This coastal Norwegian town played a key role in whaling history, with its maritime museum and active harbor. The area has thermal springs and Viking burial sites.
Sandefjord sits 120 kilometers south of Oslo along Norway's southeastern coast. You can swim at Asnes beach, explore the 21-meter blue whale skeleton at the Whaling Museum, or hike through pine forests to Viking burial grounds. The town's 146 kilometers of coastline include sandy beaches and granite shoreline where locals sunbathe during summer months.
Swimming Beaches and Coastal Areas
You'll find several sandy beaches along Sandefjord's 146-kilometer coastline, including Asnes, Vøra, and Langeby. The water reaches 20°C (68°F) from June through August, making it ideal for swimming and kayaking. Two peninsulas, Østerøya and Vesterøya, create calm bays where many locals anchor their boats. Between the beaches, pink-gray granite rocks slope into the water, forming natural platforms where you can spread your towel and sunbathe.
The Whaling Museum Collection
The Whaling Museum sits in a 1917 building near the harbor, displaying Norway's largest collection of whaling artifacts. A 21-meter blue whale skeleton hangs above the main hall, while the Southern Actor, a restored 1950 whaling vessel, floats at the nearby dock. You can examine hunting equipment from the Antarctic expeditions, browse historical photographs, and study detailed ship models. The museum's exhibits explain whaling techniques and daily life aboard the vessels through hands-on displays.
Viking Sites and Archaeology
Walk around the Gokstad Mound west of town center, where archaeologists unearthed a Viking ship in 1880. Though the ship now resides in Oslo's Viking Ship Museum, you can explore the burial site where a Viking chieftain was laid to rest around 900 CE. The surrounding area contains burial mounds dating to 1,500 BCE. In summer, guides lead daily tours through the archaeological sites, explaining the excavation process and Viking burial customs.
Transportation Hub
You can reach Sandefjord through Torp Airport, which has direct flights to major European cities. Trains run hourly between Sandefjord and Oslo. Most town center sites lie within a 20-minute walk of each other. The harbor has daily ferry service to Strömstad, Sweden, making cross-border day trips simple. By car, take the E18 highway to reach Oslo and other Norwegian cities.
Forest Trails and Nature Areas
Walk or bike through 50 kilometers of marked trails in Sandefjord's pine and birch forests. The Preståsen nature preserve has a 3-kilometer circular trail overlooking the fjord. For a longer walk, take the 8-kilometer Vesterøya coastal path along the shoreline. In spring and summer, purple heather and yellow buttercups grow beside the trails. Watch for eider ducks and oystercatchers near the water's edge.
