Our Wandering Chapter

Our visit to Trondheim was not something we had planned far in advance. We were spending a week skiing in Storlien with friends, and with no skiing planned for our final Saturday, we began looking at what else we could do.

Just across the border in Norway, Trondheim was within easy reach by train. So instead of another day on the slopes, we wrapped up for the cold and set off for a few wintery hours in the city. It turned out to be a wonderfully simple day trip: a scenic train journey, a snowy city to wander through and enough time to experience a little of Trondheim without trying to see everything.

Storlien to Trondheim by Train

Our day began at the little snow-covered station in Storlien. The morning was clear and bright, with deep snow everywhere and the low winter sun beginning to light up the landscape.

Soon after leaving Storlien, we found ourselves glued to the windows as the snowy landscape unfolded outside. Snow-covered forests, frozen fields and mountains stretched into the distance. Rivers wound through frosted trees, while every so often a cluster of houses appeared against the white landscape. The train was relatively quiet, allowing us to move from side to side to follow the changing views.

As we approached Trondheim, mountains and forests gradually gave way to settlements and stretches of open water

We travelled from Storlien, but a similar day trip may also be possible from Åre or Duved, with train connections via Storlien. It is worth checking the latest timetables and connections before travelling, particularly when planning to return the same day

A Winter Day in Trondheim

It was bitterly cold, but with fresh snow underfoot and bright winter sunshine, Trondheim could hardly have looked better. We explored the city on foot, soon finding ourselves beside the Nidelva, where colourful wooden buildings lined the river. Parts of the water were covered in ice, while the calmer sections reflected the warehouses and snowy riverbanks.

From there, we wandered through Bakklandet, with its colourful wooden houses and quiet snow-covered streets, before crossing Gamle Bybro. The bridge offered some of our favourite views of the day, looking across the river towards the rows of colourful buildings on either side.

Our walk eventually brought us to Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim’s great medieval landmark.

After seeing the cathedral rise above its snowy surroundings, we went inside, where soaring arches, stained-glass windows and the impressive organ offered a very different atmosphere from the bright winter landscape outside.

The cold dictated the pace of our day as much as the sightseeing did. We were travelling with friends and a three-year-old, and the freezing temperatures made long stretches outdoors difficult. Our time inside Nidaros Cathedral, followed later by lunch and a coffee stop, gave us welcome breaks from the cold as we explored the city.

We continued wandering through the city centre and around Torvet before eventually making our way towards the waterfront. There was no long list of places we were trying to cover; we simply walked, stopped when something caught our attention and headed indoors whenever the cold became too much.

By evening, it was time to return to the station for our train back to Storlien. What had started as a spare day at the end of a skiing trip had turned into a winter adventure across the border, with a beautiful train journey on either side.

We had only seen a small part of Trondheim, but those few freezing, sunny hours gave us a wonderful glimpse of the city in winter.