Anker Hostel

Our room faced the front beside the tram stop, but with the windows shut it stayed quiet. I felt safe inside the building throughout. There was one part of the walk from the centre that made me uneasy: turning right as you leave the hostel and going straight over at the crossroads toward the city centre, where groups were often hanging around. There are better routes that avoid it. The hostel itself is in a good, quiet spot, beside a tram stop, with a shop a few doors away. It’s about a ten-minute walk to the edge of the city centre. We stayed two nights in a twin room with an en suite and mini kitchen. Kitchen equipment is available to hire. The bed was comfortable, though I would have liked another pillow. There was also a wardrobe with hangers and a table. At check-in we showed our passports and were given linen, towels, and room cards. It was easy, and the lift took us to our room. At night, the entrance and room corridors require the key card. We didn’t use the common areas. The value was excellent. The room worked well for us, but towels and bed linen had to be collected from reception, and we had to make the bed ourselves.

The room was decent for the price, though the bathroom could use better ventilation. They supply towels but no shampoo. Anker hostel is in a great spot, with a tram stop right outside, roughly a two-minute walk from the entrance.

Our room could fit six, though we were five, and I think there were too few chairs. It had a mini fridge, an oven with hobs, and cupboards, but I don’t remember seeing a clothes cupboard, so I wouldn’t choose it for a long stay. I also would have preferred the bed linen and towels to be ready in the room. Instead, you collect them from reception at check-in and make your own bed. The bathroom was usable, with very warm water and good shower pressure, so the shower was comfortable. There was some mold on the ceiling, though, and the curtain was the only separation from the rest of the bathroom, so the whole floor got wet. A small squeegee was provided, but using it meant squatting down, which wasn’t comfortable. The hostel felt safe and had both stairs and a lift, accessed with a room key fob. Staff were kind and explained what we needed to know. You can rent cooking gear to use in your room. There’s a small lounge by reception, hot drinks for sale, and a machine with free hot water. For food nearby, there’s a Narvesen shop on the corner. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the train station, with a tram stop across from the hostel.

Breakfast was the best part, with a very good range of options. For the week we booked, this seemed the most reasonable choice for the price and area, and it’s very close to central Oslo. The room was a bit tight for three, but adequate since we spent most of our days out. The wet room shower was small but worked. There was no bath mat or place to put shower items, and no tea or coffee making facilities. Still, the room was reasonable overall.