Rjukan Gjestegaard

We had a good stay here, and I’d happily come back. The staff were good, and they even did my laundry for a small fee. Parking was a little tight, though everyone managed to fit during my two nights. It’s a converted hostel set up as a budget hotel, a good fit for travelers looking to save. There are two levels plus a basement, with nice common spaces, and breakfast comes in a decent sized bag you can take with you. The spot is excellent, right by the Måna river, a pretty bridge and trails. Restaurants, a bar and two grocery stores are all an easy walk away.

I was disappointed to find the kitchen closed this time. On my last visit I cooked my own meals, and I’d hoped to do that on some nights again since the nearby places to eat aren’t great. Now there’s a “staff only” sign on the door. This was my second trip here for ice climbing. The hostel is warm and very clean, and the staff are friendly.

Don’t skip breakfast. There’s fresh bread from a nearby bakery, eggs, cheese, ham and jam, plus awesome coffee. The staff are welcoming, the location is great, and everything was clean. I had a standard room with the shower and toilet shared along the corridor.

The hallway smelled awful when I came out of my room to go to dinner: there was vomit on the floor. I told reception, but it was still there when I went to bed. At check-in I also had trouble with the language barrier, the only time that happened to me in Norway, and it was odd for a hostel. The building is newly renovated, in good shape, and the location is handy for walking to the pub, Kiwi mini pris and EV charging. Rooms are roomy, with sinks, personal heat and two beds. The price was higher than I expected for a hostel, though the amenities were better too. That’s Norway, I guess. Nobody gathered in the common areas while I was there, which was a shame since I wanted to meet other travelers. It was the off-season, though.