Want to get the kids away from the screens and out in the fresh air?
Here are a few tips for some family-fun in the snow in the Norwegian capital.
Nature is all around you here: the Oslo fjord and its islands, forests, lakes and parks – and the locals enthusiastically enjoy it all. Perhaps you will too? After these lively winter activities, you’ll return home in great shape and with heaps of good family memories.
- Every winter weekend (and there are many, many of those), families take to the woods to ski. Cross-country skiing is the national sport for young and old and everyone in between. Have babies that can’t walk yet? No worries, just wrap them in a snug sheep skin, put them in a pulk (a pull-sled) and pull them along. Strap on the skis at Frognerseteren – a mere 15 minutes by metro from the city centre. (And you can have hot chocolate and waffles by the roaring fireplace after).
- If downhill is more your thing, Tryvann Vinterpark is nearby. Tryvann is everyone’s playground. With 14 slopes and 7 lifts, you can slalom, Telemark ski and snowboard. Kids of all ages jump and play in the wavy terrain park and half-pipe. Two of the lifts, 3 slopes and a few jumps are reserved for the youngest children.
- Also near Frognerseteren is Korketrekkeren, a corkscrew hill, 2000 metres long and with a 255-metre drop. Tobogganing down takes 8 – 10 minutes at full speed. Want more? Take the metro back up and go again. Korketrekkeren is all lit up for night-time snowy fun as well.
- The forest is magic at night time. Why not spend a night in a cabin in the wilderness? When the kids are asleep, the two of you could take a romantic moonlit glide along the tracks…
- On Karl Johan, Oslo’s main street, you can skate at the outdoor rink. After dark, it’s illuminated and you can skate to classical music.
Too snowy for skating, but we don’t care…
For easier days out in Oslo, try these cultural outdoors activities:
- In Frogner Park, you can stroll among Gustav Vigeland’s cool snow-covered sculptures. The children will have fun climbing on them.
- How about some winter sailing? A mini cruise in an old wooden sailboat in Oslo harbour is a great way to get your bearings. The boat takes you past medieval Akershus Fortress, Oslo Opera House and Bygdøy museum peninsula. I like standing on deck as snow falls, warming my hands on a cup of lovely, hot tea (or yummy, spicy gløgg, if it’s before Christmas). You can get on or off at any of the stops all day long.
- Your kids might not like opera (although you’d be surprised how difficult it is to get seats for the children’s performances of The Magic Flute), but they’ll relish climbing and running on the roof of the fabulous white marble ice-floe opera house. Fantastic fjord views from the roof-top.
- At Bygdøy, kids love exploring Amundsen’s Polar ship Fram, excellently preserved Viking ships, and the Kon-Tiki raft that crossed from South America to Polynesia.
- Your little science-nerd will want to see our oldest ancestor, 47-million-year-old primate fossil Ida, at the Zoological museum. You may have to stop by the National Gallery as well – kids are weirdly fascinated by Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream
More Oslo? Here are 10 great free cultural attractions in Norway’s capital. That’s right – free.
This is a slightly altered version of an article I wrote for Nile Guide.
Great advice – Any chance of borrowing a child to share the fun?
Works for the kids-at-heart, too 🙂
Skiing by moonlight – very etherial – how romantic.
And after reading this I have an image of children climbing Gustav Vigeland’s monolith, all snow encrusted – with the children adding a kind of extra layer to the sculpted bodies.
The little photo with the tip about the Historical Museum at https://www.sophiesworld.net/free-oslo-cultural-attractions/ reminds me of Noggin The Nog that we had on TV years ago here in England 🙂
Romantic, indeed.
Now, I think the Monolith would be a bit difficult to climb. My youngest used to prefer the sculpture of the children using their mother as a horse, pulling her braids and all…
🙂
Ahhh – you’re making me so excited for Norway! John and I don’t know how to downhill ski but we’re both keen to give cross-country a try. Pulling a baby in the pull-sled? Adorable! =)
I think you two will enjoy cross-country skiing 🙂
Wow there are so many ways to enjoy outdoors as well as learning Oslo’s culture. I love doing snow activities especially skiing. This is definitely somewhere where I wanna take my family sometime. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome 🙂
Really good ideas for those who enjoy the cold. However, I’m a dedicated desert rat and I’ll stick to the wildflowers that are out in profusion in southern Arizona right now.
You know, I really like the desert as well. Many similarities really – harsh climates, extreme temperatures… just opposite extremes.
