From Wikitravel

Trondheim [1], or Nidaros, is an old city in the center of Norway. A university dominates the town; its more than 20.000 students add to Trondheims 150.000 inhabitants and the resulting economy fuels many local businesses.

Trondheim is the oldest of Norway's major cities, and its old heritage can still be traced in and around the city centre. The marvellous Nidaros Cathedral, the largest church of Northern Europe, towers over the city centre, which is roughly the area inside the serpentining Nidelva river.

The city boasts a rich, cultural heritage, but is still a major centre. Even if the size is modest, there's a lot going on in Trondheim. Music, arts, culture, alternative politics, nightlife, student life... all combines into making Trondheim one of the most exciting city centres of Northern Europe.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in and away 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 2.5 By boat 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 8.1 "Shopping" Streets 8.2 Malls 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 13 Stay safe 14 Get out

Understand

Trondheim was - contrary to common belief - not so much a center for vikings but the religious center of northern Europe in the Middle Ages and a vital hub for North-Atlantic trade, thus giving the town plentiful of characteristic mansions and harbour houses. The inhabitants like to call their town the historical, the religious and the technology capital of Norway.

The city celebrated its 1000-years anniversary as an official city in 1997. For centuries Trondheim was the northernmost trading city in European civilisation, giving it a special "edge-of-the-world" feeling.

Its status as a mercantile town also resulted in a more open-hearted, international culture than many other Scandinavian cities at the time, which indeed it has protected.

Get in and away

By plane

Trondheim Airport Værnes serves international and national flights. There are plenty of flights every day to Oslo, and several to places including Bergen, Stavanger, Bodø and Tromsø, as well as the short-field airports of Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, Brønnøysund, Namsos and Rørvik.International destinations include Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam and Prague.

To get to the city from the airport, grab the Flybussen service, departing every 15 minutes on weekdays (NOK 70, student NOK 64, children NOK 35). You can also take the train to the centre, as well as to the north. Local trains depart every hour for the centre, every hour for the neighbouring cities of Stjørdal, Levanger, Verdal and Steinkjer, and three times a day for Norway's northern train line towards Fauske and Bodø. Both the Flybussen and the train pass the centre, and end up close to the football stadium at Lerkendal. There are also local buses to Stjørdal and the areas between the airport and Trondheim. The travel time to the centre is approx. 40 mins.

By train

There are four daily trains between Oslo and Trondheim on the Dovre line. These are the quickest ground transport between the cities, and you may find cheap discount tickets on the NSB website.

There are no longer direct trains on the Røros line, but there are two daily connections with Oslo, with changes in Røros and Hamar.

Three daily trains make their way northwards on the Nordlandsbanen towards Mosjøen and Mo i Rana, with two of them continuing to Fauske and Bodø. Fauske is the main hub for buses northwards, for instance to Lofoten. Incidentally, the night service passes Hell station just before midnight...

Local trains between Trondheim and the airport, continuing to Steinkjer, depart every hour. Trains for Oppdal and Røros depart a few times per day.

The Nabotåget service runs twice daily to the Swedish border at Storlien, continuing to the ski resort Åre and the city of Östersund. There are connections to Stockholm and Gothenburg.

By car

The Norwegian north-south highway E6 passes Trondheim. The coastal highway E39 has its terminus at Klett, 10 kms south of Trondheim. The eastbound E14 enters the E6 just close to the Trondheim airport.

Parking in the city centre is easy, but expensive. Useful parking spots include the central station, the garage under the main square, the garage in Fjordgata, the Central Park garage, the garage in Sandgata (ALWAYS empty spots here) and the garage just across Bakke bro.

By bus

From Oslo, Nor-way Bussekspress run the Østerdalsekspressen via Elverum and Tynset. No prebooking needed. This bus is painfully much more slow than the train.

Also from Oslo, the Lavprisekspressen budget bus line runs along the E6 all the way. Tickets must be booked and prepaid on the internet site. They are infinitely cheaper than Nor-Way, and are the cheapest alternative if you get cheap tickets. However, the train is more comfy and quicker, even if the buses are okay.

The Mørelinjen express, operated by Nor-Way, runs down the coast towards Kristiansund, Molde and Ålesund.

Other Nor-Way lines from Trondheim include the Namsos line, the Røros line and the useful Bergen line, passing the fjord areas of western Norway on the way and connecting these with Trondheim. All the way to Bergen, it takes a whopping 14 hrs.

