Museum Arkiver

Marinemuseet – Navy Museum

The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is located at historic Karljohansvern in Horten. One of the world's oldest naval museums, it explores Norway's maritime military history through ship models, cannons, naval equipment and stories of life at sea.

Discover Norway's naval history
Founded in 1853, the museum has been based at Karljohansvern since 1864. Its exhibitions trace Norwegian naval history from the Danish-Norwegian era and the Gunboat War to the establishment of an independent Norwegian navy after 1814, the World Wars and the Cold War. In the historic exhibition hall from 1864, discover ship models, weapons and maritime artefacts.

Step aboard a submarine and a motor torpedo boat
Outside the museum, you'll find the submarine KNM Utstein and the motor torpedo boat KNM Blink. Explore historic naval vessels up close and discover what life was like for their crews. KNM Utstein offers a glimpse of submarine service during the Cold War, while KNM Blink showcases Norwegian naval technology from the same era. Access on board may be restricted, and both vessels have narrow passageways and changes in floor level.

Guided tours for the whole family
The museum offers experiences for children and adults, with historic vessels, detailed ship models and exhibitions about naval life. Short themed guided tours take place at weekends and are included in the admission ticket. School classes and groups can also book private tours of the museum and the historic Karljohansvern area.

Explore more of Karljohansvern
The museum is situated at Karljohansvern, a former naval base with historic buildings, tree-lined paths and walking routes along the Horten Canal. In the same building, you'll find Preus Museum, Norway's national museum of photography. Nearby is KNM Narvik, a former Norwegian frigate preserved as a museum ship. It is operated separately, with its own opening hours and admission arrangements.

Plan your visit
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is located at Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 9, approximately a 20-minute walk from central Horten. From September to May, the museum is normally open Wednesday to Sunday. From June to August, it is open daily. Opening hours vary between weekdays and weekends.

The main exhibition is on the second floor, with lift access available by arrangement with museum staff. The historic vessels and parts of the ground floor are not wheelchair accessible. Parking is available nearby. Check current parking regulations before visiting. Check current opening hours, admission prices and guided tours at the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum.

Herregården

Herregården in Larvik is a historic 17th-century residence and part of Larvik Museum. Discover richly decorated rooms, period interiors and stories about the people who lived and worked in the building.

Step inside the count's residence
Herregården was built between 1674 and 1677 for Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve, Governor-General of Norway and the first Count of Larvik. The building combines continental Baroque architecture with Norwegian building traditions. On a guided tour, you can explore rooms with painted decorations and interiors from different periods. Learn about the lives of the counts, the people who worked at the residence and how the county shaped Larvik's history.

From noble residence to school and museum
Herregården has served many purposes over the centuries. After its time as a noble residence, the building was used as a town hall, school and home. On the second floor, you can visit the old classroom, offering a glimpse of everyday life very different from that of the count's household. Herregården became a protected historic building in 1923 and is now an important part of Larvik's cultural heritage.

The garden that once stretched to the sea
Herregården was originally surrounded by an extensive Baroque garden stretching down towards the sea. The grounds included avenues, fountains, ponds and cultivated areas. Much of the original garden has disappeared, but archaeological investigations have revealed new details about its former layout. The Akantus project focuses on preserving and developing the historic surroundings of Herregården.

Plan your visit
Herregården is located at Herregårdsletta in Larvik and is open to visitors during the museum season. Larvik Museum also offers guided tours for groups by prior arrangement. Concerts, talks and other cultural events take place on selected dates throughout the year.

Check current opening hours and admission prices at Larvik Museum.
Read more about guided tours and bookings.

Maritime museum

The Maritime Museum is located in the old customs house by Skottebrygga in Larvik, a historic brick building dating from the early 18th century. Here you can explore Larvik's maritime history through stories of daring explorers, Norwegian sailors during the Second World War and the town's past as a whaling centre. Part of Larvik Museum, the exhibitions take you from the local harbour to oceans around the world.

