Top Things to Do with Kids in Oslo - a Mix of City and Nature

If you can't decide between a city break or a nature escape - go to Oslo! It is one of my favourite European cities because it has so much to offer - a vibrant art and culture scene, plenty of child-friendly activities and a big selection of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. But the thing that makes it stand out from other European cities, is the fact that it's surrounded by nature that is easily accessible from the city centre.

Did you for example know that in the winter months, you can actually go skiing in Oslo? Or that in the summer months, you can swim in the sea in the city centre? Or go islands hopping, hike in the mountains and visit hidden caves less than 30 minutes away? In Scandinavian culture, there is a concept called "friluftsliv", which literally translates to "open air life" and centres around the idea that getting out into nature makes you happier and freer. Oslo is the perfect place for this as it fully embraces the outdoors, so let's get into what things you can do with kids here!

When to visit Oslo with Kids

There is plenty to do in Oslo to keep you entertained all year round, so when to go will depend on what you want to do as a family with your kids. I love Oslo in the summer months as the nature is stunning, the sea is warm, and you get the light summer evenings with the sun only setting for an hour or two. Scandinavian countries really live up in summer after a long cold winter, so there is always lots going on and people are making the most of the long sunny days.

For a different experience, you could also go in winter - especially if you're into winter sports like skiing. You can actually ski in Oslo, only 30 minutes from the city centre, but you also have larger ski resorts like Trysil and Geilo only 2-3 hours drive away. In the lead up to Christmas you also get the Christmas markets, so that's a cosy time to visit as well.

How to get around Oslo with kids

Oslo is easily connected by public transport so when you are getting around with kids there is no need to hire a car, unless you're planning on doing longer trips out of the city. There are metros, buses, trams and ferries to access all parts of Oslo as well as Greater Oslo, and the easiest way to buy tickets is by downloading the Ruter app. Public transport is very accessible and easy for families and kids under 6 travel for free on all public transport in Oslo.

The other option is using the Oslo Pass, which lets you travel around completely free of charge, and also gives you free entry to several museums and activities. We used the Oslo Pass for the duration of our stay and it was so handy!

Where to stay in Oslo with kids

Depending on when you go and what you will be doing, there are a few different areas you might consider for staying as a family:

Sentrum - city centre, ideal if you want to be within walking distance of major sites.

Recommendation: Hobo Oslo

Holmenkollen - for something out of the city in nature with great views.

Recommendation: Scandic Holmenkollen Park

Grüneløkka - trendy area close to restaurants, parks and vintage shops.

Recommendation: Hygge Houses Appartment

Frogner - quiet and residential neighbourhood, right next to Frogner Park (Vigeland Park).

Recommendation: Saga Apartments

Nesodden - if you want to stay by the sea close to the beach.

Recommendation: Oslo Fjord Views with private beach hut

Top Things to Do in Oslo with Kids

Oslo is such a family friendly city, easily accessible and with plenty of activities indoors and outdoors to keep your kids entertained! We spent 3 days here at the end of June 2025, and as we were very lucky with the weather, we decided to try and maximise on outdoor activities, but I have also included some rainy day activities as Scandinavian weather is known to be anything but reliable!

Vigeland Sculpture Park

This free sculpture park inside Frogner Park should definitely be on your itinerary when visiting Oslo. It contains over 200 sculptures, all made by Norwegian sculptor and artist Gustav Vigeland, and explore themes of life, relationships, aging and the human experience.

The sculpture park consists of three main parts - the Fountain, the Bridge and the Monolith.

At the highest point of the park is the Monolith - a pillar of 121 figures carved out of the same block of stone (as the name suggests). On the stairs surrounding the Monolith are figures depicting the different stages of life, from childhood to old age.

I actually wrote an essay about the park back in my Art History days, so I really enjoyed coming back and exploring the park years later. My daughter loved running around and exploring the different figures (and as it was a warm sunny day we got some ice creams while we explored!). We started at the top and worked our way down, and there's a tram and bus stop by the entrance to the park at the bottom.

If you wanted to learn more about Gustav Vigeland, there is also the Vigeland Museum where you can explore more of the artist's life and work. In Frogner Park, you'll also find Frognerborgen, Norway's largest playground!

Vettakollen

This is an easy, child-friendly hike that can be done in half a day and gives you some of the best views of Oslo and the fjord!

Start your hike at Sognsvann lake (metro number 5 to Sognsvann station), about 20 minutes from central Oslo (alternatively, you could also reach the viewpoint from Vettakollen station, metro number 1).The hike takes about 1-1.5 hours roundtrip and the terrain is mainly flat, apart from the last 15 minutes of the hike. You'll walk through the woods and past a couple of lakes, and if you go in summer you'll find lots of blueberry bushes on the way (free snacks!).

We brought a carrier with us for this hike, but our daughter, who was 2.5 years old at the time, ended up walking a lot of it by herself (the blueberries definitely helped!). Once you get to the top, you get stunning views of the city and the fjord beyond and there are also some benches and tables so it's the perfect place to have a picnic lunch before heading back down. It's also worth noting there aren't any steep drops, so I felt comfortable letting my daughter explore by herself - a perfect hike out of the city centre with kids!

