You'd be hard-pressed to find a European capital more suitable for families and kids than Oslo. A number of hotels cater to parents of both small children and teens—with the right lodging, you'll feel right at home in this booming heart of Scandinavia.

Scandic Oslo City

Hotel Scandic Oslo
Photo courtesy of Scandic Oslo City

Scandic was voted the best hotel chain for kids in 2018's Barnsemesterpriset competition, and they have several locations in Oslo. The most central is Scandic Oslo City, a mid-range hotel right next to Karl Johans Gate (one of the main thoroughfares) and the Oslo Opera House. Children under 13 stay free, and if you've got teens in tow, you can nab an adjacent room at a discounted price. Kids also get half-price meals off the a la carte menu (kid's menus are also available), and they'll love the welcome gift waiting just for them when they enter the room. 

Thon Hotel Slottsparken

Thon Hotel, Oslo
Thon Hotel, Oslo

Thon Hotels are popular throughout Norway, and the Slottsparken location is a particularly nice mid-range option for families—it's in a quiet neighborhood not far from the Royal Palace. The hotel has 50 family rooms; you can also book rooms with separate bedrooms. It's incredibly close to the train station, and the accommodations are lavish without being too extravagant for the budget.

Other Thon options in the city are good, too. Thon Hotel Munch tends to run a bit cheaper, and Thon Hotel Opera and Thon Hotel Panorama will put you close to the harbor.

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The Thief Hotel Oslo

The Thief Hotel Oslo
The Thief Hotel Oslo

Situated in the hip Tjuvholmen area next to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, staying at The Thief will get your creative juices flowing (albeit for a bit pricier tag). Color and design are the names of the game here, and the hotel feels like a museum in itself, with digital art, vivid paintings, and abstract sculptures lining the public areas. This is a pretty luxe hotel, for the record, and it fits right into the redesigned waterfront (right on the Oslofjord).

Extra beds fit easily into the king rooms, and baby toys and a Playstation are available upon request. You can even bring the family dog—they'll dog-sit and dog-walk your pup, too.

Best Western Kampen Hotell

Photo courtesy of Best Western Kampen Hotell
Photo courtesy of Best Western Kampen Hotell

If you like the idea of a hotel but also want the feel of an Airbnb, check out Best Western Kampen Hotell. It's an "apartment-style" mid-range hotel, where the rooms have small kitchens and living rooms, and a few have balconies. It's all the service of a hotel, you know, but you have the ability to spread out and stay in if you like.

As the name suggests, the hotel is located in the Toyen/Kampen area—the Munch Museum, botanical gardens, and Aqualand aren't far away, and there are plenty of international eateries and shopping opportunities nearby, too. 

Other Lodging Options in Oslo 

Old wooden houses of Oslo
Old wooden houses in Oslo

Even though Oslo might be "small" in terms of capital cities, your options are still plentiful. Bed and Breakfasts, guest houses, "pensions," and smaller inns are all logical choices if you'd like a homier feel. Many guesthouses and pensions are run by families (a group of Dominican Sisters runs Sta. Katarinahjemmet), and the owners can give you locals' tips on enjoying the city. Whatever you decide, your family isn't far away from having the trip of a lifetime.