Lysebu Hotel is a historic gem on the Tryvannshøyden hill, offering one of the most unique origin stories in Norway. Originally built in 1916 as a private residence, the estate was later gifted by the Norwegian people to Denmark as a heartfelt “thank you” for the critical food aid provided during World War II. Today, it remains under the stewardship of the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation, dedicated to fostering cultural exchange between the two nations.
Designed by the renowned architect Magnus Poulsson, the hotel is a masterpiece of traditional Norwegian style. Its architecture draws inspiration from the grand manor houses of Eastern Norway and the romantic aesthetic of fairy-tale estates. The interiors feature rich woodwork and classic motifs, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere that feels like stepping back into a more elegant era.
The hotel is perfectly positioned as a gateway to Nordmarka, Oslo’s sprawling wilderness. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with ski tracks and hiking trails starting right at the doorstep. During the winter, guests can take advantage of the nearby Oslo Winter Park for skiing, while the hotel itself offers a peaceful retreat with an indoor pool and sauna to warm up in after a day in the snow.
Though it feels worlds away, the hotel is just a scenic 30-minute metro ride from Oslo’s city center. Nearby, you’ll find the iconic Holmenkollen Ski Jump, a landmark that defines the skyline and offers incredible views over the city and the fjord, making Lysebu the perfect blend of historic charm and natural beauty.
Expert reviews
“A gorgeous Norwegian-folk-style building from 1916 with easy access to the wilds of Nordmarka. Rooms are decorated in a clean, classical style that’s comfortable but far from twee, with spectacular views.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Comfortable beds
- Indoor swimming pool
- Garden
- Friendly staff
Location
Recent guest reviews
24 August 2025
Great place in a tranquil location
Absolutely everything! A real treat and I’m so glad I found this place. Glad to have a single option. Friendly staff Breakfast fantastic! Swimming pool looked amazing Lovely grounds Tea/ coffee machine So much to see wandering around the hotel.
No shop around No tv in room No dressing gown/ slippers ( I saw others with this, so may have just been the single rooms )
17 August 2025
Exceptional
“I had an absolutely wonderful experience. The hotel was beautiful, and the staff were so warm and welcoming that I never once felt like it was my first time there. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a memorable stay.”
16 August 2025
Wonderful
We have had a wonderful stay. The place is full of charm and peace. Many thanks to Catrina for her attention and sympathy, and especially to Kit, who was able to solve all the issues we raised with incredible efficiency and sympathy. Thank you very much. We'll be back
La carta de la cena era siempre la misma
9 August 2025
The overall impression is very good. This place is worthy to be visited once again.
Exceptional location, beautiful view from the dining room window, enjoyable calm and cosiness. The interior is renovated with a delicate taste and a very stylish fireplace.
Breakfast didn't meet the expectations- fried eggs were overcooked, porridge was flavourless, the variety of fruit and vegetables could be greater. The bathrooms of standard rooms are small. Definitely, next time would choose the superior room. As for the 5 stars hotel it was little bit strange that the slippers and bathrobes for standard rooms were not inclusive.
6 August 2025
The best place for deep breathing !
The staff was incredibly attentive. Breakfast and dinner were delicious. I had a culinary orgasm while eating the steak. A mazing place for hiking. I will definitely visit again :)
I can't say anything.
23 July 2025
Very quite and comfortable place :)
Swimming pool
26 June 2025
Joyful
Breakfast great check in team very welcome specially Mrs Maren and another colleague I don’t recall name
The food at restaurant was great service was mediocre not because of team but very understaffed
1 June 2025
Fabulous
Very beautiful Norwegian style hotel, above Oslo in the middle of the forest. Beautiful swimming pool with a view. Wonderful breakfast. 10 min away from metro station connected to downtown Oslo. Many hiking opportunities. Great staff providing very useful recommendations for hiking.
1 June 2025
Outstanding
What a fabulous hotel! We had a warm welcome and were treated to an upgrade to a Superior Room which was a real treat for 2 weary bikers! Stunning views from every window matched by tasteful furnishings throughout. We had an excellent meal in the beautiful restaurant. Highly recommended.
30 May 2025
Perfect
Absolutely everything. Staff is very friendly with great customer service that goes above and beyond. The property has stunning views and well looked after.
24 May 2025
GREAT HOTEL
First class hotel in the wood Excellent pool Great breakfast Cozy and special
16 May 2025
Exceptional
Quiet and cosy
Everything was good
23 March 2025
Fabulous
Beautiful location, building, friendly staff. Clean comfy room
The restaurant is nice, food is refined and delicious, but the atmosphere is a bit stuffy and service just OK for such a high-end place.
12 March 2025
Delightful, with some points of improvement
Location, room, friendliness, calm, great views
The breakfast had a wide range of choices and the staff worked very hard, BUT: they were too few or lacked some organisation, as the food waited out for hours in the buffet, and became less fresh as the breakfast hours passed. It needs to be refilled more often, in smaller portions, and the hard-working staff could be need one or two more persons during the busier hours.
