Radisson Blu Plaza: Oslo's tallest hotel & landmark

Thirty-seven floors connected to Oslo Central Station by a pedestrian bridge. Step off the Flytoget airport express, walk across the bridge, and you're in the lobby without touching the sidewalk. 

The lobby is big, busy, and corporate. This is a 700-room tower, and it moves like one. Morning elevator waits during the 8:00 to 9:30 rush are real. Budget extra time if you have a train to catch.

Standard rooms are clean but compact. Scandi-minimal decor, functional furniture, not much personality. You're paying for altitude and address, not square meters. The difference between a forgettable stay and a memorable one here comes down to your room assignment. Ask for a high floor with a fjord view. The city-side rooms are fine. The fjord-side rooms, looking out toward the Opera House and the water, are a different experience entirely. Corner rooms, if available, have dual-aspect windows and feel noticeably bigger.

The gym sits on the 37th floor, with a view of the city which makes a treadmill session more interesting than it has any right to be. The pool is up high too. Fine for a dip, not for laps, and crowded on weekends. The Top Bar on the 34th floor is worth a drink at sunset even if you're not staying here.

Summer can be a problem. The air conditioning doesn't always keep up when Oslo gets warm, and rooms on the sunny side turn stuffy. Minimum check-in age is 20, which catches some younger travelers off guard.