Photoblog: Nordic Charm in Trondheim

Of all the places we visited on the Ice Run, Trondheim has got to be the biggest surprise for us. Surrounded by fjords,  the city is a charming Nordic enclave rich in history and traditional flair. The town itself is tastefully built around a hill, studded with narrow cobble stoned alleys, classic Norwegian houses and walled fortresses. 

During our short stay, we wandered through the old docks, visited the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral, sampled the best seafood soup in town, interviewed the winner of the World Championship in Cocktail Mixing, and even had a cosy Christmas meal, Norwegian style. We were met with warm hospitality and couldn’t have welcomed it more during the festive season. This city escape was very different from our usual adventurous pursuits but it was refreshing to kick back in a city as charming as Trondheim.  

Wherever we went, the light quality in the city was just perfect. Anywhere else in the world, I would usually have to wake up at 4am to get an image of such quality — but in Trondheim, it was easy to capture such lighting.

What used to be an old dry dock is now converted into a series of hip boutiques and restaurants in the city’s Old Town.

The Old Town Bridge connects the south end of the main street Kjøpmannsgata to the neighborhood of Bakklandet.

The Nidelva River flows through Trondheim with old storehouses flanking both sides of this river. This is the picture-perfect representation of Trondheim in brochures and postcards.

We had the opportunity to try the best fish soup in Trondheim at Baklandet Skydsstation, housed in a cosy traditional building that dates back to the medieval times.

The locals say that if fish soup is a must-try in Trondheim.

Kristiansen Fortress is another must-visit location for Trondheim visitors.

The view of the city from within its walls is spectacular.

The impressive Nidaros Cathedral holds years of history inside its walls.

We stayed at the beautiful Britannia Hotel, a tasteful Victorian-style hotel and an iconic landmark in Trondheim. They kindly put us up in their penthouse suite, where the Japanese Emperor stayed during his visit in 2005.

Our plush four-poster bed

At the restaurant Two Rooms & A Kitchen (To Rom Og Kjøkken), we met Mr Roar Hildonen, world champion cocktail mixer who prepared few delicious cocktails for us, including his masterpiece Bar Room Rose.

It was an invite that was too hard to resist. Trondheim’s Director of Tourism, Line Vikrem-Rosmæl, warmly welcomed us to her house for a delicious Christmas dinner with her family.