311 bus takes about 50 minutes to Trondheim city

Trondheim Airport Værnes uses public buses as the budget play into town, with routes like 311 reported as both faster and cheaper than the train if you can handle a short walk. Typical travel time into central Trondheim sits around 50 minutes in normal traffic, which matches the train on most days but often beats it door-to-door if the timing lines up.

Bus 311 doesn’t stop directly at the terminal doors; expect roughly 300 meters of walking from terminals A/B to the nearest stop, which Reddit regulars still accept because the fare undercuts other options. If you’re carrying one small cabin bag, that 300 m feels fine; dragging a 23 kg checked bag in winter rain feels less fun.

The airport express coach (Vaernesekspressen/Flybussen) is the easier choice with bags, since it picks up at the curb outside arrivals in terminal A and B. It runs roughly every 30 minutes for most of the day, which makes it a reliable backup when the train just left and the next departure is 29 minutes away.

Pricing is the catch: the express coach can cost more than the train on a standard adult ticket bought day-of, while route 311 is often the cheapest of the three. Regulars cut costs by buying coach tickets online in advance, since walk-up fares at the airport kiosk or on board are usually higher by several NOK per person.

Off-peak, you still get a 30-minute pattern on the express bus, but people complain that if you just miss one departure, the half-hour wait feels long standing outside terminal B at 22:30 in January. That’s where the train wins if it happens to be leaving within 10–15 minutes and you don’t mind the extra walk to the station.

Step-by-step from arrivals to Trondheim by public bus

1. Exit baggage claim in terminal A or B and follow the “Bus” signs toward the curb; this takes about 2–3 minutes on foot.
2. For the airport express coach, find the signed stop directly outside the terminal doors; check the digital display for the next departure time and line name.
3. For route 311, walk roughly 300 meters following local “Buss 311” or road signs toward the public-road stop; factor in 5–7 minutes with luggage.
4. Buy tickets on your phone if possible: use the official app or the operator’s website before boarding to avoid higher day-of coach fares.
5. Board through the front door, show your ticket or pay the driver, then keep your luggage in the racks up front so you can exit quickly at Trondheim S or your city stop.

One practical tip: check both the train and bus 311 timetables before you exit Wi‑Fi at TRD; pick whichever leaves within 10–15 minutes, then commit so you’re not bouncing between the platform and the bus stop.