Holidaying with children? Find tips for fun activities for children in Haugesund and Haugalandet!
Bring the children along and learn more about Viking history at Avaldsnes - Norway's oldest royal seat. Visit Nordvegen History Centre, St. Olav's Church and the Viking Farm. Children can join a Viking hunt to make it even more exciting.
Combine a visit to Avaldsnes with a visit to The Viking Planet in Haugesund town centre, a digital museum in the heart of Haugesund town centre, where you can learn about the Vikings in a modern, interactive and interesting way. Remember to try out the selfie station!
Torvastad is home to Minigolfen Familiepark, with six different courses: Gårdstunet farm, Låven barn, Gruvå mines, Parken park, Vikingriket viking kingdom and Piratøyå pirate island. Visitors can immerse themselves in each of the themed courses. Mini-golf is a fun activity for the whole family and the park at Torvastad is said to be the largest in Europe. One of the courses is indoors, so not even the weather can stop you!
This activity is suitable for children and adults alike. Try the obstacle course, jump from high towers or practise some new tricks on the trampolines. The trampoline park also has a café where you can have a rest and enjoy a drink and a snack. Best of all – you don’t need good weather to enjoy this activity!
Is there anything better than taking on a challenge together as a family? In Åkrafjord you can do just that! Via Ferrata Ingadalen is a family-friendly via ferrata course that is suitable for children aged six and up. Combine your visit with a night at Åkrafjorden Nature B&B, which has its own gym with an indoor climbing wall!
Tysværtunet swimming pool in Aksdal has the perfect temperature all year round. Put on your swimwear and splash around in the pool, dive from the diving platform or have a go on the water slide. There is a separate pool for children. Remember to buy tickets in advance online.
The weather is not always on our side, and in those moments it's wonderful to retreat into the darkness of a cinema and enjoy a good film (and of course some tasty snacks). See the cinema programme for Edda Kino, Karmøy Kino, Tysvær Kino and Skakke Kino – you are bound to find something to your taste.
Visit one of Haugalandmuseet's museums and combine play and learning. Karmsund Folk Museum, Arquebus War History Museum and Haugesund Art Gallery all offer activities for children. Dokken – the Herring Museum in Haugesund, which is only open during summer, runs activities for children one day a week during the school holidays (mid-June to mid-August).
It's remarkable to think that the copper from the Visnes mines was used in the very symbol of the United States: the Statue of Liberty! The mining area now has a fascinating museum, as well as a large outdoor area where you will find the remains of the smelter, a playground with a mini mine and a fun zipline for children. At Visnes you can also go on an adventure hunt. Adventure hunts, the perfect way to combine play and learning, are also available in Skudeneshavn, Kopervik and Åkrehamn. Adventure hunts and diplomas can be picked up at selected locations or downloaded online.
Take the boat from Haugesund to Røvær and go on an adventure on this idyllic island. Catch crabs on the shore and learn more about Norway as a seafood nation at Røvær Aquaculture Centre. Learn more about aquaculture, history, nature and the environment through films, games and other activities. You can also learn about the small animals, seabirds and fish that live around Røvær. Visiting the aquaculture centre is free of charge, but you have to buy a ticket to take a RIB trip to the aquaculture facility.
Did you think you had to travel to warmer climes to find chalk-white beaches and crystal-blue sea? Then think again! Pay a visit to the beaches on Karmøy – especially Åkrasanden and Sandvesanden. They are not only great spots for taking a dip in the sea, but also excellent places for walks, play and exploration. Perhaps your children will learn to swim there?
We also recommend a visit to Nedstrand, about a 50-minute drive from Haugesund. Experience the now famous Himakånå that rises 357 metres above sea level. The family-friendly hike up to Himakånå takes around one hour. At the top, you will be rewarded by beautiful panoramic views across Lysevatnet lake, the Nedstrandsfjord and the farms surrounded by lush forest. Remember to bring a snack and to take time to enjoy the great views.
In Haugesund, it's easy to combine a visit to town with a refreshing dip. There are many places to go swimming within walking distance of Haugesund town centre. Haraldsvang is about a 30-minute walk from the centre of town, and this lake has a diving platform as well as a fantastic playground for children. Asalvika is a short walk from byparken park, and Kvalsvik bad can be found along the coastal path north of Haugesund town centre. All the swimming spots are suitable for children, and there is ample parking at Haraldsvang and Kvalsvik.
Day trip cabins have become popular destinations for families with children – and with good reason. There are several such cabins in Haugesund and Haugalandet, some more easily accessible than others. How about visiting the day trip cabin at the top of Alvanuten or on the islands Vibrandsøy and Utsira? Here is an overview of all the day trip cabins in the region.
The hike to the top of Boknafjellet is short and easy, and you can get to the top in around 45 minutes. It offers beautiful views across parts of Haugaland and Ryfylke. Rising 293 metres above sea level, Boknafjellet was long a navigation point for seafarers. Parking at Boknafjellet.
Both Jåblom Bakst Cupcakehuset and Lutchfood are a child’s dream world when it comes to baked goods and sweets. Jåblom Bakst serves delicious cupcakes in countless flavours, so the challenge here is not to overdo it! If you prefer doughnuts or other baked delights, Lutchfood is the place to visit!
