If you’re visiting Trondheim, chances are you’ll be flying. From ground transport to dining options, check out this complete guide to Trondheim Airport Værnes, the gateway to central Norway.
Having lived in Trondheim for more than ten years now, I’ve become very familiar with getting to and from my adopted hometown. The majority of international visitors will fly here, whether that’s direct, or via Oslo.
It’s been expanded over the years, and Trondheim's international airport is now an efficient, spacious place. Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Trondheim and central Norway by air.
Table of Contents
Welcome to Central Norway
Unfortunately, the airport’s location at the end of the Trondheimsfjord is problematic for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's 32km (20 miles) east of the city of Trondheim, so getting there takes a while.
Secondly, airplanes frequently suffer from turbulence on approach to the one runway at Værnes, regardless of whether you approach from the fjord or over the mountains to the south-east of the airport.
Trondheim Travel Resources: Visiting Trondheim? Perhaps you’ll find these articles and resources useful:
🇳🇴 Article: Things To Do in Trondheim
🤒 Article: Travel Insurance in Norway
💻 Article: Where to Find Free Wi-Fi
😴 Resource: Book a Hotel in Trondheim
🚘 Resource: Car Rental from Trondheim Airport
🚐 Resource: Book Tours and Experiences in Trondheim
That being said, the pilots of SAS, Norwegian, and Widerøe are well accustomed to the winds at Værnes. So, don't let the windy conditions worry you! It’s also perfectly possible not to feel any turbulence at all, of course. It all depends on conditions on the day.
How to Travel to/from the Airport
For most visitors, the airport coach will be the easiest way to reach the city centre. However, I much prefer the train!
It’s more comfortable and much cheaper, but whether it’s the right choice for you will depend on your ultimate destination. Read on to discover the details about each option.
Airport Coach
Airport coach operator Værnesekspressen runs two different routes, but both call at all the stops in the city centre.
The coaches leave from directly outside the domestic arrivals hall and take around 30-35 minutes to reach Trondheim city centre. There will always be a bus on hand to take you the centre no matter when your flight arrives.
Just ask the staff if you have a specific hotel requirement, although they are usually announced by the driver together with the stops.
You can check routes, departure times and buy tickets online. Although you can buy tickets on the coach, I do recommend buying a ticket online in advance as they are cheaper.
There’s been quite the price hike in recent years, so booking in advance is better value than ever before. One of the reasons for the hike is that there are now two ticket types: low price, and full flex.
Low price is valid for a specific departure booked in advance. However, this is obviously difficult for an airport coach when planes are frequently late, so the ticket is valid for up to two hours before and ten hours after the specific departure you choose.
Full-flex tickets are useful if you think your plans might change. They are valid for up to 15 days before and after your choice of departure.
If you can book at least a day in advance, you’ll find the low price ticket at NOK 205 and the full-flex ticket at NOK 255. Both tickets are more expensive on the day. Discounts are available for children, seniors, students and airport staff.
Local Train
You can also travel on the local train service. The airport station, named Trondheim Lufthavn, has recently been improved with an indoor waiting area and direct access to the terminal building.
The train service to Trondheim S (meaning central, not south!) is speedy (40 minutes) and much cheaper at just NOK 43. However, the services are much less frequent than the coaches.
The ticket is the same one used on buses in Trondheim. That means it’s valid for a transfer on to a local bus once you reach the city, if required.
Expect hourly departures throughout the daytime, with fewer departures in the evening and on weekends. Bear in mind this isn’t a specific airport service, so there will be commuters and other local travellers too. Check timetables on En Tur.
Taxi
Generally, I don’t recommend using taxis in Norway because of the high prices. However, it can be useful to take a taxi to/from Trondheim Airport if you are a group and/or have a lot of luggage.
Multiple taxi operators serve the airport. Fares are regulated and there is a maximum price for airport trips, so be sure to ask for this price before the journey starts. All taxis take credit cards.
Check-in & Security
Most Norwegians check-in online or via the apps provided by SAS and Norwegian. If you can't or would rather do it at the airport, the departures section of the airport is easy to navigate.
You are strongly encouraged to use the automated process, which involves entering your details at a terminal screen which will assign your seat and print baggage labels.
You then attach the labels and use a barcode scanner to send your bags on their way at a “Bag Drop” desk. Both SAS and Norwegian have permanent staff on hand should you require any assistance, while KLM and other airlines have staff in the hours before their departures.
There is one security area for all departures, although there is a fast lane for those with the appropriate tickets. Security tends to take no longer than 5 minutes, although you should allow up to 15 minutes during the morning or afternoon rush.
Domestic Flights to/from Trondheim
Once you are through security, you come into the domestic terminal which is essentially one long corridor with shops, bathrooms and restaurants along one side, and gates along the other.
Food outlets include an O'Leary's sports bar, a fried chicken fast food outlet, a Northland outlet that sells filled baguettes, ahealth food and juice bar, and a coffee shop. Shops include a bookshop, clothes shop, and a shop selling perfumes and cosmetics.
