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Fredriksvern verft

The original name was Fredriksvern Verft, named after king Frederik V. who reigned at that time.

Fredriksvern has played an important part in the development of Stavern as well as in Norwegian maritime history during the years, and the place has probably been a harbour since ancient times.

During the winter of 1748-49 king Frederik V. of Denmark-Norway ordered construction of a shipyard and a drydock in Norway, and in 1750 the first Norwegian naval base was constructed.

The naval station had strong fortification, moats and many buildings. Outside the moats Norway's first garrrison church was built. This rococo mastepiece was completed in 1756.

The commanding officer's lodge from 1751, the guardroom, two forges, the smith's house, a magazine, two provisional storehouses, the barge shed, the galley sheds and the gunpowder house are all still present at the former naval base, and many tourists travel to Stavern each and every year to experience these historical buildings.

Fredriksvern became the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy when Norway and Denmark split in 1814, and continued to be an important naval base – it remained active as an air force academy until 2002.

There are several art galleries and small museums here, and the area offers exciting activities all year round.

Beaches in Sandefjord

There are child-friendly shallow beaches, beaches with campgrounds and more secluded beaches.

Strømbadet, Sandefjord's town bath. Opened in 2020. Floating jetty for sea bathing in the harbour. Access from Hjertnesstranda (Sandefjordsveien 7) across the street of Scandic Park Hotel. Parking. Heavy rain can cause overflow discharges in the area around the bathing facility. Such discharges will result in temporary poor bathing water quality. Watch for possible red light on arrival.

Asnes, Vesterøya – 5 km from town center (bus 168 or 170)
Here you have several small south-facing beaches, beautiful cliffs and gras area. Camping, kiosk and toilet facilities open May 1st – September 1st.

Flautangen, Østerøya – 9 km from town center(bus 162)
Here you will find both a sandy beach, pebble beach and rocks, and there are toilets, a fireplace and excellent fishing spots. Arrival: Take Road 303 towards Stokke. Follow signs to Østerøya. After approx. 5 km turn left and follow the sign to Flautangen. There is a path to the beach.

Goksjø – 7 km from town center (Bus 150)
Fresh water with grass slope down towards the water. There is a swimming jetty and float. Arrival: Follow Road 305 from Sandefjord to Andebu. After passing the highway E-18, turn left onto Semsbakken after approx. 800 meters.

Granholmen – 5 km from town center (bus 01, 161)
Small beach, gras area and rocks. Camping, kiosk and toilet facilities open May 1st – September 1st. Arrival: Follow Road 303 towards Larvik. Turn left approx. 5 km from the town center. Follow signs to Granholmen.

Grubesand, Vesterøya – 9 km from town center (bus 168)
Quiet, east-facing sandy beach with 100 meters sand and rolling stones in the end. Good hiking paths along the coast. Good fishing spots and toilets. Arrival: From the town center run follow the signs to Vesterøya. Follow Vesterøyveien approx. 7 km (past Langeby camping) and then take left on Auveveien.

Korsvik, Vesterøya – 5 km from town center (bus 168 or 170)
Child-friendly sandy and gravel beach with a pine forest in the back. Arrival: From the town center, follow the signs to Vesterøya and turn in on Veløyveien. The beach is by the road.

Langeby, Vesterøya – 7 km from town center (bus 168)
Child-friendly sandy beach with some rocks and good diving spots. Camping, shop and toilet facilities are open May 1st – September 1st. Arrival: From the town center follow the sign to Vesterøya. Follow Vesterøyveien approx. 7 km. Langeby is just off the road.

Skjellvika, Østerøya – 5,5 km from town center
Very child-friendly, sandy beach. Path along the foot of the mountains in the north. Kiosk and toilet facilities. Arrival: Take road 303 towards Stokke. Follow signs to Østerøya. After approx. 3 km turn left on Østerøyveien by Søndre Sunde on Skjellvikaveien.

Truber and Yxney, Østerøya – 12 km from town center (bus 162)
Large area with both beaches and rocks. The sandy beach on Truber are most popular. Toilets at Truber. Arrival: Take road 303 towards Stokke. Follow signs towards Østerøya. Approx. 7 km after you've passed the sign "Østerøya" turn left (signposted).

Vøra, Vesterøya – 9 km from town center (bus 168)
Child-friendly sandy beach. Camping, shop, beach volleyball court and toilet facilities are open May 1st – September 1st. Arrival: From the town center follow the signs to Vesterøya. Follow Vesterøyveien approx. 8 km. The campsite is situated by the road.

Beaches for persons with disabilities: Granhomen, Lahelle, Langeby, Nord Trubervika, Tangen, Vøra and Bogen.

See www.sandefjord.kommune.no for details about how they are adapted.

Metro bowling

Metro bowling Sandefjord is located at Pindsle, 3 km from the town centre.

It is possible to have railing on all the courts, which makes it easier for children.

During the weekends the music is turned up, the lights are dimmed and music videos are playing on the screens.

Right next door is Metro indoor playground and Laser games. Restaurant & Sports bar.

Midtåsen Sculpture park

Midtåsen Sculptur Pavilion

On a hill in Midtåsen is Midtåsen sculpture pavilion and a sculpture park, featuring a selection of the works of Knut Steen in marble and bronze. Here you find twelve marble sculptures inside and four bronze sculptures outside.

