Trondheim's best cultural spots

“Although I have only been in this profession for a couple of years, I have noticed how the restaurants in this city have taken culinary experiences to a whole new level. It's so much fun to be a part of the journey,” says Live.

Trondheim has really developed into a top culinary destination in Norway. Thanks to its dedicated farmers and innovative chefs, Trondheim and the Trøndelag region has gained international recognition as the European Region of Gastronomy in 2022.

Although Trondheim is known as the 'home of Nordic flavours', you'll find all kinds of international cuisine in this vibrant city. If you want to sample some exquisite Nordic flavours for yourself, visit one of its three Michelin-starred restaurants. Or maybe you're craving some freshly baked pastries from one of the city's cosy bakeries? Trondheim is packed with treats.

This historical city in the middle of Norway is also full of history and fascinating cultural sights. We asked local chef Live to show us three cultural highlights. Here is the first place she says you can't miss:

Live's cultural triangle

Beautifully situated beside the Nidelven river, you will find Streif Bakery & Café, often referred to as Trondheim's little secret. Despite being in the Midtbyen neighbourhood in the heart of the city, the café is tucked away in a quiet spot.

You'll find the café in the Nidaros Pilgrim Center, which is a reception centre for pilgrims who have walked the popular St. Olav Pilgrim paths.

From sweet to savoury

Live's culinary journey started with sweets and pastries in her childhood home in Surnadal, a small village about a two-hour drive from Trondheim.

“My plan was actually to become a pastry chef. I used to bake almost every night for my classmates, even though I prefer savoury foods myself. I think the interest came from my grandmother, who always served homemade pastries when we came to visit. The rest of my family is also a big part of the path I took,” explains Live. 

At sixteen, Live attended culinary school in Trondheim and became an apprentice at the renowned restaurant Credo, the same restaurant where she is a chef today.

“At Credo, we use the most incredible local ingredients in our cooking. We source our milk, sour cream and butter from the dairy cows at the Skjølberg Søndre farm. The farm also supplies us with the meat and vegetables we serve,” explains Live.

A Michelin City

Credo is one of Trondheim's three Michelin-starred restaurants. You'll find the renowned restaurant in the Lade neighbourhood.

Fagn is another Michelin restaurant, located in the city centre. Here, you can indulge in a 10 or 20-course tasting menu on the main floor, or enjoy a more simple (but still fantastic!) meal at the bistro upstairs.

“When I'm not working in the kitchen, I love to go out to eat in the city. Trondheim has so many great restaurants and cafés. The croissant bakery Moulangerie is well worth a visit. It specialises in making croissants, and they're really delicious,” says Live.

Bring a coffee and a croissant from the bakery, and join Live as she takes you to her next cultural highlight.

The cathedral was built over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking king who brought Christianity to Norway. In the Middle Ages, this was Northern Europe's most important pilgrimage destination, and is still a treasured destination for pilgrims from all over the world.

You can follow the historical trails, the St. Olav Paths, all the way from Oslo to the cathedral in Trondheim, or you can take shorter walks along the paths. The Pilgrimage to Nidaros is a 1,000-year-old tradition, and many still perform the traditional ritual of walking around the entire cathedral three times on arrival.

“I remember visiting the cathedral as a child, and we took a guided tour of the basement and the crypt. That was one of the most memorable parts for me,” says Live.

You can access the basement and the crypt with a guide. Here, you'll find Norway's largest collection of Medieval tombstones, as well as a skeleton dating from the second half of the 11th century.

The Britannia offers 233 rooms with a five-star experience. The hotel was established in 1870, and the whole building was renovated in 2019, transforming it into a top-class hotel.

The Britannia is often called 'the white swan of Trondheim', due to the building's facade.

“This hotel exudes luxury, and the building itself is also very elegant,” says Live. 

Many famous people have spent the night in the hotel, including Norwegian Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen. In 1896, after his expeditions into the northern Arctic, he chose to debrief the geological societies of the world at Britannia Hotel:

Follow in Nansen's footsteps and sample something delicious in one of the hotels six bars and restaurants. 

The Michelin Restaurant Speilsalen is run by World Champion Chef and Bocuse d´Or silver medallist Christopher Davidsen. If you visit on a Saturday, you can indulge in a champagne lunch with a special 4-course menu. 

“Palmehaven is also an incredible restaurant,” says Live.