Citybox Oslo especially useful. Just a few minutes from Central Station, it keeps things deliberately simple and puts the money into what matters: comfortable Scandinavian-designed rooms, excellent beds and a location that makes most of central Oslo walkable. Check-in is self-service and there’s a communal guest kitchen, lounge and laundromat, while partner restaurants connected to the lobby cover breakfast and other meals. The Opera House, Karl Johans gate and waterfront are all close, and Oslo’s main LGBTQ venues in the central area are easy to reach on foot. It feels modern and independent rather than like a stripped-down budget chain, and works especially well when you expect to spend most of your time out exploring. GayMapper tip: One of the smartest ways to keep Oslo hotel costs under control without sacrificing a genuinely central location.

You’ll probably spot Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo before you arrive: the 37-storey tower is one of the city-centre landmarks, rising almost directly beside Oslo Central Station. That makes airport trains, sightseeing and day trips ridiculously convenient. The best reason to stay high up is the view. Rooms look across the city and fjord, while the upper floors also house the Plaza Pool & Fitness area with an indoor pool, saunas and gym. The Top Restaurant & Bar sits 110 metres above Oslo with panoramic views, replacing the older restaurant setup that GayMapper previously described. From here you can walk to the Opera House, Bjørvika and Karl Johans gate, with Oslo’s central LGBTQ nightlife also within easy reach. GayMapper tip: Ask for a higher-floor room – this is one hotel where going upwards genuinely changes the experience.

Some hotels feel fashionable for five minutes; Hotel Continental has been part of Oslo life for more than a century. Family-owned and sitting opposite the National Theatre, it combines proper old-school service with 151 individually styled rooms rather than trying to reinvent itself as another Nordic design hotel. The famous Theatercaféen remains one of Oslo’s classic dining rooms, while Bar Boman contains one of Norway’s largest private collections of Edvard Munch works – a rather better lobby-bar conversation starter than most. Guests also have access to the hotel fitness room. Karl Johans gate, the harbour and Royal Palace are close, and London Pub and the central LGBTQ nightlife are an easy walk across town. GayMapper tip: Come here for timeless Oslo rather than trendy Oslo – especially if dinner at Theatercaféen and a proper five-star city hotel sound like your kind of weekend.