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10Best visits Oslo's Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel, Oslo
Welcome to the Grand Hotel, Oslo's most famed and prestigious lodgings. Opened in 1874, the Grand is located in the heart of old Oslo on Karl Johans Gate, and today plays host to luminaries from around the world: heads of state, Nobel laureates and more.
View of the Stortinget Norwegian Parliament Building
The hotel sits just across the street from the Stortinget, the Norwegian Parliament building, which glows in the late afternoon (or summer midnight) sun and is the centrepiece of many room balconies and from the rooftop bar upstairs.
photos of Nobel Peace Prize Winners who have graced the Grand
The Nobel Peace Prize laureates stay at the Grand each year, and the room where the media events take place is festooned with portraits of luminaries who have passed through, such as the Dalai Lama, Rigoberta Menchu, Desmond Tutu, and Au Sung Suu Kyi.
The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo
The Nobel Peace Center is just down the street from the Grand, and is now a museum, detailing the history of Alfred Nobel and the prestigious prize, along with plenty of changing exhibitions providing insights into conflict resolution.
Junior Suite at the Grand
The well appointed rooms and suites at the Grand are classy, with a combination of history and contemporary gracing each one, and there are a vast array of different types to choose from.
Hallway on the "Ladies Floor"
The Grand was the first hotel in Europe to open a 'Ladies Floor,' where photographs of Norway's famous women, ranging from actresses to artists to business entrepreneurs adorn the hallways, and each woman has a room, detailed for female tastes, designed in her honor.
Charming Room on the "Ladies Floor"
Examples of this include the 'room of one's own," dedicated to Margreth Olin, a well-known film producer, screenwriter and director.
The purple Mikado Suite at the Grand Hotel
In addition to classic, the Grand also has wildly creative rooms themed on the colour of the year, such as the head turning Mikado Suite, a purple-centric fashion statement which might give a few technicolor dreams.
The Akershus Castle
Most of Oslo's top attractions are just a short stroll from the Grand, such as the Akershus Castle, a medieval fortress built in the 1290's by King Haakon V.
The Opera House in Oslo
Oslo's piece d'resistance, the stunning Opera House, is also within walking distance of the Grand. Made of white granite and Italian marble, the striking building appears to rise from the water, and has received numerous contemporary architecture awards. It is home to the Norwegian National Opera.
About Dave Stamboulis
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in Athens, Greece and growing up in Berkeley, California, Dave first discovered Bangkok while on a 40,000-kilometer bicycle trip; he moved there for good in 2005. Dave's photos have appeared in publications around the world. He is the author of Odysseus’ Last Stand, which received the Silver Medal for Travel Book of the Year in 2006 from the Society of American Travel Writers. In addition to working for Fodor’s Guidebook to Thailand, his travel stories appear in publications throughout SE Asia. Dave is also Trip Advisor's Oyster.com's photographer for Thailand.
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