Pros

  • Convenient location next to Oslo Central Station
  • Contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs
  • Business Class Rooms have free movies and Nespresso machines
  • 37-story tower; some rooms have excellent views of city and fjords
  • Fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city
  • Restaurant and bar with jaw-dropping views
  • Sprawling lobby with bar, piano, and gas fireplace
  • Sauna and small lap pool
  • Free Wi-Fi and breakfast
  • Numerous past celebrity guests
See More Pros

Cons

  • Some may find the huge size impersonal
  • Lobby and breakfast room get crowded and busy
  • No spa
  • Elevator stops at the 33rd floor
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is Oslo's most prominent hotel in the most literal sense: The 37-story skyscraper is the tallest building in Norway, and towers above the other buildings in the city skyline. With 676 rooms, it's also Norway's largest hotel -- and as part of the luxurious Radisson Blu chain, it's definitely one of the highest profile picks in Oslo. Rooms are contemporary, if chain-like, and Business Class Rooms come with added extras such as free movie channels and Nespresso machines. The ultra-decadent specialty suites have hosted numerous celebrities. The hotel's features, as one might expect for a property of this size, are many -- a restaurant with jaw-dropping views, an airy fitness center, and even a lap pool -- but there is no spa. Some may find the size impersonal, and visitors should expect some serious crowds in the sprawling lobby.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo

Scene

A huge 37-story business hotel with impressive views and convenient features

The Radisson Blu is a massive, business-oriented hotel and feels like one, from the sprawling lobby (often swarming with people) to the chain-like rooms. But it's certainly convenient, with a location right next to Oslo Central Station and numerous features -- a restaurant and bar on the 34th floor with gorgeous city views, an airy fitness center (also with great views), and a lap pool. The only feature it's missing is a spa, a rare amenity in Norway that only a handful of hotels in the country offer.

The views from the highest floors of this hotel are unbeatable; the 37-story skyscraper is Norway's tallest building, so there really are no other hotels that can match its lofty outlook. Guests who want a guaranteed view should book one of the Business Class Rooms, which are located on the hotel's top nine floors. Guests can also enjoy the view from the trendy restaurant and bar on the 34th floor, or the airy fitness center on the 37th floor -- though it should be noted that the elevator stops at the 33rd floor, so guests heading to the gym will get their workout warm-up by taking a few flights of stairs.

The hotel is one of the city's best-known luxury options, and has a prestigious reputation. Numerous celebrities have stayed here, including Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Catherine Zeta Jones. Bill Clinton's stay here was of historic significance; he was present when Israeli and Palestinian leaders signed the Oslo Accords in the hotel's Royal Suite in 1993.

See More Scene

Location

Across the street from Central Station

The Radisson Blu Plaza is across the street from Central Station, Olso's transportation hub for both inter- and intra-city travel. It's not the most picturesque part of town, but it's convenient for business travelers, and popular attractions are still within walking distance.

Oslo is Norway's largest city, and is centered around the thoroughfare of Karl Johans Gate, which leads from the Royal Palace to Oslo Central Station. Visitors can expect to find shops, cafes, and bakeries along this route, and in the summer can watch mounted police officers and a military marching band lead the royal guards to the palace for the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 1:30 p.m.

The waterfront Aker Byrgge area is also a popular area. In nice weather locals and tourists alike can be found strolling up and down the Stranden, lining up at the ice cream and hot dog stands, sitting on the benches to watch the boats, and dining at the outdoor restaurant tables along the street. The restaurants here, as in all of Norway, are astonishingly expensive -- though visitors trying to keep costs low will be able to find more affordable ethnic eateries (Indian, Thai, and Chinese) elsewhere in the city.

Most visitors should expect to walk quite a bit to get around, and to rely on the tram and bus system. Taxis, like everything else, are very expensive, and most tourists use them sparingly.