10 March 2025
Exceptional
Wow such a welcoming property, our room was lovely, had a nice swim and sauna time, we enjoyed the open fire place and had a lovely dinner at the restaurant on site.
2 March 2025
Very good
Wonderful Reception staff and waitress working at breakfast was very friendly. Road leaving the hotel was icy and very slippery and expected the road to be gritted regularly but it wasn't. Not a problem if you have a car but we were walking.
21 February 2025
Delightful hotel with magical Forest surroundings
The location and property was great. And the staff super helpful.
There wasn’t anything to dislike. Charming property. Feels like a Winter Wonderland.
13 February 2025
Despite the very small issues the stay was beautiful. The property is very special and has left lasting memories.
Beautiful hotel and location.Breakfast was fantastic with a view out of this world . Facilities were amazing and we were surprised by an upgrade which made our stay extra special. Staff were very accommodating and happy to help.Train station a short 10 min walk away so great location..
No tea/coffee facilities in room.There are stations located were you can make drinks but the one by our room didn’t have coffee regularly topped up. We did order a charcuterie platter which seemed overpriced for the small amount of good we got.
16 December 2024
Wonderful stay in historic and tranquil hotel
Fantastic hotel with great facilities and friendly staff
The walk from the metro in the snow. Taxis advised!
10 December 2024
Great time spent in Lysebu in December
Amazing view from the balcony, rich breakfast and food in the restaurant was fantastic. Location is breathtaking. For relax I appreciated great swimming pool and sauna. Hotel staff were always nice and helpful. The hotel is beautifully decorated in winter and it feels extremely cozy.
26 November 2024
So special
We stayed here for 2 nights last weekend and loved everything about Lysebu. It was an early 50th birthday present for my partner and I asked if there could be a bottle of champagne in the room. There was a bottle of Moet on ice ready for us when we arrived. Our room was gorgeous, we had a lovely view over the forest towards a ski slope from the huge windows and woke up the first morning to lots of snow, it was magical. I am vegan which I had already made them aware of and had a delicious 2 courses for dinner and a breakfast made especially for me. They had soya, oat and coconut milk available. The staff were so lovely and accommodating, with special mention to Parth on reception who was so patient and helpful with us when we were trying to work out our journey and times from the hotel to Torp airport (we had to leave the hotel at 5.30am for the metro and train). The hotel was decorated ready for Christmas which made it even more special and we hope to come back one day. Loved it.
Nothing.
24 November 2024
Exceptional
The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, upgrading our room for us when we arrived earlier than expected. The swimming pool, sauna, and gym were excellent and clean. We have never had such a fantastic selection for breakfast, or eaten it with such a peaceful view. incredible !
The gym is very very hot, I think as it is almost connected to the back of the sauna. Otherwise, everything was fantastic
21 October 2024
Exceptional
The place is beautiful, with a view where you can appreciate the beauty of the landscape. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel at home. The facilities are very clean and the room is very comfortable. The food is delicious, especially breakfast.
5 October 2024
Fabulous
The hotel is very charming. It sits high above the city and the area was quiet. The room was a good size and comfortable. The walls are rather thin so noises from other rooms were heard but if you're a sound sleeper there shouldn't be a problem. Lounges were available for visiting, the main one with a lovely fireplace. It has a pool and spa, all well equipped. The staff was most helpful and courteous. The breakfast was exceptional. A really good place to stay in the city.
Thin walls but then I'm a light sleeper.
2 October 2024
Exceptional
Nice and cozy hotel, excellent food and staff. Will recommend this hotel😀
The bar closed at 23:30 so it was a little early.
19 September 2024
Fabulous
The view, the atmosphere, the staff, everything was great. Peaceful and beautiful, Oslo at its best.
The room was a bit quirky, broken lamp, but it was immediately replaced.
13 September 2024
Awesome
Perfect staff. Lovely location. It was great.
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9 September 2024
Perfect
Very good breakfast available. Location in the nature is wonderfull. The hotel is very quiet. The room is very comfy and the bed perfect for a good sleep.
Took about 45+ minutes with public transportation to get there.
30 August 2024
Perfect!
Staff was very friendly! Breakfast was amazing. The pool is great and the view is beautiful! Very clean, the bed sheets are folded properly (the head side doesn’t touch the feet side). The location is great for daily hikes but it is still close to the city.
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26 August 2024
Fabulous
Beautiful location, breakfast amazing
Would have liked somewhere to chill out over a glass of wine and to order food, very remote location wirh nowhere to go for food. Restaurant is beautiful but not always open and small menu, great for one night
23 August 2024
Hidden hotel in Oslo
Very nice room and bathroom with nice view. We were able to eat in their restaurant even though it is normally closed on Sundays with almost no one else and at a window table. Very good breakfast. Parking was free. The hotel was surrounded by woods so that you felt like you were in the countryside instead of in the outskirts of Oslo.
There was not an elevator in the hotel and we had to go up a few flights of stairs to get to our room with all our luggage. The room also had a few stairs in two spots so we had to be very careful to not fall down the stairs when moving around the room.
