Thanks to Finnair’s expanded flight schedule to Trondheim through the end of October, it’s now easier than ever to explore one of Europe’s hidden gems—known for its stunning fall foliage, gastronomy, and culture.
Mykola Ksenofontov
Situated in Norway’s Trøndelag on the Trondheim Fjord, the city of Trondheim has long been known as a center for both sports and music. Its football team, Rosenborg Ballklub (RBK), is a major source of local pride, and the city hosts well-known music festivals such as Trondheim Rocks and the Trondheim Chamber Music Festival.
But thanks to recent buzz, like being recognized as 2022’s European Region of Gastronomy, and urban developments—in 2020, Trondheim Town Square reopened as a more green and pedestrian-friendly space—Norway’s third-biggest city has emerged as an urban destination that blends it all: history, architecture, gastronomy, and cultural offerings. Even better? It’s easy to experience the best of Trondheim and its surrounding areas—it’s especially alluring this time of year, when fall foliage peaks through end of October—in one weekend.
Ahead are some recommendations on how to plan a memorable getaway to one of Europe’s most charming cities.
How to Get to Trondheim
Finnair Business Class
Finnair
Founded in 1923, FinnAir is Finland’s flag carrier and consistently ranked among the safest airlines in the world. It’s famed for its crisp Nordic design—the brand’s innovative business class product, which was revealed in 2022, features a cocoon-like, fixed shell that quickly converts to a lie-flat bed—and culinary offerings like its signature blueberry juice drink.
Due to soaring interest in Trondheim and the surrounding region, Finnair is offering flights from Helsinki to Trondheim up to seven times a week through the end of October. The seasonal route will resume next spring in March 2026.
Where to Stay in Trondheim
Britannia Hotel assures a dreamy night’s sleep for all its guests with top-of-the-line Hästens mattresses.
Dreyer & Hensley
Opened in 1870, and named after the British aristocrats who’d flock to the area for salmon fishing, Britannia Hotel is Trondheim’s poshest stay. Old-world glamour abounds through the historic building, which feels more inviting than ever, thanks to a dramatic $150 million renovation that wrapped in 2019. Now, the lobby dazzles with gleaming, black-and-white Bardiglio and Carrara marble flooring and two massive Lasvit glass chandeliers, while the 257 guest rooms and suites feel like refined sanctuaries with bespoke wall mouldings, marble-clad bathrooms, and Hästens beds for the dreamiest sleep.
The hotel is also home to one of Trondheim’s most lavish breakfast buffets at Palmehaven, Michelin-starred Speilsalen, and Britannia Bar (more on these below), and a serene subterranean spa with seven treatment rooms, a heated lap pool, sauna, cold plunge pool, and infrared cabin.
Where to Eat and Drink in Trondheim
Speilsalen, the fine dining restaurant at Britannia Hotel, dates back to 1896 and holds one Michelin star.
Lars Petter Pettersen
With one Michelin Star, Britannia Hotel’s Speilsalen—which is helmed by chef Håkon Solbakk—channels the elegance of an ornate palace ballroom with sparkling crystal chandeliers, soft blues and greys, and grand, arched mirrors. (Speilsalen means “mirror hall” in Norweigian.) The food, too, feels fitting for royalty, with an elegant prix fixe dinner menu brimming with the freshest Norwegian and heavy on creativity. (I especially loved one of the opening snacks: a crab-shaped tart of Varanger king crab, fennel cream, and lemon verbena.)
Steps away is one of Trondheim’s swankiest places to drink, Britannia Bar. Overseen by Øyvind Lindgjerdet, who was named Best Bartender in Norway at this year’s Bartenders’ Choice Awards, this handsome lounge is renowned for its specialty cocktails, all inspired by the colorful characters who shaped the history of Britannia Hotel—like Cecilie “The Boss,” who’s got an aquavit and white rowanberry concoction named after her.
Another terrific spot for a memorable meal is Olga’s, a playful and almost theatrical—which makes sense, given its location within the Nye Hjorten theater—modern brasserie by celebrity chef Renee Fagerhøi and sommelier Lena Engtrø. You can’t go wrong with anything on the stick-to-your-ribs menu, like the buttery halibut frites and the signature 24-hour ragu served on malfadine. Bula Neobistro (also by Fagerhøi) is another local favorite for its natural wine selection and creative tasting menus, while Baklandet Skydsstation is a historic cafe beloved for its traditional fish soup and other Norweigian staples like reindeer stew and pickled herring.
What to Do in Trondheim
Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral on an autumn day
getty
If it’s your first time to Trondheim, visiting Nidaros Cathedral, the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral, is a must. Even a brief tour will give you insight to its architectural—it uniquely blends Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles—and historic importance. The St. Olav Ways, a network of pilgrimage walking trails in Norway and Sweden, all wind up at the Nidaros Cathedral, the site of St. Olav’s tomb.
Designed by India Mahdavi, PoMo is Trondheim’s newest modern and contemporary art museum.
Nikol Herec
Opened earlier this year, PoMo (short for “Posten Moderne”) is Trondheim’s new modern art museum, which takes up residence in a historic 1911 post office that was reimagined to stunning effect by the Iranian-French architect India Mahdavi. The main entrance impresses with high ceilings, snow-white paint, and speckled terrazzo flooring, while other areas like the primary spiral staircase is bathed in a sunny orange-yellow. An exhibition of late-career Picasso works is on view for a few more days until October 26; following that will be an exhibit of the latest works by Congolese-Norwegian artist Sandra Mujinga, who’s known for her otherworldly, shape-shifting practice.
Nye Hjorten Theater is Trondheim’s dazzling new social, cultural, and live entertainment hub.
Studio Dreyer+Hensley
Adding to Trondheim’s newfound charm is Nye Hjorten Theater, which opened alongside PoMo. Although it’s a new build, it exudes a nostalgic vibe as it’s a tribute to the beloved Hjorten Revue and Variety Theater, which was demolished in 1961. The design details are grand and gorgeous, from the Gaudí-inspired columns, to Ida Ekblad’s enormous kaleidoscopic chandelier, to the plush burgundy velvet seats complete with wine bottle holders. As for its programming, Nye Hjorten offers a wide range of performances but remains proudly analog, regardless of the genre.
