Welcome to Trondheim this winter. Whether you are enjoying a holiday with the family, spending some quality time with a loved one, or visiting for business, there is a lot to experience in and around the city.

The local tourist agency, Visit Trondheim, has a lot of advice to offer and all guests are welcome to utilise our expert Concierge team during their stay, for recomendations, table reservations, tips and more.

Concierge & Guest Relations
Britannia Hotel Lobby
Tel: +47 73 800 800
concierge@britannia.no

Contents:

Outdoor activities
- Skiing
- Cross-country skiing
- Ice Skating
Out of Town
- Røros
Trondheim tours
- Hunting Aurora Borealis
- Explore the Waterways 
In Town
- Shopping and restaurants
- Museums and Activities
- Art and exhibitions
- Concerts and Festivals
- Theatre and Cinema
Britannia Hotel
- In-room dining
- Norway's Best Breakfast
- Britannia Restaurants
- Britannia Bars
- Britannia Spa

Skiing

Skiing is more than a pastime in these climes, it’s a way of life.

Despite being a bustling city – the third biggest in Norway ­– Trondheim is blessed by accessible nature on all sides. It is not unusual to see people queueing at bus stops with their skis, ready to take the short hop to the surrounding mountains for a quick ski afterwork (many of the slopes and trails are lit at night!). 

Britannia has teamed up with Vassfjellet, Trondheim’s premier downhill ski and snowboarding centre, just 30 minutes outside of town. Here you can enjoy a total of 12 runs, with seven lifts, including a brand new chair lift for 2023. There are also cafes and restaurants with a range of food and drinks, to keep you going for as long as required. 

Our concierge can help organise ski pass and transport to and from Vassfjellet. Equipment hire and lessons can also be organised. 

Winter Break guests will enjoy all the benefits of a mini-skiing break, combined with five-star accommodation in the centre of town. Refresh your aches and pains in the Spa afterwards.

Cross-country skiing

There are excellent cross-country skiing opportunities all around Trondheim, with hundreds of ploughed routes through the surrounding forests and hillsides, many of which are lit. Ask Concierge for advice about where to go, equipment hire and how to get there. 

Some trails lead to picturesque cabins in the woods, which feel like a world away from the city you have just left behind, serving warm drinks, hot meals and fresh baked goods. The perfect reward for your intrepid spirit. 

Skating

Meanwhile, here in town there are lots of other winter activities of varying intensity. Want to try curling? Interested in saunas and ice bathing? Or perhaps a pleasant spin on one of the many ice rinks in town or on nearby frozen lakes? Try the rink in Solsiden; the city’s former boat building district, which is now home to dozens of bars, cafes, shops and restaurants, with a new skating rink in one of the old canals. It’s walking distance from the hotel too.

Concierge & Guest Relations
Britannia Hotel Lobby
Tel: +47 73 800 800
concierge@britannia.no

Travel out of Town - Røros 

Trondheim is in the heart of Mid Norway, and as a result has a bit of everything around it. To the North is the Trondheim Fjord (the widest in Norway), with many interesting historical outings, including the Munkholmen (Monk’s Islet). To the East you have lots of good cross-country skiing territory (Selbu, Meraker etc.) with many cabins. Two hours and you are in Sweden, where you will find world class ski resort Åre, with great dining and overnight options.

But perhaps the most interesting for winter travellers is Røros to the South; a beautifully preserved old mining town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has become a haven for ecological food production and independent producers, many of whom are suppliers to Britannia. It’s well worth a day trip for excellent photo opportunities, picturesque horse and sleigh rides through the streets and lovely food and shops.

Northern Lights hunting 

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) often put on a show during the winter months in Trondheim. The best time to see the lights is from September to March when the sky is darkest, but patience, clear skies and a bit of luck are also requisite qualities! There is something magical about the pursuit of Aurora, and those lucky enough to witness this natural miracle will have memories for life. 

Visit Trondheim is a great resource for listing the city’s best viewpoints, along with apps for tracking the conditions and advice about how to maximise your chances. Concierge can also organise everything from transport to secluded spots free of light pollution, to thermoses of something warm.

Explore the Waterways 

One of the best ways of getting away from the city lights is to get out on the water. Don’t the let the cold stop you from exploring the surrounding rivers and fjord this winter. Our preferred suppliers such as Crazy Coyote Events, Trondheim by Boat and Trondheim Kajakk have all the gear to ensure an incredible experience on the water.

Try seeing Trondheim by boat in a traditional wooden fishing boat or kayaking up the river in neon-lit vessels at night time. If you really want to get your pulse racing, allow Concierge to organise a speedboat adventure on the fjord. 

Shopping in Trondheim

For those who would like to keep their feet on dry, Trondheim is also a landlubber’s paradise, with more than enough in town to keep you occupied and entertained (and full!) during your stay. We highly recommend the short hop across the river to Trondheim’s old town, Bakklandet, where you will find a cluster of cafes, delis, shops and bars, hugging the quaint cobbled streets. 

Back in the centre of town there are all manner of boutiques and restaurants, serving all tastes and budgets. Far too many to list here! This is a job for the superheroes on the Concierge test – watch them crack their knuckles and get to work finding you the perfect table or experience for your time in Trondheim. 

Museums and activities 

Most of the galleries and museums in Trondheim have special activities during the winter half term, aimed at families and young people. Packed programmes include everything from science shows to music classes. For the braver kids, why not try your wits at solving the escape room in the crypt under Trondheim’s gothic cathedral, Nidarosdommen? 