From Larvik to the world's oceans
What inspires people to set out on long and dangerous expeditions? In the exhibition Explorers and Adventurers, you can discover the stories of eight people connected to Larvik who challenged the oceans and the forces of nature. Learn about Thor Heyerdahl and his expeditions aboard Kon-Tiki, Ra and Tigris, polar explorer Oscar Wisting and whaling pioneer Carl Anton Larsen. The exhibition also introduces lesser-known adventurers, including two scouts who travelled by canoe from Larvik to Kenya in the 1950s. Through photographs, objects and personal stories, the exhibition explores journeys driven by scientific curiosity, the spirit of adventure and the determination to reach new goals.

The wartime sailors of Larvik
During the Second World War, Norwegian merchant sailors played a vital role in transporting goods and supplies to the Allied forces. Many faced torpedo attacks, bombing and the constant uncertainty of whether they would return home. In the exhibition Wartime Sailors from Larvik, you can discover the stories of ten young men from the town who sailed the world's oceans during the war. Their experiences offer a personal perspective on an important chapter of Norwegian wartime history and the sacrifices made by sailors and their families.

Larvik's whaling history
Whaling shaped Larvik for generations and was once an important part of the town's economy. The exhibition Larvik, the Whaling Town tells the stories of the people, ships and businesses that connected Larvik to the whaling industry in the Southern Ocean. Discover how whaling influenced working life and the local community, and learn about an industry that played a major role in Vestfold's maritime history.

Family activities and guided tours
During the summer season, the Maritime Museum offers activities for children, encouraging younger visitors to explore the exhibitions through games and tasks. Previous activities have included activity booklets and a digital treasure hunt inspired by the well-known Norwegian shipbuilder Colin Archer. Guided tours are available for groups by prior arrangement. A guide can introduce the stories behind the expeditions, the wartime sailors and life along the coast, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the exhibitions. The museum also hosts talks and cultural events at selected times throughout the year.

Discover more of historic Larvik
The Maritime Museum stands beside Skottebrygga, in a part of Larvik where the town's seafaring past is still visible. The museum building, known as the Old Customs House, is Larvik's oldest surviving stone building and has served as a museum since 1962. To explore more of the town's history, visit Herregården, the historic residence built for Count Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve in the 1670s. Here you can discover the history of Larvik's noble county and everyday life in earlier centuries. Both attractions are part of Larvik Museum, and during the main summer season a combined admission ticket allows you to visit both museums.

Plan your visit
The Maritime Museum is located at Kirkestredet 5, 3263 Larvik, next to the historic Skottebrygga waterfront. The museum operates seasonally. In 2026, regular opening hours were from 20 June to 16 August, Thursday to Sunday, 11 am–4 pm. From 17 August 2026, the museum is closed for regular visits, although access may be possible during advertised events and special occasions. The next regular season is planned for June 2027. Admission prices vary between the summer and low seasons. During the main summer season, a combined ticket is available for the Maritime Museum and Herregården. Guided group tours must be booked in advance and carry an additional charge. As the museum is housed in a historic building, some areas may have accessibility limitations. Visitors with specific access requirements should contact the museum before travelling.

Visit the Larvik Museum website for current opening hours, admission prices, events and guided tour bookings.

Visitor Center Færder National Park

Færder National Park Visitor Centre is located at Verdens Ende, on the southern tip of Tjøme. Through free exhibitions, nature interpretation and activities for all ages, discover the wildlife, landscapes and cultural heritage of Færder National Park.

Discover life along the coast and beneath the sea
What lies beneath the surface of the archipelago? And which plants and animals thrive along the coast? Through indoor and outdoor exhibitions and activities, you can explore the national park's biodiversity, from life along the shore to underwater ecosystems.
The visitor centre also introduces the coastal landscape, its cultural heritage and the reasons why the area is protected.

