Citybox Oslo in Oslo, Norway

Citybox Oslo Review: Our Honest Hotel Experience

Hotels in Oslo can quickly eat up your travel budget, so we wanted somewhere comfortable, well located, and still within a reasonable price range. That’s how Citybox Oslo made the list. We stayed there during our Oslo trip and put it to the test to see whether this modern, no-fuss hotel actually works as a practical base for exploring the city.

A Little History of Citybox Oslo

Citybox Oslo opened its doors in June 2013, introducing a slightly different hotel concept to the city. Instead of a traditional reception and lots of hotel extras, Citybox focused on simple, modern rooms, self-service check-in and a central location, keeping the experience practical while offering more affordable accommodation. The Oslo hotel originally opened with 115 rooms and has since expanded into neighboring buildings, becoming a much larger property.

The building at Prinsens gate 6 has its own history. The seven-story property was built in 1933 as a commercial building and was later renovated and converted into hotel accommodation in 2015. Today, it forms part of Citybox Oslo, blending its older city-center architecture with the hotel’s modern, minimalist concept. The location itself is also part of Oslo’s history. Prinsens gate has long been one of the city center’s main commercial streets, and the surrounding area is part of Oslo’s historic Kvadraturen district.

Location and Accessibility

📍 Address: Prinsens gate 6, 0152 Oslo, Norway

The location is one of Citybox Oslo’s biggest advantages. The hotel sits right in the heart of Oslo, just a few minutes’ waddle from Oslo Central Station and Karl Johans gate. The Oslo Opera House is around a 5–7 minute walk away, while Jernbanetorget, Oslo’s main public transport hub, is also just a few minutes away.

We arrived in Oslo by train from the airport, and getting to the hotel was easy. From Oslo Central Station, it is only a short walk to Citybox, so there was no need to figure out a taxi or complicated transfer after landing. If you don’t feel like walking with luggage, you can also take the tram for a couple of stops, with tram and metro connections available very close to the hotel.

For exploring Oslo, the location worked really well for us. We could waddle to many of the main sights, while buses, trams and the metro were all close by when we wanted to go further. It gave us exactly the kind of central base we look for when visiting a city.

Check-In Experience

One thing that makes Citybox Oslo different from a traditional hotel is that it has no conventional reception desk where you need to queue and wait to check in. Instead, the hotel uses self-service check-in terminals, allowing you to handle your arrival yourself. You enter your details at one of the several available terminals, scan your ID, and collect your room number and key card directly from the machine. Citybox also offers pre-check-in online, which can make the process even quicker.

For us, arriving was straightforward from the moment we waddled through the door. The whole process took only a few minutes, and with several terminals available, there was no queuing or waiting around. We did have one slightly confusing moment when the screen said our card was still being issued, even though it was already sitting there ready to be taken. We waited because we thought the process wasn’t finished, and the machine took the card back, so we had to start over. Apart from that little hiccup, everything was quick and easy.

We didn’t have any human interaction during check-in, but that is really the point of the Citybox concept. Everything is designed to be simple, independent, and efficient. Once we had our card, we could head inside, find our room, and get settled. While check-in is automated, Citybox has hosts available if you need help. For us, it worked well because we could arrive, get our card, and head straight to the room without the usual hotel check-in formalities.

Room and Amenities

Citybox Oslo is a fairly large hotel, with 341 rooms spread across seven floors. The rooms follow the same simple, functional concept, with options ranging from Small Single and Single Rooms to Double Rooms, Twin Rooms, Family Rooms, and Junior Suites. Some rooms also come with a balcony. The variety means there is something for every type of traveler, whether you are visiting Oslo alone, as a couple, or with the family. The rooms are intentionally no-fuss, focusing on the essentials rather than a long list of hotel extras, which fits the whole Citybox concept quite well.

Our Room at Citybox Oslo

We stayed in room 225 on the second floor. You can take the elevator up, but there are also comfortable stairs, and getting up to our floor was easy enough. Once we opened the door, the minimalist Citybox concept continued. The room doesn’t try to fill every corner with furniture or extras. Instead, it focuses on the essentials and gives you surprisingly comfortable space.

