Britannia Hotel

Is Britannia Hotel Worth Booking for a Stay in Trondheim?

Yes; if you want the most complete luxury hotel experience in Trondheim, Britannia Hotel is the clear answer. It carries membership in Leading Hotels of the World, holds a 3-Star Accreditation from the World of Fine Wine Awards, and sits among a handful of true five-star properties in the Nordic countries. For travellers who want serious food and beverage programming, spa access, grand-hotel scale under one roof, there is no comparable option in the city.

A Grand Dame That Earns Its Status

First opened in 1870, Britannia Hotel reopened in 2019 after a €100 million-plus restoration; a milestone that repositioned it not as a restored relic but as a functioning luxury property with contemporary infrastructure. That figure matters because it signals the depth of the investment: the spa and fitness facilities are state-of-the-art, the food and beverage programme runs across seven distinct concepts, the building's historic bones have been preserved without compromise to comfort or service standards.

The 3-Star Accreditation from the World of Fine Wine Awards tells you something specific about the wine programme: it has been evaluated and found to be among the more serious hotel wine offerings in the region. For food and wine enthusiasts visiting Norway, especially those who have already explored Maaemo in Oslo, RE-NAA in Stavanger, or Lysverket in Bergen, Britannia's wine credentials make it a logical base for a Trondheim visit rather than just a place to sleep.

Service at This Price Point: Does It Hold Up?

Leading Hotels of the World membership requires properties to meet ongoing service standards, not just a one-time assessment. At five-star pricing in a Norwegian market, where labour costs are high and the pool of comparable luxury operators is thin, service consistency is the real differentiator. Britannia's positioning as the northernmost Grand Dame hotel of its category means it operates without the competitive pressure that keeps flagship properties in Paris or London sharp. Whether service delivery matches the physical investment is the honest question to ask before booking, the Leading Hotels affiliation is the strongest available signal that the standard is maintained.

Seven food and beverage concepts within a single property is a meaningful number. It means you can eat and drink at a different pace each night without leaving the building, useful in Trondheim's winter months when the city centre is cold and the dining-out circuit is shorter than in larger Norwegian cities. The property's scale positions it closer to a self-contained destination than a standard city hotel. That depth is what separates it from Trondheim's independent restaurant options, which tend to specialise rather than offer range. If you are staying multiple nights and want variety without repeat bookings at separate restaurants, Britannia solves that problem directly.

Booking and Logistics

Britannia Hotel is located at Dronningens gate 5, 7011 Trondheim, central to the city and walkable from the main rail station and waterfront. Booking difficulty is rated easy: the hotel does not operate on the kind of release-day reservation model that governs Trondheim's leading fine dining rooms. You can typically book with standard lead time for most periods, though peak summer weeks and the Christmas season warrant earlier planning. For travellers combining the hotel with dinner reservations at Speilsalen, the Nordic contemporary restaurant that sits inside the hotel itself, book the restaurant separately and as early as possible, since table availability at Speilsalen does not track hotel room availability. Guests staying at FAGN or planning visits to Bula Bistro should note that these are independent venues with their own booking systems.

For wider context on what Trondheim offers beyond the hotel, see our full Trondheim restaurants guide, our full Trondheim bars guide, and our full Trondheim experiences guide. Travellers exploring Norway's broader fine dining circuit may also want to look at Under in Lindesnes, Glime Restaurant in Hardanger Fjord, and MiraBelle by Ørjan Johannessen in Bekkjarvik as part of a wider Norwegian itinerary.

The Verdict

Book Britannia Hotel if you want a five-star base in Trondheim with serious wine credentials, multiple dining options, spa facilities, you are not willing to piece together those elements from separate venues. It is the most complete luxury property in the city by a considerable margin. If your trip is purely about hitting Trondheim's independent restaurant scene and budget is a factor, a well-located mid-range hotel will serve you better. But for a special occasion stay, a multi-night wine and food itinerary, or simply the leading room in town, Britannia is the correct choice.

• See our full Trondheim hotels guide for alternatives at every price point
• Explore our full Trondheim wineries guide to pair with the hotel's wine programme
• Compare independent dining at FAGN-Bistro and Kombo for more casual options nearby