Nidaros Cathedral
75 minThe reason Trondheim is famous, and part of the official European Cultural Routes. Check the opening times and ticket prices for your date before you go.
Trondheim is a walking day. Ships dock at Brattøra, and a footbridge over the railway takes you towards the centre in about 15 to 20 minutes. From there, Nidaros Cathedral, the Old Town Bridge and Bakklandet are all close together, so even a short stop gets you the best of the city.
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Trondheim in 2 numbers
15–20 min
on foot from the Brattøra quay to the centre
30 min
on foot from the centre to Kristiansten Fortress
Only booking 1 things? Make it these.
1
Guided walks in Trondheim
A local guide makes the cathedral, the river wharves and Bakklandet one story instead of three stops. Pick one that ends in the centre, so the walk back to the ship is easy.
Find a city walkWhich quay is your ship at?
Your ship's daily programme tells you.
Brattøra cruise quay
Walk · 20 min to the centre
The walk goes over a footbridge across the railway, near the central station. Local buses and taxis are an option too, and some cruise lines run a shuttle. Check your berth in the ship's app, as it can change.
How much time you really have
Time in port, minus the trip into town and back, and 30 minutes' margin before all aboard.
| Quay | 4 h stop | 6 h stop | 8 h stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brattøra cruise quay | 2h 50m | 4h 50m | 6h 50m |
My plan for your day
4 hours
About 2 h 15 min of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
6 hours
About 3 h 45 min of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
8 hours
About 4 h 15 min of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
What's worth seeing, and why
The Old Town Bridge and Bakklandet
60 minCross the Old Town Bridge for the view of the old wharves along the river, and walk on into the charming old streets at Bakklandet. Stop for a coffee. That's the whole plan.
Kristiansten Fortress
90 minA walk of about 30 minutes from the centre, up the hill above the city. The time here includes the way up and back.
Along the wharves
30 minThe old wharves along the river are worth a slow walk and a few photos. Take this on the way back to the ship.
Guided tours
Guided walks in Trondheim
Several include Nidaros Cathedral. Check whether the entrance ticket is part of the price.
Find a city walkShore excursions from Trondheim
Made for cruise passengers, so the timing usually fits. Still check the return time against all aboard.
See the shore excursionsDocking on a Sunday or a holiday?
Most shops in Norway close on Sundays and public holidays. Museums, cafés and restaurants in the centre usually stay open, often with shorter hours. Here are the public holidays for the next twelve months:
- Friday 25 December 2026: Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December 2026: Boxing Day
- Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day
- Thursday 25 March 2027: Maundy Thursday
- Friday 26 March 2027: Good Friday
- Sunday 28 March 2027: Easter Sunday
- Monday 29 March 2027: Easter Monday
- Saturday 1 May 2027: Labour Day
- Thursday 6 May 2027: Ascension Day
- Sunday 16 May 2027: Whit Sunday
- Monday 17 May 2027: Constitution Day and Whit Monday
Ship excursion or on your own?
You really don't need the ship's excursion in Trondheim, unless walking is hard for you. Everything is reachable on foot from the quay, and the sights are close together once you're in the centre.
Practical tips
- Allow the full 20 minutes back to the ship, and a little more if you're carrying shopping.
- The cathedral is the one place worth checking ahead of time. Everything else is just walking.
Last checked November 2026. Sources: CruiseEurope, Trondheim port information, Adventour Begins, Trondheim cruise port guide, Whats In Port, Trondheim.