Norway with Kids

A family vacation to Norway invites you into a world of dramatic landscapes, vibrant cities, and easy access to the outdoors. Fjords carve deep paths between steep mountains, ferries slide past waterfalls, and city neighborhoods sit within minutes of beautiful forests and waterfront paths. For nature loving families, there is no better place to visit than Norway with kids.

What we loved most about our family trip to Norway was how seamlessly city life and wild, accessible nature fit together. You can ride the metro and step onto a forest trail in twenty minutes, then be back in time for a museum, hot chocolate, and a harbor walk. That balance makes it easy to plan travel days which keep the whole family happy, mixing short hikes, hands-on exhibits, playground stops, and scenic viewpoints without long transfers.

This guide to traveling to Norway with kids is based on how we travel our children. We try to be outdoors as often as possible, with a cultural stops and fun for the kids mixed in along the way.

Everything in this post comes from our real 23-day trip to Norway with kids (with our 2 and 4-year-old children), along with the itinerary, practical notes and small lessons we picked up each day. We hope that you can use the information here to plan your own family adventure to Norway.

This post contains compensated links.

Planning a Norway Family Vacation

Norway is incredibly rewarding for families, and a little strategy goes a long way. Costs can be high, distances can be long, and summer weather changes quickly. A plan for timing, transportation, and lodging will keep your trip smooth and protect your budget, while still leaving room for spontaneity.

Norway is one of the most expensive countries to travel in Europe. I share my lessons learned on how to travel to Norway on a budget.

When To Visit Norway With kids

Our trip to Norway with kids was from late July through mid-August, which is the heart of the peak summer season. The summer season gives you the best shot at comfortable temperatures and long daylight, but weather in Norway is variable.

We had every type of weather on our trip to Norway. We had t-shirt afternoons and cozy fleece mornings, dry hikes with clear views and muddy climbs in steady rain. Cloudy periods with rain showers are common, so pack for the full range of conditions even in peak season. Layers and waterproofs help you enjoy the outdoors instead of sitting inside waiting for a window to clear.

It can be hard to pack for a family to a place like Norway with such a diverse climate. To help you out, I wrote a post on How to Pack for Norway with Kids.

High Season in Norway

July and August are the busiest months to visit Norway with kids. Scenic roads like Trollstigen carry steady traffic, and famous bases such as Geiranger feel busy all day long.

During high-season in Norway, you can expect more people at top viewpoints, popular museums, and on well-known trails. It is still very manageable with kids, especially if you start early, cluster activities that sit close together, and book a few key activities ahead of time.

Shoulder Season in Norway

Many high mountain routes close in winter, including Trollstigen, and typically open in mid-May. Conditions often stay favorable into October and sometimes November, depending on snow.

Late spring and early fall can be excellent for a family road trip in Norway. Main sights are accessible, weather can be stable, and crowd levels drop. If you like quieter trails and calm towns, consider these months, while keeping a close eye on road status and daylight hours.

How Long to Visit Norway With Kids

We spent 23 days in Norway with kids and loved having the time to really settle into each stop. That gave us the ability explore each stop at our own pace.

You do not need a month to have a great family trip to Norway. Our seven nights in Bergen confirmed that four or five days will cover the city and its most family-friendly hikes well.

Use our Norway family itinerary as a base for your family trip, then expand or contract it to match your timing. Shorter trips to Norway work best when you group activities by area and avoid too many long transfers.

Getting Around Norway With Kids

Our transportation strategy in Norway was based on several factors. In a country as beautiful as Norway, our biggest priority was to use our transportation to see as much scenery as possible. In addition, as we were traveling with kids, we needed to factor in convenience and cost.

Cities

We visited two large cities (Oslo and Bergen) on our Norway itinerary. In order to save money and see the most, we walked most places in the cities. Walking saves money and helps kids move between activities without extra logistics. Our kids were small, so when the distances were great, we carried them in our hiking backpack carriers.

We saved money on our family trip to Norway by renting apartments just outside the central areas of Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund. To get to the main tourist areas of these Norwegian cities, we used public transportation, which was simple, easy and (relatively) affordable.

Trains in Norway

Considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world, the train from Oslo to Bergen was a highlight of our trip. Book the family carriage for playtime and a calmer atmosphere during the long trip over the high plateau between the two biggest cities in Norway.

If you are interested in this amazing experience for your family, read more about it in our Norway family itinerary below.

Rental Cars

One of the things I like most about traveling to Europe with kids is how easy it is to get around without a car. That said, there are circumstances where a rental car is essential.

For our family road trip to the Atlantic Road and Trollstigen, we rented a car for a few days in Ålesund. This enabled us to see this remote region of Norway on our own schedule.

Flights

We were surprised to see that domestic flights within Norway were reasonably affordable. To save time on our Norway itinerary, we flew from Bergen to Ålesund.

Ferries

As mentioned, we highly recommend you combine transportation with scenery on your family trip to Norway. As with our scenic train journey between Oslo and Bergen, another exceptionally beautiful way to travel in Norway is the Hurtigruten ferry.