The main feature is a large double bed, with tiny bedside tables on either side where you can keep your phone and other small essentials. The mattress was a little bit on the softer side. There is also a longer desk with a chair, which is handy if you need to work or use your laptop during your stay. Instead of a traditional wardrobe, the room has several hangers for your clothes, along with additional hooks and a large mirror. We appreciated having the hangers easily accessible, even without a proper closet.

You won’t find a traditional safe, coffee maker, or lots of additional hotel extras in the room. That is very much part of the Citybox approach: you get what you actually need without filling the room with things you might never use.

One pleasant surprise was the size of the room. It felt noticeably bigger than the photos suggested, giving us plenty of space to move around and store our things. Another big plus was how well the room could be darkened. The curtains blocked out almost all the light, and once the windows were closed, they also kept out most of the outside noise. Considering how central the hotel is, we were impressed by how quiet the room felt.

And finally, the Wi-Fi was excellent. The internet connection was very fast, including the upload speed, which is always a big plus for us when we are traveling and working on the go.

The Bathroom

Like the room, the bathroom follows the same minimalist approach and provides the essentials. We had complimentary soap and a hair dryer, which was a useful addition. We particularly appreciated the heated bathroom floor. It was especially nice in the morning when you got out of bed and stepped onto a warm floor instead of cold tiles.

A few things could have been better, though. The toilet sat directly opposite the shower, leaving a surprisingly narrow space between them. If you are taller, it could feel quite cramped, and even for us it wasn’t the most comfortable setup. The toilet was also quite high, which could be particularly noticeable for shorter guests, as our feet barely reached the floor when we sat down.

The shower had slightly weaker water pressure, and the shower fitting seemed a little loose and worn, which detracted from the otherwise clean and functional bathroom. We also missed having a couple of smaller towels specifically for the face. We had the larger bath towels, but adding two small hand or face towels would have made the bathroom setup more complete. Overall, the bathroom had everything we needed, but the layout and a few small details could definitely be improved.

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Culinary Experiences

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Breakfast

Citybox Oslo doesn’t offer a traditional hotel breakfast, but you can still have breakfast without leaving the building. Two partner cafés are directly accessible from the hotel, so you can head downstairs and walk straight into one. Breakfast costs extra, but Citybox guests get a 10% discount when they show their key card.

We wanted to try at least one, so we went for Rent Mel. They open at 7:30 AM and offer several breakfast options. We tried the Rent Mel Breakfast for 210 NOK, which includes organic yogurt with homemade granola, bread of the day, Norwegian ham, cheese of the week, jam, and filter coffee or black Earl Grey tea. You can also add extras, such as bacon for 30 NOK, two poached eggs for 30 NOK, or half an avocado for 30 NOK. There are also individual breakfast options. The Børos yogurt with Rent Mel granola costs 79 NOK, while the Avocado & Poached Egg is 199 NOK and comes with bread of the day, Dijon, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and poached eggs. The menu also has several Norwegian fish options, including canned and smoked brisling from Bornholm, smoked trout from Denmark, and salmon from the Faroe Islands, priced at 159 NOK. The café was cozy and pleasant, and being directly connected to the hotel was definitely convenient. It felt like a nice little add-on to the stay, especially on mornings when you don’t want to go searching for breakfast elsewhere. The only thing to keep in mind is that breakfast is not included in the room rate, so if you’re traveling on a budget, the cost can add up over several mornings. For us, though, having a good café right inside the hotel was definitely a plus.

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Facilities and Services

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This is where Citybox Oslo really shines. While the hotel keeps the rooms minimalist, it makes up for it with a range of practical little extras that make your stay easier. We particularly appreciated the extra luggage storage lockers. If you arrive before check-in or have time to explore after check-out, you can leave your bags securely at the hotel instead of carrying them around the city.

