Located where the Stordalselva River meets Trondheimsfjord, Stjørdal is a lively town in the coastal Stjørdalen region. It’s home to Trondheim Airport and the village of Hell, which has become a tourist attraction due to its famous railway sign. Stjørdal is within easy access to the architectural landmarks of Trondheim and the natural landscapes of Skarvan and Roltdalen National Park.
Things to do in Stjørdal
For a unique memento, have your photograph taken in front of the Hell railway station sign, which reads “Hell - Gods Expedition” (an archaic Norwegian spelling for the phrase “goods handling”). You can also pick up postcards of the station covered in snow and featuring the words “Hell Frozen Over”, with temperatures regularly dropping to −25 degrees Celsius in the winter months.
Stjørdal is a convenient base for exploring Trondheim, which is watched over by the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral, the 11th-century Nidaros Cathedral. Get up close to religious sculptures and archaeological finds at the Archbishop’s Palace Museum before wandering between the colourfully painted wooden warehouses in the Bakklandet neighbourhood.
To the east of Stjørdal lies Skarvan and Roltdalen National Park, an untouched area of rugged mountains and dense forests that’s dotted with cultural monuments. Follow one of the hiking trails that lead between the remains of copper mines and traditional sheep grazing farms, as well as old settlements used by the region’s indigenous Sami people.
Getting around Stjørdal
Trondheim Airport is located on the southern edge of Stjørdalshalsen and has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to Stjørdal railway station from central Trondheim while buses travel to the surrounding towns and villages. The centre of Stjørdalshalsen is compact enough to explore on foot.