Norway Summer Family Vacation in 10 Days

Colorful and charming, Oslo is one of Europe’s most idyllic capitals. The low-rise city has a laidback vibe, especially in the center. Mountains and forests backdrop the city, while the fjord creates a beautiful view from almost anywhere. After landing at Oslo’s international airport, you will be greeted by a guide and transferred to the waterside, where your hotel will have a convenient location in a pedestrianized area. Today will be at your leisure, and you can walk off the flight in the nearby streets. Your guide can also provide you with dining recommendations.

Today, you will set out on a Viking adventure, rekindling a historical time with an interactive experience on the Bygdoy peninsula. First, you will take a ferry from a harbor near your hotel before gasping at the thought of an Arctic expedition of exploring Fram, which is an enormous polar exploration ship. The Viking Ship Museum usually goes down as the favorite children’s attraction in Oslo. After lunch, there will be more to see on this peninsula, including a lookout tower that will have you gazing all the way to Sweden. Back in the center of Oslo, you can bask in the atmosphere of a local tavern, stroll past all the painted houses, and look for a restaurant along the harbor at Aker Brygge.

Cruising is integral to most Norway vacations, and a two-hour trip on Oslofjord will be an excellent introduction, especially as you will have some longer cruises later in your vacation. Traversing narrow sounds and passing deserted islands, it will be a cruise that will showcase the wild splendor of Southern Norway. Your kids will most likely get excited this afternoon as you visit the Children’s Art Museum, where interactive exhibits bring the creative passion out of everyone. Norgesparken Tusenfryd is an optional extension this afternoon.

Instead of the long drive to Kristiansand, you can opt to fly the 45-minute journey, which means that you can make the most of your one night in Norway’s Southern city. First, you can ride an 1894 locomotive for three miles along an iconic gauge track. Afterward, you will stroll through the city’s botanical garden before finishing your day in Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park. The Norwegians think of this huge family attraction as their version of Disneyland. Everything is tailored to kids with playful stories, rides, interactive attractions, and cute characters that celebrate Norwegian culture and history.

The guided transfer to Stavanger will take three hours; it is a lovely journey across soporific landscapes, pastures, and rolling mountains. After checking in to your hotel, a local guide will lead you on a treasure hunt, and everyone will be hunting for clues amid one of Europe’s best-preserved old towns. A day in Stavanger can seem like you have stepped back into Viking times, and there is certainly an old-world charm to the cobbled lanes. A treasure hunt will also add a little competitiveness to the day and is usually an excellent means of keeping your children entertained with history.

The Norwegian Children's Museum holds its own as one of the best educational children’s attractions anywhere in Europe. This is a place where they can paint, play, and follow up on interests from dinosaurs to engineering. The museum is best for kids aged 5 to 12, and it is best explored when the kids make their own agenda. After running around this giant playpen, you can spend a couple of hours on the water, indulging in a scenic boat ride to the fjords of Preikestolen. The hike to Preikestolen is more than three miles uphill, so it is unlikely you will make it to the top of this cliff.

Today, you can upgrade your experience by traveling to Bergen by private helicopter, which is a journey that will highlight the vibrant splendor of Norway’s famous fjords. During your transfer, you will fly above ragged peaks and undisturbed stretches of water. The pilot will then set you down in the wilderness, where you can have a picnic alongside the water and find a beautiful space for your kids to play. There will literally be nobody else around, and that is the type of experience that makes Norway such an inspiring destination. The rest of the day will be at your leisure in Bergen, which is a city surrounded by seven fjords and seven mountains.

Bergen is the gateway to Norway’s fjords, and today will provide you with the scenic journey of a lifetime. Mountain peaks will climb higher and higher as you leave the city behind. The fjords will narrow, meaning great walls will soon hem you in on all sides. The snowy summit is sometimes reflected in the water, and there will be a solitude that can help anyone stop and reset. Cruising the fjords near Bergen is probably Norway’s most iconic experience, and it is family-friendly, so you can venture off the boat and explore different areas amid epic natural landscapes.

This final day will be left free, so you can tailor a guided tour based on your interests and energy levels. Perhaps, you will have had enough of the fjords or museums by now. One option for this afternoon will be Troldhaugen, which is a stunning summer villa where you can all relax and reflect on your Norwegian experience. Bergen Aquarium is a contrasting option, while a ride on Floibanen funicular can provide you with a fitting finale to your time in Norway.

Bergen is Norway’s second-largest airport, so it will be a convenient place of departure today. You will be transferred to the airport after breakfast for your outbound flight.