Art Tours – great works, inside and out

Book the kid’s into Trondheim Art Museum’s Kunstcamp; they will be enriched and entertained, while you get to enjoy the artistry of Britannia Hotel in peace. The hotel is in fact Trondheim’s largest art gallery; with hundreds of works on display from notable artist, plus three extensive exhibitions every year. Start your viewing in the Conference lobby where you will find printed lists of the works (many are for sale), or ask Concierge for a tour.

Britannia can organise guided tours of notable artistic highlights in the town, with experienced local art historians, or the artists themselves. How about a street art tour, taking in the city’s burgeoning mural and graffiti scene with a local mural artist? 

Concerts and Festivals

Winter in Trondheim is often a peaceful experience, with snow-covered landscapes and warm, fire-lit interiors inviting you in from the cold. But the tranquillity of the exterior belies an active underbelly, and there is a thriving cultural scene throughout the winter. Clubs, bars and concert venues have a full programme this season, and there is sure to be something for everyone during your stay (put Concierge to the test to find you the perfect barstool / front row seat / dancefloor).

And there are also several festivals which may coincide with your visit. For example; ISFiT the world’s largest international student festival 9^th-19^th February; Trondheim Calling, a celebration of local musicians with performances in in unexpected places 9^th-11^th February; and Kosmorama, the city’s international film festival 6^th-12^th March.

Theatre and Cinema

There are two incredible theatres, in Trøndelag Teater and Rosendal Teater, both with varied programmes and other activities such as dance concerts in the lobby. And, while it might not sound like the most original recommendation, Trondheim Kino (cinema) has just had a recent renovation, installing the best quality screens and sound systems in the country, with redecorated rooms which look so inviting! The weather does not always play ball in Trondheim, so having some cosy indoor activities to fall back on is always a plus.

Holiday à la Britannia Hotel

And, of course, if it’s cosy indoor activities you are looking for, there is a lot to see, do and enjoy in Britannia itself! 

Sleep in

We are firm believers that a beautiful and peaceful bedroom is essential at all times of year.

At Britannia Hotel, you have all the facilities needed for exceptional comfort including handcrafted Hästens beds in all rooms, with 100% cotton linen and down duvets, and pillows from Norvegr. All rooms and suites Carrara marble bathrooms and bathroom amenities from historic British producer D. R. Harris or Maison Francis Kurkdijan. 

Breakfast

Enjoy Norway’s Best Breakfast in the opulent setting of Palmehaven each morning. The chefs focus on quality, local ingredients, with a genuine interest in sustainability and a creative approach to preparing traditional dishes. Guests can also arrange for breakfast in bed and there is delicious room service available twenty-four hours a day.

First-class Restaurant House 

Britannia Hotel is a destination in its own right. A restaurant house in Trondheim, catering to all preferences and palettes. Whether you are in the mood for a fine dining experience, Afternoon Tea, or something delicious in one of our more informal options, Britannia has an eatery for all occasions.

The vibrant Brasserie Britannia is an elegant little piece of Paris in the middle of Trondheim, full of life, with a love of French cuisine. In the hotel's basement, you can grill steak over open flames on exotic table grills in Jonathan Grill. Choose from a wide selection of quality meat, fresh fish, vegetables, sauces and accessories, be your own grill master or ask our expert chefs to cook whilke you sit back and concentrate on the making of meories. 

Our Michelin-starred offering, Speilsalen (the 'Mirror Hall'), is where you will find the Nordic region's only Caviar bar, a great chef's table and a menu offering the finest handpicked Norwegian produce, all prepared with the utmost care and respect. Tasting menu is served Wednesday to Saturday (from 6pm) and Champagne Lunch on Fridays and Saturdays (from 12.30pm). Pre-booking essential. 

And of course, no stay would be quite complete without sampling our ever-popular Afternoon Tea. Tiered cake stands laden with finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, pastries and cakes, served alongside a wide range of signature teas, curated and delivered by our Head Pastry Chef, Cathrine Nilsen, a member of the Norwegian National Pastry and Confectioner Team, who has worked in several Leading Hotels of the World. 

A Glass Full of History

End your evening (or start it… it’s your holiday!) in the timeless, sophisticated and elegant Britannia Bar. Serving the classics to perfection, alongside an amazing array of signature cocktails, reflecting the history of the city and the hotel. Executive Head Bartender at Øyvind Lindgjerdet, has created a series of signature cocktails inspired by stories as weird and wonderful as government-approved piracy during the Napoleonic Gunboat Wars, the role of fish in bringing an end to Norwegian prohibition and the influence of a teetotal highway patrol officer named Leif Olsen.

Home is where the Wine is

Øyvind Lindgjerdet has also created a unique cocktail menu for Britannia's Vinbaren (The Wine Bar). Vinbaren is a living cellar; a bar and three wine tasting rooms lined by 10,000 of the world's best bottles, which serves as the hotel’s cellar for all its dining outlets. To step down into this sacred space is to immerse yourself in the broadest selection of wines found anywhere in Norway. 

Britannia’s Wine Director, Henrik Dahl Jahnsen, curates wine events of the highest quality throughout the year. These include Sparkling Saturdays every week, where our knowledgeable sommeliers take you on a journey through three different tipples, and regular Winemaker’s dinners, with some of the world’s leading producers who travel all the way to Trondheim to share their passion and their craft. 

Exquisite Spa and Wellness Area

As a guest of Britannia Hotel, you will, of course, have free access to our Spa and wellness departments.

Here you can take some well-deserved time off in beautiful, soothing surroundings with a broad and diverse selection of spa treatments from body massages and facials to waxing, manicures and pedicures. A large swimming pool, saunas, ice pool, relaxation area, mineral pool and a spacious fitness room provide good opportunities for both relaxation and replenishment of energy.

There are several reasons to choose Trondheim as this year's destination for your winter trip.  We are proud to be one of them.