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Kids and family

Create amazing summer memories with the whole family

Summer
Last updated: 23.05.2024
Barn på Åkrasanden
Barn på Åkrasanden|© Visit Haugesund
Barn på Åkrasanden|© Visit Haugesund

A summer holiday is family time, and there are so many wonderful things to do in Haugesund and Ryfylke – for children and adults alike. Spend your holiday here and we guarantee a family holiday you won’t forget in a hurry!

A bucket-list experience for all the family

The Åkrafjord's steep mountains and deep valleys offer amazing opportunities for families looking for a shared bucket-list experience. Via Ferrata Ingadalen is a family-friendly route that’s suitable for children aged six and upwards. The route is traversed with a local guide and promises challenges to master along the way that you’ll love sharing with friends and family. You can stay overnight at Åkrafjorden Nature B&B or the Mikrohyttene cabins, both of which are very family-friendly.

Via Ferrata Ingadalen i Åkrafjorden - a family-friendly route

Via Ferrata Ingadalen i Åkrafjorden - a family-friendly route

Via Ferrata Ingadalen is a family-friendly route suitable for children from about 6 years of age. Åkrafjorden Nature offers several Via Ferrata routes of varying difficulty in Åkrafjorden.

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen

Akrafjorden Nature B&B AS

Åkrafjorden Nature offers cosy rooms with shared bathrooms and activities like Via Ferrata, hiking, and canyoning - a great base for an active holiday!

Mikrohyttene i Åkrafjorden

Micro Cabins in Åkrafjorden - Viking Adventure

Mikrohyttene cabins, near Åkrafjordtunet, offer stunning views of Åkrafjorden and Folgefonna. Each of the 2 cabins accommodates 4-5 people.

Looking for an indoor activity that lets you fly high and low? Then you should visit Rush Trampoline Park in Haugesund!

Barn koser seg i RUSH Trampolinepark

Rush - Trampoline Park in Haugesund

Rush Trampoline Park Haugesund offers activities for the whole family! Practise tricks, fight like a gladiator, sneak through the laser maze and much more!

Adventures big and small

What’s a summer holiday without a visit to a fairytale world or an island adventure?

A stroll through a fairytale forest is fun for the little ones and nostalgic for adults. On the way, you’ll encounter beloved fairytale characters, as well as goblins and trolls. Why not take food to barbecue and enjoy lunch or dinner among the historical characters? You can find fairytale forests in Årdal and Sauda.


Fem unger som ser på figurene til eventyret om De tre bukkene Bruse.

Family-friendly hike to The Fairytale Forest in Årdal

Awaken your senses in the Fairytale Forest in Årdal, Ryfylke. During the child-friendly hike, you'll meet gnomes and trolls in the mysterious forest.

En jente som kikker på en stor, utskåret bjørn med horn.

The Fairytale Forest in Sauda

The fairytale forest in Sauda is a hiking treasure for children. Here will you find trolls and many exciting creatures from the world of fairy tales.

Krabbefiske på Røvær
© Elin Thorsen

From one adventure to another – why not treat yourself and your family to a visit to the island community of Røvær this summer? The boat trip from the centre of Haugesund can be quite an experience in itself, not to mention setting foot on the island and soaking up the atmosphere and tranquillity.

Røvær actually has its very own taxis, but not the kind you might expect! Røvær's taxis are actually colourful wheelbarrows that can be borrowed to transport fishing equipment, swimming gear and food to barbecue while you explore the island. Røvær abounds with small places to sunbathe and swim, as well as areas that are perfect for catching crabs. It’s well worth visiting Røvær Aquaculture Centre to discover more about Norway as a seafood nation, and staying overnight at the island's only hotel, Røvær Kulturhotell. Despite its small size, the island offers experiences that are guaranteed to make it into the family photo album! Who could forget catching their first crab on the seashore?


Røvær Havbrukssenter

Røvær Havbrukssenter

Røvær Havbrukssenter is located 25 minutes by boat from Haugesund city centre, on the island of Røvær. It's free to visit the centre, which gives you an insight into Norway as an ocean nation.

Røvær Kulturhotell

Røvær Kulturhotell

Røvær Kulturhotell has 16 rooms. In addition to single and double rooms, you can also book a family room with a kitchen and cook your own meals.

Rutebåten til Røvær

Boat to Røvær

The boat to Røvær departs from the centre of Haugesund, and takes about 25 minutes. The same boat also goes to Vibrandsøy and Feøy on certain services.

Fancy some more sea-life experiences? Visit the Salmon studio in Suldal and see both salmon and trout at close range.


Kjekt for barna ved Laksestudioet på Sand

Salmon studio at Sand in Suldal

Salmon studio is located next to Sandsfossen on Sand in Suldal. The lower part is under water and you can see the fish through two large glass windows.

