With its abundance of fjords and mountains accessible by train, boat or on foot, families who love outdoor adventures will find what they’re looking for in the west of this Nordic country: Norway in miniature. Its breathtaking landscapes are disconcertingly accessible all year round, and transform with the seasons. In winter you will be greeted by snow and the Northern Lights, while in summer you can bask in wild rivers and climb glaciers.
Norway’s second largest city is the gateway to its legendary fjords. Explore the Bryggen district, where gabled houses line the seafront, before boarding the funiculaire du mont Fløyen. At the top you will find a playground and a café. It is also the starting point for pleasant walks that will bring you back to the land; one of the paths winds through the woods and ends in a slide. After that, everyone go enjoy the hot dogs The Three Crownswhose reputation is well established. In business since 1946, this colorful street stand offers sausages, sauces and add-ons that will satisfy even the pickiest of stomachs.
Children aged eight and over can take part in this activity, which can only be undertaken between the months of May and September. Which glacier to climb will depend on the month of your expedition. One begins with a boat trip past the icebergs of turquoise Lake Styggevatnet, before your family straps on crampons for a two-hour exploration of the crevasses of Austdalsbreen.
One of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, the Flåm railway leaves from this same small village on the edge of the Aurlandsfjord. The train undertakes a slow, steep climb between towering peaks and picturesque mountain farms, before reaching Myrdal station less than an hour later. On the way out, the side of the train facing the platform will offer the most beautiful panoramas of the Rjoandefossen waterfall, a 240-meter waterfall in three levels. While you’re in the Flåm area, don’t miss one of the RIB cruises offered by FjordSafari. They leave from the port of Flåm to the entrance to Nærøyfjord, a body of water listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has barely changed since the last ice age. Frozen fans will be delighted to see Undredal, 13 kilometers north of Flåm, the inspiration for Arendelle. In real life, the village is home to more goats than humans, and the waters surrounding it are also teeming with life. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, whales and dolphins.
