Skiing in Norway at Easter

I’ve spent many Easter holidays skiing in Norway with my family over the past decade, and it’s honestly one of my favourite times to be on the mountain. The snowpack is at its deepest, temperatures are milder, and there’s something magical about skiing during those long Nordic spring days.

Norway offers some real advantages in April; longer daylight hours than both the Alps and the UK, and wide, crowd-free slopes that mean more skiing and less queueing. It's a winner for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and experience levels, with an off-slope experience to match, and often proves the cheapest time to ski over peak dates. So pack your sunglasses, take off that extra layer, and suncream your nose - Norway's quiet, snow-sure slopes are waiting.

Having skied in Norway for over 23 years and lived there for five, you can be confident that any recommendation made is based on first-hand, lived experience. Here's what you can expect if you choose to ski in Norway over the Easter school holidays.

Norway's northerly latitude means it's incredibly snow-sure all season. The snowpack in resorts typically peaks in March and, together with world-class snowmaking technology, skiing in April when the school holidays often fall is a complete non-issue. Especially in 2026, when Easter comes 15 days earlier than 2025!

In fact, resorts in Norway are so confident of snow that some offer a 'snow guarantee' through to late April, which promises a minimum number of open runs/lifts or your money back. But don't worry - in my 23 years of skiing in Norway, I can't recall this being needed. Welcome to snow-surety at its finest!

If you want to really guarantee snow, I'd recommend Myrkdalen. Norway's snowiest resort, it averages six snowfall days and 58cm of fresh snow in April. So not only can you expect great snow coverage when you arrive, but you'll have the chance for fresh top-ups and powder throughout your stay.

Read my Where to Ski in Norway at Easter blog for more recommendations on which resorts are best for families over Easter.

We're so confident of Norway's snow-surety that we deliberately choose to ski in April for our research trips. In late April 2025, we all skied in Narvik, Norway for our annual company weekend away, and we were skiing fresh powder! You can read Andy's Narvik trip report for more on that trip.

A staple of skiing in Norway, you'll rarely queue for a lift - even over peak dates. Tranquil skiing on immaculately groomed pistes is the norm here, even over the Easter holidays.

Norway has minimal bottlenecks and cat tracks (unlike other destinations in Europe!). This means that your children will enjoy more time actually skiing or learning in ski school, you’ll spend less time keeping them entertained in lift queues, and the slopes are generally a lot safer too.  It's very different to the Alps, where dangerous skiers fly down the slopes everywhere you look!

Norwegians only celebrate one week of Easter, so there’s just a single ‘peak’ week for skiing. Even that week is fairly quiet, and by the time our second Easter week begins, the locals are back at school and the slopes are almost empty. That means you’ll be skiing during what’s technically a ‘low season’ week in Norway, while still enjoying the Easter holidays!

While it's true that the days are shorter in January (although still plenty of time for a full days skiing!), when it comes to Easter time it's a completely different story. With my rich history of skiing and living in Norway, I can personally confirm that April promises long, sunny and bright days.

But don't just take my word for it. Norway sits close to the Arctic Circle, meaning that as soon as spring arrives, the tilt of the Earth leads to longer daylight hours compared to central Europe and the Alps. The sun rises before 7am and sets after 8pm.

With 14 hours of daylight, you'll have plenty of time spare for family fun or trying out an activity after a day on the slopes. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll relish the extra chance to play in the snow, throwing snowballs and making the most of the mountains.

And it's not just bright - the temperatures are ideal for skiing too. You can look forward to sunny days on the slopes, without the slush you might find elsewhere in Europe as it's not as hot! The air is generally drier in Norway, so it feels warmer in the sun and less biting in the cold.

Warmer weather makes skiing more enjoyable for children, especially during lessons when they can focus on learning without feeling cold or uncomfortable. Lunch in the sun also turns into a real highlight - families can enjoy picnics on sun-drenched terraces and laugh together while watching the kids build snowmen or retell their best runs of the morning.

Here's my family and I skiing in Gausta over Easter 2024. Plenty of sun (and snow!):

Throughout the day, temperatures usually range from 0°C to +5°C - often with bright blue skies. For families, that's 'sunglasses on and an Easter egg hunt with the children' weather. While at night, temperatures still dip below freezing, which perfectly preserves the snowpack.

Our team has experience skiing in Norway across the whole season, so we're more than happy to discuss temperatures and daylight hours with you. We'll provide a real, honest insight into what it's actually like for some first-hand reassurance. I often find that my customers are pleasantly surprised by the climate!

Having skied here multiple times with my family over Easter, I can personally confirm that resorts across Norway cater excellently for families. Firstly, the short two-hour flight and stress-free transfers make a seamless start to your holiday. And the overall experience always leaves lasting family memories - I took my family to Kvitfjell at Easter 2023 and we had such a magical time:

Aside from accommodation, which I'll expand on later, the ski schools are always a real highlight. Why not learn to ski in the country that invented it? The friendly English-speaking instructors are world-class professionals who not only ensure steady progress on the slopes but also create a fun, safe, and enjoyable experience for every individual or group.