  • 1-minute walk to Oslo Central Station (4-minute walk to the main entrance beyond the plaza)
  • 15-minute walk to Karl Johans Gate, the city's main thoroughfare, with restaurants and cafes
  • 18-minute walk or 13 minutes by subway to Oslo City Hall
  • 19-minute walk or seven minutes by subway to The National Theater
  • 20-minute walk or eight minutes by subway to the Royal Palace and Gardens
  • 21-minute walk or 12 minutes by subway to the Nobel Peace Center
  • 21-minute walk or 12 minutes by subway to Aker Brygge
  • 26 minutes by subway and foot to Frogner Park and the Vigeland Sculpture Park
  • 27 minutes by subway, foot, and ferry to Bygdoy, the peninsula that's home to the Viking Ship Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Museum, and Norwegian Maritime Museum
  • 30-minute metro ride from Oslo Central Station to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump
See More Location

Rooms

Contemporary chain-like rooms; Business Class Rooms have extra amenities and great views

Rooms at the Radisson Blu are about what you'd expect from an upscale business-oriented chain. Standard Rooms and Business Class Rooms are both 280 square feet, but Business Class Rooms have different decor and added amenities: bathrobes, slippers, Nespresso machines, daily newspaper delivery, and most notably, free movie channels. Standard Rooms typically have striped bed runners and red chairs, while Business Class Rooms feel a touch more sophisticated, with rich red bed runners and accent pillows. They're also located on the top nine floors of the hotel, and have impressive city views.

The hotel has several specialty suites that have hosted celebrity guests. Annie Lennox has stayed in the Polar Suite, Alicia Keys has stayed in the Shipbroker's Suite, and in impressive number of celebrities -- from Bill Clinton to Elton John -- have stayed in the Royal Suite. The suite even has a wall of fame to document past guests. (The retail price for a night in this suite is $48,000, but it's only available to select guests upon hotel approval.)

Handicap-accessible rooms and suites are also available.

  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels (Business Class Rooms have free movie channels)
  • Coffee/tea maker (Business Class Rooms have Nespresso machines)
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Minibars
  • Anne Semonin toiletries
See More Rooms

Fitness Center

Airy fitness center with city views

The fitness center on the 37th floor has spectacular city views, and the floor-to-ceiling windows and light wood flooring make for a bright, airy space. Some may find the slanted glass roof inconvenient, however. The hotel also offers a lap pool and sauna on the 35th floor.

  • Cardio machines (though they lack individual TVs)
  • Weight training machine
  • Towels and water
  • Small lap pool
  • Sauna
See More Fitness Center

All-Inclusive / Food

A restaurant and bar on the 34th floor, plus a lobby bar and Irish pub

  • 34 Restaurant and Skybar serves Norwegian cuisine alongside excellent city views in a trendy space.
  • Restaurant Gaio serves the morning breakfast buffet, which can get very busy.
  • The Lobby Bar serves coffee, alcohol, and light meals
  • Galway Bay is a casual Irish pub-style sports bar.
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Services

Concierge service, parking, and even car maintenance

  • Concierge service
  • Valet parking and overnight parking (fees apply)
  • Car maintenance services such as cleaning and tire changes
See More Services

Business and Conventions

A business-oriented hotel with extensive meeting space

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is geared toward business travelers, and frequently hosts meetings and events.

  • 30 meeting rooms totaling 20,000 square feet
  • Can accommodate events of up to 1,000 guests
  • Audio-visual equipment
  • Many rooms have impressive city views
  • Business center with copy and fax services
See More Business and Conventions

Oyster Hotel Review

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo

Scene

A huge 37-story business hotel with impressive views and convenient features

The Radisson Blu is a massive, business-oriented hotel and feels like one, from the sprawling lobby (often swarming with people) to the chain-like rooms. But it's certainly convenient, with a location right next to Oslo Central Station and numerous features -- a restaurant and bar on the 34th floor with gorgeous city views, an airy fitness center (also with great views), and a lap pool. The only feature it's missing is a spa, a rare amenity in Norway that only a handful of hotels in the country offer.

The views from the highest floors of this hotel are unbeatable; the 37-story skyscraper is Norway's tallest building, so there really are no other hotels that can match its lofty outlook. Guests who want a guaranteed view should book one of the Business Class Rooms, which are located on the hotel's top nine floors. Guests can also enjoy the view from the trendy restaurant and bar on the 34th floor, or the airy fitness center on the 37th floor -- though it should be noted that the elevator stops at the 33rd floor, so guests heading to the gym will get their workout warm-up by taking a few flights of stairs.

The hotel is one of the city's best-known luxury options, and has a prestigious reputation. Numerous celebrities have stayed here, including Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Catherine Zeta Jones. Bill Clinton's stay here was of historic significance; he was present when Israeli and Palestinian leaders signed the Oslo Accords in the hotel's Royal Suite in 1993.

See More Scene

Location

Across the street from Central Station

The Radisson Blu Plaza is across the street from Central Station, Olso's transportation hub for both inter- and intra-city travel. It's not the most picturesque part of town, but it's convenient for business travelers, and popular attractions are still within walking distance.

