Oslo may not be the most obvious choice for a family holiday. However, Oslo is safe, clean, and friendly, with some fantastic museums. My kids melt / melt down once temperatures hit 25c so this northern capital has much to offer for a summer trip. With a flight time of only 2 hours from London, you can be having some Scandi fun in no time! Read on for some of the activities we loved in Oslo with kids.
We visited with our boys (age 11 and 13) over a weekend in August 2025. The streets were surprisingly quiet for a capital city. Hubby wondered if the locals had all headed out to their summer houses…
The city centre is easily walkable and we didn’t use the bus or tram, just the train in from the airport.
The Fram Polar Exploration Museum
The Fram Museum is one of a cluster of fantastic museums just across the water from the city centre and one of our favourite things to do in Oslo with kids. We intended to check out the Kon-Tiki Museum as well but spent so long at the Fram that we didn’t have enough time.
For us, the Fram was an unexpected hit. Adults may recall learning about Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen at school but this fantastic museum really brings to life Amundsen’s various expeditions to the poles. Make sure you first watch the introductory film (in English).
You can go aboard his ship, the Fram, and its later sister, Gjøa, and explore both ships on deck and below.
As well as learning about the race to the pole (spoiler, Amundsen won!), there are great exhibits about their temporary camp, their use of dogs, life on board etc.
Highlights
My 11 year old loved the short walk though where you experience being on a ship in the cold and then walk through a snow tunnel.
Both boys (and me) had great fun climbing up and ringing the ship’s bell on the Fram. I also really enjoyed exploring below-decks where you can climb around the living and sleeping quarters, sit in the dining room, and peek into the captain’s office.
The museum features a cute café where seats are in little wooden cabins. Cabin “windows” have images behind, taken on polar expeditions. We enjoyed cokes and cold drinks in one with an image of the northern lights (the closest we got to them as we visited in summer!).
Amundsen’s final trip was by plane. My boys loved the 4D cinema where you can experience what that flight felt like.
How to do it
One of the refreshingly nice things about Oslo is that nothing is too busy. Unlike many other European capitals, you don’t have to prebook a time-slot for everything in advance. We rocked up from the ferry around lunchtime, decided to grab a bite first at the cate in the nearby maritime museum, then strolled over and bought tickets on the spot with no queue.
They do sell combined tickets with the Kon-Tiki, which work out slightly cheaper. Do think about whether you will have the time (and enthusiasm) to attack another museum afterwards. We decided not to buy the combined tickets and after nearly 4 hours at the Fram, this was definitely the right call!
If you are visiting in the summer months, you can (and should) catch the ferry from city hall pier (just outside the Nobel Peace Museum). On the way out, the ferry also stops at the open-air rural life museum and takes around 15-20 minutes. The straight route back takes 10 minutes. You can buy tickets by card on board. In winter months, you can catch a bus.
When in Oslo with kids, be inspired at the Nobel Peace Museum
I’ll be honest. I thought this was one the kids should do but I wasn’t sure how much they would enjoy it. Having done it, I would say try it with your kids but don’t expect too much.
Housed in a former railway station, the museum opened in 2005 and aims to showcase the history of the peace prize and the achievements of its winners.
My boys were really interested in the temporary exhibition on the 2024 winner, Nihon Hidankyo. The Japanese organisation won for its work to abolish the use of nuclear weapons. The exhibition covered the effects and aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. It led to a lot of good conversation with the boys and really made them think about it.
They were less enthralled with the permanent section with a short electronic exhibit on every former prize winner. However, I found this section fascinating and really well done.
We all enjoyed the displays about Alfred Nobel’s life and the creation and development of the prize.
How to visit
All the displays are in English as well as Norwegian (like all the museums we visited). The museum offers guided tours – you can’t pre-book these but can ask at the desk when you arrive.
Due to a fire alarm in the night leading to a brief evacuation of our hotel, we all slept late and missed the start of the 11am guided tour in English. It would have been great to do this.
You can download an audio guide on your phone and we used this for some parts of the museum. Other parts are more interactive and you don’t need it.
The museum is located in City Hall Square, right in the heart of the city. In the summer, you can catch a ferry from the town hall pier over to the museums island.
Pull your best Scream face at the Munch Museum
An architecturally stunning building with amazing views towards the city and fjord, particularly over the Opera House and Barcode Buildings. The building might be the best thing about this museum!
Frankly, I was amazed by just how prolific Munch was – his pictures cover 4 floors! However, his work lacks huge variety and I have to admit that we got a little bored.
The big draw is the iconic Scream. There are actually 3 versions, who knew! An open room in the centre of one of the galleries houses the 3 paintings. The museum then shows each in turn to limit light exposure. Be aware that the colourful version we all recognise is only shown for 15 minutes every 1.5 hours. If you miss it, you could check out the café and come back…
Unsurprisingly, this small room is very busy and you shuffle gradually to the front for your selfie with your best scream face. Although this isn’t like the crowds at the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, kids will only see if they have the patience to wait.
What we thought
The kids didn’t love this museum, although they were glad they had seen the Scream. Neither really appreciated Munch’s style of art and some of his subject matter was quite dark.
I felt we needed some better explanations of his life and works. We also lacked a suggested route to see and understand the development of his art.
If you are desperate to see the Scream go. If not, there are better things to do in Oslo with kids.
Check out the architecture in Oslo with kids
Don’t miss the chance to walk up the ramps to the roof of the Opera House. Its a popular hang-out spot for locals in sunny weather and you will be rewarded by some fantastic views!
Another great spot to appreciate the city’s modern architecture is the top floor viewing galleries of the Munch museum. You get a particularly good view of the so-called “Barcode” District from here. The city council developed this area in 2016 as part of an urban-renewal project. The 12 narrow high rise buildings are said to resemble a barcode!
If you love modern architecture and urban renewal, also check out the Aker Byrgge area and the Astrid Fearnley museum. Its not all modern though, don’t miss the historic Royal Palace…
Street food eats for all tastes
If you are in Oslo with kids, you must check out Oslo Street Food. An easy walk from the Opera House and the main station, this street-food venue has 8-10 hatches serving different cuisines, plus a bar with a huge range of Norwegian beers.
Wander around the kitchens to see what you fancy. The bonus is that everyone can have something different! Then find a table and order through a QR Code. You give your mobile number and then receive texts with a pick-up code when your food is ready.
When we visited, the cuisines on offer included noodles, Greek, Thai, vegan burgers, Caribbean and Indian street food.
The venue is fun, lively and colourful with something for everyone!
You’ve done Oslo with kids, so what next?
If you’ve enjoyed Oslo with kids, why not hop on the fabulous public transport system and head to Bergen or Flam (not to be confused with Fram!). Click on the links to read about our buzzy weekend in Bergen and outdoor adventures in the fjord village of Flam.