Historical fun for children, parents and grandparents alike!

Ryfylke and Haugesund are full of experiences for anyone wanting to take their family to places that combine play and learning.

On a guided tour of the old zinc mines in Allmannajuvet gorge, you can put on a headlamp and explore the old mines and learn more about their history, which dates back to the early 1800s. There is also a café at the mines, the perfect place to share your experiences from the mines with your family, while enjoying some freshly bakedtreats. Was it how you imagined it would be? What was it like visiting a mine that’s been there since the 1800s? You’re guaranteed some interesting discussions and amusing responses.


Allmannajuvet

Guided tours Allmannajuvet, Sauda

Join a guided tour in Allmannajuvet in Sauda, Ryfylke. It will be daily guiding throughout the summer season. Listen to the story of the mining adventure and get a taste of how life inside the mines was in the late 1800's.

Allmannajuvet

Summer cafe at Allmannajuvet, Sauda

Summer open cafè in Allmannajuvet, Sauda. Exciting café building with a great view.

Holidays are all about exploring and discovering – which is exactly what the Vikings did! You can learn more about the Viking Age and what everyday life was like for the Vikings at the Nordvegen History Centre and the Viking Farm at Avaldsnes. You can make it even more exciting by taking the whole family on a Viking treasure hunt. Avaldsnes is perfect to combine with a visit to the more modern and digital museum The Viking Planet in Haugesund town centre.


Nordvegen historiesenter

Nordvegen History Centre

Avaldsnes is home to the Nordvegen History Centre, St. Olav’s Church and the Viking Farm. Explore the cultural landscape on your own or join a guided tour.

Vikinggarden

The Viking farm at Avaldsnes

The Viking Farm is situated on a small island about a 20 minute walk from Nordvegen History Centre, which takes you through a fantastic cultural landscape.

Vikinggården på Avaldsnes

Viking treasure hunt at Avaldsnes

Did you know that Avaldsnes is Norway’s oldest royal estate? Or that kings lived at Avaldsnes for 1000 years? Join us on an exciting journey back to the Viking Age and hunt for traces from the world of the Vikings.

Barn på The Viking Planet Haugesund

The Viking Planet Haugesund

The Viking Planet is a digital museum in the centre of Haugesund that tells the local Viking history. Suitable for both children and adults.

Not far from Avaldsnes is Visnes, where you'll see a statue that may well look familiar. The copper used for the Statue of Liberty in New York comes from Visnes. In addition to a museum, Visnes has a lovely outdoor area with a restaurant, playground and zipline.

Visnes Gruvemuseum

Visnes Mining Museum

Did you know that the Statue of Liberty in New York is made of copper from Visnes, or that Visnes was the first to introduce the telephone in Norway? Visit the Visnes Mining Museum and learn more about the exciting history.

It’s also worth visiting Dokken – the herring museum in Haugesund, which is open during the school holidays (mid-June to mid-August). The open-air museum tells the town's history. You can also visit an old shop where you can experience what it was like to buy groceries before the invention of automatic tills. You may also like to borrow a free rowing boat at Dokken and row to the nearby island of Vibrandsøy, where you can visit the day trip cabin and explore the island.


Dokken museum på Hasseløy

Experience Dokken – the Herring Museum in Haugesund – Haugalandmuseet

The open-air museum on the island of Hasseløy takes you back 150 years to the infancy of the herring town. Take a guided tour or explore the museum for yourself!

Museumsvert i Sildemuseet i Dokken
© Grethe Nygaard/Haugalandmuseet

Pleasant water temperature all year round

It's too hot, it's too cold, it's… maybe a good idea to visit a water park, where the temperature is perfect all year round! They have everything you need for a fun family day out, with water slides, diving platforms and pools for children and adults. Suldal Bad, Sauda Badeanlegg and Tysværtunet Badeanlegg are all family-friendly swimming facilities. Perhaps this might be the year that your children learn to swim?


Tre ungdommer som springer over noen flytende matter i bassenget.

Suldal Bad at Sand

Suldal Bad at Sand in Ryfylke contains several pools, sauna, climbing wall and water slide, and is an activity paradise for the whole family.

Mange som bader i utebassenget.

Swimming facilities in Sauda

Saudahallen in Sauda in Ryfylke consists of an indoor swimming pool and outdoor swimming facilities.

Tysværtunet Badeanlegg

Tysværtunet Badeanlegg (Swimming pool)

Tysværtunet Badeanlegg, in Aksdal, offers lovely bathing temperatures all year round. The bathing centre has two pools, one of which is a children's pool, a diving tower, slide and sauna.

En jente som mater en sau.
© Ryfylkefotografen

Farm holidays – where comfort and charm go hand in hand

Spend some quality time with your family in beautiful surroundings at the farms Gøysa Gard at Forsand and Fossane Gard in Hjelmeland. Both farms are beautifully situated, offer comfort and bags of charm, and are a great place to unwind and enjoy some quality time together.