Oslo must be really a nice place! I wish I could ever had the chance to get there, but it’s to far…
The world is getting smaller, though…
A ten minute toboggan ride at full speed?? That sounds… terrifying. 😛
Can always hit the brakes 🙂
It is so warm here in Australia at the moment that this sounds SO fantastic!! Love that last photo.
Thanks, Cherina. I like that photo, too.
Lovely post, nothing better than getting out in the fresh (or freezing) air! 🙂
True 🙂
We have this saying up here, it loosely translates to: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” (Sounds much better in Norwegian, rhymes and everything…)
I’m sold. No shortage of things to do in your neck of the woods in winter is there? I love the idea of skating to the sound of classical music. It sounds really romantic – if you know how to skate that is. 😉
Julia
Yeah, skating was never my strong suit, really. Too clumsy.
Kids really love snow! Maybe that’s why to get there attention away from computers or tv is to bring them outside and have a snowball fight with them. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I think you’re right. The key is to go out and play with them.
We just did a post about our travel wish list and included spending the winter in Norway – would love to experience it one year!
I think you’d find many similarities with your neck of the woods 🙂
As I was reading, I was remembering my attempts at ice skating. I spent more time on the ice than upright – but it was hysterical fun.
I’m like Bambi on the ice, too 🙂
What great winter activities full of outdoor fun and culture! I love the idea of sailing in a wooden sailboat around the harbour. Awesome expressions of joy in the pictures.
Thanks, Mary. The sailboat is a really ice introduction to Oslo, I think.
snow fights are the best! It’s hard to imagine snow right now with LA having warmer than average temps- but I would love to play around in it for awhile!
Snow fights are fun.’specially when I’m winning…
Nothing like snow (or the beach) to make kids happy!
Yeah, they’re easy, really.
These all sound like great ideas! I especially liked the cabin in the woods and winter sailing. It would be hard to not have a good time with all these options.
Thanks, Deb 🙂
You make me really consider that last minute ski getaway I’ve been thinking about 🙂 Never tried cross-country and I had no idea it was so popular in Norway.
Difficult to ski in Texas. You’d have to go to New Mexico, if I remember correctly… Or home to Germany 🙂
Yes, New Mexico 🙂 They have some great skiing there! I think my favorite is Santa Fe.
I like the sound of that toboggan hill. Looks like there is plenty to keep you busy in the winter.
One year I’d like to do a hut to hut cross country ski trip in Norway – maybe in March when the days get longer. I’ve heard good things about those trips.
Yes, I think you’d enjoy hut to hut hiking. Either on skis or rambling in summer.
Looks like a lot of fun. Love the photos.
Thanks, Jackie 🙂
Love all these winter fun ideas – maybe I’ll be able to experience some of them in Norway sometime. I’m still hoping I get a chance to go downhill skiing this winter. We haven’t had a lot of snow in the mountains this year. I also like the idea of a romantic night in the cabin.
Hope you’ll make it over here sometime, Cathy. Let me know if you do.
I love all that there is to do there – that is great!!
If you’d like to link up your post to another meme, I host “Friday Daydreamin” – we’d love to have you!!
~Becca
Thanks, Becca – will go to the daydreamin’ now 🙂
I love winter sports and it always reminds me of home. As strange as it might seem to admit but since I hadn’t experienced a proper winter in two years I’m really enjoying this one now 🙂
You’re Canadian, right?
I love the photo of the kids trying to skate in the snow! 🙂 My younger daughter would love to have snow like that to play in right now. We had snow at Christmas when we went to visit the grandparents but we haven’t had any to speak of in the Toronto area all winter. We spent one day in Oslo a couple of years ago while on a cruise and fell in love with the city – can’t wait to go back. My older daughter has been begging to go to Norway next summer so we’ll have to see.
Thanks, Lisa 🙂
Hardly any snow in Toronto? That must be unusual, no?
Great tips! Oslo looks like a great place to ski!
Yep, heaps of opportunities for skiing in and around the city. And just about anywhere else in Norway, too 🙂
Excellent tips for winter fun! I’m sure some of those would transfer over to Canada as well.
Yes, I’m sure. Canada and Norway are similar in many ways: few people, lots of space, cold snowy winters, gorgeous summers with long white nights, mountains, rivers, oceans…
I have been to Oslo in the summer time previously and was scared to go there in the winter. I mean i know its silly to think there would be nothing to do, but its great to see an article outlining a lot of the fun winter activities.
Lots to do in winter as well, but it’s best if you enjoy the outdoors 🙂
What a precious picture of the little girl. She looks so happy. Just beautiful!
I know! My baby 🙂
Your Olso activities sound like a blast for those with our without children!
Yep, good fun for children of all ages 🙂