🐄 Farmhouses and HANEN: where to stay, what to try, what to buy
Gårdsferie is a type of accommodation on a working farm where you can learn about farming, local products and the way of life in the countryside. In Norway, this type of holiday often involves separate cottages (hytte or stabbur, sometimes seterhytte), apartments in a farmhouse or family rooms above a cheese dairy/in a guest wing. Travellers can enjoy a combination of nature, food and relaxation, with short trips and the comforts of home in the evening.
This article will give you all the information you need. It will introduce the format, explain how to search the HANEN network, suggest ideas for family weekend programmes, provide a guide to etiquette and include a list of delicious things to take home. Everything is set up for independent travellers and it's easy to book directly with the hosts.
🧺 What is gårdsferie
A farm holiday in Norway is not a ‘scheduled tour’ but a guest experience based on a real farm. You live on the farm, eat breakfast made with local produce, chat with the owners, and sometimes help out with light tasks such as picking berries, petting/feeding goats, learning about farm equipment, and walking through pastures and forest trails. Farms often have a gårdsbutikk (shop) selling cheese, sausage, jam, bread, juice, and honey — ideal edible souvenirs.
Accommodation and amenities.
Formats vary from authentic minimalist cottages to very comfortable apartments with their own kitchen, bathroom, and terrace. In the description, pay attention to heating (electric/stove), bathroom (inside or shared), kitchen (full stove vs mini-kitchen), internet (fibre optic/4G/5G), nearby parking, cots/high chairs, and quiet hours.
Seasonality.
Summer and early autumn are peak season: berries, cheese factories, fairs, swimming, barbecue dinners. Spring is the time for kids and lambs; hosts may restrict access to certain areas because of the animals. In winter, the farms continue to operate, but the programme is quieter: snowshoeing, saunas/hot tubs, intimate tastings, baking. The off-season offers the best chances for favourable dates and contact with the hosts ‘without the hustle and bustle’.
Who it's for.
Couples — for privacy and gastronomy, families — for proximity to animals and nature, remote workers — for the slow pace and clean air (provided there is stable internet and the host is confident in its quality).
🧀 Dairy farm
- Cottage with kitchen and a warm terrace.
- Cheeses, yogurts, and bread for breakfast.
- Factory tour available on request.
🐑 Sheep & goats
- Lavvo / small cabin next to the pen.
- Assistance with feeding at scheduled times.
- Please keep dogs on a leash.
🍓 Berry & orchard
- Apartment in the farmhouse.
- Children's play areas and a hammock.
- Seasonal jam-making workshops.
🔎 Search via HANEN: step by step
HANEN is a national network for rural tourism and local food. It is a convenient way to find farms offering accommodation, shops, tastings and activities. How to quickly find suitable options:
- Determine the region and travel radius. If you are flying into Oslo and do not have a car, choose the Oslo region and the nearest counties; if you want fjords, look at Western Norway, if you want pasture valleys, look at Inland.
- Select the type of accommodation. A separate cottage (hytte/stabbur), apartments, B&B rooms, glamping on a farm (lavvo/yurt/dome).
- Indicate the purpose of your visit. Tastings/cheese factories, farm shops, contact with animals, trails/cycle routes, saunas/hot tubs.
- Specify the composition of your group. Couple/family/team, age of children, presence of a pram, accessibility requirements.
- Write to the host straight to the point. Dates, format, number of guests and key questions: heating/bathroom/kitchen/internet/late check-in/additional charges/pets/allergies.
👨👩👧 Programmes for families
A farm is the ideal place for children to gently discover nature and food. Here is what is usually available and how to plan a weekend around it.
Day 1 (arrival, introduction). Check in before sunset, walk around the grounds, safety rules (electric fence, gates), meet the animals only in the presence of the owners. In the evening — a farmer's dinner: cheese platter, bread, butter, seasonal vegetables, juices.
Day 2 (activities). In the morning — a ‘farm breakfast’, then feeding the goats/sheep, collecting eggs, a master class on pancakes/cheesecakes. In the afternoon, a walk to the lake/forest, picnic. In bad weather, board games, baking, jam tasting. In the evening, sauna/plunge pool, bedtime stories.
Safety and comfort. Closed shoes are required, hands must be washed after contact with animals, and attention must be paid to allergies to wool/dust/hay. If you have a pram, ask about step-free access and the slope of the paths.
- Check-in, walk around the farm, photo spots and house rules.
- Meet the animals together with the host.
- Farm-style dinner made from shop products.
🛒 What to buy (farm shop list)
Cheese and dairy products. Goat and cow cheeses of various ages, cottage cheese spreads, yoghurts. Take a vacuum-sealed bag and a cool bag for the journey.
Meat delicacies. Dried/smoked products for picnics; check storage conditions.
Pastries and bread. Sourdough bread, flatbrød, cinnamon buns — perfect for breakfast and a cheese platter.
Jams/honey/juices. Classic flavours — strawberry/raspberry/blueberry, apple juice in autumn.
Berries and season. In summer — pick your own strawberries in the fields, in autumn — forest berries on the trails (only where permitted).
🗺️ Closer to Oslo: how to search for ‘farm stay near Oslo’
If you are flying into Oslo and want to avoid long journeys, focus on the neighbouring areas: suburbs within a 1-2 hour radius, rural areas to the south/east (forest farms, berry farms) and pasture valleys to the north-north-west. Without a car, it is easier to choose farms where the owners help with the ‘last mile’ transfer from the station/stop. In your letter to the host, ask which bus runs most frequently, where to get off, and whether you can arrive after 9 p.m. without a meeting.
Tip: if you are on a workation, look for farms with fibre optic internet or confirmed stable 4G/5G. Ask for a screenshot of a speed test (during the day and in the evening), a photo of the workspace by the window, and information about ‘quiet hours’.
❓ FAQ
Often — yes, but only by agreement: the owners will tell you where to walk your dogs on a leash, which areas are closed due to animals, and whether there is an additional cleaning fee. Check if you can leave your pet alone in the cottage and if there are bowls/towels for paws.
Farms are environments with dust, hay and wool. Inform the hosts in advance about any allergies: to dairy, nuts, gluten, wool. Ask where breakfast is prepared and whether there are separate dishes/cutting boards. Be sure to wash your hands before eating after contact with animals.
Not always. Many farms are accessible by public transport (train/bus + short taxi ride). Always check the ‘last mile’, weekend schedule and late check-in options. With a car, it is easier to visit shops/trails in the surrounding area.
Usually, restrictions apply to the age of participation in feeding/workshops and access to areas with machinery/young animals. Ask about cots/high chairs, pram access (step-free) and showers without a tray.
Often yes, with self-check-in. Ask for instructions on how to open the gate/cottage, where the key is located, where to park, how not to disturb the animals at night, and what time quiet hours begin.
Sometimes yes, sometimes as an option. Check the contents (cheese, yoghurt, eggs, bread), serving time and the possibility of an early breakfast on the day of departure. If breakfast is not included, ask about the mini-shop on site and the kitchen in the cottage.
It is suitable if the internet is stable. Ask about the type of connection and actual speeds, as well as information about Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile network coverage. Ask for a photo of the workspace and a reminder about ‘quiet hours’.
Light activities — yes: picking berries, helping with feeding under supervision, walking in the pastures. Work with machinery or in production areas — by agreement, and not during periods of increased risk.
0 comments
Log in to leave a comment