7 Best Things to Do in Trondheim

September 2, 2026

Trondheim’s sights cluster tightly around Midtbyen and the Nidelva river, so a first-timer can cover the essentials on foot in 2 to 3 days. Here are the 7 things worth building a visit around.

1. Climb into Nidaros Cathedral

Nidaros Cathedral is the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral and Norway’s national sanctuary, built over the burial site of St. Olav. High-season entry runs roughly NOK 120-150, and a separate tower ticket, around NOK 70, gets you up 172 steps of narrow medieval stairs to a 360-degree view. It’s still a working cathedral, so check the schedule for services before you plan around it.

2. See the crown regalia at the Archbishop’s Palace

Right next to the cathedral, the 12th-century Archbishop’s Palace (Erkebispegården) holds Norway’s crown regalia along with a museum of the cathedral’s surviving medieval sculptures. It’s an easy add-on to a cathedral visit and rarely as crowded.

3. Walk Gamle Bybro into Bakklandet

The 1681 Old Town Bridge, nicknamed Lykkens Portal after a local waltz, crosses the Nidelva into Bakklandet, a former working-class district of brightly painted wooden houses turned into Trondheim’s most photogenic neighborhood. Budget an hour or two for the cafés, boutiques, and the wharves along the riverbank.

4. Take in the view from Kristiansten Fortress

Built starting in 1681 after a fire leveled much of the city, this hilltop star fortress offers free grounds and wide views over Midtbyen and the fjord. The central Donjonen tower has operated as a small museum since 1997.

5. Ferry out to Munkholmen

From the Ravnkloa fish market, a summer passenger ferry (roughly NOK 95, verify) runs out to Munkholmen, a small island that’s been a Viking-age execution site, Norway’s oldest known monastery, a state prison, and a WWII gun emplacement, in that order. The ferry season runs roughly May or June through August or September, weather dependent.

6. Tour the Stiftsgården

One of the largest wooden palaces in Northern Europe, with more than 100 rooms, the Stiftsgården is the royal family’s official residence when they visit Trondheim. Guided tours run roughly hourly, 10am to 3pm (from noon on Sundays), for about 45 minutes.

7. Pick a museum: Rockheim, Ringve, or Sverresborg

Rockheim covers Norwegian pop and rock history in a converted grain warehouse. Ringve, set on a country estate with its own botanical garden, holds Norway’s national instrument collection. Sverresborg, an open-air folk museum built around the ruins of Norway’s oldest medieval castle, is the pick for a family day out. All three sit a short bus ride from the center.

For a full day-by-day plan that fits these in around meals and travel time, see our 2-day itinerary . If you’re staying longer, the hiking areas guide covers Bymarka and the Ladestien coastal path.