Top 5 Child Friendly Ideas in Bergen

Bergen is the children’s city, where fun activities and spectacular attractions are waiting to be explored.

Here is a selection of five all year around activities that puts a smile on every kids’ face!

1. Bergen Aquarium

Bergen Aquarium is one of the tourist favorites in Bergen, just a short walk or a buss drive from the Fish Market. At Bergen Aquarium you can see so much more than rare and colorful fish and other animals living in an aquarium.

Say hi to Mossy the sea lion, Selma seal or Pingrid Alexandra the penguin, together with all of the other exciting creatures from the arctic oceans. If you visit Bergen Aquarium during feeding hours, you will see an entertaining show, as seals and penguins are doing tricks and exercises as they are served their meals.

At the tropical department, you can see colorful fishes, crocodiles, snakes and spiders. At Bergen Aquarium you can also see sharks as you move through the underwater tunnels. Is your child ready to quit using pacifier?

The colorful carps love eating krill from pacifiers, and the kids love to see them swimming around with their pacifiers in the pool for a while. At Bergen Aquarium there is always something new and exciting to learn about the creatures living under and above the water surface.

2. Fløibanen Funicular

Safe and secure, but at the same time quite exciting, the two funiculars Blåmann and Rødhette climbs up and down the mountainside of Mt. Fløyen, every day all year around. Feel the tickling in your stomach as you look down at the city as cars, houses and people look smaller and smaller during the 320 metre climb to the top.

The Fløibanen funicular takes about six minutes, and from the top you can get the splendid view of the entire city. From the top of Mt. Fløyen there are great hiking opportunities, playgrounds and a kiosk. Take a walk to Trollskogen and have a look at the scary trolls looking at you from behind the trees.

At Fløien Folkerestaurant, you and your family can enjoy a meal or just a drink. When the day is over, you take the funicular down again, and get the same tickling sensations as you experienced on you way up.

Fløibanen Funicular. Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik

3. VilVite science centre

VilVite Science Centre is a dreamworld for every child, filled with exciting activities and challenges. Here the kids can explore the world, challenge themselves and have fun at the same time. You are not told how everything works, you are encouraged to figure it out yourself through fun exercises and activities.

In the main display area there are over 100 installations. Begin your career as a weather forecaster, or try cycling 360 degrees without falling off the bike. VilVite focus on technology and science. Take the Bybane (tram) to the Florida station, or take a 15 minute walk from Fisketorget. This is a favorite for all kids!

4. Vannkanten Waterworld

Including Norway’s longest waterslide, outdoor and indoor pools, Jacuzzis, climbing walls and SuperBowl, Vannkanten Waterworld is great fun for all kids. The enormous BOB-slide gives you a real tickle in your stomach, and the lighting effects, music and timekeeping makes this the big favorite.

Feel the wonderful water in the therapy pool, or enjoy the day both under and above the water surface. Every Saturday and Sunday, the mascot Duffe shows up, giving the kids a great show. Vannkanten lies next to Vestkanten shopping mall, which is the biggest in Bergen.

It also has a bowling alley, curling, ice hall and a fitness centre. Take bhe buss (line 5, 42 or 43) from downtown Bergen, or drive 10 minutes on Riksveg 55 towards Sotra to get there. Vannkanten is the place for kids who like water!

5. Experience Bryggen

Bryggen is probably the best place for kids to learn about the history of Bergen. Take a walk between the crooked buildings and narrow alleys and learn about Bergen during the Hanseatic times.

You get a complete historical experience as you travel back in time when Bergen was one of the big cities of international trade in Europe. A lot of the history is conserved or rebuilt as it was in the Medieval days, and you can take a close look at the 61 buildings on UNESCOS list of world heritage sites.

Here you can imagine how people lived and worked, just by looking around.

If you're looking for more ideas, check out all family friendly attractions here.