Family holidays in Norway

Norway is one of the world's true year-round family destinations, with unforgettable experiences around every corner no matter when you decide to go. On a summer tour of Norway, take a road trip around the ring road that lines the coast and see everything from the stunning fjords, where you can have a beautifully scenic picnic, the famous black beach, dramatic waterfalls, whales as they swim just off the coast, and even wild Norwegian ponies as they roam the hills. In winter, head North to experience the northern lights, a hotel made entirely of ice, traditional hot tubs and snow activities, such as dog-sledding. Go dog sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding or stay in an ice hotel and watch the Northern Lights as you relax in a traditional hot tub. In summer, you won’t be at a loss either, with fun, family-friendly activities in store around every corner. 

Best things to see and do in Norway with kids

Norway’s huge range of family-friendly activities and experiences begin in its capital, Oslo. Here you’ll find many fun and child-friendly sites such as Akershus Fortress, which inspired the home of Princess Elsa in the family favourite Disney film, Frozen. The Viking Ship museum is also an excellent visit, before you enjoy a delicious lunch and explore downtown Oslo, with cool and quirky its shops and sleek cafes, as well as indoor pools, countless adventure playgrounds and picnic areas. Once you’ve explored everything that Norway’s capital has to offer, visit the western fjords and enjoy open spaces and beautiful scenery as you’ve never seen it before or enjoy the views over the Norwegian countryside from the train window, as you ride the Setesdalsbanen railway. At Stavanger's fjords, you can swim, kayak and play or, take a boat ride further offshore to see the whales that are often found here. Bergen is also a great place for children, and you can feel like a family of vikings as you admire viking landmarks and explore the Southwestern Fjords. For a view of the Northern Lights in the winter, take a dog sledding trip together in Tromso, and enjoy an unforgettable view of one of the world’s most incredible natural phenomena.

Best time to visit Norway as a family

With June and July being the most popular months for visitors, this is the warmest time to visit Norway. These months are also the time of the midnight sun, in which Northern Norway sees 24 hour sunlight. This can be an amazing time to visit but it may take you a few days to adjust and can set younger children off-balance. If you’re travelling with teenagers or older children, however, this just means that there is more time for fun activities, as long as you don’t mind there being more tourists around. To see the Northern Lights, visit anytime from October to March, with the winter months being perfect for a spot of skiing, snowboarding or dog sledding.  September is a great time to visit, since you can avoid the crowds whilst still having the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights if you’re lucky. As an added bonus, prices are likely to be cheaper during this period. Around Christmas time, parts of Norway experience Polar Nights, in which the sun doesn’t rise during the day and it is dark for 24 hours.

Family holiday tips for travelling to Norway

With a little research and knowledge you can ensure that you are as prepared as possible for your family trip to Norway, here a few tips and tricks to ensure that everything runs smoothly on your holiday.

• Norway is not a destination for those on a budget, with the costs of accommodation, food and daily life being fairly high. Save money by travelling during the low season.
• Vegetarians may not be able to get in on the action when it comes to traditional foods, with many of the older recipes containing fish and meat.
• Learn a few key phrases. If nothing else, it always goes down well to greet and thank locals in their own language, especially since everyone here speaks English, they will appreciate the gesture.