By boat

If you have the time and money, you should definitely take the Coastal Steamer Hurtigruten. It runs from Bergen to Trondheim, and on to Bodø, Tromsø, Hammerfest and finally Kirkenes, just on the Russian border. The trip from Bergen takes 36 hours and costs about 750 NOK if you are a student (be sure to check for updated prices on their home page). This trip takes you through one of the most magnificent parts of coastal Norway, even popping by the famous Geiranger fjord during summer. Travelling north, Bodø is reached in 24 hrs, while Tromsø takes 50 hrs. All the way to Kirkenes takes another two days from Tromsø...

Get around

Trondheim has a well developed bus network, covering nearly all of the city. There are frequent departures during the day, less frequent during evenings. On weekend nights, a comprehensive night bus system runs from the terminus in Olav Tryggvasons gate, close to the action.

Tickets are bought from the driver, and are NOK 22 for single tickets (NOK 11 for under 16's). A day pass is NOK 55, while the night bus costs NOK 45 (day pass not valid).

One tram line operates from St. Olavs gate near the centre to Lian, up in the Bymarka forests. It operates on the same fare schedule, so day passes are valid.

The resort island of Munkholmen, ideal for swimming, sunbathing or a peek at the old monastery, can be reached by boat from Ravnkloa every hour in summer. Make sure you don't miss the last boat home in the evening!

Local trains can also be used within the city boundaries (between stations Rotvoll and Lerkendal/Heimdal), and the day pass is valid on them. However, you can not buy the day pass on the train.

See

• Stay close to the river Nidelva if you want to see the real pearl of the city. The sunsets can be magnificent, especially in summer, and the city is so far north that the first hints of arctic blue sky is seen. Summer days seem to last forever, although for a real midnight sun, you have to travel further north. The river is nicely experienced in the park Marinen just behind the Cathedral.
• Nidarosdomen[2] is the biggest church of Northern Europe, and the pride of the city. Towering over the city centre at its southern peak, the majestic cathedral is the defining feature of Trondheim. Just close is the Archbishop's Palace, which was partly burnt down in the 80's, and has been heavily restored.
• Wooden mansions in and around the city centre. Stiftsgaarden, the King's local residence, is the biggest together with the Singsaker summer hotel, but the small, wooden houses in parts of the city like Bakklandet and Hospitalsløkkan are even more picturesque.
• The ancient fortress island Munkholmen, accessible by boat.
• Wooden harbour buildings along Kjøpmannsgata, Fjordgata and Sandgata. The best view is from the Old Town Bridge across Nidelva river, leading from close to the Cathedral to Bakklandet.
• The world's first bike lift Trampe at Bakklandet, just across the bridge
• TV-tower with a rotating top restaurant (bus 20,60 to Tyholttårnet/Otto Nielsens veg)
• Museum of Musical instruments[3] at Ringve (bus 3,4 to Ringve museum). Also has the bothanical gardens of Trondheim.
• The old squat of Svartla'mon[4], now an ecological experiment-part of the city. A different neighbourhood to walk around in, with very few shops, cafes and lots of graffiti.
• Trøndelag folkemuseum[5] at Sverresborg, with lots of old houses depicting lifestyle in old days. In a very beautiful park area overlooking the city, and truly worth a visit! Activities for children on sundays. Eat at the nice inhouse-cafe, or at the next-door "Tavern" dating from the 18th century. (Bus 8 to Trøndelag Folkemuseum)

Do

• Every year in the end of July and the beginning of August, you can visit the St. Olav Festival. The festival is a celebration of Olav Haraldsson, who attempted to christianise Norway. The festivals programme consists of both religious contributions, like masses for pilgrimages in the Nidaros cathedral and cultural festivities like concerts, Middle-Age-plays, lectures, exhibitions and many other activities.
• Have a swim in the modern Pirbadet swimming pool, a magnificent water palace just by the sea, but definitely warmer! (Bus 46,52 to Pirterminalen)
• If the weather is nice and the fjord is warm, the best swimming spots are found east of the city. The Lade area contains a footpath along the fjord, which passes many of the best swimming spots. (Bus 3 to Strandveikaia, then walk along the industrially-looking road to the left... and you'll find beauty soon!) Also, the Rotvoll/Ranheim-area further out is brilliant for sunbathing and swimming. (Bus 6 to Rotvoll or longer, or local train to Rotvoll station)
• Check out Trondheim's bustling nightlife. During term time, the students make the nightlife rocking all week, and skyrocketing in weekends. Check the "Drink" section for more.
• Have a walk in the Kristiansten Fortress-area, overlooking the city. (If you can't be bothered with the hills, get bus 63 to Ankersgata, or rent a bike and use the bike lift!)
• Take the local train to Hell Station and get a photo of yourself.
• Go skiing at Vassfjellet just outside Trondheim, in the season there's a bus service from Munkegata, and a Ski Shop with ski and snowboard rental service.

