Bø Sommarland Family Getaway – Stay 30 Minutes Away in Ulefoss

If your group includes kids — or adults who never grew out of wanting to go down a waterslide — Bø Sommarland is the single biggest reason families extend a stay in this part of Telemark. It’s Scandinavia’s largest water park, and it’s roughly a 30-minute drive from Telemark Guesthouse.

What makes it worth the drive

Bø Sommarland has been running since 1985 and is one of Norway’s best-known family attractions. With more than 20 pools and slides spread across the park, there’s a genuine range — from calm family pools to some of Europe’s largest and most extreme water rides.

A few of the park’s headline attractions:

• Magasuget — an iconic slide with a 9-metre free fall from a 16-metre tower, a park landmark since 1986.
• Mot i Brøstet — one of Europe’s largest water roller coasters.
• The Halfpipe — a large water halfpipe where two-person rubber boats launch off the edge, built for the boldest visitors.
• Vassføyka — a four-lane racing slide where you spin through a dark tunnel before hitting top speed on the home stretch.
• The FlowRider — a large artificial surf wave for guests who want to try surfing without the sea.

Beyond the water, the park also has a climbing park, obstacle courses, live shows in July, and several food and drink outlets, so it’s realistic to spend a full day there without needing to leave.

Practical details for planning your visit

• Season: the park is normally open daily from early June to mid-August — check current dates before you plan around it, since exact opening and closing dates can shift year to year.
• Tickets: buying online can save money, but the park states that admission tickets do not sell out and no reservation is required. Parking can fill on busy days, so arrive early and check the current visitor information.
• Accessibility: Bø Sommarland offers rental wheelchairs (including a water-accessible one), designated accessible routes, and adapted facilities.
• Getting there: it’s about a 30-minute drive from Ulefoss — easily doable as a day trip without needing to relocate your accommodation.

Why base yourself in Ulefoss instead of Bø

Staying directly at Bø Sommarland usually means camping or on-site cabins built around the park’s own schedule. Basing yourself in Ulefoss instead means you get a quieter, more spacious stay in the evenings — with room to spread out after a full day of slides — while still keeping Bø Sommarland within easy day-trip range, alongside the Telemark Canal, Vrangfoss locks, and Ulefos Hovedgaard on the days you’re not at the water park.

Stay in Ulefoss

Telemark Guesthouse is a historic farmhouse sleeping up to 15 guests — enough space for a full family group or several families travelling together, with a large private garden to unwind in once everyone’s dried off from the water park.

Check availability and book at Telemark Guesthouse →