July 11, 2026, 12:23 pm | Read time: 6 minutes

My child has been accustomed to traveling almost from birth and is quite relaxed when it comes to sitting in a car for long periods or flying. On the other hand, I am also very relaxed about traveling–depending on my current stress level, I might be the mom who points out potential dangers one too many times or lets out involuntary gasps, even when nothing truly bad has happened. Not so in Norway. There, I rediscovered the version of myself I had recently found again during a solo weekend in Amsterdam: my relaxed, carefree, world-enjoying, beaming travel self.

The Most Relaxing Family Trip So Far

Norway had long been on my list of countries I wanted to see. So my husband and I recently decided to travel the country for three weeks. We drove our minivan, packed with mattresses, blankets, and other stuff, from Germany to Denmark and took the ferry to Norway. For three weeks, we slept in the car–sometimes in the wild, sometimes in designated spots–and in fishing cabins, apartments, townhouses, guesthouses, and hotels. We’ve done similar trips as a family before–like with a baby on the way to Portugal, through Scotland, along the East Coast of the U.S., or in a camper in New Zealand. But none have been as relaxing and rejuvenating as this family trip to Norway. So why was that?

One reason is certainly that we, as a family, learn more with each trip and manage to better accommodate our various needs. Another is that I was much more relaxed in my travel planning than on previous trips. Instead of overwhelming my family with numerous destinations I wanted to see and planning every accommodation, we traveled in Norway as I used to–before husband and child–spontaneously, according to the day’s needs. Others might call it completely unplanned.

Relaxation as Part of Life’s Reality

Norway functions–seemingly effortlessly and harmoniously. I didn’t encounter stress or hustle even in the capital, Oslo. Instead, I found calm composure, steady progress in a pragmatic relaxation that I have rarely encountered. Only a few members of an ashram in India come to mind. Perhaps a yoga teacher or two in Bali and Cambodia. But that’s about it.

Our fishing cabin host near Bergen serves as an example. His mere appearance exuded calm: weathered skin, a white-blond braid falling down his back. A white mustache, carefully combed, as he moved with slow yet steady motions across the family-owned property, lovingly maintained for 40 years. We all noticeably slowed down a few gears as soon as we saw him.

Our host wasn’t the only one I attribute thoughtfulness and relaxed-friendly pragmatism to after this trip. In fact, I ascribe these attributes to almost everyone we met and experienced in Norway. Of course, from a distance and without being able to look deeper into them. And without presuming to understand the country even remotely after just three weeks. As always, this is a small glimpse.

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Relaxation Has Many Reasons

There are many reasons for the calm demeanor, relaxed attitude, and almost complete absence of hustle for which Norwegians are known. Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the population has high trust in the Norwegian government, and work-life balance is highly valued. Respect for privacy and peace is part of the culture, and nature is a constant companion. Just to name a few.

Without being able to assess the Norwegian government, the actual wealth of each individual, or the working life, I can at least understand the nature component in the relaxation after three weeks. Nature is omnipresent in Norway, even in the capital, forests and water are never far away. Even there, the scents of forests and the sea are sometimes in the air. This urban yet nature-close life naturally slows down the nervous system–something we experienced in our own bodies after just a few days. A special factor, besides the constantly visible nature, was the sea air, which accompanied us on most days. The sea, no matter where in the world, has a unique ability to relax me in no time.

So I found myself again: surrounded by green and blue, internally calm and with tears in my eyes at the sight of fjords glittering deep between majestic mountains, waterfalls cascading seemingly out of nowhere from great heights, rushing rivers awakening whitewater rafting fantasies in me, and lakes shimmering gently in the midnight sun against mountains dotted like fly agarics with wooden houses in red and white.

Safety Factor

I recently had the opportunity to write for TRAVELBOOK about how my travel experiences have changed since becoming a mom. Among other factors, it’s particularly my need for safety and my perspective on the world that are different today. Not so in Norway. There, the experience was entirely different, much closer to my pre-child experience. Instead of shaking off my automatic tendency to view the world around my child with concern and consciously focusing on the beauty around me, I was present. I felt safe with my daughter, not even considering any potential insecurity.

In fact, I can say: Nowhere else in the world have I felt as safe as in Norway. Whether in the capital, camping in the wild by a lake at night, or in nature–we felt completely safe everywhere. This was primarily evident to me in that I kept an eye on my daughter but intervened far less. I let her do her thing almost the entire vacation. This, in turn, led to more relaxation for all of us. Accordingly, safety is an important factor in relaxation. And a reason why Norway might be the most relaxing family travel destination for me.

Norway’s Society the Safest

Recent surveys support my subjective feeling: According to the Global Peace Index 2026, for example, Norway ranks first worldwide in terms of societal safety. In the country comparison, the country does not make it into the top 20 overall (TRAVELBOOK reported), but only to 33rd place. This is likely due primarily to its high military spending in light of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

The Foreign Office also states that the crime rate in Norway is comparatively low. This is further supported by the Global Organized Crime Index. According to this, Norway is one of the countries with the lowest organized crime worldwide (ranked 161 out of 193). At the same time, the country is one of the most resilient against organized crime. These are just a few numbers and sources, but they all confirm my impression after three weeks: Norway is safe, relaxed, and a dream family travel destination for anyone who loves nature, relaxation, and Nordic life.