Learn

Work

Buy

"Shopping" Streets

• Nordre gate. The central shopping street in Trondheim, with international stores as well as local shops. Clothes, food, jewellery, watches, electronics, and much more can be found in this pedestrian-only street.

• Thomas Angells Gate. Crossing Nordre gate at approximately half-way, this is a slightly smaller street with record shops and different other stores.

• Fjordgata. Following the canal at the north of the city centre you have this lenghty street filled mainly with speciality stores as well as a decent selection of restaurants.

Malls

• Trondheim Torg, Kongens g 11. Smack in the middle of the city, this mall should be able to suit most of your needs. This mall especially has many diners/cafés. In 2005 it was extended with about 20 new stores and cafés. No frill, nothing fancy, just a centrally located shopping mall with good prices.

• Byhaven, Olav Tryggvasons g 28. Slightly posh shopping mall with a slight majority of expensive stores. Granted, there were many more posh stores when it opened some years ago now, but the posh enviroment seems to remain.

• Solsiden, Beddingen 10, Nedre Elvehavn. Solsiden translates directly to "The Sunny Side". It was realized and hurrily transformed from an abandoned ship-building site into the hippest shopping mall Trondheim has to offer. Very stylish and well thought out in beautiful surroundings flanked by penthouse apartments as far as you can see. It has a long stretch of resturants/bars located by the old area where ships were launched back in the good ol' days. Perhaps the most enjoyable of the malls in Trondheim(?). Walk across the pedestrian bridge from close to the train station, or get any eastbound bus from the centre.

• City Syd, Østre Rosten 28 -30, 7075 Tiller. The largest shopping mall in central Norway, with 38000 square metres of shops, restaurants and whatever else you can think of. Slightly off the beaten tourist track but it can be reached by bus/taxi. Not very recommened as it feels quite worn and gray. Good if you care to get all your essentials packed under one roof. Generally low prices. Bus 9, 46 or 47 to City Syd.

Eat

Trondheim has food spots to suit every taste.

Budget

• Studentersamfundet, Elgeseter gate 1. In the weird, wild, round, red house that houses the Interrail centre in summer and the student society otherwise, the café Edgar serve some decent grub for not too much money. The entrance is at the back of the building, and nearly unmarked. Go through the door and to the left. (Nearly all buses atop at Studentersamfundet)

• Student canteens. The size of the university means there are 15 student canteens around, serving up pretty bad food at pretty good prices. Find the list here.

• Sausage. Any kiosk will give you sausage in bread, and other standard street-food.

• 1001 Natt, Olav Tryggvasons gate. In the main thoroughfare through the centre, 1001 Natt is the main kebab-dealer in Trondheim.

• Sesam, Studentersamfundet. Just by the main entrance, Sesam makes the city's best burgers.

• Tavern, Trøndelag Folkemuseum. Hardly a bargain at normal times, this old 18th century-inn dishes up all-you-can-eat klubb (potato dumplings with bacon and brown cheese sauce) every Tuesday for well below NOK 100. Well worth it, for a taste of real Norwegian peasant cuisine. At least I like it... Be prepared to roll down the hills towards the city afterwards, this is filling food! (Bus 8 to Trøndelag Folkemuseum)

• Ramp, Strandveien, Svartla'mon. This totally laid-back, ecologic offering in the squat area of Svartla'mon is a good places to while away the hours while watching totally exotic people doing their stuff. Great food at great prices. The letdown is the view of a train goods terminal, a German-built marine bunker and that it is cool to the point of pretension; bring your tats and dreads. Any eastbound bus will take you to Strandveien stop.

