The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Trondheim
Explore the best of Trondheim with this self-guided walking tour.
What you get
Historic overview of Trondheim (with photos of what the city used to look like)
Detailed overview of Nidaros Cathedral
Printable map with the route and major landmarks highlighted
Link to a Google Map that can be loaded into your phone for easier navigation
Clear directions with English & Norwegian names of places, addresses, and step-by-step guides
Photos of each point of interest
This guide is 14 pages and comes in a PDF format.
Norway's Medieval Capital
Trondheim is Norway’s third-largest city. It is also the religious and historic centre of the country; founded in 997 by the Viking King Olav Tryggvason as Norway’s first capital, Trondheim rose to importance after the canonisation of St. Olav and construction of the cathedral around his casket. You have enough time to catch all the sights of Trondheim while the northbound ferry is docked, just keep an eye on your watch and follow my guide!
Trip Highlights
- Visit Nidaros Cathedral, the most important cathedral in Norway
- Explore the unique Bakklandet neighbourhood
- See all of Trondheim while your ship is in port.
Distance
6km round-trip (4 miles)
Activity Level
Level 1 – flat path, no stairs, paved. However, you need to be able to walk at a good pace.
Start Location
Coastal Ferry Terminal
End Location
Coastal Ferry Terminal
Itinerary
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.
Trondheim Central Station
A railway station was first built in Trondheim in 1864, and in 1877 a new station (the one we see today) was built to serve the Meråker Line to Sweden, which has since become the Nordland Line to Bodø. The older building is the Nordland Line, whereas the newer post-modernist building was built in 1921 for the Dovre Line, which connects Trondheim to Oslo.
Stiftsgården
Stiftsgården is one of the largest wooden structures in Northern Europe and is today the royal residence of Trondheim.
Torvet
The square was designed as part of Cicignon’s town plan of 1681, and before it was laid out the area was a known market square.
The Church of Our Lady
Vår Frue Kirke is the third-largest preserved Middle Age church in Norway and first built in the late 1100s. It’s believed that the first version of this church may have been built by King Harald Hardråde (1015-1066) as his saga mentions him building a church near Nidaros Cathedral in 1060.
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is built over the burial site of King Olav II, who became the patron saint of Norway one year after his death in 1030. It is the most important cathedral in all of Norway.
Pilgrims Route
The 640km (400 miles) journey begins in Oslo’s Old Town and continues north along Lake Mjøsa, up the Gudbrandsdalen valley, over the Dovrefjell mountain range, down the Oppdal valley, and then finishes in front of Nidaros Cathedral.
Gamle Bybro
The bridge was originally built in 1681 to provide better access to the Kristiansten Fortress.
Bakklandet
Bakklandet is the name of the neighbourhood you’re in. You’ll see the beautiful wooden houses that are unique to this region. Bakklandet is an authentic look into old Trondheim. Technically the first suburb of the city, Bakklandet was built up throughout the 17th century as a poor area where seamen, fishermen and manual workers lived in small wooden houses.
Example of what the guide looks like.