Norway's biggest theme parks

What's the best way to celebrate spring and summer with the whole family? Ask a youngster who loves action and excitement, and the answer will most likely be spending a day with fun rides and lots of adrenaline in an amusement park. Here is a selection of the most visited parks in Norway.

Dyreparken, Kristiansand

Just outside of Kristiansand, Dyreparken – a combined zoo and amusement park – is open all year. But the prime seasons if you want to enjoy the park’s many attractions are spring and summer.

It's the most visited attraction for families with children in Norway, and is home to one of the biggest water parks in the country, both indoors and outdoors!

You can also visit Cardamom Town, a little town dedicated to the characters of beloved Norwegian children's author Thorbjørn Egner. There are several famous fictional characters that you can find while roaming around the park. One of the most popular is the ruthless pirate Captain Sabertooth, who has been entertaining Norwegian kids since 1990. Book a room in the pirate village Abra Havn, complete with a pirate cove, pirate ship, and retractable bridge, and explore the pirate universe. See lots of animals, including tigers and monkeys, in its large zoo.

Tusenfryd, Oslo

Norway’s biggest amusement park, Tusenfryd, outside Oslo, has more than 30 attractions for all ages, including fast-paced rollercoasters with VR technology, carousels, a log ride, and much more. In between rides, you can play fun games or eat at one of many restaurants and cafés.

Barnas Fryd and Frydskogen are packed with rides and activities for the little ones, and the water park BadeFryd has a swimming pool, a river, and a huge waterslide.

Hunderfossen Adventure Park, Lillehammer

The main theme of the fairy tale park Hunderfossen Adventure Park near Lillehammer is trolls and adventures. Meet the enormous Hunderfossen Troll that watches over the Gudbrandsdalen valley, rediscover folk tales in Ivo Caprino’s fairy tale cave, and take a mind-blowing ride with the wildest car in Norwegian history, Il Tempo Extra Gigante.

The park has plenty of rides and exciting evening shows, and in the winter you can stay in Scandinavia’s southernmost snow hotel or get married in the ice cathedral. Hunderfossen winter park is usually open on weekends from the beginning of February to the beginning of March. Here you can enjoy fun activities both indoors and outdoors! Ride mini snowmobiles or take a fast-paced trip down while snow rafting, or enjoy the warm and cosy Fairytale Castle!

In 2023, Hunderfossen won the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), aka the park industry's "Oscars", for Musikkfabrikken.

Lilleputthammer, Lillehammer

Not far from Hunderfossen lies Lilleputthammer, an adventure park for the whole family! The park is mostly designed for children from one to eight years old, and its main attraction is a miniature copy of the main street in Lillehammer as it was in 1930, built to a scale of 1:4. Among the charming old buildings, children can feel like giants as they explore fun activities more or less on their own, while their parents enjoy the small 1930s cafés, bakeries, and shops. There are a few rides too and a classic circus show in summer. Recommended for small kids.

Bø Sommarland, Telemark

Splashtacular Bø Sommarland is Scandinavia’s largest water park and is located in picturesque surroundings in Telemark. The park has thrilling water slides and heated pools, fun games, and an hourly tidal wave that will send you flying down the Sommarlandelva river. It also has 800 square metres of pools and slides for children under 10! If you get tired of the water, there are plenty of things to do on land as well.

Kongeparken, Stavanger

Kongeparken outside of Stavanger is an institution among Norwegian amusement parks. Its the largest theme park in Fjord Norway, offering fun and action for the whole family under the tag line “What kind of hero are you?” There is something here for everyone from adrenaline junkies to the youngsters.

Spring and summer are the most popular seasons in the park, but in autumn, the park is turned into a kingdom of pumpkins, scary shows, and ghost nights where witches and zombies take over. This usually takes place for one week in the beginning of October.

Don’t miss the incredibly cosy Christmas season! In the run-up to Christmas, Kongeparken is transformed into a kingdom full of bustling life and lovely gnomes. Christmas workshops, lights, mulled wine and elves create a yuletide atmosphere for young and old.

Foldvik Family Park, Vestfold

Foldvik Family Park in Vestfold county offers more than 40 fun activities for children of all ages, including bouncy castles, mini golf, a toboggan run, climbing frames, and more.

Travelling with young animal lovers? The whole family can also get up close to rabbits, donkeys, calves, pigs, goats, and even cats. In Lamalund, you can also give the llamas called Kokos or Fluffy a kiss!

In Plaskeland, you can ride down fun slides and splash in the pool that stays at a comfortable 30 degrees Celsius.

The park also includes a Sensory Forest where everyone, regardless of their impairment, can enjoy fun and relaxation.

Getting there: buses run from both Larvik and Stavern to Foldvik Family Park.