Topcamp Ekeberg

Most parking spaces slope, which made it very hard to get our camper level. The entrance looks modern, check-in is convenient, and the WiFi is decent, but the bathrooms and showers were appalling: dirty and neglected, with some toilets loose, broken taps, and an overall sense that the place had been abandoned for a long time. It's hard to understand how the basic need for clean, working facilities could be ignored. Of the two full weeks we spent travelling around Norway, this was by far the most expensive campsite and the worst. We paid a lot and had a very disappointing stay.

The bus stop is right beside the campsite, and Oslo centre is about 20 minutes away. The location is impeccable, but the site itself is in poor, even very poor, condition. We stayed three nights in a camping car and paid €50 per night. For a site with more than 300 places, there's just one sanitary building, which isn't enough. The showers and toilets were horrible, with graffiti everywhere, at least in the men's area, peeling paint, mold, broken toilet seats, and missing toilet paper or soap. They were cleaned only once during our three days, and the rubbish bins were full and left unemptied. Most pitches aren't level either. The location gives the campsite enormous potential, but that's about all it has going for it. Since it's so close to Oslo and there are no other campsites nearby, it effectively has a monopoly despite the poor facilities.

This large campsite sits on a hillside, with great views of downtown Oslo and an easy bus connection to the city centre. Some motorhome pitches are quite uneven, though it's easy to move to another spot. The men's showers were rather untidy, and the value for the price is only so-so.

The location is perfect for visiting Oslo, but the pitches and services seem to get neglected because of it. Much of the campsite is on a steep slope. Our 4x4 van managed fine with traction boards and substantial levelling blocks, but I wondered how some other guests stayed in bed through the night. It wouldn't take much work to level the pitches. There's only one service block, so don't leave it until you urgently need to pee.