Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen, Oslo

Across from one of the largest business schools in Europe, the Radisson Blu Hotel is an eight-story modern structure with tinted windows. Skylights brighten the lobby, which has stone floors, stylish wood designs, and three separate wooden customer service desks. Wide hallways have red, white, and blue carpeting, and elevators are modern. Note that the lobby, bar, restaurant, and ground-floor meeting rooms underwent a "soft" renovation, which was completed in August 2015. With its sophisticated conference facilities and proximity to such corporate offices as GE Healthcare, Egmont, and Novartis, the hotel draws a heavy business clientele, but gets its share of families, and offers such kid-friendly amenities as ice cream upon arrival (summer months only), coloring books, and children's menus in the restaurant. 

In the business district of Nydalen the hotel is across the street from the BI Norwegian Business School, and is within walking distance of such major companies as Novartis and SBS Discovery (two and three minutes away, respectively). The area offers nice views of the Akerselva River, with its waterfront pathways and benches, and restaurants, cafes, and the Storo Storsenter Mall are within a 10-minute walk. While the hotel is not within walking distance of Oslo's sights, the Nydalen subway station is across the street, and it's about a 15-minute ride to Central Station, from which it's easy to get to museums, and such attractions as the Royal Palace, Aker Brygge, Oslo Opera House, National Theater, and Akershus Castle Church -- all reachable in under 30 minutes. It’s an hour subway trip to the Oslo Airport Gardermorn, or about a 35-minute drive.

With their sleek Scandinavian design and heavy use of wood, the 185 rooms, some with river views, exude warmth. They have either urban designs, with skyline outlines on headboards, or tomato-red textiles. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, writing desks, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Business Class Rooms are larger, and add free laundry service, bathrobes and slippers, Nespresso coffeemakers, trouser presses, irons, and honor bar snacks. Some rooms also have minibars and tea kettles. Fifteen accessible rooms -- with roll-in showers, railings, and other special features -- are available. Bathrooms have floor-to-ceiling white tiles, black granite vanities, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos, or showers only.

With almost 9,700 square feet (900 square meters) of space, 11 meeting spaces, and five breakout rooms that come with free Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, the Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen is a popular conference venue. Meeting rooms, some of which underwent renovation in the summer of 2015, fit between 10 to 200 people, and luncheons for up to 150 people can be arranged. A business corner offers printing services and a computer for guests' use. There’s also on-site secured parking and a small fitness center. Circo Restaurant, which along with the lobby, underwent a renovation in the summer of 2015, offers Mediterranean and Norwegian cuisine with breakfast (included in room rates), lunch, and dinner service. Cocktails are available in the Circo Bar, which shows live sports games. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.