Family holidays in Oslo

Sunshine along the pier

You should definitely experience Oslo's harbour area when you visit the city! In Bjørvika, a borough near the waterfront with shops, restaurants and a popular playground, summer vibes are easily accessible.

Bjørvika offers relaxing walks among beautiful canals, colourful houses, and restaurants with great outdoor terraces. Check out MUNCH 😱 and enjoy an ice cream while you dangle your legs from the pier. If it gets too hot, you can jump right into the water at Sørenga sjøbad, or check out the city beach right by the Opera House.

In Bjørvika you may also find Oslo's central library Deichman, filled with thousands of books, reading nooks of all shapes and sizes, and compelling workshops where anything can happen. Take the escalators to the 5th floor, and you'll get a wonderful view of the Oslo Fjord from the tall windows facing south.

Don't forget to stop by Willy Wonka's cousin Talormade while you're in the area. The colourful donuts taste just as good as they look, and can be enjoyed at the nice play area in Oslobukta. This is where you'll also find the city's most unique jungle gym, as well as a splash park. Who can stand in the middle of the water features at rest the longest, before they start up again and get everyone in the vicinity gets drenched?

From Bjørvika you can follow the Harbour Promenade further along the fjord, and find your way to more experiences by the waterfront.

Museums for the curious-minded

Museums are perfect for little minds filled with questions, thoughts and new ideas – and if the summer weather is not the most cooperative.

In the Botanical Garden the Natural History Museum, teaches your little ones about wildlife in Norway, as well as the rest of the world. A walk through the well-kept garden is an experience for all the senses, and a break at the café Handwerk Botaniske is definitely going to be appreciated by the whole family.

Do you want to meet a real python? Oslo Reptile Park is a small zoo located in the middle of the city, with more than 100 animals. Among them boas, colubrids, geckoes, lizards, poison dart frogs, a dwarf crocodile, monkeys, turtles and fish – as well as a black widow, the most dangerous spider in the world. By the way: Every Tuesday at 5pm you can join in on the feeding of snakes, western pygmy marmosets, and of course the hungry crocodile …

And make sure to plan an outing to Bygdøy! The famous peninsula is a real treasure chest for children and grown-ups alike. Play polar explorers on board the world’s strongest wooden ship, see the raft that sailed across the Pacific Ocean, and travel back in time at Norsk Folkemuseum and imagine how people used to live a long, long time ago. The ferry ride from the city centre gives a nice feeling of being on a real expedition.

The Norwegian Museum of Science & Technology is another family favourite, with over 100 try-it-yourself installations and engaging thematic exhibitions on technology, science, medicine, planes, trains and automobiles. The museum shop is an experience in and of itself, with its many construction sets, games, posters, models of cool inventions, and other imaginative gadgets and contraptions.

At the Nobel Peace Center you will get to know about the Nobel Peace Prize and all the laureates, as well as their efforts to create a better world.

Active in the city

Is physical activity, action, speed and excitement your idea of a dream holiday? No problem! For a capital city, Oslo has an unusual amount of easily accessible nature in its immediate proximity.

How about a family adventure downstream Akerselva? The urban paddle experts at Mad Goats offer tours with SUP boards or kayaks, that take you to the heart of the city, including a 300-meter-long tunnel that ends by the Opera House.

You can also have great fun at Skimore Oslo Summer Park, one of Scandinavia’s largest and greatest climbing parks. With mini trails, family trails and more demanding trails up to 20 metres above ground, it offers challenges suited for every member of the family – no matter your experience level. The climbing park also has several ziplines, where the longest one spans across 230 metres. 

Imagine skiing in the middle of summer! You can do that at SNØ, the only arena in the world with alpine, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing under one roof, and is open all-year-round. It is adapted for all experience levels, and the ski slope is surprisingly long and steep. Do you have what it takes to try family climbing on The Mammut Wall?

You can rent every single piece of clothing and equipment you may need there, so you don’t need to pack your hats and ski suits for the summer holiday.

Adventures for young tastebuds

When it is time to eat, Oslo has plenty of exciting restaurants that welcome young guests with open arms. In the dining city of Oslo, tasty and high-quality food matters!

The city’s street food courts make the dining experience easy and exciting. At Vippa Oslo and Oslo Street Food you can find booths that sell food from around the world, so each family member can pick what they feel like eating. Colourful premises with fairy lights and plenty of space to run around and explore makes this an exciting place for children as well as adults.

The cosy French bistro at Grünerløkka, Le Benjamin, shows that children’s menus don’t need to be boring, nor lacking in flavour. Here you will be served dishes such as fish lollipop (Sucette de poisson), desserts with skulls on them, as well as a Lego sorbet – prepared with a touch of French finesse.

Perhaps you’re longing for the far east? Yaya’s Vika offers authentic thai cuisine in tropical surroundings. Be prepared for the weather inside the restaurant to change at a moment’s notice ...

Pizza and pasta are always popular choices, and in Oslo you can find pizza parlours and trattorias that really know how the Italian dishes are supposed to taste, and that also contribute with a rustic and cosy family atmosphere.

Villa Paradiso has restaurants all over the city, for instance at Grünerløkka, with a fantastic interior and stone baked pizzas that are among the best in the Oslo. If you happen to be in the city centre, then Mamma Pizza is a nice little oasis with chequered tablecloths, cokes served in glass bottles and fast service for impatient tummies.

Suggestions for accommodations

In Oslo you can choose between accommodations in all categories and price ranges. Here are a few examples that might just be perfect for your next family holiday.

When you stay at apartment hotel Thon Hotel Slottsparken, the king himself is your closest neighbour, and you've got plenty of room for active little kids. All the apartments are equipped with small kitchens, wireless internet, TVs and telephones, and are suitable for both shorter and longer stays. Make sure to visit Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s Sculpture Park – a colourful collection of sculptures created by and for children.

Just 15 minutes outside the city-centre, is Bogstad Camping. Here you can bring a caravan or a motor home, or live in one of the small cottages available for rent. Equipped with a minigolf court, a sand volleyball court, a playground, a town filled with tiny houses, and a jumping pillow makes this an ideal place for camping with the whole family. Did we mention that the beautiful Bogstadvannet lake with its associated beach and bathing jetty, is only a five-minute walk away?

Anker Hotel is also popular among families: A reasonable alternative located in the middle of Oslo city centre. With Frogner House Apartments, you can rent flats and houses with plenty of room for large family groups, with all the amenities you may need.