Oslo is Norway's largest city, and is centered around the thoroughfare of Karl Johans Gate, which leads from the Royal Palace to Oslo Central Station. Visitors can expect to find shops, cafes, and bakeries along this route, and in the summer can watch mounted police officers and a military marching band lead the royal guards to the palace for the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 1:30 p.m.

The waterfront Aker Byrgge area is also a popular area. In nice weather locals and tourists alike can be found strolling up and down the Stranden, lining up at the ice cream and hot dog stands, sitting on the benches to watch the boats, and dining at the outdoor restaurant tables along the street. The restaurants here, as in all of Norway, are astonishingly expensive -- though visitors trying to keep costs low will be able to find more affordable ethnic eateries (Indian, Thai, and Chinese) elsewhere in the city.

Most visitors should expect to walk quite a bit to get around, and to rely on the tram and bus system. Taxis, like everything else, are very expensive, and most tourists use them sparingly.

  • 1-minute walk to Oslo Central Station (4-minute walk to the main entrance beyond the plaza)
  • 15-minute walk to Karl Johans Gate, the city's main thoroughfare, with restaurants and cafes
  • 18-minute walk or 13 minutes by subway to Oslo City Hall
  • 19-minute walk or seven minutes by subway to The National Theater
  • 20-minute walk or eight minutes by subway to the Royal Palace and Gardens
  • 21-minute walk or 12 minutes by subway to the Nobel Peace Center
  • 21-minute walk or 12 minutes by subway to Aker Brygge
  • 26 minutes by subway and foot to Frogner Park and the Vigeland Sculpture Park
  • 27 minutes by subway, foot, and ferry to Bygdoy, the peninsula that's home to the Viking Ship Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Museum, and Norwegian Maritime Museum
  • 30-minute metro ride from Oslo Central Station to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump
See More Location

Rooms

Contemporary chain-like rooms; Business Class Rooms have extra amenities and great views

Rooms at the Radisson Blu are about what you'd expect from an upscale business-oriented chain. Standard Rooms and Business Class Rooms are both 280 square feet, but Business Class Rooms have different decor and added amenities: bathrobes, slippers, Nespresso machines, daily newspaper delivery, and most notably, free movie channels. Standard Rooms typically have striped bed runners and red chairs, while Business Class Rooms feel a touch more sophisticated, with rich red bed runners and accent pillows. They're also located on the top nine floors of the hotel, and have impressive city views.

The hotel has several specialty suites that have hosted celebrity guests. Annie Lennox has stayed in the Polar Suite, Alicia Keys has stayed in the Shipbroker's Suite, and in impressive number of celebrities -- from Bill Clinton to Elton John -- have stayed in the Royal Suite. The suite even has a wall of fame to document past guests. (The retail price for a night in this suite is $48,000, but it's only available to select guests upon hotel approval.)

Handicap-accessible rooms and suites are also available.

  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels (Business Class Rooms have free movie channels)
  • Coffee/tea maker (Business Class Rooms have Nespresso machines)
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Minibars
  • Anne Semonin toiletries
See More Rooms

Fitness Center

Airy fitness center with city views

The fitness center on the 37th floor has spectacular city views, and the floor-to-ceiling windows and light wood flooring make for a bright, airy space. Some may find the slanted glass roof inconvenient, however. The hotel also offers a lap pool and sauna on the 35th floor.

  • Cardio machines (though they lack individual TVs)
  • Weight training machine
  • Towels and water
  • Small lap pool
  • Sauna
See More Fitness Center

All-Inclusive / Food

A restaurant and bar on the 34th floor, plus a lobby bar and Irish pub

  • 34 Restaurant and Skybar serves Norwegian cuisine alongside excellent city views in a trendy space.
  • Restaurant Gaio serves the morning breakfast buffet, which can get very busy.
  • The Lobby Bar serves coffee, alcohol, and light meals
  • Galway Bay is a casual Irish pub-style sports bar.
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Services

Concierge service, parking, and even car maintenance

  • Concierge service
  • Valet parking and overnight parking (fees apply)
  • Car maintenance services such as cleaning and tire changes
See More Services

Business and Conventions

A business-oriented hotel with extensive meeting space

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is geared toward business travelers, and frequently hosts meetings and events.

  • 30 meeting rooms totaling 20,000 square feet
  • Can accommodate events of up to 1,000 guests
  • Audio-visual equipment
  • Many rooms have impressive city views
  • Business center with copy and fax services
See More Business and Conventions

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.