Wading pools in Oslo
Wading pools are perhaps the simplest summer outing for the youngest: shallow, safe and free, right in a park with a playground and room for a picnic. Here we have gathered wading pools and spots with shallow water play in Oslo, with links to each place.
A couple of tips: babies get cold quickly, so keep the dip short and bring a change of clothes and a warm towel. Use sunscreen and a swim nappy, and pick a wading pool next to a playground to make a whole morning of it.
Torshovdalen
A wading pool in the green corridor between Torshov and Sinsen, with shallow water for the youngest, a large playground and plenty of room for a picnic on the grass.
🚌 By transit: tram to Torshov, or metro to Sinsen.
See TorshovdalenKampen park
A wading pool at the top of Kampen park, where the water is changed once a week. Around it are a playground, green areas and the old dam keeper's lodge.
🚌 By transit: bus to Kampen, or metro to Tøyen and a few minutes' walk.
See Kampen parkThe water mirror in Kværnerbyen
In Lodalsparken, a water mirror runs like a small river where children can wade and hop from stone to stone. The water is among the cleanest in Oslo, with benches and grass around it to settle down on.
🚌 By transit: bus to Kværnerbyen, or metro to Ensjø and a short walk.
See KværnerbyenFrognerbadet (warm wading pool, temporarily closed)
Note: Frognerbadet is temporarily closed for renovation until 2027, so it is not an option while the work is under way. When it reopens, its own wading pool, kept at around 26 degrees, is the warmest and safest option for the very youngest. Frognerbadet charges admission.
🚌 By transit: metro to Majorstuen, or tram to Frogner plass.
See FrognerbadetSørenga sjøbad (children's pool)
In the middle of Bjørvika there is a sheltered children's pool, close to the centre and easy to reach with little ones. It fills up quickly on sunny days.
🚌 By transit: about a ten-minute walk from Oslo Central Station.
See Sørenga sjøbadWater play in Bård Breivik's sculpture park
A slightly different kind of water play, with water mirrors and sculptures to splash around, in Klosterenga park in Gamlebyen. Nice to combine with a calm walk.
🚌 By transit: bus to Gamlebyen, or a short walk from Grønland.
See the sculpture parkMore beaches and swimming spots
If you want to head on to the fjord or a lake, we have a dedicated overview of the most baby-friendly swimming spots, with a map and daily water temperatures.
See baby-friendly beaches in Oslo