Hotels
Spa hotels in Norway: seven places to swim, sweat and sleep well
From a seaside bathhouse in Larvik to a fjord hotel in Hardanger, these are the spa hotels in Norway we would book, and what each one does best.
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Steam rises off your skin as you step out of the sauna. In front of you is a fjord, or the open sea, or a city going blue at dusk, and you have nothing planned for the rest of the evening. That is what a good Norwegian spa hotel does best: it puts the landscape and the warmth in the same place.
We have picked seven hotels with proper spas, not a token pool in the basement. Three are in cities and work for a weekend without a car. Four sit by the sea, a fjord or the mountains and reward a slower trip.
We left out hotels where the spa is little more than a sauna by the gym. The test was simple: could you spend a whole afternoon in the spa without getting bored, and is the hotel a good place to be when you are not in the water?
Short answer: what are the best spa hotels in Norway?
For a spa by the sea, Farris Bad in Larvik is the classic choice. On the fjords, Hotel Union in Geiranger and Hotel Ullensvang in Hardanger stand out. In the cities, Sommerro and The Thief in Oslo and the Britannia in Trondheim have the most complete spas.
Best by the sea: Farris Bad
Best on a fjord: Hotel Union Geiranger
Best in Oslo: Sommerro
Best for a weekend in central Norway: Britannia Hotel
Best with skiing: Dr. Holms Hotel
Farris Bad
The lounge at Farris Bad, looking out to sea.
Spa by the sea
The coast offers the simplest spa of all: warm water inside, cold sea outside. Southern Norway has long light summer evenings, and in winter you will have the shore almost to yourself.
A seaside spa works best out of season. The beaches are empty, the light is low and it is easier to get a table at dinner. Pack wool socks and a good book.
Farris Bad: saunas facing the Skagerrak
Farris Bad stands on the beach in Larvik, and its pools and saunas look straight out to sea. In winter guests walk from hot water into the salt air, in summer from a sunlounger into the waves. It is a place for a long weekend with no plan beyond swimming, eating and sleeping, and it is about two hours from Oslo by train.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Farris Bad
Hotel Union Geiranger
Hotel Union in Geiranger.
Spa on the fjords
Norway's fjord hotels have welcomed travellers since the nineteenth century, and several have built new spas into their old wooden buildings. Here the view is part of the treatment. Allow at least two nights, because the roads in are long and the evenings are the best part.
Pair the spa with a day outdoors. From Geiranger, paths climb to the old farms on the mountainside, and in Hardanger you can walk to waterfalls or cycle along the fjord before ending the day in the pool.
Hotel Union Geiranger: a pool above the fjord
Hotel Union sits on the hillside above the village of Geiranger and has taken in travellers since 1891. Its spa has a pool and saunas, and many rooms look straight down onto the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO-listed fjord, and the cruise ships below. Come outside the busiest summer weeks for a calmer village and a quieter pool.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Union Geiranger
Hotel Ullensvang
Hotel Ullensvang on the Sørfjord in Hardanger.
Hotel Ullensvang: Hardanger from the poolside
Hotel Ullensvang stands at the water's edge in Lofthus on the Sørfjord, with the Folgefonna glacier across the water. The same family has run it for generations, and its spa and pools look out over the fjord. In spring the orchards on the slopes behind bloom, and in autumn it is apple season in Hardanger.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Ullensvang
Dr. Holms Hotel
Dr. Holms Hotel in Geilo.
Spa in the mountains
A sauna after a long day on skis or on the trail is a Norwegian winter ritual. Choose a hotel where you can go straight from the tracks to the pool.
Mountain hotels fill up in the school holidays and at Easter, but January and March often bring space and better rates. In summer they make good bases for hiking on the Hardangervidda plateau.
Dr. Holms Hotel: a sauna after skiing in Geilo
Dr. Holms Hotel opened in Geilo in 1909, right by the station on the Oslo to Bergen railway, and has its own spa with pools and saunas. You can take the train from either city and be on the cross-country tracks the same day. Its fireplace lounges make the evenings easy, and it suits couples and families alike.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dr. Holms Hotel
Sommerro
The restaurant at Sommerro in Oslo.
Spa in the city
Norway's city hotels have taken spas seriously in recent years, so you do not have to travel far for a weekend of pools and treatments. The advantage is that dinner and the theatre are right outside.
The downside is that city spas are often open to day guests too, and Saturdays get busy. Ask whether there are hours reserved for hotel guests.
Sommerro: Oslo's old public baths reborn
Sommerro occupies the 1930s headquarters of Oslo's old electricity company in Frogner and has restored Vestkantbadet, the city's historic public baths, as its spa. On the roof are an outdoor pool and a sauna with views across the west of the city. It is the most complete city spa in Oslo and a natural choice for a weekend built around swimming and eating well.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sommerro
The Thief
The Thief on Tjuvholmen in Oslo.
The Thief: a spa at the tip of Tjuvholmen
The Thief sits at the very end of Tjuvholmen, with the Oslofjord on three sides and the Astrup Fearnley Museum next door. Its spa has a pool and a full treatment menu, and the hotel is filled with contemporary art. Choose it to combine a spa stay with the waterfront, and ask for a room with a balcony over the water.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Thief
Britannia Hotel
The lobby of the Britannia Hotel in Trondheim.
Britannia Hotel: a spa in Trondheim's grand hotel
The Britannia in Trondheim reopened in 2019 after a long renovation, adding a spa with a pool and treatment rooms. It stands on Dronningens gate in the centre, and after a swim you can settle into the glass-roofed Palm Garden or one of the bars. It is the best choice for a spa weekend in central Norway.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Britannia Hotel
Good to know before you book
The spa is not always included: at several hotels spa access costs extra or comes only with certain packages. Check before you book.
Book treatments early: massages fill up at weekends, so reserve them with the room.
Fjord hotels are seasonal: some have shorter seasons or close parts of the winter. Check opening dates.
Weekdays are quieter: for a pool to yourself, aim for Sunday to Thursday.
Spa hotels in Norway: frequently asked questions
What is the best spa hotel in Norway?
It depends on the setting you want. Farris Bad is best by the sea, Hotel Union Geiranger on the fjords and Sommerro for a city break in Oslo.
Are there spa hotels near Oslo?
Sommerro and The Thief are in central Oslo, and Farris Bad in Larvik is about two hours away by train.
Can you combine skiing and a spa in Norway?
Yes. Dr. Holms Hotel in Geilo has a spa and sits by the cross-country tracks and the station on the Oslo to Bergen railway.
Do Norwegian fjord hotels have spas?
Some do. Hotel Union in Geiranger and Hotel Ullensvang in Hardanger both have spas with pools and fjord views.
When is the best time for a spa break in Norway?
Autumn and winter are the classic seasons, but fjord hotels are at their best from May to September. City spas are good all year.