"The Britannia Hotel is, without question, one of the finest hotels in Trondheim and arguably among the better luxury hotels in all of Norway.  On balance, the property operates somewhere between a very strong 4.5-star hotel and a true 5-star hotel. The fundamentals are excellent: elegant interiors, polished public spaces, outstanding food and beverage outlets, and generally competent, professional staff. Yet there are also noticeable corners being cut that prevent the hotel from fully delivering the sort of uncompromising luxury experience associated with the world’s best 5-star properties. The hotel underwent an extensive renovation. Overall, the restoration work is very good. But the renovation also produced some genuinely baffling design flaws that are difficult to understand given the hotel’s luxury positioning. Most notably, accessible electrical outlets in the guest rooms are almost nonexistent. There are no accessible USB outlets anywhere in the room — a surprising omission in 2026 for any upscale hotel, let alone one aspiring to five-star status. The bedside electrical setup is even stranger. Technically, an outlet is near the nightstand, but it is awkwardly located inside the headboard directly behind the pillows. As a practical matter, the pillows constantly knock out whatever charging adapter or plug has been inserted. How this passed design review during a multimillion-dollar renovation is difficult to comprehend. For a hotel that otherwise aims to compete at the highest level, something as basic as convenient bedside charging should have been obvious. The most glaring issue overall is not any single failure but rather the cumulative absence of the small touches that distinguish true luxury hospitality. There was no pre-arrival email before check-in and no welcome letter in the room outlining the hotel, amenities or services. Those may sound like minor details, but they matter because they signal attentiveness and establish expectations before a guest even arrives. The guest rooms themselves are attractive and comfortable, though somewhat under-equipped for a hotel operating at this level. Umbrellas are not provided in the rooms. Bathroom amenities are also lacking. While there is a bar of soap and wall-mounted dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand wash and lotion, there are none of the supplementary amenities expected at a luxury property: no mouthwash, no dental kit, no cotton swabs or similar essentials. Again, none of these omissions are individually catastrophic, but collectively they create the impression that cost-cutting measures are quietly shaping the guest experience. Other operational decisions are even more puzzling. No complimentary bottled water is provided in the room. There is no room service whatsoever. Even a limited breakfast menu delivered to the room would significantly elevate the experience. Likewise, there is no turndown service. Most surprisingly, daily housekeeping is NOT automatic but only available upon request during check-in. At a genuine 5-star hotel, daily housekeeping should not require negotiation or advance planning. That said, what saves the hotel. from these criticisms is that so much else about the property is genuinely excellent. The hotel itself is beautiful, blending historic grandeur with elegance. The food and beverage program is particularly strong, with multiple outlets that feel like destinations in their own right rather than obligatory hotel restaurants. The staff I encountered were generally warm, polished and capable, and the overall operating standard remains well above average. Ultimately, the Britannia Hotel in Trondheim succeeds because the bones of a truly great hotel are all there. The frustration is that management appears to be economizing in ways that undermine the 5-star luxury positioning they have otherwise worked hard to cultivate. Restoring some of the traditional 5-star touches — automatic daily housekeeping, bottled water, expanded bathroom amenities, room service, turndown service and practical in-room conveniences like accessible charging outlets — would go a long way toward making the experience feel fully complete rather than merely very good."

"Maybe the finest hotel I have been to; not just the building it self - but the service from staff was superb. Everyone was available to help, polite and making sure you have a great stay. The location is in middle of town, the spa is fantastic, and the breakfast outstanding. I would recommend the place to anyone wanting a gettaway weekend. I would also have to add that they have a great wine cellar and cocktail bar. I was here for work, and the dinner and basement bar was a great find. Will be back for sure"

"An absolutely excellently run hotel, from the hand-written welcome note from the General Manager to the excellent steak restaurant – everything was superb. Highly recommended!"

"Definitely the best hotel in Norway... hands down."