Quick answerTrondheim is a city in Norway, with 218,460 people inside the city limits in 2026. The wider metropolitan area had about 0.3 million people in 2026. It is best known for the Nidaros Cathedral, the Old Town Bridge and the Bakklandet. Its official language is Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami, and its currency is the Norwegian krone.
Trondheim is the third-largest city in Norway, with 218,460 people (1 January 2026) and about 317,000 in the wider Trondheim region. It stands on the Trondheim Fjord in central Norway and is famous for Nidaros Cathedral.
Key facts
| Country | Norway |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 218,460 (2026) |
| Population (metro) | 316,588 (2026) · Trondheim Region (SSB, 2023) |
| Time zone | Europe/Oslo |
| Language | Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami |
| Currency | Norwegian krone (NOK, kr) |
| Coordinates | 63.4297° N, 10.3933° E |
Overview
Trondheim is Norway's third-largest city, with 218,460 people on 1 January 2026, and the centre of a region of about 317,000 people. It stands on the Trondheim Fjord in central Norway, where the River Nidelva meets the sea, and it is home to Norway's largest university, NTNU.
King Olaf Tryggvason founded Trondheim in 997, and it was Norway's first capital and the seat of its kings. Nidaros Cathedral, built over the grave of Saint Olaf, is the largest medieval church in Scandinavia and still crowns the city. Today Trondheim is known for the cathedral, the old Bakklandet quarter across the Old Town Bridge, and its student life. The Kristiansten Fortress, built in the 1680s above the city, and the Ringve music museum are also worth a visit, and the fjord makes Trondheim a good base for exploring central Norway.
What Trondheim is known for
- Nidaros Cathedral
- Old Town Bridge
- Bakklandet
- NTNU
- Kristiansten Fortress
Landmarks
- Nidaros Cathedral
- Old Town Bridge (Gamle Bybro)
- Bakklandet
- Kristiansten Fortress
- Archbishop's Palace
- Ringve Museum
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Trondheim?
Trondheim had 218,460 residents on 1 January 2026, according to Statistics Norway, making it the third-largest city in Norway. The wider Trondheim region had 316,588 people in 2023. The city covers 322 square kilometres on the Trondheim Fjord in central Norway.
Where is Trondheim and what is it known for?
Trondheim is in central Norway, on the Trondheim Fjord where the River Nidelva meets the sea, about 500 kilometres north of Oslo. It is known for Nidaros Cathedral, the largest medieval church in Scandinavia, for the Bakklandet quarter and for its university, NTNU.
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Keep exploring
- Norway — the country Trondheim is in
- Oslo — another city in Norway
- Bergen — another city in Norway
- Stavanger — another city in Norway
- All cities in Norway
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.