Thon Hotel Stavanger, Stavanger

Pros  

• Enjoy a local and sustainable hotel brand in central Stavanger, a 10-minute stroll to shopping, restaurants, and boat excursions.
• Renovated rooms feel fresh and up-to-date with hardwood-style floors and contemporary furnishings.
• Start each day with a large breakfast buffet offering espresso drinks and various hot and cold items including eggs, smoked fish, granola, and smoothies.

Cons

• Standard rooms likely have lackluster views, but superior rooms and above tend to face the charming historic district. 

Authenticity

This modern high-rise is easy to spot from its big red lettering listing the hotel’s name in central Stavanger with retail shops next door. A small lobby greets guests with bright colors and patterns—a common look for Thon Hotels, which is one of the largest hotel groups in Norway. Uniformed staff run the front desk and bowls of free candy and apples create a welcoming environment. Another, much bigger lounge with large windows and street views on a higher floor acts as an extension of the smaller lobby and offers free water, coffee, and tea. Staff members are proud to tell guests that this particular hotel was used as a home for Ukrainian refugees for several months at the beginning of the war.

Location

The hotel is centrally located on a busy street in Norway’s fourth largest city, within a 15-minute walk of major attractions. Just around the corner begins a cobblestoned area offering shopping (a mix of local and international brands), restaurants, and nightlife. Meanwhile, the harbor is about 10 minutes away on foot, with ferries and boat excursions in the Lysefjord. Stavanger is also a popular overnight base for famous hikes like Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), less than an hour away by car. Guests with a car can park at a nearby parking garage for a daily fee, and there’s a nearby bus stop called Flybussen with regular coach service to and from the airport. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

All 147 rooms have been fully renovated as of 2016 with colorful, modern decor and new bathrooms with walk-in showers. The standard rooms come with kettles, mini-fridges, and rain showers, while superior rooms offer more space and extras like Nespresso machines, Bose speakers, bathrobes, and slippers. Business rooms are the largest category with sofa beds that can sleep up to four guests.