Hotels in Trondheim: where to sleep between the cathedral and the fjord

The city's grand drawing room

Many locals have a relationship with Britannia long before they sleep there, and the reason is the palm court. This tall, light room with columns and palms sits at the heart of the hotel on Dronningens gate, a couple of blocks from the main square, and it is where the city goes to celebrate. The rooms above are dressed in heavy fabrics and dark wood, with bathrooms that stand comparison with the grand hotels of continental Europe.

Staying here feels like being received by a hotel that knows exactly what it is. The staff are courteous without stiffness, and you can spend a whole evening inside between bar, restaurant and spa without missing anything. It is the pick for a honeymoon, a big birthday or the weekend when only the best will do. If you are in town to see as much as possible in a short time, you will pay for more than you have hours to use.

Small hotel, big streets

Thon Hotel Nidaros sits on Søndre gate, the shopping street that runs straight through the centre with the main square at one end and the quay at the other. It is smaller than the chain name suggests, with warm-toned rooms and a breakfast room you tend to linger in.

You live inside the city's working day here. You hear the tram, you watch people heading to the office, and there are cafés and shops on both sides as you step out. It is a good fit for anyone who wants a safe, central hotel without fuss, and a weekend built around shopping and restaurants. If you want a view, quiet, or room to spread out, better options follow further down this list.

The centre without detours

Quality Hotel Prinsen stands on Kongens gate in the heart of Midtbyen, with the Olavshallen concert hall and the Old Town Bridge a few minutes away and the cathedral a short walk south. The hotel has two restaurants, a bar, a gym and its own conference centre, and the rooms are modern and practical.

It is our value pick, because you get a central address and strong reviews without paying for luxury you do not need. It suits anyone who wants to walk everywhere, whether in town for work, a concert at Olavshallen or a weekend away. It is a busy hotel with plenty of conference guests on weekdays, so the lobby is rarely quiet, but the square, Bakklandet and Solsiden are all within walking distance.

The breakfast people travel for

Scandic Nidelven stands where the river meets the harbour, a couple of minutes from the railway station, and has made breakfast its entire identity. The breakfast room is large, bright and turned towards the water, and the tables fill with local produce, fresh pastries and hot dishes that persuade many guests to skip lunch.

The rooms are tidy and modern, many with windows onto the river, and the hotel has the calm pace a big conference hotel settles into once the meetings end. It works best for business travellers who want to be near the train, couples after a view without a luxury price tag, and anyone who likes to start the day slowly. If you want a small hotel with personality, you will find more of that across the river in Bakklandet.

Glass above the river

Royal Garden sits on Kjøpmannsgata with its face to the Nidelva, and the first thing you notice is the atrium: a tall glass hall where lobby, bar and restaurant gather under one roof. It is one of the city's largest hotels, and that shows in a service that is efficient and used to guests from everywhere.

You stay here if you want everything in one place. River-facing rooms look across to the wharves of Bakklandet, there is a pool and a gym in the building, and the Old Town Bridge is a short stroll away. It is a safe first-time choice for anyone who does not know the city and wants a hotel that works from the first minute. If you are after local character and small, personal touches, it can feel a little anonymous.

Wake up among the wooden houses

Scandic Bakklandet is on the east bank of the Nidelva, in Nedre Bakklandet, where the timber houses stand shoulder to shoulder and the cafés put chairs outside the moment the sun shows. The hotel is built into the streetscape, with rooms that are more pared-back and Nordic than the chain's usual look, several of them facing the river or the back gardens.

It feels like living in a neighbourhood rather than staying in a hotel. You step out onto cobbles, take your coffee on the corner and cross the Old Town Bridge into the centre in five minutes. It is made for couples and design-minded travellers who want Trondheim at its prettiest outside the door, and anyone planning to cycle. If you are arriving with heavy luggage or a car, the slopes and narrow lanes are a small drawback.

Fjord, pool and the rock museum

Clarion Hotel Trondheim stands at the tip of Brattøra, the quayside north of the railway station, with the Trondheimsfjord on one side and the Pirbadet swimming complex and the Rockheim music museum as its nearest neighbours. The building is large and modern, with a lobby and bar spread over several levels and rooms where the light off the fjord fills the whole window.

There is a touch of big-city hotel about it: high ceilings, a lot of glass and a bar that pulls in locals on Friday nights. It is clearly the best choice for families, who get a pool and a museum without crossing a road, and for conference guests. The drawback is the distance to the centre, which means walking over the railway tracks or a short bus ride, so if you want restaurants within a few minutes on foot, you are better off by the river.

The quay, the old shipyards and a roof terrace

Scandic Solsiden stands in Nedre Elvehavn, where the old shipyards at the mouth of the Nidelva have become restaurants, bars and flats. The hotel has a roof terrace, a bar and a gym, and the rooms are bright and modern in Scandic's familiar style.

It suits travellers who want the restaurants and nightlife of Solsiden on the doorstep and do not mind a fifteen-minute walk to the cathedral. It works well for couples and friends on a weekend, and for families who want to eat out without a taxi. The quay is lively on summer evenings, so ask for a courtyard room if you plan an early night. In the morning, cross the bridge to Bakklandet for coffee.