Vestfold

Vestfold is small in area but rich in history: Norway's most famous Viking ships were excavated here, and Tønsberg is considered the country's oldest town. A vacation in Vestfold also means a summer escape to skerries and beaches that rank among Norwegians' favorite swimming destinations.

Sights in Vestfold

Magnificent Viking ships were discovered in the burial mounds of Oseberg near Tønsberg and Gokstad near Sandefjord; today they are on display in Oslo. On site, burial mounds and the Midgard Viking Center in Borre, with its reconstructed hall, recall this era; the Borre burial mounds form one of the largest cemetery fields in Scandinavia. Tønsberg, mentioned around 871, has the ruins of a medieval fortress on Castle Hill and a lively harbor promenade. In the 20th century Sandefjord was the capital of whaling; the Whaling Museum and a large monument at the harbor tell the story. Larvik is home to Bøkeskogen, the northernmost beech forest in the world, and commemorates Thor Heyerdahl, who was born here; the larvikite stone of the area shimmers bluish. Horten is the site of the Naval Museum, one of the oldest in the world, and the Norwegian Museum of Photography. In Sandefjord you can visit Gokstadhaugen, the mound under which the Gokstad ship lay, and in Tønsberg the Slottsfjell Museum.

Coast and Skerries

South of Tønsberg lie the islands of Nøtterøy and Tjøme, with smoothly polished rocks; at their tip, Verdens Ende, the "End of the World," stands a Wippfeuer, a historic beacon. The Kyststien coastal path leads past coves, skerries, and swimming spots. Stavern near Larvik is also a popular summer resort with a fortress and harbor. The coastal road runs through fields, beech forests, and old farmsteads.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Shrimp, lobster, and mackerel are in demand in summer, and Vestfold is also one of Norway's most important vegetable- and berry-growing regions. Torp Airport near Sandefjord offers connections to Europe, and ferries run from Larvik and Sandefjord to Denmark and Sweden. The Vestfold Line railway connects the towns with Oslo. The best time to visit is June through August. Music festivals take place in Tønsberg and Stavern in summer. From Horten, a ferry crosses the Oslofjord to Moss, and the North Sea Cycle Route runs along the coast.