Active Family Adventure in Norway: Oslo, Fjords & Bergen - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Oslo, Explore

Velkommen til Norway (welcome to Norway)! Upon arrival in Oslo, you'll pick up your rental car and take a short drive through the picturesque countryside to your city center accommodation. Surrounded by mountains and sea, the country's rapidly growing capital is compact and walkable, making it perfect for families. After checking in at your hotel, rally the kids and head out to explore.

Start at Karl Johan's Gate, the main thoroughfare that takes you from the city center to Palace Park, home of the Norweigan royal family. Wander around Aker Brygge, an area along the waterfront known for its restaurants, bars, boutiques, and museums that highlight the city's cultural reputation. Stop for tebrødstenger (a delicious jam-filled pastry) at any of the cafés along the promenade before taking in two of the city's architectural highlights—the Oslo Opera House and Munch Museum.
 
Afterward, go to the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, where kids will love the life-size dinosaur fossils, meteorites, and even an entire crystal cave. Stroll among the 5,000-plus plant species in the University's 150-acre (60 ha) Botanical Garden, founded in 1814, before deciding which of the city's many restaurants to dine in and toast the start of your adventure.

Day 2: Drive to Lom, Hiking in Jotunheim National Park

After breakfast, you'll hit the road toward Lom, the gateway to the Jotunheim Mountains and National Park, famous for its spectacular mountain scenery. Steeped in history that dates back to the Old Norse Sagas, the town's setting will fire the kids' imaginations, ready for Viking-inspired adventures in the national park.

Check in at your accommodation and then hit the trails. From easy, family-friendly walks to hikes that would challenge even the most adventurous mountaineer, Jotunheim's largely undisturbed mountain area includes rivers, wildflower-filled valleys, waterfalls, and the largest concentration of mountains (more than 275 summits) higher than 6,000 feet (1,829 m) in northern Europe. Hike to your heart's content, and when you and the kids have had your fill, head back to Lom, where the evening is yours to spend as you wish. 

Day 3: Drive to Geiranger, Geirangerfjord Family Kayaking Tour 

Spend a relaxing morning in Lom before heading to the small village of Geiranger, nestled snugly at the bottom of the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord. After dropping off your bags at your hotel and grabbing a bite to eat, head to the Kayak Center in Homlong for a guided family kayak trip. You and the kids will paddle your way down the fjord until you reach the famous cascades of the Seven Sisters and The Suitor waterfalls. Gaze at the snowcapped peaks, lush vegetation, and waterfall-dotted mountains as your guide regales you with tales of local legends and history.

Back on land, you have several options. Either head back to Geiranger and explore the town or follow one of the trails up the nearby slopes for panoramic views of the fjord. Don't miss the famous Flydalsjuvet viewpoint for a family selfie to remember.

Day 4: Drive to Valldal, Explore Trollstigen & Åndalsnes

It's time to wave goodbye to Geiranger and head north to Valldal for the next leg of your journey. After a quick refresh at your accommodation, head out and explore. First up is a drive along the famous Trollstigen ("Trolls Ladder") mountain pass, made up of eleven thrilling hairpin bends through the Romsdalen Valley. Zigzag your way along the road and discover why it's one of Norway's most visited spots. Keep your camera close to hand as you stop at two stunning viewpoints along the way.

After the adrenaline rush of driving along Trollstigen, you'll want to stretch your legs. Head to the nearby town of Åndalsnes, known as the mountaineering capital of Norway. Stop for a drink and a bite to eat, and if you're eager for more mountain action, then make your way to the town's Norweigan Mountaineering Center. Enjoy the family-friendly interactive experiences, including an enormous climbing wall, sure to bring a smile to the kids' faces. Afterward, head back to nearby Valldal and settle somewhere cozy for a well-deserved dinner. 

Day 5: Drive to Loen, Visit Lovatnet

Today you have a free day to gradually make your way two hours south to Loen. Before leaving, pack a family lunch and take one of the many interesting turn-offs on the road to find a nice parking spot where you can picnic with a view. After your pitstop, continue onto Leon. Don't miss a visit to the nearby Lovatnet Lake—a strikingly green lake due to the clay particles and rock dust etched out by glaciers farther upstream. Hope for a sunny day so that the green of the lake water is particularly mesmerizing to behold!

