Trondheim

Trondheim is a fjord city in central Norway and the country's former medieval capital, home to Nidaros Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and Munkholmen island.

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Trondheim is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, central Norway, on the south shore of Trondheim Fjord where the Nidelva runs into the sea. It is the third largest municipality in Norway by population, with 218,460 residents on 1 January 2026. King Olav Tryggvason founded it as a trading post in 997, and it served as Norway's capital until 1217. Nidaros Cathedral, begun in 1070, is Norway's leading Gothic building and the world's northernmost medieval cathedral. Norwegian kings were crowned there, the last being Haakon VII in 1906.

The Archbishop's Palace stands beside the cathedral in the city center. Kristiansten Fortress, built from 1681 to 1684, sits on a hill east of the city. Munkholmen, a small island reached by boat, has been an execution site, monastery, fortress and prison. Clear summer nights stay light from 23 May to 19 July, so no outdoor lighting is needed. At the winter solstice the sun rises at 10:01 and sets at 14:31.

Trondheim in five

Climb the Nidaros tower in summerVisit Norway says the tower can be climbed in the summer months, 172 dark and narrow steps to a view over the center. Guided tours run June to August in four languages; check nidarosdomen.no for hours.
Follow the St. Olav Ways to the shrineThe cathedral was built from 1070 over the tomb of St. Olav and is the end point of the pilgrim routes. Walkers arriving on the St. Olav Ways make it the natural finish.
Cross the Old Town Bridge to the riversideGamle Bybro leads over the Nidelva to the wooden-house quarter of cafés. Kayaks on the river are another way to see the waterfront in summer.
Ride AtB buses, not taxisVisit Norway says AtB buses cover nearly all of the city, with frequent daytime departures and fewer in the evening. The center is compact enough to walk.
Reserve ahead for the starred restaurantsTrondheim is marketed as the Home of Nordic flavours, and Trøndelag was named European Region of Gastronomy in 2022. Book dinner tables before you fix your dates.

Things to do in Trondheim

See all attractions in Trondheim

Museum · TrondheimArchbishop's Palace | Trondheim

Bridge · TrondheimGamle bybro

Museum · TrondheimSverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to TrondheimPut the places you like in Trondheim on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Trondheim Airport Værnes (TRD), a short distance from the city
Getting there: Flights and trains from Oslo; check Entur for times and tickets
Getting around: Walk the center; AtB buses cover nearly the whole city
Best base: Near the cathedral or along the Nidelva riverside
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with Røros or the Dovrefjell musk oxen

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow18 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Dark, cold
FebruarySnow16 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh0°Low-5°Snow likely
MarchSnow16 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh3°Low-3°Light returns
AprilRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°Spring
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Long days
JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Bright nights
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warmest
AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Warm
SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Autumn color
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Short days
NovemberRain15 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh3°Low-1°Dark, damp
DecemberSnow17 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh0°Low-4°Winter lights

Average daily high and low in Trondheim, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Trondheim

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 3°
Humidity: 76%
Wind: 20 km/h
Chance of rain: 43%

Trondheim

10:56 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today7°5°43%Monday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 43%.
Tue9°7°78%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 78%.
Wed10°9°41%Wednesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 41%.
Thu9°6°53%Thursday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 53%.
Fri9°6°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sat7°2°37%Saturday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 37%.
Sun8°1°25%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 25%.

Updated 09:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.213 NOK

Amount

Converted to

NOK · Norwegian Krone

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Trondheim

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Sverresborg · concertRod Stewart The Final EncoreJun 13, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Day trips by train

Before you go to Trondheim

Hotels near the cathedralWalk to the river and the old bridgeCheck availability

River and fjord toursQuiet boat trips from the waterfrontCompare tours

eSIM for NorwayEntur and AtB apps work on arrivalRead the guide

Travel insurance for NorwayCover for winter delays on the rail lineRead the guide

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Rules for Trondheim, checked

Nidaros Cathedral: the tower can be climbed in summer (172 steps); guided tours run June to August in four languages, in Norwegian on weekends off-season.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Trondheim

Central Norway

Røros, Dovrefjell and the Trøndelag coast

Read the guide Nordland

The Arctic Circle, Saltstraumen and the coast north

Read the guide The Northern Fjords

Åndalsnes, Trollstigen and Geiranger to the south-west

Read the guide Oslo

The capital at the other end of the rail line

Read the guide Is a rail pass worth it?

Single tickets or a pass on the Dovre and Nordland lines

Read the guide All of Norway

Linking the middle of the country to Oslo and the north

Read the guide

Trondheim FAQ

How many days do you need in Trondheim?

Two days cover Nidaros Cathedral, the riverside quarter, a museum and a long dinner. Add a day for Røros or the Dovrefjell musk ox safari, both of which need a car, train or guided departure.

Is Trondheim worth visiting?

Yes for the cathedral, the compact wooden riverside and the food scene, which Visit Norway pushes hard. It is a city stop, not a fjord or Arctic destination, so pair it with Røros or the Nordland coast.

Can you climb the tower of Nidaros Cathedral?

In the summer months, yes: Visit Norway lists 172 steps up a dark, narrow stair. Check nidarosdomen.no for tower and opening hours before you plan around it, as they vary by season.

How far is Trondheim from Røros?

Around two and a half hours by car, according to Visit Norway. The Central Norway guide covers the train and whether to stay a night.

Is Trondheim worth a winter visit?

Visit Norway frames the first decision as summer or winter. Winter brings short days and snow-edged streets, so plan indoor stops, and ask your hotel about local conditions before you drive out of town.