10 Best Things to Do in Trondheim

Ever since Norway was Christianised toward the end of the Viking Age, there has been an urgent need for magnificent and devoted church buildings - and Nidaros Cathedral is a good example. People needed to know who the supreme power was, both in life and in death.

Nidaros Cathedral was a center not only for the local clergy, but for clergy from all over Norway. Although services and important ceremonies are still held here, Nidaros Cathedral is now primarily a museum and an important historical landmark in Trondheim. This means that it's easy to get into, take pictures and be impressed by all the detail.

Rockheim is proof that even though Norway’s strongest export industries are fishing and oil, art is far from underrepresented. And Trøndelag is the most musically active region in Norway. Stars have been coming from this area since the start of pop music and before the Second World War.

Rockheim is the museum that pays tribute to all these stars, and to those who come from other musical neighborhoods in Norway. This is your chance to get to know our biggest export successes in a fun and interactive way.

St Olav's Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Trondheim. It was consecrated in 1973 to serve as the new church of the Vicariate of Trondheim. It was later elevated to the status of cathedral in 1979. However, the church you see today was built on this original site and completed in November 2016.

St. Olav Ways has been a pilgrimage route in Norway for centuries. It leads to the Nidaros Cathedral, which houses Saint Olav's shrine. This smaller, modest cathedral could be of interest to those on this route.

Tyholt Tower belongs to the NRK building at Tyholt and is one of Trondheim's most well-known sights. It's no wonder that one of the country's most popular restaurant chains wanted to offer their fare in a unique rotating restaurant 75 meters above the ground.

And if you're not hungry, you can just take the trip up to the Tyholt Tower viewing platform, which is open to the public. The view from here is impressive, and on clear days you can see large parts of Trondheim, Trondheim fjord and Trøndelag.

The white-painted main building on Kristiansten has played an important role in the defense of one of Norway's most important cities since it was built in the late 17th century and until it was decommissioned in 1816.

But there are far more exciting things to see at Kristiansten than just the iconic, whitewashed house that many associate with it. In addition to the fortress' dungeons and museum, celebrations of anniversaries and public vacations are held here, with the firing of cannons, especially on military and royal occasions. It's easy to join in these events, but if you want to do as the locals do, the fortress also makes a great place for a leisurely picnic.

Ilaparken has been named one of the country's best on several occasions, and this is not particularly surprising. Ila is a pleasant district in central Trondheim, and although it's easy to get out of the city, it's equally important to have somewhere green to go in the heart of the city.

The park serves exactly this need, and is appealing with its beautiful trees and lawns, a playground for the little ones and many cozy places to sit. Whether you’re walking your dog, strolling arm in arm with someone you love or just want a place to play with the kids, Ilaparken is your perfect outdoor spot.

Lerkendal is Rosenborg's home turf. Few other team sports attract as much attention in Norway and abroad as soccer, and most countries probably have a team or two that rises above the rest.

In Norway, it's Rosenborg who has topped the league for many years, and this has not only given Lerkendal Stadium status as one of the most important in the country, but also put the spotlight on talent development in the city's grassroots sports. If you visit Lerkendal on a match day, you can look forward to a great atmosphere, a high level of sport and enthusiastic spectators.

Norwegian cities tend to be proud of their waterways, and Trondheim is no exception, so the Nidelva has of course gotten its own song. Because it meanders through the city, most residents of Trondheim have a clear view of the river. Even though this is a wide and slow-flowing river, there are still plenty of activities you can do on or by it.

Take a kayak and see the city from a different perspective, or if you prefer to relax by the river and enjoy a quiet summer's day, just take the trip to Marinen and find a spot in the grass.

Bakklandet has everything you could want from city life along the banks of the Nidelva: cozy streets, idyllic urban spaces and cafés serving tasty cakes and steaming hot coffee, along with some great but unpretentious, restaurants, concert venues and exciting design shops.

If you decide to take to the slopes, from which the district gets its name, you will quickly enter pretty cobbled streets with colorful wooden houses, where the locals greet you like you’re their neighbor. There are plenty of photo opportunities here, with the ultimate reward at the top: Kristiansten fortress.

Solsiden is located in an area that was once mainly industrial, and which has since become one of Trondheim's most beautiful urban spaces offering unrivaled shopping. If you can't find what you're looking for in this amazing place, you might as well stop looking.

Solsiden is the only shopping mall in the city with its own spa, as well as a wine monopoly, a wealth of restaurants and of course all the shops you need to indulge in the pleasures and temptations of shopping. The mall's central location and short distance to everything in the city makes it a particularly popular meeting place.