This website is for saleWebsite for sale · £1,500
Home  /  Trondheim and Ålesund
Cities

Trondheim and Ålesund

Two smaller cities worth a stop: a medieval cathedral city and a town rebuilt in Art Nouveau after a fire.

Colourful buildings around the Brosundet harbour in Ålesund
Colourful buildings around the Brosundet harbour in Ålesund. Photo by Jarand K. Løkeland on Unsplash.

Trondheim is Norway's third most populous municipality, with 218,460 people on 1 January 2026, founded in 997. Wikipedia says it was the capital of Norway through the Viking Age until 1217. Ålesund is a coastal town of 55,684 residents (2024), rebuilt in Art Nouveau after a fire on 23 January 1904.

Highlights

What to see and do

Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim

Building began around 1070 and was substantially complete by about 1300, over the burial site of St Olav, who was killed in 1030. Wikipedia describes it as the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world. New monarchs are consecrated there, and the Pilgrim's Route ends at its door. Restoration began in 1869 and was officially completed in 2001.

Trondheim old town

Bakklandet is noted for its pavement cafes, and the Old Town Bridge crosses the Nidelva.

Ålesund's Art Nouveau

After the fire of 1904, the town was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style. Wikipedia says Kaiser Wilhelm sent four warships with materials for temporary shelters.

When to go

We could not source a best season for either city from the pages we opened. See our when to go page for Norway-wide guidance.

Getting there

Visit Norway: airport buses and trains reach Trondheim centre in 25 and 35 minutes, there are daily trains from Oslo and Bodø, the bus from Oslo takes about 8 hours, and Hurtigruten calls daily. Ålesund is a Hurtigruten port, according to Wikipedia.

Good to know

A few facts

Keep planning

Nearby and related

Hurtigruten coastal voyage

Read the guide

Oslo

Read the guide

When to go

Weather, daylight and seasons month by month
Questions

Quick answers

Why is Ålesund Art Nouveau?

A fire on 23 January 1904 destroyed much of the town, and it was rebuilt in that style.

How do I get from Oslo to Trondheim?

Visit Norway says there are daily trains, and that the bus takes about 8 hours.

Sources

Facts on this site come from Visit Norway, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, UNESCO, gov.uk and the operators named, each listed at the foot of the page. Check dates, prices and entry rules with the provider before you book.