10 Best Museums in Trondheim

It takes time to explore all that Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum has to offer, as this fascinating open-air museum comprises several historical buildings spread over a large area. The museum is split into a village part and a city part, and also encompasses the ruins of the castle that King Sverre built many hundreds of years ago.

Some of the highlights here include the Haltdalen Stave Church from the Middle Ages and the intricate main exhibition on everyday life and society through the ages. It takes about ten minutes to drive here from the city centre, and there are three eateries on site if you need a breather. Those travelling in groups can request a tailor-made tour.

Based in pleasant premises on Lade, just outside the city centre, lies every music lover's dream, namely Ringve Museum. This national music museum features thousands of interesting instruments and musical activities, as well as a café and shop, and the beautiful surroundings and historic buildings complete the experience.

In addition to the two permanent exhibitions, "Hovedbygningen" and "Låven", the museum also features a variety of temporary exhibitions. You can also borrow an audio guide when exploring the instrument collection, for useful background information and examples. The museum isn't just about exhibitions and entertainment, but also works actively on conserving the instruments.

For many hundreds of years, Kristiansten Fortress has guarded Trondheim, ready protect against any approaching enemies. The fortress stands on a hill, which means as well as admiring a magnificent historic fortress, you also get to enjoy a fantastic view of the city.

The dungeon and the museum are popular attractions here, with the added bonus of a café and rooms available to hire. Several times a year you'll hear cannon salutes from here. These are launched to mark special occasions, such as royal birthdays and historical events. It's just a short walk from the city centre and worth a visit if you want to learn about the history of this listed fortress - and also the city itself.

Rockheim takes you on an interactive and virtual journey through the age of popular music from the 1950s to the present day. In the large and architecturally interesting building, you will find both permanent and temporary exhibitions featuring, among other things, iconic objects, video, sound and images.

You can also look forward to the Rockheim Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to people/pop bands who have had a big impact on Norwegian music. The museum also organises concerts and educational activities for children and young people. At the end of your visit, stop for a bite to eat at the restaurant or buy some cult artefacts in the museum shop. The museum is just a short walk from the city centre, and groups have the option of visiting outside normal opening hours.

With its two exhibition venues, Trondheim Art Museum, also known as TKM, really has a lot to offer. The Bispegata venue is the main museum and is located by Nidaros Cathedral, while Gråmølna is located on Solsiden. Both venues are centrally located and are therefore easy to get to.

The museum features a large collection of Norwegian art, including several well-known works. In addition to the musuem's own collection, you can look forward to taking a closer look at both international art and contemporary art. You can also join guided tours, courses and events, while the Sunday family events are particularly popular with young artists in the family.

Different animal species, cultural and natural history collections, archeology and geology are just some of the things you can learn more about at the NTNU Science Museum, which is one of the country's university museums. In addition to interesting and exciting exhibitions, the museum also conducts research and management.

There is plenty to explore here for both young and old, but the medieval town is particularly popular. This is a place of archeological finds from the Middle Ages, where it's particularly interesting to walk through the city streets from that time. The museum's central location makes it an easy place to visit, and if you are staying in the city centre, all you need to do is walk.

The Jewish Museum in Trondheim takes you back to the life of the Jews who came to the city at the end of the 19th century, and you can learn more about the Holocaust and the post-WW2 era. Through both permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum focuses on important topics such as anti-Semitism.

The exhibitions comprise images, documents, objects and accounts, which together give visitors a powerful experience of what life was like. The museum also offers various teaching programmes for schools and educational institutions. The museum is centrally located and therefore easy to get to.

Crafts and design are the main focus of the National Museum of Decorative Arts, where you can admire samurai armour, baroque costumes, glass work and interiors displayed over several floors.

The museum features several exhibitions and a collection spanning thousands of objects. Visitors can also search up any registererd objects via the Digital Museum portal, which is always fun. The museum shop has plenty of interesting gifts, both for yourself and others. You won't have to walk far to get here either as it's right in the heart of the city.

In a cosy old building by the Nidelven in the centre of Trondheim lies Trondheim's Maritime Museum. Anyone interested in shipping and local maritime history will enjoy exploring the exhibits here.

This is a museum that will delight both young and old, while Sivert the ship rat hopes the children can help him with his seasickness. Adults will be fascinated by the films, pictures, paintings, ship models, navigation equipment, charts and much more. You can even use the museum's database to perform searches on specific seafarers and ships.

The National Museum of Justice is located on Kalvskinnet in a building formerly used as prison, a forced labour institution and criminal asylum. The museum focuses on Norwegian legal history from the 17th century until present day, and you can take a closer look at objects and photographs from World War II, police uniforms and items used for executions.

At first glance, it may seem a bit macabre, but it is actually very interesting to learn more about the development of the legal system over several hundred years. You can look forward to both permanent and temporary exhibitions, so even if you've been here before, there's usually something new to explore.