After reading some accounts of how overly touristy it was, we were initially hesitant to visit the town of Geiranger with kids. Thankfully, we like to make our own decisions about where to travel and after looking at some pictures of the world-famous Geirangerfjord, we instantly tell this was a special place that we didn’t want to pass up.
Geirangerfjord, the long & winding fjord which leads to the town of Geiranger, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing ‘West Norwegian Fjords’ (with Nærøyfjord). It is often referred to as the “jewel in the crown” of the Norwegian fjords.
Read More
Still looking for ideas for your family vacation to Norway? In our post on Traveling to Norway with Kids, we share destination ideas, our itinerary, and more!
This post contains compensated links.
How to Get to Geiranger with Kids
Driving a Rental Car to Geiranger
Some families may find it fun to rent a car in Ålesund and drive what is considered one of the toughest stretches of road in Norway from Trollstigen to Geiranger. Note that some of the Road 63 segments (incl. Trollstigen) are seasonal; openings depend on weather and are typically mid-May to October / November.
The incredible Trollstigen Road was the highlight of our Norway road trip with kids, which also took us to Molde and the Atlantic Road.
Hurtigruten Ferry from Ålesund to Geiranger
Since we had already experienced traveling in Norway by train (from Oslo to Bergen), and in a car, we were excited to add a new mode of transportation to our family trip to Norway.
Known as one of the most beautiful fjords in the world and also one of Norway’s most famous attractions, we wanted to see the entire length of Geirangerfjord from the water.
After spending 5 amazing days in Ålesund with kids, we booked a port-to-port passage on the Hurtigruten coastal ferry which took us directly from Ålesund down the full length of the Geirangerfjord to Geiranger.
We stayed a few nights in Geiranger then took the Hurtigruten back to Ålesund a couple of days later, giving us one more chance to soak in the incredible Norwegian fjord scenery.
Browse Hurtigruten Tickets to Geiranger
Where to Stay in Geiranger
Despite reading that the town of Geiranger was very touristy, we knew we would want to stay a couple of nights once we were there. With two small kids, we try to avoid hotels and instead looked for alternate accommodations.
Norway is a very expensive place to travel, and accommodations in Geiranger can be very costly. We were traveling to Norway on a budget, so we were hoping to find an affordable, kid-friendly place to stay in Geiranger.
We were lucky to find there was still availability at the Fjorden Campinghytter cabins. Though it was 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Geiranger in Homlong, we would still have access to groceries (to be picked up when we arrived) and we could easily walk this distance.
Fjorden Campinghytter has two different options for cabins. We opted for the larger cabin which had private toilet facilities, full kitchen facilities and a separate bedroom. This could not have worked out better.
It was a struggle to carry our kids, our bags and groceries the 1.5 miles (2.5km) to our cabin, but once we were there it was bliss. We were on the other side of the fjord, right on the water’s edge with the most incredible view.
The cabins have a large outdoor area, which was perfect to let the kids run around, and a jetty where you could rent boats to tour the fjord.
The layout of our cabin was also ideal. There were two single beds in the bedroom, which we used for the kids. The couch converted to two single beds in an L shape, which we happily used for ourselves as we got to wake up to the incredible views right out the window.
Browse family-friendly Geiranger Accommodations
Getting to Geiranger on the Hurtigruten Ferry
The Hurtigruten voyage was even more beautiful than expected. The entire four hour voyage from Ålesund to Geiranger we were treated to views of towering mountains, waterfalls and charming farms all along the way.
The only small downside was that it rained off and on during our passage, so being outside the entire time was not feasible. Instead, we parked ourselves in the bakery/coffee shop on the 7th floor where they had a little play area for the kids.
This, plus the occasional walk around the ship, made it pretty easy to occupy the kids for the 4 hour voyage. With the kids occupied, we were able to take turns going outside to enjoy the view.
Though we were only day-trip passengers on the cruise ship (you can book long overnight journies along the Norwegian coast), they had a luggage storage room where we were able to drop off our backpack carriers.
Once the Hurtigruten arrived in Geiranger, a shuttle boat brought us to shore, we stopped for groceries then walked 30 minutes along a gravel road to our cabin.