Nature activities for children and families
Pelle Strand, the visitor centre's mascot, helps children discover nature through play and hands-on learning. During summer, nature guides offer outdoor activities at Verdens Ende. Children can explore life along the shore through crab fishing, mini aquariums and activities involving seaweed and kelp. Guided walks and family activities are also arranged throughout the year, with programmes varying by season.

From exhibitions to coastal scenery
The coastal landscape begins just outside the visitor centre. At Verdens Ende, you can explore the smooth coastal rocks, see the distinctive tipping lighthouse and enjoy views across the archipelago towards Færder Lighthouse. Built in 1932, the tipping lighthouse is a well-known landmark on Tjøme. Færder National Park covers 340 square kilometres of islands, skerries, marine areas and coastal landscapes in the outer Oslofjord. Its diverse habitats include kelp forests, seagrass meadows, coastal meadows and pine forests. A visit to the centre provides a useful introduction before exploring the surrounding nature on your own.

Education and group visits
The visitor centre offers free educational programmes for kindergartens and schools, including upper secondary students. Through play and practical activities, children and young people learn about nature, the environment, outdoor recreation and cultural heritage. Nature guides welcome groups at the visitor centre, organise outdoor activities or visit schools and kindergartens. Group visits can also be arranged outside regular opening hours.

Panoramic views and dining
The visitor centre's panoramic room offers 360-degree views of the tipping lighthouse, Færder Lighthouse and the surrounding archipelago. The venue can be hired for meetings, conferences and private events by prior arrangement. In the same building, you'll find Spiseriet Verdens Ende, a restaurant with its own opening hours.

Plan your visit
Færder National Park Visitor Centre is located at Helgerødveien 590, Verdens Ende, Tjøme. Admission to the exhibitions and self-guided activities is free. The visitor centre operates throughout the year, with extended opening hours during school holidays. It is closed over Christmas and on certain public holidays. Some events require advance registration.

Check current opening hours, activities and group visit information on the visitor centre's official website.

The Viking hall “Gildehallen”

The Viking Guild Hall stands beside Midgard Viking Centre at Borre in Horten. This reconstruction offers a glimpse of the great halls where Viking Age chieftains and powerful families gathered. Inside, a large fireplace, carved wooden pillars and decorations inspired by Norse mythology bring the past to life.

A Viking hall showcasing traditional craftsmanship
Completed in 2013, the Guild Hall was built using archaeological discoveries and research into how Viking Age halls may have looked. Much of the woodwork was crafted by hand using tools and techniques inspired by the period. Look closely at the carved entrance portal, wooden roof shingles and four decorated pillars inside the hall. The carvings draw inspiration from the Oseberg finds and Norse mythology, including Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn.

Where chieftains gathered
During the Viking Age, great halls were more than places for feasting. Powerful families gathered guests for meals, ceremonies and meetings where relationships and alliances were strengthened. The halls were also important symbols of power and status. Archaeologists have discovered traces of several large hall buildings at Borre, probably dating from the Merovingian period, before the Viking Age. Together with the monumental burial mounds, these finds show the area's importance as a centre of power during the Late Iron Age.

Combine your visit with a walk through the nearby Borre burial mounds, where you can explore the burial ground and discover more about the people who once lived here.

Guided tours and Viking experiences
The Guild Hall is part of Midgard Viking Centre, which brings Viking Age history to life through exhibitions, guided tours and activities. During the high season, regular guided tours introduce visitors to the hall's architecture, hand-carved decorations and the research behind its reconstruction. Midgard also hosts activity days where children and adults can explore Viking Age crafts, traditions and daily life. Private guided tours and Viking activities for groups can be booked throughout the year.

The Guild Hall as an event venue
The Guild Hall can be hired for weddings, anniversaries, corporate events and other celebrations. Guests can enjoy a Viking-inspired feast with food, storytelling and entertainment by prior arrangement. Find out more about hiring the Guild Hall and hosting an event in a setting inspired by the Viking Age.