The Hurtigruten is a famous coastal ferry which runs along the entire coastline of Norway. You can book anything in-between short port-to-port trips to epic multi-day journeys.

Norway Itinerary & Best Things To Do With Kids

Now that we’ve discussed how to plan a Norway family vacation, here are the details of our own 23-day family Norway itinerary.

This itinerary follows our full 23 day family trip to Norway with a two-year-old and a four-year-old. It balances city time with short hikes, scenic rides, and flexible afternoons. We looked for hiking trails at every stop, from the forests on Oslo’s edge to steep paths high above Geirangerfjord.

Days 1 – 5: Oslo with kids

Oslo was an ideal start to our Norway vacation. One of our favorite kid-friendly cities in Europe, Oslo combines hands-on museums with green spaces and forest access that is surprisingly close.

We liked building days around one big morning activity and a simpler outdoor outing after lunch. For example, clustering several Bygdøy museums into one outing made good use of our 24-hour Oslo Pass, while keeping our walking manageable for small legs.

Frognerparken and Vigeland Sculpture Park

Frogner Park is the largest park in central Oslo and home to more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The central Monolith, the bronze figures along the bridge, and the fountain create a striking open-air gallery.

For kids, the wide lawns, paths, and excellent playground turn it into a morning that blends culture and free play. It is an easy win on your first day in Oslo when everyone needs fresh air and sunlight to help overcome jet lag.

Oslo Opera House

The white marble roof of the Oslo Opera House rises right out of the water and is meant to be walked on. Our kids treated it like a gentle climbing hill with harbor views at the top.

It is free, central, and a perfect stop on the way to other sights. Bring a windbreaker on cooler days and take a slow lap to enjoy the angles and reflections. Funny as it sounds, the Oslo Opera House was one of our kids’ favorite things to do in Oslo.

Nordmarka Forest Hike

We rode the T-Bane from central Oslo and were on a hiking trail in the forest about twenty minutes later – love that!!

Our hiking route to Sognsvann was roughly six kilometers and moved between wide tracks and singletrack with small bridges and streams. The lake loop is stroller-friendly with docks, a small beach, and picnic tables. It shows how quickly you can swap city noise for birds and tall pines.

Bygdøy Peninsula Museums

We devoted a day to the Bygdøy peninsula and made the most of our 24-hour Oslo Pass. Our kids loved the Viking Ship Museum, while the ‘Moana boats’ at the Kon-Tiki Museum were a huge hit with our kids.

Keeping the sense of adventure alive at the Fram Museum, our kids climbed aboard a polar ship, pressed buttons, and explored cabins. You’d be hard pressed to name three other museums which you can visit back-to-back which offer so much adventure and imagination for young kids!

Note: The Viking Ship Museum is closed for rebuilding and is scheduled to reopen as the Museum of the Viking Age in 2027.

Hovedøya Island

A quick & easy five-minute ferry ride from Oslo takes you to Hovedøya Island, a nature reserve with forest paths, coastal viewpoints, and the ruins of a medieval monastery. We carried our kids part of the way in backpack carriers, then let them walk the easier sections.

Akershus Fortress

This waterfront fortress is free to enter and good for a flexible hour outside. At Akershus Fortress, you can walk the walls, look out over the harbor, and let kids climb on the old cannons. It works well as a calmer break between busier stops.

Akerselva River Walk

For our final day in Oslo with kids, we enjoyed the very popular Akerselva River Walk. This beautiful urban hike follows the river’s downhill path into the center.

On this easy family walk, you can expect parks, bridges, mills, small waterfalls, and a few playgrounds that make perfect short pauses. We stopped halfway at the red cottage café, Hønse-Lovisas hus, for some very tasty waffles.

Day 6: Scenic Train Journey From Oslo to Bergen

The Bergen Railway is a seven-hour trip across Northern Europe’s highest mainline rail route. Forest gives way to open rock and snow patches on the Hardangervidda plateau, then the train drops through narrow valleys toward the coast. We took more photos from our seats on this day than almost any other on our family trip to Norway.

The Family Carriage Playroom

We highly recommend you book seats in the family carriage with Vy if you can. The small playroom has books, toys, and a climbing nook. Our kids rotated between playtime and snacks, which turned a long travel day into a calm one. We really enjoyed not having to worry about our kids being too loud for the other passengers – the family carriage took all that stress away!

Days 7 – 14: Bergen with kids

Bergen’s historic wharf, ring of mountains, and busy harbor give it a special feel. Rain is common is Bergen, so we kept our rain pants and jackets nearby at all times. We spent a full week in Bergen with kids, but we feel that for most families that four to five days is a solid amount of time for most families to cover the highlights and enjoy a few trails.

Bryggen

The UNESCO-listed Hanseatic wharf is at its best before the tour groups arrive. Our kids loved exploring the creaky wooden alleys and the narrow passages between the colorful façades. We finished our visit to Bryggen with a warm skillingbolle from a nearby bakery and a slow walk along the waterfront.

