Family Days in Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes has several easy, compact activities for children, most of them within walking distance of the station. Others, like the ridge hikes and the harder via ferrata, are for adults and older teenagers. Prices below are in Norwegian krone (NOK).
Ride the gondola
The Romsdalsgondolen station is right across the street from the railway station. The ride up Nesaksla to 708 m takes about 5 to 7 minutes, and the official page lists the gondola as accessible. Child fares for ages 6 to 17 are about NOK 315 to 335 return, depending on the season. Adults pay roughly NOK 460 to 625 return. At the top, Eggen restaurant serves meals, with views over the fjord and the town. Check romsdalen.no for hours, which vary by date.
Norsk Tindesenter
Norsk Tindesenter at Havnegata 2 is the best wet-weather option. It holds Norsk Tindemuseum, a climbing wall with 60 routes and a children’s bouldering area for ages 3 and up. There is a shop and the Tindestua restaurant too. Entry starts from about NOK 90. The building is also a visitor centre for Reinheimen National Park.
Short viewpoint walk
From the top gondola station, Rampestreken is about a 15-minute walk down to a steel platform at 537 m. The platform has a drop below it, so hold small children’s hands and keep them away from the edge. Queues form there in summer, and snow or ice can make the path slippery in the colder months. Crampons are advised when it is icy.
Train rides
Riding the Rauma Line is a treat in its own right. The 114 km line to Dombås takes about 1 hour 17 minutes on the regular train, with four trains each way daily. Summer tourist trains cross the stone Kylling Bridge, which is 76 m long and stands 59 m above the river. The Rauma Line also appeared in a train sequence of the film Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning.
Trollveggen visitor centre
The visitor centre at Horgheimseidet on the E136 shows a 14-minute film, and it has a cafeteria and a shop. It is a comfortable stop on a drive up Romsdalen to see the huge rock wall. The centre is a summer attraction, so check opening dates before you go.
For older children
Introveggen via ferrata from Norsk Tindesenter is graded B, takes 3 to 4 hours and has a minimum age of 12. Adults in the group need to be comfortable with heights, and a guide is recommended. The tour season runs from about 1 June to 20 October. The much harder Vestveggen route is for ages 16 and up. The Romsdalseggen ridge is a demanding day for experienced walkers, with scrambling and airy sections, so it is not a family outing.
Read more: outdoor ideas for all ages cover more walking and viewpoints. Family-friendly tours can be searched on GetYourGuide .