Day 6: Via Ferrata Loen Experience, Zipline & Loen Skylift

Today is one of those days you and your family will be talking about for years to come! There are several ways to reach the top of Mount Hoven, with the Loen Skylift the least strenuous. For families with kids over 12 in search of an adrenaline kick, there's the Via Ferrata Loen, a six-hour hike that takes you from the fjord level to the summit by a series of metal rails and cables. After a full safety briefing, you'll don your harness and helmet and climb high above the fjord, surrounded by unbelievable views of the surrounding mountains and Jostedalsbreen National Park.

Reach the top and if the climb has left you on a high, continue with a breathtaking zipline across the Gjølmunna gorge. For a more sedate but no less awe-inspiring journey to the peak, take the Loen Skylift up to the top of Mount Hoven and marvel at the views over Nordfjord as the ariel tramway reaches a whopping 60-degree gradient (one of the steepest in the world).

However you reach the summit, reward yourselves with lunch at the perfectly positioned restaurant at the top of Mount Hoven and catch a scenic ride back down to Loen on the Skylift—with plenty of opportunities to capture a memorable family selfie. 

Day 7: Drive to Fjærland, Glacier Hike 

After yesterday's epic adventures, take it easy this morning before driving south to Fjærland, nicknamed Byokben ("Book Town"). Nestled beneath forest-covered mountains on the edge of a sparkling fjord, the tiny village looks like something out of a storybook. Check in at your accommodation and explore the quirky town center, famous for its many secondhand bookshops and free mini-libraries. See if the kids can guess what many of the bookshops used to be (cowsheds!) before checking out the nearby award-winning Norweigan Glacier Museum.

 

In the afternoon, you have several options. Either take the kids out for a paddle on the fjord with a relaxing kayak tour or hike one of the picturesque trails surrounding the village. If yesterday's Via Ferrata experience has left an adrenaline-shaped void, head to Stardalen, the starting point for an epic hike across the Haugabreen glacier. Perfect for adventurous older kids, get up close and personal with the glittering icy glacier as you discover stunning blue ice caves and explore the snowy winter wonderland.

Day 8: Drive to Balestrand, Orrabenken Trail Hike

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Fjærland before heading back in the car for the next leg of your family adventure. It's a 50-mile (82 km) drive southwest to Balestrand, where you'll spend the next couple of nights. Popular with tourists since the 19th century, this charming fjord-side town, famous for its scenery and wonderful light, has been home to some of Norway's most celebrated artists. 

 

Settle in at your accommodation and head out for a bite to eat before taking a guided family-friendly hike to the top of Orranbenken, with gentle slopes making it perfect for little legs. Set out from Balestrand and discover beautiful fjord views as you follow the trail through Ja-steinen until you reach Balabu, a small hut with a great vantage point offering sweeping views across the water. Enjoy a picnic lunch as you relax and admire the scenery before heading back down to Balestrand, where the evening is yours to spend as you wish. 

Day 9: RIB Boat Fjord Safari, Explore Balestrand

After yesterday's gentle hiking, it's time to hit the water this morning—experiencing the captivating scenery of the Sognefjord up close as you speed along the pristine waters on your sturdy inflatable RIB boat. Hear tales and the history of the area from your local guide as you pass the majestic Kvinnefossen waterfall. Task the kids with looking out for the hard-to-miss 72-foot (22 m) high statue of Viking hero Fridtjov before stopping at Kvamsøy Island to see the splendid 13th-century medieval church. 

Back on dry land, enjoy a relaxing lunch in Balestrand and take the kids on an easy 1.2-mile (2 km) heritage trail walk, which will give you an excellent overview of the village and take you past many of the villas built by resident artists in the 1890s and 1900s. Stop off at some of the boutique galleries before taking the kids to see Saint Olaf's Church: a treat for "Frozen" fans, it was the setting for Elsa's coronation scene. If you have time, squeeze in a visit to the Sognefjord Aquarium, where the kids can learn all about local underwater life. 

