Thon Hotel Europa: Basic and central

Three hundred meters from Karl Johans gate, five minutes from the Royal Palace, and you can see the National Theatre station from the front door. The lobby is clean, modern, functional. Free Nespresso coffee around the clock, which saves you 50 kroner every time you'd otherwise walk into a café. The vibe is efficient Scandinavian business hotel. Walk in, get your key, get out exploring, you don´t linger here.

Standard rooms are small. The bathrooms are very small. Elbows hit the shower wall. No surprises there, this is a Thon after all. Consider paying the upgrade to a Superior or Business room. The price difference is often minor. Some standard rooms still have tired carpets and furniture that could use a refresh, while the public areas look noticeably more polished.

There's no air conditioning. In winter, no problem. In a July heatwave, the rooms can turn into saunas. Open the window and you get tram noise from St. Olavs gate. Ask for a room facing the internal courtyard, it's quieter.

The gym is a pleasant surprise: squat rack, free weights, proper equipment. Not just a single sad treadmill in a broom closet. The breakfast spread is large and well stocked, with quality local ingredients, hot options, and smoothies.