20 August 2024
Very good
Well equipped bathroom, clean throughout entire room, peaceful surroundings, comfortable beds, unique design
Water pressure in the overhead shower rather fickle, difficult to ventilate bathroom, no kettle
3 August 2024
Excellent in every respect.
Everything was perfect. The room, the decoration, the quiet, the staff, the food! Nb make sure however to book a SUPERIOR ROOM.
Having to pay for the parking.
9 July 2024
The staff make this place . They are the best hotel staff. I have ever met . They are warm, personal , genuine and reall
Beautiful traditional Norwegian feel
Nothing . It’s a stunning place .
7 July 2024
Fabulous
The hotel is located rather at the surroundings of Oslo, but therefore it is much more affordable than hotels in the city center. The train station ist not far and tickets are easy to get via the vy app. The breakfast was great.
It was impossible to turn down the heat in the bathroom. Parking spots at the hotel were fee-based.
4 July 2024
Exceptional
The staff and view were amazing
Nothing
1 July 2024
We would stay again, hopefully with enough time to take advantage of some of the walking trails.
We loved the historical charm and the Norwegian cultural items on display. The breakfast was very good. The staff was great. The fellow at reception went out of his way to give us the hotel's history and even show us around.
The room was a bit small, but sufficient for our needs; I'd probably book a superior room next time.
29 June 2024
very relaxed stay. Dinner fine.
perfect.
24 June 2024
Luxurious hotel near Holmenkollen arena
The hotel is very nice, our room was very spacious and design was superb. The vibe is very relaxing as you are in middle of nature, but close to Holmenkollen arena. The staff was very helpful, breakfast buffet of good quality and variety, we appreciated sauna and swimming pool free of charge.
It would be nice if parking was included in the price when considering the quality of the hotel.
19 June 2024
Fab location and great food
Location was amazing and food fantastic
Rooms were small
4 June 2024
Best hotel ever! A gem hidden in the mountains.
The staff there is incredibly kind and attent, specially Kit. Big shot out to him as he made our stay extra special!!! The hotel is outside of the city center, in the mountains so it feels as a retreat. Perfect in every single way. Super clean and tidy, comfortable beds, a lot of space in the bathroom and a view to die for. Nice swimming pool, a lot of space to sit and rest or read a book. Perfect yummy breakfast with a lot of options (porridge, waffles, pancakes, eggs, fruit, cereals, flapjacks and salty stuff as well). This hotel blew my mind and all my expectations by far!
31 May 2024
Very good
Beautiful location outside the city with many hiking trails around (though some were a bit tricky to find). Reception was very helpful and friendly with anything we needed.
Not many restaurants in the area besides the hotel restaurant and it’s very important to book in advance! A car is necessary for getting around if you don’t have a bicycle
2 May 2024
Great Hotel but weirdly enough no free parking.
The Hotel is located up in a mountain, around 30 min by train from Oslo. Plus 10 min walking. It's a quiet and nice area, the Hotel has it's charm and character. Loved the Pool and also the different areas and salons to sit. The view from the dinning room is very nice and the Breakfast was good, although few things to improve I'd say, like juice and fruits.
That you have to pay for parking when it is a pretty expensive Hotel and the land is so big it is simply a big NO.
30 April 2024
Fabulous
excellent location, rustic atmosphere
restaurant closed on sunday
29 February 2024
Beautiful hotel, food and location.
Breakfast was amazing, great views and lots of choice Swimming pool and sauna were clean but no towels available. Location was beautiful and the rooms were a great size. The hotel was unique. The evening meal was amazing but service was slow.
There was no coffee or milk available. After asking twice I gave up as we were not allocated in the main building. Staff gave no information on check in regarding breakfast or meals and it was hard to find the correct rooms and spa.
8 January 2024
Very good
Really nice hotel with a very nice view and surroundings.
1 November 2023
Fabulous
Great location for some day hiking
23 October 2023
Exceptional
THE BEST EXPERIENCE IN OSLO :-) THE BREAKFAST WAS SUPERB THE STUFF SOOO FRIENDLY AT TOP 5 STAR HOTEL! WE ARE COMING BACK FOR SHURE: ALL THE BEST
16 October 2023
Exceptional
Beautiful place and great for couples.
It’s far from the city centre, but still accessible.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
Services
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
- - Luggage storage
Activities
- - Sauna (additional charge)
- - Fitness centre (additional charge)
- - Skiing
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Hiking
- - Cycling
- - Indoor pool (additional charge)
- - Indoor pool (all year) (additional charge)
- - Public bath (additional charge)
- - Full body massage
- - Fitness
- - Fitness/spa locker rooms
- - Temporary art galleries
- - Bicycle rental (additional charge)
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
- - Outdoor fireplace
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Family rooms
- - Heating
- - Allergy-free room
- - Non-smoking throughout
Ski
- - Ski storage
- - Ski school (additional charge)
Parking
- - Electric vehicle charging station
Pool and wellness
- - Heated pool
- - Shallow end
- - Swimming pool
- - Swimming pool
Miscellaneous
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - Fire extinguishers
Reception services
- - Invoice provided

More photos

26 August 2025
Perfect stay in the nature with all facilities, also accessible with public transportation.