Where to Stay in Trondheim: 3 Areas

September 2, 2026

Trondheim is small enough that almost anywhere in the center puts you within walking distance of the cathedral, but the 3 main options each have a slightly different character.

Midtbyen: the classic first-timer base

Midtbyen, the historic center on its river peninsula, is where most first-time visitors end up, and for good reason. Nidaros Cathedral, the Torvet main square, museums, and shops are all within a short walk, and the colorful old wooden warehouses along the riverbank make even the walk back to your hotel a decent photo opportunity. The Britannia Hotel, a historic 5-star property founded in 1870 for British sport-fishing aristocrats and reopened in 2019 after a 3-year restoration, is the standout heritage stay here and now belongs to The Leading Hotels of the World.

Bakklandet and Solsiden: character over convenience

Cross the Gamle Bybro from Midtbyen and you’re in Bakklandet, a former working-class quarter of brightly painted wooden houses that’s now Trondheim’s most charming neighborhood, cafés, boutiques, and the start of the Trampe bicycle lift included. A short walk further sits Solsiden, a redeveloped shipyard quay with shopping, restaurants, and waterside dining that’s good for an evening out. Scandic Solsiden, a mid-range property with 155 rooms, sits right in this quarter, near the Solsiden dining strip and the maritime museum.

Near the station and Brattøra

The harborfront district around Trondheim Central Station (Hovedstasjonen) and Brattøra has a more modern, business-district feel than Midtbyen or Bakklandet, but it’s genuinely convenient for early trains, airport transfers, or a Hurtigruten or Havila coastal ferry call. Clarion Hotel Trondheim, a large convention hotel with around 400 rooms at Brattørkaia, sits right next to Pirbadet water park and is a solid modern pick near the station.

Budget options

Beyond the named properties above, Scandic and Clarion both run multiple hotels across Trondheim at a range of price points, so it’s worth comparing properties by area and chain rather than chasing a single named budget option. Whatever you book, remember that Norway is genuinely expensive: rooms, meals, and drinks all run higher here than in most of Europe, so factor that into your daily budget rather than being surprised by it on arrival.

Book ahead for a July or August stay, especially during Olavsfestdagene (28 July to 3 August 2026), when the city’s best rooms sell out first. For what to do once you’ve checked in, see our things to do guide , and for a full day-by-day plan built around one of these neighborhoods, see our 3-day itinerary .