A 19th-century wooden dragon-style building sits at the top of a hill, 350 meters above Oslo, looking out over the fjord and the forest. The renovation in 2022 was thorough. Dark woods, fireplaces, contemporary art alongside the original architecture. It really works. The lobby feels like a place you want to sit in, which is rare for a Scandic.
The room situation is tricky. This is a mix of old and new buildings, and the difference is stark. The Dragon Building rooms have character, carved wood, history in the walls. The modern wing rooms can feel like any Scandic anywhere. Some face a parking lot. Request a room in the Dragon Building or a high-floor fjord view in the main wing. Lower rooms facing the back hill are dark.
The breakfast is a standout. Extensive buffet, quality ingredients, worth setting an alarm for.
The location is the big trade-off. Holmenkollen metro station is a 10-minute walk, and it's uphill on the way back. In winter, with ice and luggage, that hill is no joke. The metro itself runs 30 to 40 minutes into central Oslo. You're choosing forest and silence over convenience.
The gym is huge, the Nordics largest hotel gym at 1000 m2, and it really looks the part. However only a part of the gym is free, for access to the full gym you have to pay. The spa also costs extra, starting at 195 NOK per visit, and you need to book a slot ahead of time. Children under 16 are not allowed in, which rules it out as a family pool option.
What to do nearby
Other hotels nearby