Plan your visit
The Guild Hall is located at Birkelyveien 9 in Borre and follows the opening hours of Midgard Viking Centre. During the low season, the centre is normally open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. It is also open on Mondays during the high season and school holidays.

Opening hours may vary on public holidays and during special events. Admission to Midgard Viking Centre also includes the Guild Hall. Scheduled guided tours are included when available, while private group tours must be booked separately.

Designated accessible parking is available near the Guild Hall. Visitors with reduced mobility are advised to drive to the hall rather than use the woodland path. Companion cards are accepted.

Check current opening hours, admission prices and guided tours at Midgard Viking Centre.

The Slottsfjells Museum

The Slottsfjells Museum is located at the foot of Slottsfjellet hill in Tønsberg, where you can explore Vestfold's history from the Viking Age to more recent times. See the original Klåstad Viking ship, stand beside enormous whale skeletons and discover Tønsberg's role as a royal centre during the Middle Ages. Outside the museum, you can explore historic buildings at Vestfoldtunet and the ruins of the medieval Tunsberghus fortress.

See the original Klåstad Viking ship
In the Viking Hall, you can see the Klåstad ship, a Viking Age merchant vessel discovered at Klåstad in Tjølling near Larvik. Known as Norway's fourth Viking ship, it is one of the few surviving Viking vessels on display in Norway. The remains of the ship offer a close look at a vessel that once travelled along the Norwegian coast. The exhibition also tells the story of the famous Oseberg discovery, made in Slagendalen just outside Tønsberg in 1904. To see how these ships may have looked on the water, continue to Vikingodden at Tønsberg harbour. Here you can see archaeological reconstructions of the Oseberg and Klåstad ships when they are not away on voyages.

Come face to face with the whales
In the Whale Hall, seven large whale skeletons are on display, including a blue whale skeleton considered one of the largest preserved examples in the world. The enormous bones give you a sense of the size of these animals. The museum also tells the story of Svend Foyn from Tønsberg, whose technological innovations played an important role in the development of modern whaling. The exhibitions explore how whaling shaped maritime industries, working life and communities across Vestfold.

Explore medieval Tønsberg
Tønsberg was an important centre of power during the Middle Ages. At the Slottsfjells Museum, discover the lives of kings, nobles, clergy and ordinary people at a time when Tunsberghus was one of Scandinavia's major medieval fortresses. The story continues outside on Slottsfjellet hill, where the castle ruins remain visible in the landscape. Here you can explore traces of defensive walls, buildings and fortifications that once protected the royal stronghold. At the top stands Slottsfjell Tower, Tønsberg's well-known landmark built in 1888. When the tower is open, visitors can climb to enjoy views over the town, the fjord and the surrounding landscape.

Step back in time at Vestfoldtunet
Between the museum and Slottsfjellet hill lies Vestfoldtunet, an open-air collection of historic farm buildings moved here from different parts of the county. The buildings include farmhouses, a barn, a smithy and old timber structures that tell the story of rural life. One of the buildings is Heierstadloftet, dating from 1407 and regarded as Vestfold's oldest surviving secular building. Together, the houses offer a glimpse into traditional architecture, farming and everyday life across several centuries. Some of the buildings can be visited during guided tours. In summer, Seterkaféen also opens, offering refreshments between your museum visit and a walk up the hill.

Guided tours and activities
The Slottsfjells Museum offers guided tours for groups interested in exploring Viking history, the Middle Ages and other parts of its collections. Tours can be adapted to different groups and must be booked in advance. The museum also hosts activities and educational programmes throughout the year. The programme varies depending on the season, school holidays and exhibitions, so check what is happening before your visit.

Explore more of Tønsberg
The Slottsfjells Museum is part of an area where much of Tønsberg's history can be explored on foot. Start with the museum exhibitions, continue through Vestfoldtunet and walk up to the medieval castle ruins on Slottsfjellet. For more art and culture, visit Haugar Art Museum near Tønsberg town centre, with changing exhibitions of Norwegian and international art.

