Oslo with Kids: 15 Best Things To Do in Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway makes for an unforgettable, adventure-filled family vacation spot full of stunning natural landscapes and family-friendly activities. As Norway’s capital, Oslo is an international city with great museums, cultural sites, and attractions the whole family will enjoy.

Oslo is also easy to navigate with kids. The city is very walkable, and its great transportation system (including buses, trams, trains, and ferries) makes it convenient to get around without a car. Oslo is clean and safe, and most people speak English. While there is plenty to do indoors in the winter, summer is also a great time to visit, when the temperature is pleasantly balmy and the sun doesn’t set until almost midnight.

Read on for some of our favorite things to in Oslo, Norway with kids, including family-friendly Oslo hotels. Find more European family vacation destinations, including London and Amsterdam, in our Europe Family Travel Guide.

Note: While Oslo, Norway is generally pretty expensive, kids often get in free to many museums, and tickets to various attractions are discounted. For even more savings, purchase the Oslo Pass and get in free to 30 museums and attractions.

Kids might recognize the famous painting The Scream at the Munch Museum.

Top Things To Do in Oslo, Norway with Kids

1. Munch Museum

The Munch Museum is dedicated to the works of Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch. Head to the fourth floor to see The Scream up close, of which there are several versions. My kids listened to audio guides, which helped them learn more about the artist and his works.

Kon-tiki Museum showcases objects from Thor Heyerdahl’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa-wood raft.

2. Fram Museum

My son’s favorite museum was the Fram Museum, where we learned about Norway’s seafaring explorations. We were able to go inside the real Fram ship, Norway’s premier polar exploration vessel. With a combined ticket, we also visited the Kon-tiki Museum right next door, which showcased objects from Thor Heyerdahl’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa-wood raft.

3. Explore the Fjords by Boat

Norway is famous for its breathtaking fjords—long, narrow inlets of water with steep cliffs on either side. Naturally, the best way to view the fjords is on a boat. There are a variety of tour operators that offer all sorts of boat rides, from short ones to longer scenic cruises.

If you’re really adventurous and have older kids, try a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) safari adventure. Geared up in a dry suit and goggles, you’ll zip through the fjords at incredibly fast speeds. This was one of my kids’ favorite activities.

4. Swim in the Fjords

Swimming and saunas are hugely popular activities in Norway, even in cold weather. Oslo has a number of swimming spots where you can swim in the fjords.

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Flam Railway treats passengers to breathtaking views on their way from Oslo to Bergen.

5. Flam Railway

Embark on one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys aboard the Flam Railway, which takes passengers from Oslo to Bergen. The ride offers the best views of Norway’s breathtaking natural landscape. We saw incredible fjords, spectacular waterfalls, and stunning mountains.

Watch a baker make fresh lefse at the Norsk Folkemuseum—and then enjoy eating it!

6. Norsk Folkemuseum

Experience how Norwegians lived from as far back as 1500 at the Norsk Folkemuseum. The museum’s 160 buildings and open-air areas represent different regions, time periods, and social classes in Norway. See old medieval stave churches and eat lefse (traditional Norwegian flatbreads) cooked the old-fashioned way.

Choose your favorite topping for delicious Norwegian waffles.

7. Eat Waffles

Oslo, Norway has some of the best waffles around. Often shaped into hearts, they’re soft, airy, and light with a hint of sweetness. Norwegians often eat waffles with brown cheese, but you can eat them with cream, Nutella, jam, or even sausages.

8. Holmenkollen Ski Jump

While you don’t have to jump it, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump is a great place to explore with kids. You’ll find some of the best views of Oslo at the top and can even zip line down the mountain. Try the ski simulator to see what it feels like to ski down the mountain, and check out the ski museum once it reopens at the end of 2023.

The Deichman Bjørvika Library has unique touches, like this living wall and hiding places.

9. Deichman Bjørvika Library

The Deichman Bjørvika Library is an architectural wonder, with huge wall-to-ceiling windows that allow light to fill every floor. It doubles as a repository of knowledge and public space for meetings, exhibits, and performances. The library has a great children’s section (with English books) filled with whimsical touches like hiding places and modern artwork. Be sure to take a peek at the Future Library, a cool project that enlists popular authors to write texts that will be published in 100 years.

10. Oslo Opera House

Perched on the edge of the Oslofjord, this iconic landmark serves as both a performance venue and a public gathering space. People like to walk around the Opera House as well as on its slanted roof to experience amazing views of the harbor, the boats, and even an iceberg art installation.

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Free-to-enter Vigeland Park is one of Norway’s top tourist attractions.

11. Vigeland Sculpture Park

Take a stroll through Frogner Park, Oslo’s largest public park, where you’ll see over 200 sculptures designed by Gustave Vigeland. The sculptures in the Vigeland Sculpture Park are really fun to look at, and there’s also a huge playground in Frogner Park.

12. International Museum of Children’s Art

Take the kids to this unique children’s museum, which showcases works created by talented kids from over 180 countries. The museum also offers young visitors the chance to create their own art.

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Stroll the streets of Trondheim, a former Viking capital.

13. Explore Beyond Oslo

The railway connects Oslo to other major cities in Norway including Bergen and Trondheim, each with its own unique character and charm. Bergen has some beautiful natural landscapes and children’s playgrounds, while Trondheim—the former Viking capital—is rich in history. Head up to the Arctic Circle and see the Northern Lights if you’re lucky.

All of these Oslo hotels puts visitors in the center of the city.

Great Oslo Hotels for Families

14. Scandic Oslo City

Kids 12 and under stay free at this great hotel in the heart of Oslo, right near the Opera House, shops, and restaurants. If you have teens, you can book them a room next to yours at a discounted price. A complimentary organic breakfast buffet and a welcome gift for kids at check-in make this hotel a no-brainer for families.

15. Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Oslo

Another great hotel in the center of Oslo, the Radisson Blu offers a variety of family rooms with sofabeds and minibars (some have refrigerators and terraces). A free breakfast buffet, an indoor pool and sauna, stunning views from the higher floors, and close proximity to area attractions add to this hotel’s family appeal.

16. Thon Hotel Opera

Thon Hotel Opera is located right next to the Opera House and very close to the Munch Museum and the Deichman Bjørvika Library. It offers suites for families, a lavish free breakfast buffet, a gym for ages 15 and up, and other amenities for families.

Photos by the author