• EGON Tårnet, Otto Nielsens vei 4, Tyholt. The rotating restaurant at the top of Radio Tower in Tyholt offers a pizza buffet for only NOK 105. It is every Sunday and Monday from 11am to 11pm. All other days it is from 11am to 6pm. Tap water is for free, other beverages. Website with adress and pricelist. (Bus 20 or 60 to Tyholttårnet/Otto Nielsens veg)

Mid-range

• Credo Bar, Credoveita just behind Byhaven shopping centre. This is one of the best restaurants in Trondheim, with prices to match. Nice, then, that they have a bar on the 1st floor serving the daily special (choice between fish and meat) for NOK 110. It's ALWAYS delicious. 3-course dinner for NOK 220. Enter through the "hidden" door to the left of the restaurant, and walk up the stairs. This bar turns into a rocking place at night.

• Dalat, Prinsens gate. A totally asian experience in the car-ridden, ugly Prinsens gate close to the cinema centre. Delicious food in large helpings.

• Bakklandet Skydsstation, Øvre Bakklandet. The place to find old Norwegian standards, such as kjøttkaker (meat cakes) and baccalao (dried, salted cod in a tomato sauce), in what must be the city's most charming and least right-angled house.

• Cafe Ni Muser, Prinsens gate. Nice, artsy café with good food and a big outdoor section. A bit too close to the traffic-ridden Prinsens gate, however.

• Kaktus, Nedre Bakklandet 6. Located in a small, but wonderful Trondheim street serving a nice range of very tasty food. Includes some mexican and plenty of steaks.

Splurge

• Chablis, Øvre Bakklandet. Informal but consistently good, Chablis is a brilliant bistro with a smashing location just across Old Town bridge.

• Credo, Credoveita behind Byhaven shopping centre. A top offering with a stellar wine list, this restaurant manages to be both informal, creative and top-end. Expensive, but a memory for life.

• Prins Olav Grill, Royal Garden hotel. Maybe the best hotel restaurant in Norway, this is the city's main gourmet offering. Be prepared for exquisite dining at corporate prices.

Drink

Trondheim has a rocking nightlife. However, everything closes fairly early, meaning that there's a well developed culture for after-parties in homes. To find one, the area just outside Cherrox/Cafe 3b in Brattørgata is the best bet, or befriend someone working at the Studentersamfundet, that can take you into the private quarters of the house. They are only allowed one guest each...

• Studentersamfundet, Elgeseter gate 1. A big, red, round temple to partying. Major concerts coincide with political meetings, discussions, wine tasting, disco, football matches and... you name it. You are certain to get lost in the mazes of this wonderful house. Fairly empty in summer and on weekdays, but on term time weekends it's the best spot ever. Expect to pay around NOK 60 in the door on weekends, more if there's a major concert going on. Befriend anyone who works there, and try to gain access to their private quarters, with some 20 pubs staying open all night (and day... and night again...)

• Kieglekroa Pub, Kongens gate 30. Pretty nice place to start your evening. Welcoming prices and good music. Try the "kjeglespill" in the basement - amusing, addictive and its for free!

• Den Gode Nabo, Bakklandet. Just across the Old Town bridge and down a scary-looking staircase, this is a brown fisherman's pub in an old warehouse. As atmospheric as it gets, they have Trondheim's most lovely outdoor seating in summer. The place is divided between the "grown ups section" by the entrance, and the "student section" further in. Popular amongst students and all others.

• Blæst, Solsiden. In the new Solsiden complex at Nedre Elvehavn, Blæst is the best and most affordable offering. Discos and major concerts are held. Good outdoor seating along the whole front, but Blæst has the cheapest beer of the 6-7 pubs there.

• Cherrox, Brattørgata. Brattørgata is one of the most rocking streets of Trondheim, and Cherrox is maybe the best place here. 70's look and brilliant drinks, good music and great ambience. Excellent live music random thursdays.

• Cafe 3b, Brattørgata. 3b is an institution in Trondheim. Leading on in the "big beer war" of the -90's, it was dirt cheap for years. Now it's more expensive, but it's still an enjoyable, black hole catering for rock and indie kids of every denomination imaginable. Hiphop kids have their own private dungeon down the corridor behind the bar in the basement.

• Credo, Credoveita behind Byhaven shopping centre. Above the Credo restaurant is the 3b for grown ups. Rock and indie for people who know their musical history, and the occasional live gig of guaranteed quality music. Entrance in the dark alley around the corner from the restaurant. Hard to spot unless the smokers are taking fresh air.

