Oslo Hostel Rønningen
Quiet ex-school hostel by Maridalsvannet lake — Oslo for nature lovers, not party people
A quiet former-school hostel up in leafy Kjelsås, 4.3 mi from the city centre. Big garden, library, board game shelf, and the Maridalsvannet lake walk starts at the doorstep — the antithesis of central Oslo prices and noise.
Hostel Rønningen is what you get when a Norwegian boarding school converts to a budget guesthouse and keeps the calm. It sits up in Kjelsås, a leafy outer-Oslo neighborhood that locals know for the start of the Maridalsvannet lake trail and the open-air Oslo Vinterpark just up the hill. From the front door you can be deep in the forest in 10 minutes, or on the metro into central Oslo in 25.
The rooms are simple and large, with desks (school heritage), wardrobes, and proper double-glazed windows that keep things silent. The communal areas are the surprise: a TV lounge stacked with 20+ board games, a small library of paperbacks, and a vast eating area near reception where you can spread out a laptop or play Risk for three hours. There's a fully equipped guest kitchen and a laundry room — both essential when you're stretching a budget in Oslo.
This hostel is genuinely not for the bar-crawl crowd. It's for cyclists doing the Maridalsvannet loop, families on a road trip, students working remotely, and travellers who want to explore Oslo by day and disappear into the forest at sunset. The tram down to Storo metro takes 8 minutes, and the trip from there to Karl Johans gate is another 10.
Take bus 54 from Storo to Kjelsås Skole if you arrive after the trams stop running. Or just walk through the forest paths from Storo — the route is well-lit and considerably more atmospheric than the bus.
- 01Maridalsvannet lake walk literally starts outside — 10-minute uphill walk to one of the best free views in Oslo.
- 02Stacked board game shelf and a quiet library make this the best Oslo hostel for slow evenings, not bar crawls.
- 03Big rooms with desks (school heritage) — solid for digital nomads who want a real workspace, not a hostel locker shelf.
- 04Genuinely budget by Oslo standards — saving 200 NOK a night here adds up over a week.
- 05Tram + metro to central Oslo takes 25 minutes door-to-door, so you're never really cut off.
- 20+ board games
- Library of paperbacks
- Forest at the doorstep
- Big shared kitchen
“Very useful room in a modern school setting. I appreciated being able to use the space differently — desks for working, board games at night. The forest right outside is a real bonus.”
“Lovely eating area and communal area near reception. Washing machine and dryer were a lifesaver. Quiet location, good for sleep.”
“Location was very lovely. 10 minute walk and you have beautiful view of lake in the forest. The metro into the centre takes some time but the price is worth it.”
- Maridalsvannet lake trail10 min walk
- Kjelsås tram stop (line 11)5 min walk
- Rema 1000 supermarket (Storo)8 min by tram
- Storo metro station8 min by tram
- Oslo Vinterpark (winter skiing)15 min by bus
- Oslo S (central station)25 min by tram + metro