Back by Sognsvann lake there are toilets available and also a cafe serving drinks, snacks and some hot food, so if you didn't bring a picnic lunch, this is a good place to refuel before/after the hike.

Grüneløkka

This is one of my favourite areas in Oslo! It's Oslo's trendiest area full of street art, vintage shops and cosy restaurants and cafés. It's the perfect area to spend an afternoon with kids and you can do some shopping and grab a coffee or a bite to eat.

There are several green spaces around Grüneløkka, like Birkelunden where there's a second hand market every Sunday, or Sofienberg Park, which is a lively area in the summer months (and has a great playground!).

Make sure to check out the area around the river Akerselva (there is even a small waterfall!) where you will find several cosy bars/restaurants right by the water on the western bank of the river, like Blå (also a live music venue). This area shows more of the city's industrial past, and here you'll also find Mathallen food hall with lots of different food options for both casual and not-so-casual dining.

Oslo fjord - Nesodden and the islands

Oslo is located right on the fjord, so this is a must, especially if you're visiting in the summer months! From Akers Brygge, right next to the National Museum in the city centre, ferries run frequently up and down the fjord.

As Oslo benefits from the Gulf Stream, the sea is warm in the summer so on a sunny day, it's the perfect day trip to go swimming, hiking or just enjoying the beautiful nature. Great for kids who want to burn some energy splashing around! The most popular island to visit is Hovedøya, but you can also go to Lindøya (with colorful cabins), Gressholmen, Langøyene and the peninsula Nesodden.

I have family out on Nesodden, so we stayed here for the duration of our visit and spent a lot of time in nature picking berries, swimming and walking in the woods (my favourite thing is going for sunset swims at 11.30pm - there is nothing quite like it!).

The islands are part of Oslo zone 1 so you can travel on a standard ticket and Nesodden is zone 2 so you'd need an additional ticket (however both are included with the Oslo Pass). The islands are car free, and Nesodden has regular buses departing from the ferry stop at Nesoddtangen (you can also access it by car but would need to drive all the way down the fjord and then back up).

Oslo Opera House

One of Oslo's most iconic buildings, this is a must when visiting Oslo (even if you're not a fan of opera!). The building is right next to the water and has an unusual design which allows you to climb the building all the way to the top.

The open spaces, mirrored walls and gentle inclines make it a fun building for both kids and adults to explore. And when you get to the top, there's a rooftop platform from which you get beautiful views of the fjord.

As it is right by the water in the heart of the city, it's the perfect pit spot if you have a day set aside to explore the city. And across from the opera house are some floating saunas, so if you wanted to enjoy a plunge into the Oslo fjord with a view, I'd recommend booking that!

Spro Gruve

For something a little different, visit Spro Gruve out on Nesodden peninsula. This cave is located right by the beach, and is an old stone mine, full of a mineral called muscovite (Fool's Gold) which makes the cave shimmer in sunlight.

To visit the cave, you must first get to Nesodden, which can be accessed either by ferry (from Akers Brygge to Nesoddtangen) or by car. As we were staying on Nesodden, we were able to borrow my relatives car and parked at Spro båthavn (Spro marina) and from there it's only a short walk over the rocks until you get to the entrance of the cave. If you don't have access to a car, you can get the bus 575 from Nesoddtangen to Nordre Spro bus stop, and walk down from there to the marina.

The walk over the rocks is manageable with kids, we used a carrier but now my daughter is 3.5yrs she would be fine walking whilst holding our hand. The cave itself is quite accessible but there are some rocks you have to climb over in order to get down to the main bit.

The cave was really impressive, and there was no one else there when we went so it felt really unique. There is a beach right next to it that has been nicknamed "Diamond Beach" as the muscovite from the cave has spread, making the beach shimmer too.

Museums and other activities

As mentioned earlier, we went in summer and had lovely weather for the duration of our stay, and therefore spent as much time outside as we possibly could, but if you are going off season or need tips for rainy days, here are some family friendly museums and indoor activities that are great for kids:

Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology - Interactive exhibits, scientific experiments and creative workshops.

The Fram Museum - A unique museum where families can step into the world of polar exploration.

Det Internasjonale Barnekunstmuseet - A museum celebrating children's creativity with kids art from over 180 countries.

Deichman Bjørvika - Oslo's main library, which has a dedicated children's floor with reading nooks and pram parking.

Oslo Reptile Park - Home to over 100 animals like snakes, lizards, spiders, and even small monkeys.

And finally, if you have the time I would highly recommend exploring more of Norway! It is an incredible beautiful country, and felt so safe and child-friendly everywhere we went. We did a road trip starting in Oslo and ending in Bergen, it was a great route with kids as the drives weren't too long and there was so much to see and do along the way. If you want to learn more, you may want to check out my Trolltunga guide and my Bergen guide.