Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen)
ModerateNorthernmost medieval Gothic cathedral
Norway's national sanctuary and burial site of St. Olav, adorned with an intricate west façade of stone sculptures.
MidtbyenGothicHistory
Trondheim, Norway
Ideal: 2–3 daysBest: May–SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
Trondheim in 60 seconds
Founded as a Viking capital in 997 AD, Trondheim is anchored by Nidaros Cathedral, the northernmost medieval Gothic cathedral in the world. Red wooden footbridges span the Nidelva river into Bakklandet's cobblestone lanes, framing an acclaimed food culture rooted in the rich farms of Trøndelag.
Best for
- Culture
- History
- Food
- Architecture
Known for
- Nidaros Cathedral
- Bakklandet
- Gamle Bybro bridge
- Trøndelag food capital
Skip if
You are looking for dramatic ocean fjords directly in the city centre rather than a historic riverine capital.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Trondheim fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Bakklandet & Gamle Bybro
18th-century wooden quarter and red town bridge
A charming quarter of 18th-century timber houses and cafés reached via the ornate red-painted Old Town Bridge.
BakklandetFreeTimber
The Archbishop's Palace (Erkebispegården)
ModerateNordic region's oldest secular stone building
A 12th-century stone palace beside the cathedral holding Norway's regal Crown Regalia and excavated medieval workshops.
MidtbyenCrown jewelsHistory
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Special occasion
Worth planning the evening around.
Speilsalen at Britannia Hotel
Very expensiveMichelin-starred grand hotel dining
Fine dining beneath crystal chandeliers in the legendary 1870 mirror hall, driven by chef Christopher Davidsen's precision.
MidtbyenFine diningHistoric
Fagn
Very expensiveCreative Michelin-starred Trøndelag terroir
Chef Jonas André Nåvik's modern dining room presenting innovative tasting menus of wild game, forest herbs and ocean shellfish.
SentrumCreativeMichelin
Coffee & fika
Mornings, and the slow hour between things.
Jacobsen & Svart
InexpensiveSpeciality roastery and espresso bar
An artisan coffee roastery in Midtbyen known for delicate single-origin filter roasts and expertly extracted flat whites.
BrattørgataCoffeeEspresso
Dromedar Kaffebar Bakklandet
InexpensivePioneering coffee lounge on wooden streets
A cornerstone of Bakklandet's café life since 1997, serving specialty espresso and warm baked cinnamon twists by the river.
BakklandetBakeryCoffee
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Baklandet Skydsstation
ModerateHistoric 18th-century coaching inn
A beloved crooked timber café on Bakklandet famous for homemade creamy fish soup, reindeer meatballs and warm waffles.
BakklandetComfort foodFish soup
Troll Restaurant
ExpensiveCasual Norwegian seasonal bistro by the canal
An unpretentious harbourside restaurant serving fresh three- to five-course Norwegian menus built around daily local fish.
FosenkaiaCanalLocal
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Kristiansten Fortress
17th-century white hilltop fortress
A defensive fortress built following the great fire of 1681 that offers expansive sunset views across the fjord and cathedral.
MøllenbergFreeHistory
Rockheim
ModerateNational museum of modern pop and rock
A harbour warehouse topped with a cantilevered glass box featuring interactive exhibits on Norwegian rock and pop culture.
BrattøraArchitectureInteractive
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Britannia Bar
ExpensiveRefined craft cocktail salon
An elegant wood-panelled salon serving bespoke signature cocktails inspired by Trondheim's local folklore and regional botanicals.
MidtbyenCocktailsHistoric
Habitat
ModerateCraft beer and sourdough pizza taproom
A relaxed plant-filled taproom pouring creative house ales alongside guest craft beers and sourdough pizzas.
MidtbyenCasualCraft beer
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Midtbyen
Historic riverside centre
The walkable medieval city core encircled by the Nidelva river loop, containing Nidaros Cathedral and market squares.
Bakklandet
Wooden cottage artisan quarter
Trondheim's most romantic neighbourhood of colourful 18th-century timber houses, cobblestone lanes and riverside cafés.
Solsiden
Converted brick shipyard basins
Lively repurposed docklands filled with sunlit outdoor dining terraces, microbreweries and pedestrian bridges.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Central Midtbyen
Very expensiveGrand hotels & cathedral access
Best for walking to Britannia Hotel dining, the cathedral, museums and shopping boulevards.
CentralCulture
Bakklandet Edge
ExpensiveQuaint riverside atmosphere
Steps across the Old Town Bridge offering tranquil morning views of the timber wharves.
AtmosphericCafés
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Trondheim Airport Værnes connects directly to Trondheim Central Station via SJ regional trains every hour.
- Getting around
- AtB operates metropolitan metro-buses and electric city buses throughout the city via the AtB ticketing application.
- Cathedral visits
- Book cathedral and crown jewels exhibition tickets in advance online during summer festival weeks.
- Bicycle lift
- Try the Trampe bicycle lift at the base of Brubakken hill in Bakklandet, the world's first urban bike escalator.
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 997
Viking King Olav Tryggvason founds the trading post of Nidaros on the mouth of the Nidelva river.
- 1030
King Olav Haraldsson falls in the Battle of Stiklestad and is buried here, initiating medieval pilgrimage across Northern Europe.
- 1814
The Norwegian Constitution designates Nidaros Cathedral as the official coronation site for the monarchs of Norway.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Munkholmen Island
Historic fortress islet in Trondheimsfjord
A former Benedictine monastery and prison islet offering summer swimming lawns, history tours and open views.
10 min by passenger ferryFjordFortress
Røros UNESCO Copper Town
17th-century dark wooden mining village
Step into an intact timber town where turf roofs, mine slag heaps and copper smelting history remain preserved.
2 hours by regional trainHeritageTimber