Family holidays
Things to do in Oslo with kids, and the best family hotels
Polar ships and rafts on Bygdøy, sculptures and a playground in Frogner Park, swimming in the middle of town and a theme park just outside. This is Oslo with kids, and the hotels that make a family trip easy.
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Oslo is a surprisingly good city for children. Distances are short, nature is never far away, and many of the best things to do cost nothing. In one day you can climb the Opera roof, swim in the fjord and step aboard the polar ship Fram. There is still time for an ice cream before bed.
In short
The best things to do in Oslo with kids are the Bygdøy museums, the science museum, the Natural History Museum and Frogner Park. Our hotel pick for families is Scandic Holmenkollen Park, with the forest right outside and the city below.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Scandic Holmenkollen Park
Museums children love
Bygdøy: Fram, Kon-Tiki and the Folk Museum
Several of Oslo’s most child-friendly museums sit together on Bygdøy. Aboard the polar ship Fram, children can see how the explorers lived, and the Kon-Tiki Museum holds the balsa raft that crossed the Pacific. The Norwegian Folk Museum has old farmhouses, animals and summer activities for children.
Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
Known locally as Teknisk museum, it is one of the most popular museums for children in Oslo. There are aircraft, cars and robots, and plenty of exhibits where children can try things for themselves.
Natural History Museum and the Botanical Garden
At Tøyen, the Natural History Museum has dinosaurs, animals and minerals, and it sits inside the Botanical Garden. The garden is free and good for a picnic.
Parks, playgrounds and the outdoors
Frogner Park and the Vigeland sculptures
Frogner Park has room to run and a large playground. Children tend to love the Vigeland sculptures, especially the furious little boy known as Sinnataggen.
The roof of the Opera House
Children love walking all the way up the sloping roof of the Opera House. It is free, and the view over the fjord works for all ages.
Holmenkollen and the forest
Take the metro up to Holmenkollen to see the ski jump, then walk on into the forest that Norwegians call marka. In winter you can sledge or ski, and in summer the lakes are good for a swim.
Swimming in the fjord
In summer the fjord in Bjørvika fills with kayaks and swimmers. Photo: Picolo
Swimming in the city
In summer you can swim right in the centre. Sørenga seawater pool in Bjørvika has pools and diving boards in the fjord itself, and Bygdøy has beaches such as Huk and Paradisbukta. Take a ferry out to the islands in the fjord for a day of swimming and picnics.
Theme park and animals
Just outside Oslo is TusenFryd, Norway’s largest amusement park, with rollercoasters, a water park and rides for the youngest. Oslo Reptile Park in the centre has snakes, lizards and crocodiles.
Tips for Oslo with kids
Use public transport: children travel cheaply or free on trams, the metro and ferries, depending on age.
Consider the Oslo Pass: it gives free entry to many museums and free public transport.
Plan breaks: many museums have cafés and outdoor areas where children can get some air.
Pack waterproofs: the weather can change quickly, even in summer.
Where should families stay in Oslo?
With children it makes sense to stay centrally, close to trams and the metro, or up at Holmenkollen with the forest on the doorstep.
Scandic Holmenkollen Park: the forest outside
A historic timber hotel up at Holmenkollen, with views over the city and the fjord. The ski jump and the forest trails are a short walk away, and the metro takes you down to the centre.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Scandic Holmenkollen Park
Citybox Oslo: good value for families
A simple, good-value hotel within walking distance of Oslo Central Station and Karl Johans gate. It suits families who will spend their days out and want to keep the budget for museums.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Citybox Oslo
Thon Hotel Opera: by the Opera and the station
A central hotel a short walk from the Opera, the fjord and the trains. The airport express arrives next door, which makes it easy with luggage and tired children.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Thon Hotel Opera
Clarion Hotel Oslo: by the fjord in Bjørvika
A large hotel in Bjørvika, close to the Opera, the MUNCH museum and Sørenga seawater pool. It suits families who want the swimming and the sights within a few minutes’ walk.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Clarion Hotel Oslo
For more options, see our guide to where to stay in Oslo.
Getting there
There are direct flights from London and several other UK airports to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The airport express train reaches Oslo Central Station in about 20 minutes.
Oslo with kids in winter
Winter brings its own outings. Go skating at Spikersuppa in the centre, sledge down the Korketrekkeren run from Frognerseteren, or visit a Christmas market in December. See our guide to Christmas markets in Oslo.
Dress the children warmly and end the day with hot chocolate.
Frequently asked questions about Oslo with kids
What is there to do in Oslo with kids?
The most popular things to do in Oslo with kids are the Bygdøy museums, the science museum and the Natural History Museum. Outdoors, children love Frogner Park, the Opera roof and swimming at Sørenga or on Bygdøy. The Oslo Pass gives free entry to many museums and free public transport, which often pays off for families. In winter, Holmenkollen and the Korketrekkeren sledging run are favourites.
What is free for children in Oslo?
Many of the best things in Oslo are free for children, including Frogner Park, the Vigeland sculptures, the Opera House roof and the Botanical Garden. Children under six travel free on public transport, and most playgrounds and swimming spots cost nothing. Take a packed lunch to Frogner Park, as the cafés there are expensive.
Where should you stay in Oslo with kids?
Staying near Oslo Central Station or in Bjørvika puts everything within easy reach, while Holmenkollen gives you nature and calm. Choose a family room or an aparthotel, as many standard rooms are small. Bjørvika has MUNCH, the Opera and Sørenga within walking distance, and the airport train arrives at the central station.
Is there a theme park in Oslo?
TusenFryd, Norway’s largest amusement park, is just outside Oslo, about 20 minutes south by car, with buses from the central station. It opens in summer and for an autumn Halloween season, so check opening days before you go. Tickets are cheaper online.