Short answer
Norefjell rises above Lake Krøderen, about an hour and a half from Oslo. There are three children's areas, dedicated children's entrances at the lifts and the mascot Nore Rein. Children up to age six ski free, and the ski school groups take children from age four. For bigger children, there is more than a thousand metres of vertical and runs of up to seven and a half kilometres.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Norway, Buskerud
- Ski area
- Krødsherad
- Altitude (village – top)
- 180–1,188 m above sea level
- Lifts
- 15
- Season
- December – April
Family rating
4,5 / 5
- Beginner slopes Three children's areas with balls and jumps, four children's lifts and eight green slopes.
- Long runs for bigger children More than a thousand metres of vertical and runs of up to seven and a half kilometres.
- Travel time from Oslo About an hour and a half by car, and a ski bus at weekends and during the school holidays.
- Children's activities Nore Rein with a weekly programme, a treasure hunt on the slopes and a children's menu at Skistua.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Skistua or Bøseter – where should you base yourselves?
| What | Skistua | Bøseter and Norefjell Ski & Spa |
|---|---|---|
| Location | In the middle of the ski area | By the hotel, with slopes and trails right outside the door |
| For the children | Barneområde Skistua (slope 13) and Nore Rein | The terrain park with lines for the youngest, and Nore Rein at check-in and check-out |
| Ski school | Private lessons | Group lessons and private lessons |
| Food | Family menu and the Nore Reins Favoritter children's menu | The hotel restaurant |
| Suits | Day trips, and families in cabins and apartments | Families who want to stay in a hotel with a spa |
Park at P3 below Skistua if you are coming for the day. The road up to the ski area is a toll road with a barrier.
Norefjell is one of the most classic ski mountains in eastern Norway. The downhill and the giant slalom were held here when Oslo hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics, and today the slopes drop from almost 1,200 metres down towards Lake Krøderen. Even so, it is not a resort only for experienced skiers: two thirds of the slopes are green or blue, there are three children's areas, and it is only about an hour and a half from Oslo. That makes Norefjell one of the best choices for a family who want proper mountain slopes without a long journey. Compare with more Norwegian resorts in Norway's ski trips.
Three children's areas and Nore Rein
Norefjell has three separate children's areas with balls, jumps and small obstacles where the children learn to turn and brake through play. One of them is Barneområde Skistua, slope 13, in the middle of the ski area. There are four children's lifts in total, and the ordinary lifts have dedicated children's entrances, so the little ones don't have to jostle in the queue.
The children's big favourite is Nore Rein, Norefjell's mascot. Every week during the season he organises children's ski races, sledging and children's après-ski, and he is often seen at Skistua and Norefjell Ski & Spa. Pick up the treasure map for The Hunt for Nore Rein in the shops at Skistua or Norefjell Ski & Spa – then the children search for Nore Rein figures on the slopes. Nore Rein's birthday is on 15 March, and Norefjellstua, the ski shops and Skistua have birthday offers.
Down in Bøseter is one of the two terrain parks, with lines designed for the youngest. The big park, Norefjellparken, is in the central area and is better suited to teenagers.
The ski school – from age four, starting on Mondays
This is important to know before you book your week: group lessons in Norefjell take children from age four, and they start on Mondays. If your child is three or younger, book a private lesson instead. Bear in mind that a three-year-old won't always manage the whole lesson – you pay for the full time anyway, so it is better to book a short lesson. The groups are divided by age and level and meet at Norefjell Ski & Spa. Private lessons can start at Skistua or at Norefjell Ski & Spa.
Book the children and the adults into different groups – children learn at a different pace from adults. Skis and lift passes are not included in the course, but children up to age six don't need a lift pass.
Age rules and lift passes
- Children 0–6 years ski free and use the children's entrances at the lifts.
- Youth 7–17 have their own youth pass, and the adult pass applies from age 18.
- Senior applies from age 65.
- Lift passes are always cheapest online, so buy them before you drive up.
The season pass is valid every day and also gives you a few days' free skiing in LAAX in Switzerland and Grandvalira in Andorra. Current prices are shown when you book with Norefjell. A helmet is a given for the children, so pack it at home.
The long runs
What sets Norefjell apart from most ski resorts near a big city is the difference in height. The slopes run from around 180 metres all the way up to 1,188 metres, more than a thousand metres of vertical – one of the biggest vertical drops in the Nordic countries. The longest run is seven and a half kilometres. The OL øvre and OL nedre slopes are named after the 1952 Games, and from the upper slopes you look out over Lake Krøderen.
