Bakklandet
Wooden houses, cobblestones, and the Old Town Bridge since 1681
Overview
Bakklandet was a working-class neighbourhood from the 1600s to the 1900s. Dockworkers, craftsmen, and small traders lived in the narrow wooden houses along the Nidelva river. By the 1960s, the city planned to demolish it for a motorway. Residents fought back. The neighbourhood survived.
Today, Bakklandet is Trondheim’s most atmospheric district. The wooden houses have been restored, painted in period colours, and the cobblestone lanes are lined with cafés, bookshops, and vintage stores. It does not feel manufactured — residents still live here, and the shops serve locals as much as visitors.
Gamle Bybro (the Old Town Bridge) connects Bakklandet to the main city across the Nidelva. The current red-painted wooden bridge dates to 1681. From the bridge, the view upstream shows the coloured warehouses on stilts over the water — Trondheim’s version of Bryggen, less famous but equally historic.
The Trampe bicycle lift starts at the base of Bakklandet — the steep hill up to Kristiansten Fortress. Walk up instead for the best viewpoint in Trondheim: the fortress ramparts look directly down over Bakklandet, the Nidelva, and the cathedral spire beyond.
Highlights
Gamle Bybro
The Old Town Bridge, built 1681, painted red. The view from the bridge — coloured warehouses on stilts, reflected in the Nidelva — is the defining image of Trondheim.
Café Culture
Baklandet Skydsstation serves traditional Norwegian food in a building from 1700. Dromedar Kaffebar roasts their own beans. Both are institutions, not tourist traps — Trondheim locals use them daily.
Kristiansten Fortress
Walk up the steep hill behind Bakklandet (15 min) to the 1685 fortress. Free entry. The ramparts provide the best panoramic view of Trondheim — cathedral, river, harbour, and mountains.
Living Neighbourhood
Bakklandet was saved from demolition in the 1960s by resident protests. The houses are privately owned and occupied. This is a living district, not an open-air museum.
Practical information
Getting there
Cross Gamle Bybro from the city centre (5 min walk from Nidarosdomen). Or walk along the Nidelva riverside path from the train station (10 min).
What to do
Walk the cobblestone lanes. Coffee at Dromedar Kaffebar. Lunch at Baklandet Skydsstation. Browse the vintage and bookshops. Walk up to Kristiansten Fortress for the view.
Time needed
1–2 hours for a relaxed walk with coffee. Add 30 minutes for Kristiansten Fortress. Combine with Nidarosdomen (10 min walk across the bridge).
Tips
Best in the morning before tour groups arrive. The Trampe bicycle lift at the base of the hill is a curiosity but walking up is faster and more rewarding. The waterfront warehouses are best photographed from Gamle Bybro at golden hour.
Plan your Trondheim trip
Trondheim has more to offer. Explore the full city guide or browse other Norwegian cities.