Steinkjer is Trøndelag’s saga-layered fjord basin — a municipality where Viking chieftains once ruled, reindeer leap from Stone Age carvings, and a silver six-pointed star gleams on the coat of arms. With around 24,000 residents and a landscape shaped by the Beitstadfjord, Snåsavatnet lake, and the villages of Egge, Kvam, and Mære, Steinkjer is the kind of place where you can hike past burial mounds, explore post-war architecture, and still sip spruce tea beside a cathedral crowned with Weidemann’s stained glass. It’s got grit, grandeur, and a name that may stem from *Steinker* — “stone barrier.”
Top Attractions
- Kystriksveien – scenic coastal road starting in Steinkjer and stretching 650 km to Bodø
- Egge Museum – open-air museum with Viking history, farm buildings & burial sites
- Bølareinen – 6,000-year-old rock carving of a reindeer, bear & skier
- Steinkjer Church – neo-cathedral with Weidemann’s stained glass & 38 m tower
- Mære Church – Romanesque stone church built over a pagan temple site
Unique Experiences
- Oftenåsen Chair Hike – climb to the world’s largest garden chair with fjord views
- Den Gyldne Omvei – “Golden Detour” of local food, art & scenic farm stops
- Dampsaga Waterpark – pools, slides & spa in a repurposed sawmill
- Trifolium Labyrinth – clover-shaped maze in the city center
- Lykkeland – indoor play park with laser tag, bowling & climbing walls
Places to Stay
Search hotels, cabins & guesthouses in Steinkjer
Where to Eat
Explore top-rated restaurants in Steinkjer
Getting There
Steinkjer lies at the innermost arm of the Trondheimsfjord, with train and road access via the E6. The area is best explored by boots, bike, or bold curiosity — especially if you’re chasing rune echoes, reindeer lore, or the hush of pine needles beside a stone carving.