Fjordutsikt og hester fra minihyttene på Gøysa Gard.

Accommodation at Gøysa Gard by the Lysefjord

Gøysa Gard in Forsand offers charming accommodation with a spectacular view of Lysefjorden. An ideal starting point for exploring Ryfylke and Stavanger.

The hosts at Fossane Gard,Janneke and Martijn, will be happy to take you on a guided tour of the power plant or introduce you to the sheep on the farm. Both farms offer the perfect base from which to explore the spectacular Ryfylke countryside. Don't be afraid to ask your hosts about activities and places to visit in the area – they're always happy to share their knowledge and local secrets.


To jenter og en hund som springer ned grusveien fra de to hvite husene.

Accommodation in authentic farmhouses at Fossane Gard in Hjelmeland

At Fossane farm you can rent a charming, authentic house, surrounded by the stunning Ryfylke nature at Vormedalen, the whole year around.

Mini golf – the ultimate family activity for summer

Spice up your family holiday with a competition to find out once and for all who is the best golfer in the family. Just south of Haugesund is Torvastad, home to what must be Norway's – possibly Europe's – finest and mostexciting mini-golf course: Minigolfen Family Park! The whole family can play rounds on various courses with themes such as the park, the farm, the mine, the barn, the Viking kingdom and the pirate island. Want to do even more mini-golf on your holiday? Then check out the mini-golf course by the Andedammen duck pond in Sauda.

Minigolfen - Familiepark

Minigolfen familiepark on Karmøy

Welcome to Minigolfen on Karmøy – Norway’s largest and most beautiful mini-golf centre. The park has six unique mini-golf courses to choose from, each with its own theme.

Fire gutter som spiller minigolf.

Minigolf and boccia in Sauda

Sauda minigolf is idyllically located by Andedammen, close to the center of Sauda. The course is 2000 m2 and has 18 holes of varying difficulty.

Minigolfen - Familiepark
© Minigolfen - Familiepark

There’s another type of golf you can try out during your holiday: frisbee golf, otherwise known as disc golf. It entails throwing a frisbee and hitting baskets using the fewest possible throws. There are a number of different courses in Ryfylke to try. Play a round at Jørpelandsholmen island, Lysebotn, at Sauda Ski Centre and at Preikestolen Basecamp. Want to do even more disc golf? Then check out the courses at the recreation area Liarlund in Kopervik!

Frisbee golf på Jørpelandsholmen

Outdoor area on Jørpelandsholmen

Jørpelandsholmen is a popular recreation area at Jørpeland in Strand in Ryfylke. There is a 1,2 km trail around the entire island, easy for the whole family.

Frisbeegolf på Karmøy.

Frisbee golf in Liarlund and at Blikshavn, Karmøy

There are three frisbee golf courses on Karmøy, two in Liarlund and one in Blikshavn. The courses are free to play and vary between 12, 18 and 22 holes.

Dazzling taste experiences

Holidays are a time to indulge and you’ll find no shortage of dazzling taste experiences. Visit Jåblom Bakst Cupcakehuset, situated in what may be Haugesund's most colourful building, and treat yourself to one (or more!) delicious cupcakes. On the same street, just a few doors away, is the ‘doughnut heaven’ Lutchfood. They not only serve doughnuts of every imaginable flavour, but also refreshing summer drinks, ice cream and other baked goods. Both establishments are also extremely Instagram friendly, which may help tempt your teenagers to join you!


Cupcakes hos Jåblom Bakst Cupcakehuset

Jåblom Bakst Cupcakehuset Haugesund

Jåblom Bakst is known for its tasty cupcakes and cakes. The café is located in what must be Haugesund's most colourful building, Cupcakehuset.

Donuts Lutchfood

Lutchfood kafé - Haugesund

Lutchfood is a family owned coffee shop in Haugesund. Lutchfood offers a large selection of coffee, donuts and lunch.

More inspiration from Haugesund
More inspiration from Ryfylke!

More travel inspiration

Experience Norways’ national treasures by car

Experience Norways’ national treasures by car

In Haugesund, Karmøy and Ryfylke, you can experience Viking heritage, be inspired by striking architecture and taste exquisite world-class beverages. We have put together an action-packed driving route that leads you through the cultural, historical, culinary and architectural treasures in Fjord Norway. We’ve chosen to start the driving route at Langfoss waterfall, but you can of course start your holiday wherever suits you best!

Explore exotic places that satisfy your adventurous spirit

Explore exotic places that satisfy your adventurous spirit

In Ryfylke and Haugesund, you can explore hidden gems along the deep fjords and rugged coastline, where you can try exciting activities that challenge both body and mind. We promise you holiday snaps brimming with moments you'll cherish forever!

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