Plan your visit
The Slottsfjells Museum is located at Farmannsveien 30, 3111 Tønsberg, at the foot of Slottsfjellet hill. During the low season, from 1 September to 31 May, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and closed on Mondays. On selected Thursdays, opening hours may be extended until 7 pm for special events.

During the high season, from 1 June to 31 August, and during the autumn, winter and Easter school holidays, the museum is open daily from 11 am to 4 pm. Standard adult admission is NOK 100 during the low season and NOK 150 during the high season. Children under seven enter free of charge. Reduced rates are available for children, students, seniors, families and groups.

Slottsfjell Tower and Seterkaféen operate with separate opening hours. Both are closed during the low season. During the high season, they are normally open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm. Separate admission applies to the tower. The museum accepts Norwegian companion certificates. Visitors with accessibility requirements should contact the museum in advance to check access to the exhibitions, historic buildings and the hilltop area.

Visit the Slottsfjells Museum website for current opening hours, admission prices, activities and guided tour bookings.

Midgard Viking Centre

Midgard Viking Centre is located beside the Borre burial mounds in Horten. Discover Viking Age history through exhibitions, guided tours and activities. Step inside the reconstructed Guild Hall, learn about the people who lived at Borre and explore one of the Nordic region's most important burial grounds from the Late Iron Age.

Step inside the Viking Guild Hall
The Guild Hall was built in 2013, inspired by archaeological discoveries and research into Viking Age architecture. Inside, you'll find decorated wooden pillars, hand-carved details and a large fireplace. Midgard's guides explain the craftsmanship and how powerful chieftains used these halls for feasts, gatherings and ceremonies. The Guild Hall can also be hired for Viking-inspired feasts and group events.

Explore the Borre burial mounds
Just below the visitor centre lie the Borre burial mounds, the Nordic region's largest collection of monumental burial mounds from the Late Iron Age. Used between approximately AD 600 and 900, the burial ground and archaeological traces of large halls reveal Borre's importance as a centre of power before and during the Viking Age. Explore Borre Park independently or join a guided walk. The park is free to visit.

Exhibitions about the Viking Age
Discover the people, society and beliefs of the Iron Age and Viking Age through archaeological finds and historical interpretation. Exhibitions change throughout the year, and the museum also hosts lectures, themed activity days and special events.

Viking activities for children and adults
At Midgard's Viking playground, visitors of all ages can try activities inspired by Viking Age games and skills. Archery, traditional games, tug-of-war and crafts feature in seasonal programmes. Activities vary, and some are available only on selected days. Organised Viking activities for groups can be booked in advance.

A café overlooking the burial mounds
Take a break at Midgard's café, overlooking the Borre burial mounds. No museum ticket is required to visit the café or Borre Park.

Discover more Viking heritage in Vestfold
Midgard is a natural stop along the Viking Trail through Vestfold. The trail connects burial grounds, historic trading settlements and other important archaeological sites across the region.

Plan your visit
Midgard Viking Centre is located at Birkelyveien 9 in Borre, Horten. During the low season, the centre is normally open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. In the high season and school holidays, it is open daily from 11 am to 4 pm. Hours may vary during special events and public holidays.

Admission includes the exhibitions, Guild Hall, Viking playground and scheduled guided tours. Some events and organised group activities have separate charges. The main museum building is wheelchair accessible. Designated parking is available near the museum and Guild Hall. Visitors with reduced mobility are advised to use the road rather than the woodland path to reach the Guild Hall.

Check current opening hours, admission prices and activities at Midgard Viking Centre.

Larvik museum

Larvik Museum is the historically rich and exciting town museum in Larvik!

Visit Herregården and the maritime museum.

Larvik Museum is the town museum in Larvik with two arenas for visitors. Verksgården in the historic quarter Hammerdalen is an old, industrial site now converted into a heritage site with various cultural and business activities, and Herregården, the mansion built by Danish count Gyldenløve between 1674 and 1677.

