Norway is an absolutely wonderful country to take the kids. Norway family holidays are ones that all ages will love and it’s a great destination in summer or winter. If you’re considering taking a Norway family holiday then we hope our guide will give you lots of inspiration for a fun trip. Family holidays in Norway are sure to be filled with beautiful landscape, meeting wonderful people and seeing inspiring sights.
Wherever possible one of our Family Hotel Expert team have visited the region and stayed in the hotels we recommend. Where we haven’t been able to our suggestions are based on thorough research – we have done all the work in finding a Norway family vacation you will love. We also use sites designed to give you the best price to give you the best family holiday Norway has to offer.
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Table of Contents
Your Norway family holiday checklist
- ✈️ Find great flights to Norway with Opodo
- 🏥 – Get the travel insurance we use at CoverForYou
- 💳 Get a Currensea Card to easily pay for purchases when you’re in Norway
- ℹ️ Why not hire a guide or book local excursions through the brilliant Get Your Guide.
- 📚 Get planning your trip with the Lonely Planet guide to Norway.
- 🍝 Foods to try in Norway – Brunost (a caramel tasting brown cheese) and cinnamon buns (some of the best in the world).
- 🌍 Useful phrases – hallo for hello, takk skal du ha for thank you, ha det for goodbye.
Oslo
Oslo is an absolutely wonderful city to start your family holidays to Norway in. It’s a really compact city and perfect for a wander. The Oslo Viking Ship Museum is amazing and will spark children’s imaginations and the Reptilpak is a very sweet place to explore no matter what the weather. Stay at the Clarion Hotel The Hub which is right next to Centraal Station. Kids will love the indoor heated pool and everyone will enjoy the fantastic breakfast. Their bedrooms will accommodate an extra child or they have one bedroom suites with sofa beds. Find out more about the hotel below.
Bergen
Bergen and the western fjords are ideal for a family holiday in Norway in summer. Norway’s second largest city is beautiful and the fjords surrounding the city breathtaking. Within the city kids will love Bergen Aquarium and the innovative VilVite science centre. The whole family will enjoy a trip on the Fløibanen Funicular which climbs 320 metres up for spectacular views of Bergen and the surrounding area. Stay in the stylish and historic Opus XVI who have both family rooms and one bedroom apartments. This former bank which was built in 1876 also has a fantastic breakfast buffet to set you up for the day. Find out more about the hotel below.
Beitostølen
If you’re wanting to try out family skiing Norway is the perfect place to learn and Beitostølen the ideal resort. This is a small ski resort but very well set up for visitors with a fantastic ski school complete with English speaking instructors and a scattering of shops and restaurants. Situated around a three and a half hour drive from Oslo it’s the ideal winter break. Stay right in the centre at the Radisson Blu to enjoy their indoor pool and family suites and apartments. An easy walk to the ski slopes and amenities in the town this is the perfect destination for a family looking for a ski trip in Norway. Find out more about the hotel below.
Read more: The best ski resorts in Europe for families
Kristiansand
Holiday like a Norwegian in the pretty town of Kristiansand and southern Norway. With gorgeous sandy beaches and the fantastic zoo and amusement park of Kristiansand Dyrepark there is plenty to do here on a summer trip to Norway. Stay at the Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda, right on the sand of Bystranda beach. They have great family rooms and there’s a welcome gift for all visiting kids. There’s a playroom and the hotel is right next door to Aquarama. Get the train here from Oslo airport in around 5 hours. Find out more about the hotel below.
Tromsø
If you’re looking for somewhere to spot the Northern Lights then Tromsø is one of the best places to do this from. Situated at the very top of Norway this is seen as the capital of the Arctic. There’s skiing here and opportunity for other winter sports like dog sledding and Arctic fishing and it’s the perfect place to find out about the Sami culture. The Scandic Ishavshotel is a great hotel for a stay with kids with family rooms that come with bunk beds. The waterfront location offers amazing views and during peak holiday times they put aside a playroom for younger guests. There’s also a welcome gifts for children when they check in. Find out more about the hotel below.
The Lofoten Islands
These islands, in the north of Norway, feel wild and beautiful and perfect for a family adventure. People come here to fish but it’s the perfect place to kayak too. The area has a strong Viking connection and you can find out more about this at the Lofotr Viking Museum. Due to the Gulf Stream this area is actually warmer than many other parts of Norway. It’s a really special place to visit and there’s a beautiful light and warmth here. Stay a short walk from the boat terminal at Anker Brygge which has great family sized suites. They have a restaurant serving traditional food and each room has a kitchenette too. Staff are really helpful at helping out with activities and excursions. Find out more about the hotel in the link below.
Geirangerfjord
UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord is an absolutely stunning area of the country and perfect for Norway family holidays. There’s everything here from waterfalls to snow capped mountains. Get active here by kayaking in beautiful fjords or cycling through some of the most stunning scenery. Adventurous kids and teenagers will love Valldal Adventurepark where you can zip wire through the landscape and take breathraking treetop walks. Stay at Grande Hytteutleige og Camping where you rent log cabins and they organise activities for all the family to enjoy.
Frequently asked questions for those considering Norway family holidays
Is Norway good for family holiday?
Norway is wonderful for family holidays. The people are warm and friendly and it’s perfect for outside activities. Kids will love all the Viking history and culture in Oslo. Stay at one of the hotels and destinations we recommend here to give you the best family trip.
What can kids do in Norway?
In winter there’s skiing, husky dog sledging and reindeer petting. In summer there’s mountain biking, museums and spectacular sights. Stay in one of our recommended hotels for a fantastic Norwegian family holiday.
Is Norway expensive to visit?
Norway certainly isn’t the cheapest destination. Like much of Scandinavia it’s on the pricier side but there are ways to keep costs down. Stay in one of the hotels we recommend here for a well priced trip.
We hope you enjoy our roundup of best Norway family holidays. Why not check out our suggestions of holidays to Lapland for more inspiration and sign up for our newsletter to hear more of our holiday suggestions and great hotel deals from around the world.