Things to do in Bergen with kids when the weather turns

Looking for things to do in Bergen with kids when the weather turns? Start with the aquarium, the VilVite science centre and the waterpark at AdO arena, then add museums where children can touch things. Everything is in or near the city centre. Here is our indoor guide, sorted by age.

See family rooms at Heimen Hotel

Bergen Aquarium: the safest bet

Bergen Aquarium at Nordnes is the place most local kids have visited many times and still want to go back to. It is home to penguins, sea lions, otters, crocodiles, an anaconda and king crabs. Much of it is indoors, but some of the best animals live outside, so bring a rain jacket anyway.

There is a café inside, so you can stay for a while without planning lunch elsewhere. From Heimen Hotel it is a short walk to Nordnesbakken 4. Go early in the day. It is calmer in front of the tanks, and the youngest get to see the animals in peace before it fills up. Feeding times are the highlight for many kids, so check the schedule when you arrive.

We have a separate guide with more family tips: the best family activities in Bergen.

VilVite: science kids can touch

VilVite is Bergen's science centre, with interactive exhibitions where kids can push, build, test and try for themselves. It is less about reading signs and more about finding out how things work.

The centre suits school-age children best, but younger kids also find plenty to do. For parents, it is a rare thing: a place where the children get tired in a good way, without anyone getting wet.

Allow plenty of time. VilVite is the kind of place where kids want to try the same exhibit five times before moving on. Check the programme before you go, as there are often extra activities at weekends and during school holidays.

Museums that work for children

Bergen has several museums where kids do not have to tiptoe:

• The University Museum of Bergen: natural history collections with animals from around the world, a sure hit with animal lovers.

• Bergen Technical Museum: trams, trains and machines, perfect for kids who love anything with wheels.

• Bergen Maritime Museum: ships, models and the story of Bergen as a seafaring city.

• Bryggens Museum: medieval Bergen, with finds from the excavations beneath Bryggen.

• KODE: seven art museums and a natural first meeting with Edvard Munch.

Ask at the front desk whether there are children's trails or activity booklets. Many museums have them, but the offer changes from week to week. A good trick is to let the kids pick one room or one object to find. That turns the visit into a treasure hunt instead of a long walk.

Indoor swimming at AdO arena

When kids need to burn off energy, AdO arena is the answer. The waterpark has two slides, one of them 68 metres long, a swimming pool and a separate activity pool for the youngest. It is on Lungegårdskaien, a short walk from the city centre.

Heimen Hotel guests have been offered a discount at AdO arena [SJEKK: whether the discount for Heimen guests still applies]. Pack swimwear even if you travel in winter. A swim is one of the easiest ways to fill a wet afternoon.

For the bravest, Nordnes Sjøbad has a heated outdoor saltwater pool all year. Children under ten must be accompanied by an adult who can swim.

Free things to do with kids in Bergen

A good day in Bergen with kids does not have to cost much:

• Bergen Public Library: free, warm and with a dedicated children's section, good for a quiet hour with books and games.

• Bryggen and the Fish Market: free to wander, with boats, fish and narrow alleys for kids to explore.

• Culture Night: one evening in September, museums and galleries open for free, with family trails. Read more about Bergen Culture Night.

• Museums: KODE and the Bergen City Museum sites, including Bryggens Museum, offer free entry for under-18s.

If the rain stops, walking up Mount Fløyen is free, and the Troll Forest at the top costs nothing.

By age: what suits whom?

Not everything suits everyone. This is how we would prioritise:

• Ages 0-3: the aquarium, the activity pool at AdO arena and the children's section at the library. Short sessions, long breaks.

• Ages 4-8: the aquarium, VilVite, Bergen Technical Museum and the slides at AdO arena.

• Ages 9-13: VilVite, the University Museum, KODE and the long slide. Let them plan one day themselves.

With little ones, plan one main activity in the morning and a rest at the hotel afterwards. Everyone has more left for dinner that way.

The Gingerbread Town in December

If you visit Bergen in the run-up to Christmas, the Gingerbread Town is one of the best indoor stops for children. Every year, volunteers, nurseries and school classes build an entire town out of gingerbread, with houses, boats and trains. The location changes from year to year, so check the address before you go.

