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)
For the very youngest, Frognerbadet's own wading pool, kept at around 26 degrees, is the warmest and safest option. 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