• Fru Lundgreens, Olavskvartalet. In the basement of the concert hall, Fru Lundgreens looks like the inside of a lung but has good, cheap beer and a brilliant jukebox. Crowd is rock. Pooltable in the back. Prices vary on time, but always good value. The food of the day is good if you need something with your beer.

• Carl Johan, Nordre gate. The northernmost end of Nordre gate is the hub of Trondheims nightlife, with mainstream discos, sausage kiosks and lots of drunk, well-dressed people. Carl Johan is a straightforward pub with more relaxed ambience than most offerings in the area.

• Kvilhaugen gård, Tyholt (bus 60 to Kvilhaugen). If you venture out of the centre to get your beer, make it here. Wonderful outdoor seating with views of most of Trondheim. Inside, it's an old farmhouse with plenty of atmosphere.

• Bar Circus, Olav Tryggvasons gate 27. Quite popular and almost always very full - but that's not because of the music or location, but because of the beer price which is cheap in norwegian terms (33,- for 0,4l.)

Sleep

Budget

• Camping is not allowed close to the town centre. There are several managed camp sites, some with huts. If you want to go free-camping, get the tram to the terminus at Lian and walk into the forest from there. Some people camp rough in the area around the fortifications of Kristiansten festning: Do this at your own risk. (This is technically a park.)

Campsites include:

• Flakk, close to the ferry terminal for the car ferry to Fosen. (Bus 75 to Flakkråa, infrequent)
• Sandmoen, south of the city and frequently served by slo-o-ow bus. Shop, huts and all amenities. (Bus 9 or 47 to Sandmoen)
• Vikhammer, east of the centre near the fjord. (Local bus towards Stjørdal or local train to Vikhammer station, day pass not valid)
• Storsand, east of the centre and maybe the most picturesqure of the lot. (Local bus towards Stjørdal, fairly frequent, day pass not valid)
• Øysand, south of the city near the Øysand beach. (Local buses towards Orkanger, frequent, day pass not valid).

• The Trondheim InterRail Centre (website) is run by students at the marvellous student society building near the city campus. It functions as a youth hostel late June to mid-August. Price NOK 135 per person per night including breakfast. There's also free internet and they serve warm meals for NOK 45. (Bus to Studentersamfundet)

• Trondheim Hostel (website) is the official IYH hostel. On top of a hill, fairly close to the centre, Lademoen and the fortress. Clean, efficient and nice. (Bus 63 to Sigurd Bergs allé)

• Pensjonat Jarlen (website) is the most central offering, in Kongens gate near the main square. Slightly more expensive, but still good for Trondheim.

Mid-range

Splurge

• Hotell Britannia with its 1890's facade, and a matching but modern interior is the most stylish hotell in the city. Its location in Dronningens gate 5 is an almost impossibly central quiet street. It boasts two restaurants, a number of bars, and modern but stylish rooms. There are also a number of themed rooms, like rooms decorated by well-known Norwegian artists. Normal prices start at 1500/1700 and go a long way up, but note that you will get a solid 30% discount on by booking online www.britannia.no. The summer offers of 795/995 are rather good value.

• Radisson SAS Royal Garden Hotell is a modern palace of glass, brass and marble with 295 rooms. Centrally located, excellent communications, but a little soulless. Rooms start at 1198/1298 at summer weekends and go way up.

Contact

Internet cafes are scarce as most people are connected at home. You will however find a few PCs at some museums and public buildings, reserved for visitors, and more at the public library (may be waiting time).

• Spacebar Internet cafe with 40 PCs, Kongens gate 19. 10:00 am - 02:00 am (weekends 24 hours)
• Trondheim Public Library Peter Egges plass 1. Mon - Thu 9:00 am - 7:00 pm, Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
• Main Post Office, Dronningens gt. 10.

Stay safe

Generally considered to be the sort of city where little old ladies can walk safely in dark alleys. It is also not terribly uncommon that regular people will go to great strides to give you back your wallet if you drop it, with cash and credit cards intact.

The only "danger" you might encounter are the occational youths stumbling around in large groups on Friday/Saturdays. The same goes for Trondheim as anywhere else; leave drunk people alone and it's a good chance they'll leave you alone as well. Trondheim only has a limited number of beggars, alcoholics and addicts. They're generally a nice bunch which behaves themselves, you can safely stop to have a chat with most of them. If so inclined, it's a good gesture to hand them some money if they ask, but it's not dangerous to not oblidge either.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!