Christmas
Trondheim Christmas market 2026: a lavvo, a Ferris wheel and Torvet square
The Trondheim Christmas market fills Torvet square from 3 to 21 December 2026, with more than 80 stalls, a large lavvo tent with open fires and a Ferris wheel. Here is what to know before you go, and where to stay.
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It is dark by four, and Torvet square is glowing. Smoke from the fire inside the lavvo drifts out through the top, people queue for reindeer burgers, and the Ferris wheel turns slowly above the stalls. Beneath the statue of Olav Tryggvason, a choir is singing.
The Trondheim Christmas market began in 2003 with five stalls. Today it has more than 80 exhibitors and over 200 concerts and events during the season. It is the largest Christmas market in central Norway, and for many locals this is where Christmas begins.
Short answer: when is the Trondheim Christmas market?
The Trondheim Christmas market runs on Torvet square from 3 to 21 December 2026, with free entry. Come on a weekday afternoon to avoid the crowds, or on a Thursday or Friday evening, when it stays open latest and the lavvo is at its liveliest.
Do not miss: the lavvo and its fires
Best view: the Ferris wheel
Best food: a reindeer burger or bacalao
Best souvenir: jewellery with the Trondheim rose
Best time: weekdays before four
The lavvo: fire and reindeer hides
In the middle of the market stands a large lavvo, a Sámi-style tent, seating more than 500 guests around open fires on benches draped in reindeer hide. You eat here, warm up and stay longer than planned. On Thursdays and Fridays it stays open late.
The catch: the lavvo is popular, and at weekends a seat can be hard to find. Arrive early if you want a table by the fire.
Food and drink from Trøndelag
The stalls offer grilled reindeer burgers, bacalao, rømmeboller (sour cream buns) and local craft beer. There is marzipan, homemade fudge and cheese in giant wheels. Do a lap before you choose, as the stallholders change from week to week.
Gifts with local character
Many exhibitors make what they sell. Look for silver and enamel with the Trondheim rose motif, hand-blown glass, wool knitwear and handmade soap. It is a good place to find presents you will not see in the shopping centres.
The Ferris wheel over Torvet
The Ferris wheel gives you a view over the market, the rooftops and up towards Nidaros Cathedral. Ride it after dark when the lights are on. Queues are shortest early in the day.
Getting there
From Trondheim Airport Værnes, the train or airport bus takes about half an hour to the centre. By train from Oslo, the Dovre line climbs through the Gudbrandsdalen valley and over the Dovrefjell plateau to Trondheim Central Station, a fifteen-minute walk from Torvet.
If you drive, leave the car in one of the multi-storey car parks in the centre and walk the rest. The streets around Torvet are packed in the afternoons, and there is nowhere to park near the market.
A day or a weekend?
You can see the market itself in a couple of hours. Add Nidaros Cathedral, a walk across to Bakklandet and a good dinner, and Trondheim makes a fine Christmas weekend. Arrive on a Friday to get an evening in the lavvo and all of Saturday for the rest of the city.
Christmas beyond Torvet
Cross the Old Town Bridge to Bakklandet, where the wooden houses have candles in the windows and the cafés serve mulled wine. Nidaros Cathedral holds Christmas concerts through December, so check the programme before you go. Many restaurants serve Christmas menus all month.
Britannia Hotel
The lobby at Britannia Hotel in Trondheim.
Where to stay near the Christmas market
Torvet is in the very centre, so every hotel in the Midtbyen district is a short walk away. See more in our guide to the best hotels in Trondheim.
Britannia Hotel: minutes from Torvet
Britannia stands on Dronningens gate, a short walk from the market. After an evening in the lavvo you can have a drink in the bar or dinner at Speilsalen. Right for a Christmas weekend with a little extra.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Britannia Hotel
Quality Hotel Prinsen
Quality Hotel Prinsen in central Trondheim.
Quality Hotel Prinsen: next to the market
Prinsen is on Kongens gate, right by Torvet. Step outside and you are in the middle of the market, with Nidaros Cathedral and Bakklandet within walking distance. A practical choice if you want a central base without grand hotel prices.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Quality Hotel Prinsen
Good to know before you go
Free entry: you only pay for what you buy, plus the Ferris wheel.
Dress for the cold: you will be outside for hours, often below freezing with wind off the fjord.
Book your hotel early: December weekends fill with office parties and Christmas shoppers.
Bring a card: most stalls take cards, though a few small exhibitors prefer Vipps, the Norwegian payment app.
Trondheim Christmas market: frequently asked questions
When is the Trondheim Christmas market in 2026?
The market runs on Torvet square from 3 to 21 December 2026.
Where is the Trondheim Christmas market?
It is held on Torvet, the main square in central Trondheim, around the statue of Olav Tryggvason.
Is the Trondheim Christmas market free?
Yes, entry is free.
What food is there at the Trondheim Christmas market?
Reindeer burgers, bacalao, rømmeboller, marzipan and beer from local breweries are among what you will find in the stalls and the lavvo.