Calm indoor activities in Oslo

Vestlys plass 1, 0150 Oslo

Oslo's new main library by the Opera has a whole children's floor on the second level, with books, cushions, play nooks, workshops and a regular children's programme. Most things are free (paper and materials are charged at cost), and you can stay as long as you like, even a whole rainy day.

Sars' gate 1, 0562 Oslo

Dinosaur skeletons and animals from all over the world, with the Botanical Garden right outside to run around in afterwards.

Dronningens gate 16, 0152 Oslo

The Cinematheque in the city centre screens classic and new children's films on some weekends, with one screening for the youngest and a family film for slightly older children. The films are chosen for children, and the dates are in the programme.

Sandviksveien 130, 1365 Blommenholm

Art and culture house in a historic 1890 villa by the sea in Sandvika. The main draw for children is Sanseloftet, a 400 sqm sensory experience across nine rooms of colour, scent and light, for children aged 3-12 (adults only enter with a child). Note: located in Bærum, not Oslo municipality.

Halvdan Svartes gate 58, 0266 Oslo

The city museum in the old Frogner manor in the middle of Frognerparken tells Oslo's story across 1,000 years. Children and young people up to and including age 25 get in free, adults pay, and the first Thursday of every month is free for everyone. Inside there are models, old objects and changing exhibitions, and outside are the park and the playground.

Hausmanns gate 28, 0182 Oslo

Knøttekino is tailored for children aged 2-5 with lowered sound and lighting, shorter films, and screening rooms furnished with sofas, blankets and cushions. Babykino is set up for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding and nappy changes, with low volume and dimmed lights, and room for crying, cuddling and babbling.

Kolstadgata 1, 0652 Oslo

A library only for children aged 10 to 15, and adults are not allowed in. Biblo Tøyen has workshops, games, an old truck and a tram to hang out in, and lots of books, and the young people themselves are in charge. Free.

Torshovgata 33, 0476 Oslo

Puppet theatre in the old tram depot (Trikkestallen) at Torshov, run by Oslo Nye Teater/Égal Teater. The shows are short and played in a small room, so they work as a first theatre visit for small children. NB: Oslo Nye has decided to close the Trikkestallen stage. The puppet theatre is moving to Centralteatret and the main stage, so check the venue on oslonye.no before you go.

Karl Fossums vei 1, 0984 Oslo

A free, open meeting place for families run by the Red Cross, at Nedre Fossum farm, Karl Fossums vei 1. Open to all families on Mondays and Wednesdays 4:30-7:30pm and Sundays noon-3pm, no registration needed. The times were checked on 27 October 2026.

Wergelandsveien 29, 0167 Oslo

Free children's room (Sjeherasad) on the first floor, open to everyone on Mondays from 10am to 2pm outside the school holidays. You can browse the books, climb the climbing frame and jump in the cushion amphitheatre. NB: the room is closed for renovation, hopefully reopening during the autumn.

Edvard Munchs plass 1, 0194 Oslo

MUNCH has a broad children's programme: 'Sanselek' sensory play, in separate versions for babies aged 6-12 months and toddlers aged 1-2, 'Barnas kunstdag' for 3-8-year-olds on almost every Sunday, and workshops during school holidays for slightly older children.

Thorvald Meyers gate 31, 0555 Oslo

Children's singing with dinner after kindergarten hours, run by Paulus and Sofienberg parish. The parish lists the autumn term as «Hverdagsmiddag med sang» in Paulus kirke every other Tuesday from 25 August to 1 December, with singing, play and a simple meal.

Brynjulf Bulls plass 1, 0250 Oslo

The museum about the Nobel Peace Prize by the City Hall square, with exhibitions and stories of peace laureates from around the world. Children aged 0 to 17 get in free, and the audio guide is free and plays on your own phone.

Kirkeveien 34, 0266 Oslo

Puppet theatre in a small red house in Frognerparken, next to the Frogner tennis courts. The shows are made for different age groups, from «Molefonkens ballong» (ages 2-4) via «Molefonken» (ages 1-6) to the puppet cabaret «Den magiske kiste» (ages 3-8). Several shows are followed by a workshop where children make their own theatre puppet.

Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo

The artist's own studio and home by Frognerparken, where you see how the sculptures in the Vigeland Park came to be: plaster models, drawings and tools in large, light halls. The museum has family Sundays and workshops where children can model in clay themselves.

Karl Johans gate 35, 0162 Oslo

A monthly Saturday concert at Nasjonal jazzscene Victoria, where the pupils of Improbasen play jazz standards and improvise. The musicians are themselves children and teenagers, which keeps the threshold low for a young audience. Concerts start at 1pm, doors open at 12.30, and tickets cost 75 or 50 kroner. The venue states «Fri alder» for the concerts, meaning no age limit, and describes them as suiting a broad audience of children, young people, families and adults.

Sars' gate 1, 0562 Oslo

Interactive museum about climate and nature in the Botanical Garden at Tøyen. The exhibition uses light, sound and activities to show how the climate works and what we can do. The garden around it is free to walk in.

Tåsenveien 2, 0462 Oslo

Food-culture centre for children in an old farm at Geitmyra, where children cook from scratch, grow things in the kitchen garden and learn where food comes from. The centre runs cooking courses, holiday activities and family days.

Holtegata 15, 0259 Oslo

Family programme with dinner and activities. After dinner the youngest can join baby singing, while older children can take part in the church's choir school.

Rolf Hofmos gate 4, 0655 Oslo

Ice cream bar and gelateria in Rolf Hofmos gate at Ensjø, with handmade ice cream from local, natural ingredients. Has a small play area for children.

Kabelgata 31, 0581 Oslo

Kloden teater's pilot stage in Kabelgata at Økern, a stage for performing arts and young audiences. The programme alternates between Norwegian and international productions, and the age recommendation is given per event, not for the series. There is a wheelchair ramp and an accessible toilet.

Urtegata 50, 0187 Oslo

A free, open meeting place for families run by the Red Cross, at Urtegata 50 in Grønland.

Kirsten Flagstads plass 1, 0150 Oslo

Dedicated children's tours of the Opera House, focused on experience rather than facts. They are scheduled alongside family activities, including Saturdays with Lørdagssang, so check the programme before you go. Note: strollers are not allowed on the tour.

Strandpromenaden 2, 0252 Oslo

A contemporary-art museum out on Tjuvholmen, in a landmark building by Renzo Piano surrounded by a sculpture park by the fjord. The art is big, strange and playful, and there is a family workshop every Sunday from noon to 4pm. Rasmusklubben is a free art club for children aged 5 to 12.

Hansteens gate 1, 0253 Oslo

A ceramics workshop in Vika, close to Solli plass, with dedicated children's courses where children shape and decorate clay together with an adult. Two courses are offered, one for ages 6-9 and one for ages 10-13.

Havnegata 4, 1441 Drøbak

An aquarium down by the harbour in Drøbak. More than 50 tanks from 30 litres to a 25,000-litre pool, with a children's tunnel, a jellyfish tank and a touch pool where children can handle creatures from the fjord.

Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass 1, 0150 Oslo

Deichman puts on plays, storytelling sessions and children's films for slightly older kids at several of its 22 branches in Oslo. Check the programme at your local library.

Øvre Slottsgate 3, 0157 Oslo

Movement and dance for parents and children, in groups for ages 1-3 and 3-6, developed from Babydans. The session lasts about 45 minutes and needs no experience. About once a month, with free tickets via Tix.no. Check sentralen.no for the next date.

Flere steder i Oslo

Norwegian pop-up literature project with interactive theatre shows for children aged 0-11 (individual shows are often aimed at ages 3-9), built on familiar stories. Includes storytelling theatre, games tied to the story, workshops and a pop-up bookshop. Has staged shows such as Peter Pan, The Gruffalo and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. No fixed address; performs at various venues in Oslo, including Sentralen, Det Andre Teatret, Deichman Bjørvika and Tøyen (Vaterland/MiniØya).

St. Olavs gate 2, 0165 Oslo

Small animal park in the middle of central Oslo with over 100 animals: snakes, geckos, lizards, frog species, tarantulas, a dwarf crocodile, monkeys, turtles and fish. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and closed on Mondays.