Summer holidays in Vestfold

10 good reasons to spend your summer holidays in Vestfold

Good sunshine, active nature experiences, swimming and crab fishing – the summer resorts of Stavern, Larvik, Horten, Åsgårdstrand, Holmestrand, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Færder are like pearls on a string!

It’s a short distance between activity parks, city life and warm sandy beaches.

1. Archipelago and coastal life

The combination of archipelago, sea spray, rocky shores, sunshine and sandy beaches makes Vestfold the perfect summer destination!

Blessed with a long coastline and a large archipelago park with fine beaches, smooth rocks and pier life – just a short train journey from the capital. This is part of what makes Vestfold perhaps the best starting point for a typical Norwegian summer.

Visit the iconic Tilting Lighthouse at Verdens Ende, or take a stroll along the coastal path (don’t forget your sunscreen and swimwear for a cooling dip on the way) to maximise that holiday feeling.

2. Children’s summer paradise

Vestfold offers lots of fun for families with children🛝 There are climbing parks, farm experiences, trampoline parks and playgrounds to name but a few. Throughout the summer, families can choose from many different activities – both indoors and outdoors.

There’s also a whole host of fun events for kids throughout the summer!

3. Concerts & festivals

Summer in Vestfold is not only about sun, sea and archipelago cosiness – it’s also a time for some of the country’s biggest festivals. It doesn’t get any better than that 🎶

4. Food from nature

Vestfold is Norway’s vegetable garden and larder – and the distance from farm to fork is particularly short here. The good soil and favourable climate mean that a large proportion of the country’s grain, potatoes and vegetables are produced here. In other words, there is plenty of access to local and organic food and drink.

This is reflected in the produce available in the restaurants – and you can even visit charming farm shops selling everything from homemade ice cream to eggs, strawberries or scented candles, skincare, knitted sweaters or other craft products.

Several of the farm shops have cafés with homemade cakes and pastries, and some also have different animals you can meet.

5. Active leisure

Not a fan of sitting still all holiday? We got you!

Spend your holiday cultivating your interests! Vestfold is beautiful and relatively flat, and is ideal if you love cycling and golf. If you like to challenge yourself, there are opportunities for both indoor and outdoor climbing, via ferrata and ziplines.

Blessed with a long coastline, paddling is a favourite with residents and visitors alike. Vestfold can tempt you with Norway’s first continuous paddling trail from Larvik in the south to Svelvik in the north. There are companies that offer kayak hire if you want to paddle yourself, or you can join courses and guided tours.

6. Shopping streets and quayside

Cosy shopping streets, shopping centres and boutiques await those who want to go shopping. You’ll also find a number of cafés and restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating.

7. Boating

If you love spending time in the water on warm days, Vestfold is perfect. If you come with your own boat, there are several guest harbours in Vestfold. Some are located in the town centre, while others are idyllically situated in the archipelago.

Even if you don’t have your own boat, everything is in place to get out on the water. Use the scheduled boats for a sightseeing tour or island hopping in the archipelago, or hire a RIB or taxi boat for more speed and excitement if you’re a group.

8. Viking & Munch

Vestfold has an exciting Viking history that you can explore and take part in. Families can explore the history of Norway from the Viking Age, the Middle Ages and today’s Norway. At Borrehaugene in Horten, you’ll find the Midgard Viking Centre with Viking history, exhibitions and activities for children.

Norway’s first town, Kaupang, was located in Larvik, which you can also visit. Tønsberg is currently Norway’s oldest town, and here you can see the Slottsfjellet mountain and visit the Slottsfjell Museum – where you can see the only preserved Viking ship outside Oslo.

Åsgårdstrand is known as a town of artists, but you can get particularly close to Edvard Munch and his artist’s home there. The house is located close to Grand Hotel Åsgårdstrand, and if you walk around the area you can recognise several places that were immortalised in several of Munch’s masterpieces – including the iconic Girls on the Bridge.

9. Accessibility and short distances

Vestfold is a compact region that is easily accessible. There are short distances between towns, beaches and the various experiences. Stavern, Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg, Tjøme, Nøtterøy, Horten, Åsgårdstrand and Holmestrand are all within easy reach of each other. Check out bus and train services to get around Vestfold.

10. Lots of sun!

Did you know that Sandefjord is the municipality with the most summer sun in the country? That’s what the results showed when 90 weather stations’ measurements over a 30-year period were summarised in 2017. And with the short distances in Vestfold, we dare to say that the sunshine coast is an apt description. There are many beautiful beaches for those who want to enjoy the sun and take a dip.

Spend your holiday in Vestfold! Expect sandcastle building and crab fishing, long evenings on the pier, fresh seafood and lots and lots of swimming🌊