Après-ski, or 'afterski' as the Norwegians call it, is tamer here compared to other destinations and is well-suited to families. Instead of thumping music and spilled beers, think hot chocolates with whipped cream for the kids and expertly-made cocktails for the adults in the group. Some resorts host family-friendly afterski with mascots dancing away with the kids as well!

Winter activities (non-winter ones like swimming, bowling etc. are a given!) are another brilliant attraction for families in Norway. From dog sledding to snow rafting and snowshoeing to horse sleigh rides, resorts across Norway offer a whole host of different activities. There are often events put on specifically for the kids over the holidays too, such as egg hunts, costume races and parties.

Despite being (correctly) famed for its wide slopes and excellent beginner areas, there's plenty to challenge the competent skiers of the group in Norway.

The terrain is perfect for a mixed-ability group, as you'll often find green, blue, red and black runs that all end up at the same lift. When you're skiing with your family, this is a really nice touch as you can split up and carve your own lines before meeting at the bottom.

Here's our team skiing Myrkdalen's mixed terrain in great conditions in late April 2024:

Norway's terrain is also perfect for trialling off-piste skiing, as it's often found between the slopes. This means that you can turn into the powder from the slopes, test out a few turns, and hop back onto the piste when you're ready.

Fancy branching out from the skis? Norway is ideal for trying other snow sports for the first time, whether it's cross-country skiing, taking a beginner snowboard or ski lesson, or ski touring.

The bang for your buck in Norway is something that often comes as a shock to previous Alps skiers.

To start, accommodation offers remarkable value, with options to suit all needs. For families, there are lots of ski-in ski-out hotels with all the facilities you can think of, as well as cosy self-catered cabins if that's your preference.

A firm favourite among Ski Safari guests is the 4*+ Vestlia Resort in Geilo. This ski-in ski-out hotel features a pool, luxury spa, hot tub, large children's indoor play area, bowling alley, stylish lounge bar, modern furnishings, and an excellent on-site restaurant - all at an affordable price of £1,210pp for 7 nights half board over Easter!

The food is also a highlight. Even the on-site restaurants included with half board produce food akin to what you'd find in a very expensive restaurant in the UK. I can almost guarantee it will exceed your expectations.

Fantastic quality is something that comes up again and again when people try skiing in Norway. From the piste grooming to the facilities and the ski rentals, the Norwegians do it right and ensure Easter is an experience you won't forget.

It's a common misconception that Norway is "too expensive", particularly when it comes to the price of food and drink. As a team of skiers who've skied all over the globe, we find that prices don't differ too much from popular Alps resorts. And once you factor in the up-front savings on everything else, your overall ski holiday can work out cheaper than other countries.

A beer in a Norway ski resort usually costs around 130 NOK, which is around £10 - if you've ever skied in the Alps, that's pretty much the same price, and dare I say the beer is nicer in Norway! It's a similar story when it comes to other drinks.

Lunch will cost between £12 to £18 per person, but the quality is far superior to an average mountain lunch. Most countries add an alpine premium to food and drinks - in Norway, it's generally consistent with what you'll pay anywhere.

I'd recommend booking half board if you want to be safe in the knowledge that most of your meals are paid for before you travel.

Last year, Ski Safari customers paid £1,200 per person on average for flights, transfers and accommodation over Easter in Norway. All in, including ski extras like ski school, lift pass and rental equipment (which of course differ person to person), our customers paid £1,700 per person on average. We think that's a fair price - especially considering it comes with award-winning service and first-hand insights!

Every holiday we sell is created from scratch, meaning the quotation you receive is unique, based on your preferred departure dates, group size and holiday preferences. We explore all the options and always let you know if you can save money or take advantage of better offers, as well as recommending the best resort for you. For example, the second week of Easter is cheaper than the first week as it's considered low season in Norway, and you can save over £200 per person by skiing in the second week!

Our ski packages & offers can provide an idea of the cost of a 7-night holiday in Norway over the Easter holidays, including flights, transfers and accommodation. They start from as little as £700 per person and you can view all of our Norway Easter Ski Packages & Offers for more.

A 7-day lift pass costs around £260 per adult on average over the Easter holidays, while 7-day equipment rental costs £113 per adult on average for standard/beginner skis, boots and poles. Kids ski for even less, with most resorts offering free lift passes and rentals!

Prices will vary depending on when and where you travel, but one thing remains the same - the earlier you book, the cheaper it will be. Flight prices will go up and availability will tighten, so if you want to secure better value than over other peak dates, then now's the time to contact our team.

If you're interested in experiencing a Norway ski holiday over the Easter holidays, we're here to help. Call our friendly team on 01273 224060 (9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday) or request a quotation online and we'll be in touch.

If you’re looking for destination inspiration, read my Where to Ski in Norway at Easter blog. To stay up to date with the latest tips from our team, join the Ski Safari mailing list, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.