Radisson Blu Hotel, Tromsø

Radisson Blu Hotel, Tromsø stands at Sjøgata 7 in the city centre and describes itself as a Verified Net Zero hotel, certified Green Key and run on renewable energy. It has 269 rooms, from compact twelve square metre rooms to a presidential suite with a sea view, and room types include superior, premium rooms with sea and mountain views and family rooms. The tenth-floor fitness centre has a sauna and views over the fjords, and the hotel has Yonas Pizzeria, an on-site restaurant using seasonal produce and the Rorbua Pub, which has live music. It is a few steps from Tromsø Cathedral and the Art Museum of Northern Norway.

Location and getting around: the hotel is about a minute on foot from the cathedral and the Art Museum, five minutes from the Polar Museum and around nine from Polaria. The airport is roughly fifteen minutes by car, and airport buses take 15 to 20 minutes. Tours with pickup collect from the area, and the waterfront restaurants and shops are within a few streets.

Rooms and facilities: rooms are modern and many have sea or mountain views, so ask for one when you book. The sauna on the tenth floor is the standout, a good way to warm up after an aurora chase or a day outdoors. Wi-Fi is free, and the breakfast buffet is available for a fee at roughly 239 kroner a person, served from 6:30 am on weekdays and 7:00 am at weekends. Off-site parking nearby is possible for a daily charge, so check before bringing a car.

Who it suits: couples, families and business travellers who want a dependable four-star base with environmental credentials. Family rooms are available, and the pub and pizzeria are practical on a cold night. If you want something quiet and intimate, a smaller place may suit better, because this is a large hotel with meeting rooms and a hall for hundreds.