Summer holiday in Oslo with kids
Summer in Oslo means long light evenings, swimming in the fjord and playing in the forest - perfect for families who want to spend a lot of time outdoors. Here we've gathered beaches and other summer activities, plus a few year-round favorites (like the museums) for days when the weather doesn't quite cooperate.
40 activities – 1 have no specific location and are only shown in the list
Oslo Sommerpark (Skimore Tryvann)
Tryvannsveien 64, 0791 Oslo
One of Scandinavia's largest treetop climbing parks, with over 227 elements and its own toddler park for children from age 3.
Read moreOslo Klatrepark
Trondheimsveien 644, 0964 Oslo
Treetop climbing park at Bånkall farm in Groruddalen, with 12 courses and around 80 elements at varying heights and difficulty levels, including a dedicated children's course and several zip lines. Helmet and harness included, with a safety briefing before climbing. Open in season (April-October) - check current opening hours on the website.
Read moreSørenga sjøbad
Oslo
The city's most central sea bath, with its own sheltered children's pool, a bathing ladder and large sun decks. Open day and night, with a lifeguard on duty during the summer season.
Read moreTjuvholmen sjøbad
Oslo
Sea bath with a bathing platform, diving tower and large grassy areas to lie on right by the city centre. The beach has small stones at the water's edge, so water shoes are a good idea for the youngest.
Read moreParadisbukta
Oslo
Sheltered, child-friendly cove on Bygdøy with fine sand, calmer and less crowded than Huk. A good choice for those who want to avoid crowds with small children.
Read moreHuk
Oslo
One of Oslo's most popular swimming spots, with large grass and sand areas, a new toilet building (18 toilets, two accessible), a kiosk, showers, drinking water and courts for beach volleyball and basketball.
Read moreBygdøy Sjøbad
Oslo
A slightly more sheltered swimming spot on Bygdøy with lovely smooth rocks and patches of sand, a good alternative when Huk is full.
Read moreSognsvann
Oslo
Lake in the Oslo forest with a sandy beach, three bathing platforms along the water, a kiosk, a beach volleyball court, six toilets (four wheelchair accessible) and a universally accessible path and ramp down to the water.
Read moreHovedøya
Oslo
Idyllic island eight minutes by boat from Aker Brygge, with several lovely spots for swimming and sunbathing (sand, smooth rocks and grassy areas), a kiosk/café by the monastery ruins, and accessible toilets in summer.
Read moreLangøyene
Oslo
Oslo's longest and arguably best sandy beach (about 250 metres, crescent-shaped), with a kiosk, toilets, drinking water, barbecue spots and the option to camp for up to two days in a designated area.
Read moreKatten (Ljan/Nordstrand)
Oslo
Child-friendly swimming spot with a lovely sandy beach, smooth rocks, a diving board and a cosy kiosk/toilet building from 2009. Grassy lawn with tables and benches for picnics.
Read moreLutvann
Oslo
Swimming spot with clean water in Østmarka, more natural and forest-close than the sea baths near the centre - a good choice for a quiet day by the water.
Read moreHvervenbukta
Oslo
Swimming spot in Holmlia with plenty of room to play on land and a large car park, popular among families from southern Oslo.
Read moreBogstadvannet
Oslo
Popular lake with a sandy beach, a bonfire spot, toilets (including accessible), outdoor showers, a summer kiosk, a lovely floating dock and good parking. Universally accessible with bathing steps and a ramp.
Read moreBadedammen (Grorud)
Oslo
Smaller, local swimming spot in Grorud - a nice and often quieter alternative for families in the area.
Read moreHellviktangen
Oslo
Idyllic swimming spot on Nesodden with a sandy beach and smooth rocks good for fishing, with a lovely view over Bunnefjorden. Can be combined with food from Hellviktangen art café, located right next door.
Read moreStensrudtjern
Oslo
Swimming spot in Klemetsrud in southern Oslo, a quiet local alternative away from the most visited sea baths.
Read moreVesletjern
Oslo
Lovely swimming water with a small sandy beach by Ammerud, well suited for a quiet afternoon with the youngest.
Read moreNordstrand Bad
Oslo
Swimming spot with a long tradition (a bathing culture dating back to 1890), with a bathing pier with steps down to the water, diving opportunities from the pier, a toilet and a lovely beach promenade with views towards Ulvøya.
Read moreSvarttjern (Romsås)
Oslo
Outdoor recreation area with a sandy beach, modern granite ramps along the water, fixed barbecue spots, several grassy areas, a boules court and playgrounds.
Read moreNaturhistorisk museum
Sars' gate 1, 0562 Oslo
Here children can meet dinosaur skeletons and animals from all over the world, then run free in the Botanical Garden right outside. Guided tours for children on weekends in autumn and winter. Children under 6 enter free.
Read moreHistorisk Museum
Frederiks gate 2, 0164 Oslo
In this museum, the whole family can get up close to the world's only preserved Viking helmet and real Egyptian mummies, along with artefacts from antiquity and the Middle Ages and a large coin collection. Everyone under 18 enters free.