Another thoughtful touch is the option to borrow or rent an umbrella from the hotel. Oslo weather can change quickly, so having an umbrella available when you suddenly find yourself waddling into the rain is definitely handy. These are exactly the kinds of small, practical facilities that fit the Citybox concept well.

The Shared Kitchen

Another thing we really loved was the shared kitchen in the lobby downstairs. It was surprisingly well equipped for a hotel that keeps things so minimalist. You had everything you needed for a simple meal, including glasses, dishes, and basic kitchen essentials, plus a fridge to store your own food and microwaves for heating things up.

There was also a small self-service machine where you could buy snacks and food, including things like yogurt and breakfast items. A coffee machine was also available for an additional charge. So if you wanted to prepare a simple breakfast, lunch, or even dinner yourself, you absolutely could. For us, this was a definite plus, especially if you’re staying for a few days or trying to keep your food budget under control.

The Lobby & Common Areas

The lobby is another area where Citybox Oslo really stands out. It is bright, green, and beautifully designed, with plenty of different seating areas where you can sit, relax, meet someone, or spend some time outside your room. There are also quieter corners where you can sit comfortably with your laptop and get some work done, which makes the space feel more like a shared living area than a traditional hotel lobby.

We also noticed meeting rooms you can rent, making the hotel a practical option if you are traveling for business or need space for a meeting. The whole downstairs area feels designed around flexibility. You can work here, grab something to eat, meet friends, or chill for a while. We really liked that concept and could easily imagine staying here for a longer work trip while still having Oslo right outside the door.

In a way, the whole setup reminded us a little of going back to school or staying in a hostel, where everyone shares common spaces, and you have everything you need in one place, just with a much nicer and more comfortable private room. It gives Citybox a relaxed, social atmosphere without taking away your own space when you want some privacy.

Other Services & Amenities

• Self-Service Laundry: A laundromat is next to the guest kitchen, with washing detergent included. Washing and drying are available for an additional fee, and you can pay by card.
• Iron & Ironing: If you need to iron something, you can request an iron from the host office. Leave an ID card when using it; you’ll get it back afterward.
• Luggage Storage: You can store your luggage before check-in or after check-out using the hotel’s luggage room. You use the terminal to get a key card for access.
• Free Wi-Fi: Fast Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, which we also found particularly useful during our stay.
• Pet-Friendly: Citybox Oslo is also pet-friendly, so you don’t necessarily have to leave your four-legged travel companion at home.
• Meeting Rooms: The hotel has dedicated Meetingbox spaces, including Mini, Midi, and Megabox rooms, equipped for meetings and gatherings.
• Vending Machines: The lobby has vending machines where you can pick up snacks, drinks, and some food when you don’t feel like going out.
• Guest Kitchen: The shared kitchen provides microwaves, toasters, and kettles, giving guests the option to prepare something simple themselves.
• Common Areas: The downstairs area also includes spaces where you can relax, work, or spend time outside your room, adding to the hotel’s more hostel-like social atmosphere.

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Value For Money

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For our stay from Friday, October 2 to Monday, October 5, 2026, we paid NOK 2,600 (around €222) for the room for three nights. The room rate did not include breakfast, so we paid extra. We had breakfast at Rent Mel once during our stay, which came to NOK 410 (around €39) for the two of us. Breakfast isn’t included in the room rate, but you can get it separately through the connected cafés. Considering the central location, comfortable room, fast Wi-Fi, guest kitchen, luggage storage, laundry facilities, and all the shared spaces, we think the value for money was a huge deal. You are getting a lot for what you pay, especially compared with Oslo’s generally high accommodation prices. It is not a luxury hotel, and you pay separately for extras like breakfast, but if you are looking for a practical, comfortable, and very well-located base in Oslo, we think Citybox Oslo is a great deal.

All Ratings

Category	Rating
Location and Accessibility	★★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★☆☆
Comfort	★★★☆☆
Staff and Service	n/a
Value for Money	★★★★★
Dining and Food Quality	n/a
Amenities	★★★★☆
Check-In/Check-Out	★★★☆☆
WiFi and Connectivity	★★★★★
Overall Experience	★★★☆☆

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