Day 10: Drive to Bergen, Explore 

Spend a final few hours enjoying the peaceful scenery around Balestrand or head out early for the four-hour drive south to Bergen, Norway's second-largest city and famous for its vibrantly painted houses that nestle along the UNESCO Heritage-listed preserved harbor and dot the surroundings. Ringed by seven stunning mountains and fjords, Bergen is brimming with family-friendly outdoor activities and serves as a gateway to some of Norway's most famous sights.

Check in at your accommodation and amble over to downtown Bryggen, whose brightly-painted wooden waterfront houses date back to the 1700s. Stop for a bite to eat at one of the many charming cafés before treating the kids to a family ride on the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. Take a stroll down as you get the kids to spot the hidden troll sculptures along the way.

Day 11: Flåm Railway, Cycling, Fjord Safari & Kayak Adventure

Enjoy a hearty Norwegian breakfast before making an early start for an adventure-packed day that takes in some of Norway's most iconic scenery and excursions. You'll start by boarding the Bergen Railway to Myrdal, where bikes and helmets will be ready and waiting for you at the station café. After a short safety briefing, you'll ride through the stunning Flåm Valley—an easy route to cycle with most of the terrain either flat or downhill. 

 

Arrive in the charming village of Flåm, and you'll have a chance to catch a breather and admire the steep mountainsides and narrow valleys before heading out onto the water. Board your RIB boat and sail along Aurlandsfjord and the UNESCO World Heritage designated Nærøyfjord. Marvel at the sheer cliffs and tiny farms clinging to the mountainside as the kids keep their eyes peeled for porpoises and sea eagles.

 

Reach the village of Gudvangen and prepare for another fjord-based excursion, this time by kayak. For the next few hours, the solitude of the calm waters of the Aurlandsfjord belongs to you and your family. Enjoy the deep silence as you kayak together through the nearly still water within what feels like touching distance of the steep mountainsides that rise into the valley. Afterward, you'll journey back to Bergen, where tired but happy kids will sleep soundly as you spend a restful night toasting your Norway adventures.

Day 12: Day Trip to Voss, Whitewater Rafting Excursion 

Rally the troops and head out early this morning, as you won't want to miss today's excursion. Your destination is the mountain village of Voss, perched between Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. It's the perfect spot to experience the thrill of whitewater rafting in the most scenic of settings. After a full safety briefing, you and the kids will join an epic family-friendly rafting trip as you whizz along the easy-going rapids of the Raundalselva River. There'll be plenty of opportunity to capture the kids' excited faces as you stop to relax and admire the waterfalls along the way. 

 Back in Bergen, enjoy some well-earned downtime at your hotel or earn more parental brownie points with a trip to the fun and interactive VilVite Science Center. For nature-obsessed kids, don't miss the Bergen Aquarium and Urban Zoo. Art lovers big and little should head to the four KODE Museums, where parents can admire the modernist and Old Masters collections, while younger kids will love the interactive art space. For a literally cooler experience, take the kids to the Magic Ice Bar—an ice-art gallery with ice sculptures inspired by famous works.

Day 13: Drive to Oslo

Enjoy a final stroll around Bergen this morning before returning to Oslo. Take one last wander around the harbor and enjoy a second breakfast of cinnamon buns, a Norweigan staple, before checking out of your accommodation. Back in the capital, the rest of the day is yours to either rest or explore. Take the opportunity to visit any sights you may have missed the first time, including the fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park, home to 200 larger-than-life sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland. 

Continue the cultural theme with a visit to Oslo's Open-Air Folk Museum, where kids will have a blast wandering through centuries of traditional Norweigan life. Discover over 160 historic buildings from the 13th century until the present day, including the Gol stave church built in the 1200s. Stroll through the nearby pastures as you encounter storytelling, folk dancing, and even baking. In the evening, choose one of Oslo's many great family restaurants and dine out in style, recounting your favorite memories of the trip.

Day 14: Depart Norway

As your family adventure draws to a close, make your way to the airport, drop off your rental car, and prepare to board your flight. Trygge reiser (safe travels)!

Looking for more inspiration for your family trip to Norway? Check out these other Norway itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in Norway with the family, or discover the best time to visit Norway.