To the left, you’ll find an escalator down to the annex from where most Widerøe regional flights arrive and leave. There is a small cafe down here along with comfortable seating areas.
International Flights to/from Trondheim
To reach the international terminal, turn right once you are through security and walk the length of the domestic terminal.
Go through the doors and follow the signs around to the right, through the customs point and down the stairs (lift available) to the international terminal. You arrive in the spacious Duty Free store, which is shared by departing and arriving passengers.
The international terminal is small but has a restaurant, bar and kiosk selling food, drinks and snacks throughout the day. At the far end of the terminal is the non-Schengen area which can only be accessed via passport control.
Passengers for London Gatwick will need to pass through here, but once you are through there are no facilities other than a water fountain and bathroom, so most passengers tend to wait in the main area until shortly before boarding begins.
Unlike the domestic terminal, there are no jet bridges to the aircraft, so all passengers are required to walk outside the terminal and out to the plane. Bear this in mind if you are travelling in the winter!
Lounges at Trondheim Airport
One of the biggest benefits of frequent flyer status is the ability to use lounges at airports. These provide a comfortable retreat from the bustle.
For several years, there was a SAS Cafe Lounge, an area with basic snacks, tea/coffee and juices, accessible to those flying in SAS Plus, or holding Eurobonus Gold or Diamond status.
However, this has now closed permanently. As of October 2024, there are now no lounges at all at Trondheim Airport.
Arrivals
Passengers from domestic flight arrivals all converge into one arrivals hall which is open to the public. In addition to the three luggage belts, this area of the airport is home to the main offices, lost luggage, a Point kiosk and a coffee shop.
The departures hall can be found immediately upstairs. There is an elevator and a set of stairs. Taking the train? From the arrivals hall, follow the sign to the train station to avoid having to go outside.
Trondheim Travel Resources: Visiting Trondheim? Perhaps you’ll find these articles and resources useful:
🇳🇴 Article: Things To Do in Trondheim
🤒 Article: Travel Insurance in Norway
💻 Article: Where to Find Free Wi-Fi
😴 Resource: Book a Hotel in Trondheim
🚘 Resource: Car Rental from Trondheim Airport
🚐 Resource: Book Tours and Experiences in Trondheim
International arrivals move through a separate part of the airport to collect their bags before passing through customs.
Once through customs, passengers walk down a long corridor and emerge into the domestic arrivals hall, from where the airport coaches, train station, taxis, car hire and airport hotels are all within easy reach.
Car Rental at Trondheim Airport
Vehicle rentals should be booked in advance. On arrival at Værnes, leave the domestic arrivals terminal and cross the road towards the car park. You will see the car rental agencies located in a small building in front and to the right of the car park.
Hotels at Trondheim Airport
Staying close to the airport is a popular choice for those arriving on the late flights from London Gatwick and Copenhagen.
There is a Radisson Blu hotel immediately adjacent to the terminal building. Expect to pay around NOK 1,250 for a double room. Premium rooms offer apron and runway views.
Advantages of staying here include a generous breakfast buffet that begins as early as 5.30am on weekdays, and the ability to stay just minutes away from your gate.
A nearby alternative is the Scandic Hell hotel, with similar prices and facilities. The hotel is a 10-minute walk away from the terminal, via the signed footpath that runs past the Radisson hotel and railway station entrance.
Personally, I don’t suggest staying here unless it’s the summer. The risk of getting soaked on the walk just isn’t worth any potential saving. And of course, this is Norway, so it can rain int eh summer too!
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Trondheim Airport, and that it answered any questions you may have had. Let me know any other queries you may have down in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Hi, My daughter and I are arriving in Trondheim at 10:00 pm from London on June 22nd. We would like to stay at the Radisson Blu in the center of Trondheim but have been told the taxi cost is approimately $62.00 USD. Is there a more economical way to get to the city center at that time of night? We didn’t know if the buses or trains operate that late. Otherwise, we can stay at Radisson Blu at the airport but we are leaving Trondheim the next day on a cruise and would like to visit the city of Trondheim before we leave. Thank you so much for any information you can provide.
Yes there will be buses 🙂
I am arriving at mid-night (00.25 hours) on 15th June, 2109 at Trondheim airport and is there any bus or train to the Trondheim City during that time?
As it says in the article: “There will always be a bus on hand to take you the centre no matter when your flight arrives.”
Are there Simm card or mobile carrier stores in the Trondheim Airport? International or domestic terminal???What are the costs?
Is Flybussen Trondheim permanently closed as of 2021? According to Google Maps it is and on their website I don’t see Trondheim Airport as an option. The other bus option Værnes-Ekspressen seems to be running every 20 minutes. Please advise. Thanks for your helpful article on navigating this airport!
Hi, yes, Værnesekspressen took over the contract so they are the only bus provider now. I will update the article.