In addition, Larvik Museum has passed on knowledge about Kaupang, first city in Norway, since excavations of the area around the extinct city started outside Larvik in the year 2000.

The thematic core of Larvik Museum activities is the historic period of Danish rule in Norway, when Larvik was one of two Danish royal counties in Norway (1537-1814). This historic era put its mark on Larvik with regard to industrial development, architecture and social structure. With this period as a backdrop, the museum intends to develop web-based research and display exhibitions on the Larvik community of today.

NB! Larvik Museum moves from Verksgården to Gamle Mesterfjellet school. All museum operations at Langestrand have been discontinued, and the exhibitions are being moved. The new exhibitions at Gamle Mesterfjellet School will be up in 2024 at the earliest.

Edvard Munch´s house in Åsgårdstrand

Munch's House in Åsgårdstrand, near Horten, is the only surviving intact home of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. On a guided tour, step inside the small, yellow-painted wooden house where he lived and worked. Discover the rooms and surroundings that inspired some of his best-known paintings.

Step inside Edvard Munch's home
Edvard Munch bought the house in 1898 after spending several summers in Åsgårdstrand. It was the first property he owned and a place he returned to throughout much of his life. The house retains its historic character, with interiors offering a glimpse into Munch's everyday life. During the tour, you'll hear about the people he met and how his experiences in Åsgårdstrand influenced his art. In the garden, you'll also find Munch's studio. The original building was demolished, but another was later built on the same site.

The landscape that inspired Munch
Åsgårdstrand played an important role in Munch's artistic life. He found inspiration along the shoreline, in the streets, in his garden and among the people who lived here. Several famous paintings, including Girls on the Bridge, Four Girls in Åsgårdstrand and The Dance of Life, are closely connected to the town. Many of these scenes can still be recognised today. Discover more in Visit Vestfold's guide to Munch's House and Åsgårdstrand.

Walk in Munch's footsteps
Join a guided walk through Åsgårdstrand and explore places that inspired Munch's paintings. The walk also includes a tour of his house.
In the former town hall, Digital Munch offers films and interactive experiences based on the artist's life and work. The museum shop is also located here.

An artist's home with a long history
After Munch's death in 1944, the municipality purchased the house. It opened as a museum in 1947 and became a protected heritage property in 2013. Today, Munch's House offers a personal encounter with the life and work of one of Norway's most influential artists.

Plan your visit
Munch's House is located at Edvard Munchs gate 25, a short walk from the harbour in Åsgårdstrand. The museum is normally open seasonally from May to September. The house can only be visited on a guided tour, with times varying throughout the season. Private tours can be arranged in advance.

Tickets are available at the studio or museum shop.
The house has steps, thresholds and narrow doorways that limit accessibility. Parking near the museum is very limited, and visitors are advised to use the parking area at Åsgårdstrand harbour. Check current opening hours, admission prices and guided tours at Munch's House.

The Eidsfoss Ironwork

Established in 1697, Eidsfoss Ironworks produced iron goods for generations. At the Ironworks Museum, discover decorated cast-iron stoves from the 18th and 19th centuries, historic household objects and an exhibition about railway history.

The people behind the ironworks
The ironworks shaped life in Eidsfoss for generations. Many former workers' homes and industrial buildings can still be seen today. Other exhibitions explore the life of Rakel Seweriin at the old school in Hauane and the story of a foundryman's widow in To Elise in Bråtagata.

Explore historic Eidsfoss
Combine your museum visit with a walk through historic Eidsfoss. Follow the heritage trail past old buildings and the lakes Bergsvannet and Eikeren.
Visit Eidsfos Hovedgård, with its historic garden, café and farm shop.

Plan your visit
The museum is located at Eidsfossveien 54 and is open seasonally. Guided group tours can be arranged in advance. Children aged six and under enter free of charge. Check opening hours, prices and guided tours at Vestfold Museums.