Trondheim 2025 – this decade’s biggest ski festival in Norway

Snow-covered peaks, ski trails within easy reach, and quaint wooden houses lining cobblestoned roads – if you have not visited Trondheim yet, this winter offers the perfect occasion to do so. From 26 February to 9 March, the city hosts the Nordic World Ski Championship (WSC), in the words of its organisers; “the biggest ski festival in Norway this decade.” The WSC 2025 will be characterised by the rich traditions, warm local community, and powerful nature of its home region, Trøndelag.

Since 2014, the Norwegian Ski Federation has laboured to secure the Nordic World Ski Championship in Trondheim, and in February, the work pays off. With 930 participants from more than 65 nations and a projected 220,000 spectators, the event looks set to become a celebration of sports, culture, sustainability, and equality.

Bordering Trondheim, the vast Bymarka Nature Reserve provides ample opportunities for skiing and hiking. Photo: Mykola Ksenofonto

“We are the first ever world ski championship to have a para event included inside the event. We don’t organise it afterwards but instead have it in between other events,” explains Åge Skinstad, head of Trondheim 2025. “We are also the first championship to have the same distances for men and women, and we offer the same prize money for men and women, something we are very proud of.”

Spanning 12 days, the event’s programme will include cross-country, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and para cross-country, centred around the Granåsen Ski Centre, 15 minutes outside Trondheim. All participants will be transported to and from the event on electric buses.

Meanwhile, an extensive cultural programme alongside the sports will turn the beautiful city of Trondheim into a folk festival. On Torget, the city’s main square, ceremonies and concerts will be free for everyone to watch. At the same time, Granåsen will offer four stages for cultural events by performers from all over Norway as well as a children’s area.

Photo: Mykola Ksenofontov

Beauty, history and nature

Set by the Trondheim Fjord and the Nidelva River, the city of Trondheim is flanked by a stunning scenery of snow-covered peaks. Just ten minutes from the city centre, the vast Bymarka Natural Reserve offers a host of outdoor activities and adventures. Moreover, the city itself is full of charm, as well as historic and cultural attractions, all within easy distance.

“What I love most about Trondheim and Trøndelag is the mix between city life and beautiful nature,” says Hanne Rofstad, one of the locals participating in the WSC. “The city of Trondheim has a rich history, including the revered Nidaros Cathedral, charming wooden houses and cultural elements within art and music,” explains the cross-country skier, who was, in her own words “born and raised right by the forest border and the world championship arena.”

Rofstad adds; “If you get tired of city life, you don’t have to travel far to get to Bymarka [Natural Park], which is one of my absolute favourite places around Trondheim. I’ve spent countless training sessions here, both in winter and summer.”

Cross-country skier Hanne Rofstad will represent the Trondheim-based club Byåsen IL in the Nordic World Ski Championships (WSC). Photo: Ola Klæbo

An incubator for ski talents

Rofstad is just one of many local skiers participating in the event. Indeed, skiing is highly popular among locals, as seen by the many young skiers carrying skis to buses heading towards the nearby tracks. “We have excellent training facilities for cross-country skiing,” stresses Skinstad. “We have around six or seven kilometres of roller ski tracks, where it’s also easy to add snow in winter. To have this training ground, in both summer and winter, is positive when it comes to recruiting young skiers but also makes it easy to organise a world championship. You need to add more spectator facilities and tribunes, but the rest is already there.”

Indeed, the area’s many tracks and opportunities for skiers have fostered a list of famous cross-country skiers, including Oddvar Brå, Marit Bjørgen, Petter Northug and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

The 12-day WSC programme will include crosscountry, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and para cross-country. Photo: Ski-VM 2025

It will be magical

As a visitor to Trondheim, outside of the WSC, you have free access to the many cross-country tracks that start from the Granåsen Ski Centre and elsewhere. All you have to pay for is the bus ticket and ski rental (if not bringing your own, skis can be rented in various locations), and you can explore the vast network of trails. So whether you decide to visit Trondheim to watch or participate in winter sports, you are sure to have a spectacular experience.

The 12-day WSC programme will include crosscountry, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and para cross-country. Photo: Ski-VM 2025

But the WSC offers a chance to experience the stunning landscape during what is sure to be an electrifying celebration of sports and culture. In the words of cross-country skier Rofstad; “Having the WSC in Trondheim offers a chance to experience the world’s best skiers in action, something that doesn’t happen every day. The fact that it’s happening so close to where I live makes it special – just 1.5 kilometres away. With the energy and atmosphere, I can only imagine it will be magical!”

For more information about the WSC, Trondheim and Trøndelag, see below.

www.trondheim2025.no
www.visittrondheim.no
www.trondelag.com

30 minutes by car from Trondheim, skiers can enjoy the grand scenery and thrilling slopes of Vassfjellet Alpine Center. Photo: Vassfjellet

30 minutes by car from Trondheim, skiers can enjoy the grand scenery and thrilling slopes of Vassfjellet Alpine Center. Photo: Vassfjellet

With its coloured houses and cobblestoned roads, Bakklandet is full of history and charm. Photo: Mykola Ksenofontov

Five tips from a local:
Cross-country skier Hanne Rofstad shares her five favourite places in Trondheim and Trøndelag.

Røros (Trøndelag)
Røros is located about a two-hour drive from Trondheim and holds a very special place, as my family has a house in the middle of the town where I grew up and frequently visit. Røros is a historic mining town and part of UNESCO's World Heritage List. The old, colourful wooden houses and the authentic atmosphere give the place a special charm. Being there feels like travelling back in time, and it has been a tradition for me to visit the Rørosmartnan (Røros Market) every year.

Oppdal (Trøndelag)
Oppdal offers breathtaking nature and is a paradise for outdoor experiences. In winter, this is an excellent place for skiing, with alpine resorts and beautiful cross-country trails. The mountains here are slightly higher than, for instance, those in Røros, making this ideal for ski touring in winter and spring. In summer, it’s perfect for hiking and climbing. Oppdal always provides opportunities for adventure, which is what makes it special to me.

Steinkjer (Trøndelag)
Two hours from Trondheim, Steinkjer is beautifully situated by the fjord and boasts many wonderful natural areas. During my years as a cross-country skier, I have attended numerous training camps here and skied many miles on roller skis along its country roads! I have also been running in the Skjækerfjella National Park, which is a must-see. It has stunning nature and is also a lovely town to visit.

Bymarka (Trondheim)
Bymarka is Trondheim’s own wilderness and a fantastic place for year-round outings. Here, you can hike, jog, ski, or simply enjoy the tranquillity by one of the many lakes. It is also worth visiting one of the many forest lodges, such as Grønlia, Elgsethytta, Rønningen, or Skistua. I love coming here to disconnect from city life – nature provides calm and renewal, almost like a kind of therapy. Highly recommended!

Bakklandet (Trondheim)
Bakklandet, with its cosy wooden houses and cobblestone streets, is one of Trondheim’s most charming areas. When I head into the city, it is lovely to go for a walk along the Nidelva River, enjoy a coffee at one of the small cafés, and just soak in the atmosphere. Bakklandet is a place where there is always something new to discover, and it feels like the heart of Trondheim.