Read moreMunchmuseet
Edvard Munchs plass 1, 0194 Oslo
MUNCH has a broad children's programme: sensory painting for the very youngest, 'Barnas kunstdag' (Children's Art Day) for 3-8-year-olds almost every Sunday, and workshops during school holidays for slightly older children. Strollers are not allowed inside the exhibitions, but baby carriers can be borrowed.
Read moreHenie Onstad Kunstsenter
Sonja Henies vei 31, 1311 Høvikodden
In the dedicated children's workshop 'Labben', kids can draw and freely explore shape, colour and materials, inspired by the exhibitions. Staffed by museum educators on Sundays and during school holidays, with family tours of current exhibitions every Sunday. Children under 18 enter free. Note: located in Bærum, not Oslo municipality.
Read moreNasjonalmuseet
Brynjulf Bulls plass 3, 0250 Oslo
In 'Urskogen Silva', children can create their own fantasy creature and watch it come to life digitally, while the Fairy Tale Room lets the youngest meet familiar storybook characters. Children aged 2-17 enter free (ticket required).
Read moreNorsk Maritimt Museum
Bygdøynesveien 37, 0286 Oslo
The museum invites children into the exhibition 'Oppdag havet' ('Discover the Ocean'), where they can, among other things, explore a submarine simulator, and on weekends children aged 4-12 can build their own boat in the popular boat workshop. All children enter free.
Read moreNorsk Folkemuseum
Museumsveien 10, 0287 Oslo
On the historic farmstead, children can feed animals, try old-fashioned toys, ride the popular tractor 'Gråtass' and run freely around the large open-air museum area with over 160 old buildings from all over the country, including the stave church from Gol. Everyone under 18 enters free.
Read moreSporveismuseet
Gardeveien 15, 0369 Oslo
In the old tram hall from 1913, the family can get up close to historic trams and metro cars, or try being a driver in the simulator inside the Holmenkollen line car. Open Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 11am-3pm.
Read moreKon-Tiki Museet
Bygdøynesveien 36, 0286 Oslo
The exhibitions on the Kon-Tiki and Ra rafts have their own stories made for children, following the crab Johannes and the monkey Safi through Thor Heyerdahl's expeditions. Compact and easy to visit with small children.
Read moreVigelandsparken
Kirkeveien, 0268 Oslo
The world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist (Gustav Vigeland), with over 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron - including the famous Sinnataggen (Angry Boy). Children can run freely among the sculptures, and right by the main entrance lies Frognerborgen, Norway's largest playground with a climbing castle, swings and a sandpit. Free and open around the clock.
Read moreParadox Museum Oslo
Rosenkrantz' gate 11, 0159 Oslo
Interactive illusion museum right by Karl Johan, with sensory challenges and optical illusions that captivate both children and adults. Separate children's tickets from age 4 and free entry for those under 3.
Read moreTeknisk Museum
Kjelsåsveien 143, 0491 Oslo
Voted Oslo's most fun museum for children, with over 100 interactive installations where kids can create a tornado, play a laser harp, drive a mini train and try VR covering transport, science, medicine and industrial history. SkaperLab for children/youth aged 12-16 with programming, music and 3D printing.
Read moreGrünerløkka Minigolf Park
Søndre gate 1, 0550 Oslo
Outdoor 18-hole mini golf course at the bottom of Grünerløkka along the Akerselva river. Open daily in summer, noon-9pm (weather permitting), with both an easy and a difficult course. Pizza and soft drinks can be ordered at the course.
Read moreTorshov Minigolf Park
Hegermanns gate 20, 0478 Oslo
Outdoor 18-hole mini golf course by Torshovparken. Open daily in summer, noon-9pm (weather permitting). 70 kr for adults, 50 kr for children.
Read moreFrognerbadet
Middelthuns gate 28, 0368 Oslo
Oslo's classic outdoor pool with a 50-metre pool, diving tower and its own children's pool with a slide. Note: closed for renovation until 2027 - check status before visiting.
Read moreHøyt & Lavt Lillestrøm
Asak Søndre gård, 1923 Sørum
Scandinavia's second-largest treetop climbing park, with 41 zip lines and 21 colour-coded courses for various ages and skill levels, about 30 minutes from Oslo.
Read moreVannlek i Bård Breiviks skulpturpark
Klosterenga park, 0656 Oslo
Fountains, water-filled sculptures and running water from a wall in Klosterenga park, where the Hovinbekken stream flows through a system of channels, basins and pools. Popular with children on warm days.
Read moreÅrvolldammen
Selvbyggerveien/Rødbergveien, Årvoll, Oslo
One of Groruddalen's most popular swimming spots, with an asphalt bottom and grassy slopes around the pond. Relatively shallow water that makes it well suited for learning to swim. Blue Flag-certified beach.
Read morePlaskedam Kampen park
Kampen park, Oslo
Splash pool in Kampen park, popular and well-visited by families on warm days.
Read morePlaskedam Torshovdalen
Torshovdalen, Oslo
Splash pool in Torshovdalen, the park area between Torshov and Sinsen.
Read more