For a family, that means the children have something to grow into. Start in the children's area, then move on to the green slopes, and make the long run all the way down the goal of the week. Of the 30 slopes, 8 are green, 12 blue, 7 red and 3 black. Save the long run for a clear day – in strong winds, individual slopes and lifts may stay closed. If you want to compare with another Olympic mountain, Hafjell's slopes are described slope by slope.
Getting to Norefjell
From Oslo, take the E16 towards Hønefoss and then national road 7 to Noresund by Lake Krøderen, where the road up the mountain begins. Allow about an hour and a half. The last stretch up to the ski area is a toll road with a barrier. If you are coming for the day, park at P3 below Skistua.
- Ski bus from Oslo: Vy runs a ski bus to Norefjell at weekends and during the school holidays, with stops including Hønefoss. The return ticket can be combined with a lift pass.
- From Gardermoen: in winter an airport coach runs from Oslo Airport towards Geilo via Sokna, where you change to a bus up to Norefjell. It must be booked by Wednesday morning at the latest in the week you travel.
- Public transport: train and bus to Noresund can be combined all year round – search for the journey in Entur.
- On the mountain: from 27 December, the Norefjelltaxien shuttle runs between Norefjellstua, Skistua, Norefjell Ski & Spa and Mountain Lodge.
From Sweden, drive to Oslo – the E6 from Gothenburg or the E18 via Karlstad from Stockholm – and carry on the same way towards Hønefoss. If you take the train to Oslo, you can then catch the ski bus up at weekends and during the school holidays. There is more about choosing between car, train and plane in getting to the ski resort.
Accommodation – cabin, apartment or hotel
- Norefjellstua – new apartments to rent with ski-in/ski-out right by the slope. If you book before 15 November 2026, you get a discount on the following season, except over Christmas and New Year and in week 7.
- Norefjell Ski & Spa – a hotel at Bøseter with slopes and trails right outside the door, a spa and the ski school meeting point for the group lessons.
- Mountain Lodge – cabins and apartments to rent.
- Noreheim – another hotel option.
There are also private cabins to rent on the mountainside. With small children it pays to stay close to a children's area, and to buy your food down in the valley before you drive up – food for a ski week helps keep costs down with Norwegian food prices.
The 2026/27 season
Norefjell's season start dates for 2026/27 had not yet been published in October. The season usually runs from December to April, and the slopes are groomed every night. Besides the downhill skiing, there are around 200 kilometres of cross-country trails in the valley and on the mountain – perfect for a rest day from the lifts.
Norefjell, Hemsedal or Trysil?
- Norefjell suits you if you want to reach proper mountain slopes quickly from Oslo and have children who will soon want to ski long runs.
- Hemsedal is higher and further away, with everything for the children in one place – read Hemsedal with kids.
- Trysil is closest to the Swedish border and is Norway's largest ski area – compare in Trysil with kids.
If you are considering the Swedish mountains instead, the children's areas are in Sälen with kids. Before the trip, the ski trip packing list has everything the children need, and winter sports break 2027 shows when your municipality has its holiday.
Before Norefjell with children
Frequently asked questions
Do children ski free in Norefjell?
Yes, children up to and including age six ski free, and there are dedicated children's entrances at the lifts. From age seven, children count as youth and need a paid lift pass. Lift passes are always cheapest bought online.
From what age can children go to ski school in Norefjell?
The group lessons take children from age four. If your child is three or younger, book a private lesson instead. The groups start on Mondays and meet at Norefjell Ski & Spa.
How far is it from Oslo to Norefjell?
About an hour and a half by car, via Hønefoss and Noresund. At weekends and during the school holidays there is a ski bus from Oslo, and the ticket can be combined with a lift pass.
How long are the runs in Norefjell?
The longest run is seven and a half kilometres, and the vertical drop is over a thousand metres – among the biggest in the Nordic countries. Even so, two thirds of the slopes are green and blue.
Where should you stay in Norefjell with children?
With small children it is easiest to stay close to a children's area. Norefjellstua has ski-in/ski-out by the slope, Norefjell Ski & Spa is a hotel at Bøseter with a spa and the ski school meeting point, and Mountain Lodge has cabins and apartments.
Who is Nore Rein?
Norefjell's mascot, a reindeer who hangs out in the children's areas and at Skistua and Norefjell Ski & Spa. Every week during the season he organises children's ski races, sledging and children's après-ski, and the shops have a treasure map for hunting for Nore Rein figures on the slopes.
