Where to Stay in Trondheim Without Overspending
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Trondheim comes down to three real neighborhoods
Trondheim is small enough that the choice isn’t really between dozens of districts, it’s between three: the historic centre, the old town across the river, and the station area. No car is needed anywhere in the city, so pick on atmosphere and price rather than transit access.
Midtbyen: the classic first-timer base
Midtbyen, the historic centre on a peninsula looped by the Nidelva, puts Nidaros Cathedral, the Torvet main square, shops, museums, and the Stiftsgården royal residence all within walking distance. Everything here is walkable and lively, and it’s the easiest choice if this is a first visit and you don’t want to think about location twice.
Bakklandet and Solsiden: charm versus an evening out
Bakklandet, just across the Gamle Bybro from Midtbyen, is the colourful wooden-house quarter with cafés, boutiques, and the start of the Trampe bicycle lift, genuinely the prettiest place to wake up in the city. Solsiden (“sunny side”), in the nearby Nedre Elvehavn former shipyard district, is a redeveloped harbour quay of shops, restaurants, and waterside dining, better suited to an evening out than a quiet morning.
Brattøra and the station: convenient, less charm
Right by Trondheim Central Station, this harbourfront district is the most convenient base for arrivals and for onward rail or coastal-ferry connections, with a more modern, business-district feel than Midtbyen or Bakklandet.
Named hotels worth knowing
| Hotel | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Britannia Hotel | Midtbyen | Historic 5-star, founded 1870, reopened 2019 after a ~$150 million restoration; Leading Hotels of the World |
| Clarion Hotel Trondheim | Brattørkaia, near the station | Large convention hotel, roughly 400 rooms, next to Pirbadet water park |
| Scandic Solsiden | Nedre Elvehavn | Mid-range, roughly 155 rooms, near the Solsiden dining quay |
Elsewhere, Scandic and Clarion both run multiple properties across the city; recommending by chain and area is a more honest guide than naming unverified budget options, since Trondheim’s cheaper hotel and hostel market changes faster than a research pass can confirm names.
Booking around the calendar
Rates spike hard during Olavsfestdagene (28 July-3 August 2026), the city’s biggest festival week covered in the festivals and events guide , so book well ahead if your dates overlap it. Otherwise, compare current Trondheim rates on Booking.com before committing; a very expensive country makes shoulder-season timing matter more here than in most cities.
Pick Midtbyen if you want to walk everywhere without thinking, Bakklandet if the neighborhood itself is part of the trip, and Brattøra if an early train or ferry connection matters more than the view from your window.