Norway is quickly becoming a firm family-favourite ski holiday destination. Quiet pistes, queueless lifts, dedicated kids’ areas, the convenience of ski-in-ski-out, and first class tuition from English speaking instructors are all huge ticks in the boxes for parents looking to take their kids away for a winter ski holiday.
In this guide, we take a look at the best family ski resorts in Norway. We’ll cover key resort information, including the beginner terrain, the best places to stay, what activities kids (and adults) can get involved with, and other nuggets of information that we think are relevant to families thinking of heading to the Norwegian slopes in the near future.
Our Top Family Friendly Ski Resorts in Norway
- Beitostølen
- Trysil
- Geilo
- Kvitfjell
- Norefjell
Discover everything you need to know about these resorts in this section!
1.Beitostølen
Transfer time: 3h 30
Number of easy runs: 13
Kids’ ski area: Yes
Bars and restaurants: Around 10
Activities include: air-boarding, tobogganing, children's horseback riding
A little skiing village about 3h and 30 minutes from Oslo, Beitostølen is a fantastic ski resort for families finding their feet on the mountain. The resort offers 13 easy runs - ideal for novice families to explore once ski lessons are over - and an excellent array of activities to have a go at if you want to give the ski boots a rest for the day, including the resort-renowned air-boarding.
There are a handful of bars and restaurants to visit for a spot of lunch or an evening meal. Head to the family-friendly Caesars, where you’ll find pub favourites on the menu including burgers, pasta, fish and chips, and also a children’s menu for smaller appetites. For beer lovers in the family, there’s the Bryggerihuset AS, an ale house with an extensive selection of craft beers and a simple bar menu - perfect for an end of day aperitif.
Accommodation in Beitostølen:
One minute from the lifts and ski school, the Riddertunet Apartments are stylishly decorated with a modern finish - the perfect base for a self catered family ski trip.
For your hotel option, look at the Radisson Blu Hotel. This four star hotel features a kids’ pool and playroom, in addition to a spa and wellness activities for some quality adult time.
2.Trysil
Transfer time: 2h 30 minutes
Number of easy runs: 22
Kids’ ski area: Yes
Bars and restaurants: Over 10
Activities include: Dog sledding, fat biking, star hunting, horseback riding
Norway’s largest ski area, Trysil rivals some of the Alpine resorts when it comes to skiable terrain. With an incredible 22 easy runs and 35 intermediate runs, there’s enough piste to keep the whole family entertained for a week. Off the slopes, dog sledding and tobogganing are popular activities, while inside, there’s a waterpark with a children's pool and climbing wall, and spa facilities for adults.
Trysil is a lively resort with plenty of family-friendly bars and restaurants. Laaven 1970 offers great pitstop treats for the kids, including cream-topped hot chocolate, donuts, and cinnamon buns. At lunch time, head to Glunot for delicious pizzas - the bakery come pizza restaurant also sells lots of gluten free treats, so those with a gluten intolerance can indulge, too!
3. Geilo
Transfer time: 3h 30 minutes
Number of easy runs: 16
Kids’ ski area: Yes
Bars and restaurants: Over 20
Activities include: Sleigh rides, dog sledding, tobogganing, fat biking
The oldest ski area in Norway, Geilo is a paradise for winter activity enthusiasts. In addition to skiing (Geilo is one of Norway’s larger ski areas), there’s snow rafting, tobogganing, dog sledding, and not one but four dedicated children’s areas, including the Trollklubben family arena and Slaata with its forest trails and kid-friendly jumps.
Off the slopes, the weekly kids’ Friday disco at Vestlia ski cafe is not to be missed, and the good news for adults is there are several kids’ clubs - on skis and off skis - so you can head off to explore the more advanced terrain, or retreat to one of the spas for a couple of hours of R&R while the children are being looked after by qualified childcare professionals.
Accommodation in Geilo:
Ever wanted to stay in a traditional log cabin? The four star Bardola Cabins are comfortable and cosy, with traditional wooden decor and a log fire in the living room.
The white, almost palatial, Dr Holms hotel dates back to 1901. Inside, you’ll find comfortable accommodation, a sports bar with games, a bowling alley, kids pool and more!
4. Kvitfjell
Transfer time: 2h 30 minutes
Number of easy runs: 5
Kids’ ski area: Yes
Bars and restaurants: Around 10
Activities include: Snowshoeing and cross country skiing
When you think of purpose built ski resorts, you think of the tall apartment buildings of Val Thorens and Avoriaz, however, here, purpose-built means charm, quaintness, and cosy log cabins. Built to serve the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, Kvitfjell has a good blend of pistes, with 5 easy runs enough to keep those on wobbly ski legs entertained.
Ideal for young families, there are two dedicated children’s slopes, while mums or dads looking to test their legs may want to have a go at the Olympic standard downhill run or any of the 19 intermediate or difficult runs. Every year, Kvitfjell plays host to the World Cup in downhill skiing, promising a great weekend of skiing entertainment.
Kvitfjell is a lowkey resort, however there are a variety of restaurants to choose from, including Koia - a 300 year old log cabin serving delicious food and cosy end of the day drinks, with stunning views over the mountainside. For kid-friendly favourites, head to Plassen Lunch and Afterski for pizza, pasta, burgers, and a dedicated children’s menu.
Accommodation in Kvitfjell
The ski-in-ski-out Gudbrandsgard Hotel has everything you could ever need for the perfect family holiday - traditionally decorated and cosy rooms, an indoor pool, kids’ play area, and all meals covered in the Gildestuen restaurant.
5. Norefjell
Transfer time: 2 hours
Number of easy runs: 20
Kids’ ski area: Yes
Bars and restaurants: Around 10
Activities include: Dog sledding, winter walking, horse drawn carriage rides
Just two hours from Oslo, Norefjell is the most conveniently located of all the ski resorts featured on this list. Consisting of little pockets of life, Norefjell’s clusters of accommodation and eateries are unique to the resort and create a community feel where it’s easy to bump into and get to know the same faces - perfect for families who enjoy making friends on holiday.
For a small resort, there’s plenty to do. Take advantage of the quiet, long, sweeping green and blue runs, which are perfect for practicing your turns, or spend the day taking part in the host of winter activities that are available, including dog sledding and horse drawn carriage rides.
There are a handful of restaurants on the mountain serving traditional Scandinavian dishes, including warming goulash and sticky and sweet cinnamon buns. Skistua is the place to go for kids that may not appreciate testing their taste buds. There’s a dedicated children’s menu, but also plenty of adults to choose from, too. And it’s right in the middle of the resort - the perfect pitstop!
Discover your next family ski holiday to Norway
Our ski specialists are on hand to help you research and decide on the best ski resort for your Norwegian ski holiday. If you’d like to find out more about any of the ski resorts featured on our list and the accommodation we have available in these areas, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 020 3993 4763! Alternatively, browse our full range of ski apartments and hotels in Norway and book your ski holiday online!
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