Mt. Fløyen Hike

Most visitors to Bergen will take the funicular up to the amazing Mt. Fløyen viewpoint. In our family, we call funiculars “fun-killers“, so we eagerly enjoyed a family hike up the forest path up the mountain. The Mt. Fløyen hiking trail climbs steadily with incredible viewpoints over the harbor.

At the top of Mt. Fløyen you will find a playground and the short Troll Forest loop with carved wooden trolls tucked among the trees (our kids loved this!). We rewarded our kids for a great family outing with a hot chocolate from the café.

Sandviksfjellet Hike

The Sandviksfjellet hiking trail climbs a long series of stone steps through old forest with small waterfalls beside the path. It’s a steep and strenuous hiking, especially with backpack carriers, but the scenery and the views from the top make the effort worthwhile. From the summit you can connect to Fløyen’s gentler paths and turn the descent into a loop.

Bergen Aquarium

On a wet morning we headed for the Bergen Aquarium, where our kids enjoyed the shark tunnel and a touch pool. In addition, the penguins, seals, and sea lions kept our two kids captivated.

Fjord Tour to Mostraumen

Although we had a fjord journey scheduled later in our Norway family itinerary, we couldn’t wait to see some of the famous Norwegian coastline. We booked a three-hour fjord tour from the Bergen harbor which delivered on the amazing coastal views, passing small settlements, cliffs, and tall waterfalls along the way.

At one point deep in the fjord, the crew took the boat close enough to one waterfall that we all got to try drinking the water. When the wind picked up the indoor cabin was a comfortable base, and we traded turns on deck.

Days 15 – 16: Road trip to the Atlantic Road and Trollstigen

After an amazing week in Bergen, we flew to Ålesund, grabbed a rental car, and began our short Norway road trip focused on two classic routes.

The Atlantic Road

This short, but dramatic coastal road links islands over eight bridges. The famous Storseisundet span gives the road its iconic curve. We enjoyed the views of the bridges from the boardwalk at the information center.

Varden Viewpoint Hike

Our vacation rental host suggested this forest walk above Molde. The trail climbs steadily through a beautiful forest to a lookout with the town, fjord, and a long line of 200+ peaks as far as the eye can see. The clouds cleared just as we got to the top, rewarding us with some of the most spectacular views of our entire family trip to Norway!

Trollstigen

One of the most famous roads in Norway, the Trollstigen Road features eleven hairpin turns which pass by big waterfalls. Near the top you drive so close to the Stigfossen waterfall that I needed to turn my wiper blades on!

At the top of Trollstigen, we enjoyed a walk in the visitor center which has metal walkways that lead to two dramatic viewpoints over the road and valley.

I was very nervous about driving the Trollstigen road, so we got there as early as possible. This strategy helped us avoid heavy traffic and large buses on the tight hairpins. From the top, we could notice the road getting noticeably busier towards the end of our visit.

Days 17 – 20 and 23: Ålesund with Kids

Ålesund became our base for all of our northern Norway family adventures. We began and ended our road trip here, as well as our Hurtigruten fjord adventure to Geiranger.

After a 1904 fire the center of Ålesund was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style, which gives the streets a consistent and charming look. The local bus system made it simple to reach the harbor, the aquarium, and several trailheads, which allowed us to return our rental car early.

Aksla Viewpoint

Aside from its Art Nouveau district, Ålesund is most famous for the dramatic view from the Aksla Viewpoint. To get there, you can climb 418 steps from Town Park or take a wooded trail to the top – depending on where you start.

The view from the Aksla viewpoint is breathtaking, with islands, rooftops, and open water all around. Town Park has a large playground that works well as a post-viewpoint reward stop.

Art Nouveau District

We enjoyed a slow, meandering stroll through Ålesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau district. Without a specific destination in mind, we let the kids choose which way we went, turning it into a fun family game.

Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium

We have visited tons of aquariums around the world, so I can say with confidence that Ålesund is home to an aquarium which has one of the most impressive tanks in the world. The Atlantic Ocean hall has a floor-to-ceiling tank that fills an entire wall – it’s a mesmerizing view which held our attention for a long time.

Outdoors at Atlanterhavsparken, penguins and otters have enclosures facing the real coastline.

Sukkertoppen Hike

One of our final activities in Ålesund was a popular six-kilometer round trip hike on nearby Hessa Island. Once above the trees the Sukkertoppen hiking trail opens to sweeping views of Ålesund, the island chain, and the entrances to nearby fjords.

Days 21 – 22: Geiranger with Kids

Located at the very end of the dramatic Geirangerfjord, the small town of Geiranger is one of the most famous coastal destinations in Norway. As with the train between Oslo and Bergen, the very scenic voyage to Geiranger was half the fun!

Skageflå Hike

From Homlong we followed a steep, slick hiking trail to an abandoned farm house in Homlongsætra. It was one of our hardest hiking days, but the view down the fjord ranks among the best we have had anywhere.

Geiranger Waterfall Walk

Our final activity in Geiranger with kids was a walk up a sturdy walkway of 327 steps running beside the town’s powerful falls. This short activity delivers amazing waterfall views along with a nice look back toward the harbor. It pairs well with a slow stroll through town and a simple dinner by the waterfront.