Browse Hurtigruten Tickets to Geiranger
Things to Do in Geiranger with Kids
Geiranger Hiking: Skageflå Hike
The number one thing on our list of things to do in Geiranger with kids was the Skageflå hike to a historic mountain farm perched on the steep mountainside overlooking the fjord.
Luckily, this iconic Geiranger hike begins in Homlong, which was right where our cabin was located. In fact, the Skageflå hiking trail began right from our cabin’s property line!
As was typical on our family trip to Norway, we woke up to rain once again, so we took our time getting ready. And once again, we were rewarded (or so we thought) with the rain stopping shortly after we started our hike.
The overnight rain transformed the hiking trail into slippery rocks and mud. Not unfamiliar to us given our recent slippery family hike in Ålesund, but treacherous none the less. We knew from our past experience that going up, despite the steep incline, would likely be easier than coming back down.
The first 1,600 feet (500 m) or so was especially bad, with large, smooth, slick rocks with moss to navigate over. After this section, the trail became more structured, but was still rocky and muddy. Once the rain stopped, it was reasonably pleasant weather to hike in.
This hike was one of the hardest of our entire 25-day family trip to Norway – the conditions were bad and we climbed as high as 1,800 feet (550 m) over 1.9 miles (3 km) in distance. It was short, steep and slippery.
We aren’t complaining though, it was worth it. There were several stunning viewpoints of waterfalls and the fjord along the way. The forest we hiked through was especially lush and dense, making it even more enjoyable.
Making it to the Homlongsaetra farm was definitely an accomplishment on this day with kids on our backs. Though, I had personally really wanted to make it to Skageflå, travelling with kids means making the best decision for everyone.
Continuing on to Skageflå would have meant hiking down a very steep area over a short distance which we would have had to climb back up on the return. The hike had already taken us longer than expected, the kids were over it and we knew the challenging, slippery trail conditions waiting for us on the return trip.
This is not in any way downplaying how spectacular the Homlongsaetra farm was. It truly was some of the most impressive scenery we had seen in Norway. There were two buildings, both with grass and flowers growing on the roof, and the area was cleared, so there were great views of the fjords and waterfalls. A very special place – amongst the best views we’ve ever had on a hike anywhere in the world.
You can view the Homlong – Skageflå Mountainfarm hiking map on AllTrails.
Waterfall Walk
Our original plans for our visit to Geiranger with kids were more ambitious. We had planned to do a couple more hikes to some lookouts, but with the rain and carrying kids, we opted to take it easy. And our legs thanked us for it.
In the afternoon, we let our kids walk the 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from our cabin to town. It took us twice as long, but it was good for them to have time to run around and have fun.
Once in town, we climbed the 327 steps to the top of the Geiranger waterfall, which has an incredibly powerful and impressive flow. The waterfall was worth the visit as were the views looking back at the fjord.
On our final morning in Geiranger with kids, we made good use of the outdoor area around our cabins and let the kids run wild. They especially loved the boat dock, though it made us slightly nervous with our toddler on there.
Final Thoughts – Geiranger with Kids
You never quite know how you’ll feel about a place until you are there, but we loved our time in Geirangerfjord with kids and in hindsight wished we had spent an extra day or two there.
Our cabin was comfortable and we loved the location. It was a really fun place to stay with the kids.
Touristy or not, we loved our visit Geiranger with kids. For families, it offers big views, great hikes, and easy ferry access into a tiny, spectacular place. It’s one of Norway’s most famous attractions for a reason!
Follow Along on our Family Trip to Norway
We hope you enjoyed reading about our visit to Geiranger with kids. It marked the end of our 25-day family trip to Norway. If you’d like to follow our trip from the beginning, it started with 5 days in Oslo with kids.
Before heading out on your own family trip, don’t miss our tips on how to pack for Norway with kids.
Found this post helpful? Pin It For Later!
Celine Brewer is a dedicated family travel blogger with a profound passion for helping families create unforgettable adventures together. Her blog blends captivating travel narratives with practical tips for family-friendly destinations and enjoying active travel with kids. As a mother of two, she understands the unique challenges of traveling with children and offers valuable insights to empower parents.
When Celine isn't traveling with her husband and two kids, she's either working on one of her three travel sites (Family Can Travel, Baby Can Travel and Travel Banff Canada) or out enjoying the majestic Canadian Rockies her family calls home.