Read more in our guide to the Gingerbread Town in Bergen.

Cinema, theatre and shows

Bergen has cinemas in the city centre, and on wet days a film is often the easiest plan. The city's theatres regularly stage children's performances, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Most are in Norwegian, so check what is on and whether it works for your family before you travel.

Pair a show with dinner out. It gives the day a clear structure and the kids something to look forward to. Many children's shows start early in the afternoon, so you can fit in both dinner and a normal bedtime.

When the sun comes out

Bergen weather changes quickly, and there is often a dry spell during the day. Keep a short outdoor trip up your sleeve. The Fløibanen funicular takes you to Mount Fløyen in about eight minutes, where the Troll Forest, a playground and a café are waiting. The Ulriken cable car is an option for kids over five who can manage a short walk at the top.

Closer to the centre, Nordnesparken is a good place to run around after the aquarium. The key is not to lock in the day. Have one indoor and one outdoor option, and choose based on the sky.

Checklist for an indoor day

A few simple steps make the day easier:

• Check opening hours and any holiday programmes the night before.

• Buy tickets online where possible to skip queues at weekends and in holidays.

• Bring rain gear, even on indoor days. Distances are short, but the rain is wet.

• Pack swimwear and a towel in case the plan ends at AdO arena.

• Keep snacks in the backpack. It saves more afternoons than anything else.

Food on the go

With kids, the main thing is that food arrives when hunger does. Frescohallen at Bergen Børs Hotel is open from morning to evening every day, so you can drop in without booking a set time. Bjerck looks out over the harbour and serves fish and chips, a safe choice for picky eaters.

Check ahead whether there is a children's menu [SJEKK: kids' menu at Frescohallen and Bjerck]. Read more about Frescohallen, and book dinner tables during holidays and weekends.

Stay close to everything

With kids, being able to walk back to the hotel in the middle of the day is worth a lot. Heimen Hotel is a short walk from the aquarium, the Fish Market, Fløibanen and Bryggen, with family rooms of 20-30 m² for two adults and one or two children. Breakfast is included, and cots are available on request.

Planning a whole holiday week? See our guides to a winter break in Bergen and an autumn break in Bergen. For more rainy day ideas, read Bergen in the rain.

Frequently asked questions

What free things can kids do in Bergen?

Bergen Public Library is free and has a dedicated children's section. Bryggen, the Fish Market and the harbour are free to explore, and walking up Mount Fløyen costs nothing. On Culture Night in September, museums and galleries open for free with family trails. Some museums also offer free entry for children, so check each museum before you go.

Where can families eat in Bergen city centre?

Frescohallen at Bergen Børs Hotel is open from morning to evening every day, so you can come when the kids are hungry rather than at a fixed time. Bjerck looks out over the harbour and serves fish and chips, a safe choice for picky eaters. The aquarium has its own café. Book dinner at weekends and in holidays, and ask about a kids' menu.

What can you do with toddlers in Bergen?

For the youngest, Bergen Aquarium works best, with penguins, sea lions and otters at child height. The activity pool at AdO arena is designed for small children, and the children's section of the library offers a quiet hour. Plan one main activity in the morning and rest afterwards. Staying centrally lets you walk back to the hotel for naps.

Where can kids swim indoors in Bergen?

AdO arena on Lungegårdskaien is the city's big indoor pool, with two slides, one of them 68 metres long, a swimming pool and a separate activity pool for small children. It is a short walk from the centre. For the brave, Nordnes Sjøbad has a heated outdoor saltwater pool all year. Children under ten need an adult who can swim.

How long should you spend at Bergen Aquarium?

Plan for half a day. Kids will want to watch the feedings, return to their favourite animals and take a break in the café. There is food on site, so you do not need to plan lunch elsewhere. Combine it with a walk in Nordnesparken or a dip at Nordnes Sjøbad afterwards, as everything sits on the same peninsula within walking distance of the centre.

Bergen with kids is all about having a plan when the clouds roll in. Stay central, choose one big activity per day and let the rest happen. That way, even the rainy days become good memories.

Book a family room at Heimen Hotel