The pavilion was drawn by the architect Svein Lund and landscape architect Gullik Gulliksen, and has brought international engagement.

Free entrance!

Charter with The Whaling boat Southern Actor

Southern Actor is the only whaling boat from the modern whaling epoch still found in its original working order. You find it at the museum wharf in Sandefjord. We can offer tours up to 45 passengers with Southern Actor from May to September. Food and drinks can be ordered. We recommend peas, meat and bacon or pea-soup with rolls – true sailor food!

The boat was built in Middlesborough in England in 1950 for the shipping company Chr.Salvesen and participated in whaling until it was laid up in 1962. After a long period as a whaling boat, the boat ended up in North Spain where it was supposed to be destroyed. However, by a coincidence, a Norwegian whaler found it and sent it back to Norway.

On 25 October 1989, Southern Actor arrived in Sandefjord. The Whalers Club of Sandefjord started with the restoration of the boat. Their goal has been to restore the boat to working order, enabling it to undertake different assignments as part of the museum.

With a three-cylinder steam engine, the whaling boat is exceptionally quiet and the engine can hardly be heard on deck. A popular trip is to sail from Sandefjord to Tønsberg.

Beaches in Færder

NØTTERØY

Rosanes (Teie)

Fjærholmen/Dunholmen (Føynland)

Fjærholmen is a beautiful beach on the eastern side of Nøtterøy. Fjærholmen consists of both sandy beach, rock faces and a large grassy area. It has a bathing shower for the disabled, a large kiosk and WC with showers which makes this an attractive place for camping guests. There are also good opportunities for playing volleyball and dive from both the regular pier and floating dock.

Fjærholmen has a large parking lot.

Access: From Tønsberg, follow the signs towards Nøtterøy. When you pass the canal bridge, go straight ahead at the roundabout and keep the left field. Follow the road that turns left. After about 2 km, there is a road to Husøy and Foynland. From there is the sign to Fjærholmen Camping.

Verdun (Knarberg)
Ulvøtangen (Knarberg)
Sparrønningen (Arås)
Stranda (Torød)
Storbadern (Movik).
Presthella og Ropern (Kjøpmannskjær)
Fuglevika (Kjøpmannskjær)
Tenvik og Søndre Tenvik
Holmen
Ørastranda
Søndre Hella
Prestodden (Hella)
Tørkopp og Vangen (Vestskogen)
Munkholmen (Munkerekka)
Kjølholmen (Veierland)
Hverveodden (Veierland)
Kongshavn (Veierland)
Tangen (Veierland)

TJØME

Fynsletta (Hvasser)
Lilleskagen (Hvasser)
Verdens ende, Tjøme
Moutmarka
Bekkevika
Regnbuen (Ormelet)
Svelvikstranda
Grimestad

Mostranda
With its two sandy beaches and many rocky surfaces, is one of the most popular bathing areas at Tjøme. The campsite located right on the beach provides access to a kiosk and WC with a shower. Although it may blow a lot on Tjøme, you can always find shelter by the big and smooth rocks. The beach is located on the southwest side of Tjøme, 5 km from Tjøme City Center in the direction of Verdens Ende / The World's End.
Access: From Helgerødveien; turn right to Mostranda and Mostranda Camping. Parking facilities either at the campsite or 200 meters ahead.

Ilene Nature Reserve

The wetland area has both great conservation value and great importance as a resting and eating location during the spring and autumn migration. Here you will find a great nature and cultural trail with a bird observation tower.

What birds can you spot?

A total of 236 different bird species have been observed on Ilene. Here you can see many wetland birds such as ducks, geese, swans, waders and vipers. In the spring there are many colorful burrowing ducks. The pheasants nest in the reed forest. In late summer, large flocks of greylag geese are seen. The autumn migration offers many sparrow species, herons and also a number of interesting birds of prey.

Getting to Ilene

There is access on foot or by bicycle at Grevestien. The gravel road is closed with a barrier (but on open days it's possible to drive right up to the door). If you come by car, there is parking at Aulie river or Korten.

Castle Rock Tower

The present tower was built as a 1000-year anniversary and was completed in 1888. The tower is 17 meters high, with a stunning view of the town. The original cross from the Maria Church and the engraved signatures of three Norwegian kings can be seen in the tower – 1906 – King Hakon VII during the coronation process, 1958 – King Olav V during the signing process and 1992 – King Harald V during the opening of Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Library

Slottsfjellet – The Castle Hill area is the most popular outdoor recreation area in the center of Tønsberg, and has a long and exciting history. The Castle Hill has the largest ruin park in Scandinavia with ruins from Castrum Tunsbergis, which was Norways largest castle in the 14th century. The castle was destroyed in 1503.

The ruins once consisted of 700 metres of outer-wall with watchtowers and castles, the King´s Hall, built by King Håkon Håkonsson, “Teglkastellet” built by King Magnus Lagabøte, and St. Mikael Church which may have been completed in 1191. The original main tower was probably even bigger and more beautiful than today's tower.

The powerful crag was the ultimate spot for a castle complex in the insecure times when old Tunsberg – Norway's most important naval port in the east – started growing, and the power struggles between Norway's many kings ravaged the country. Much exciting Norwegian history was written on Slottsfjellet, or Mikkelsberg, as it was once called. Famous Norwegian medieval kings and princesses have married here, and power struggles between the Baglers and the Birkebeiners have played out.

The tower is closed from October – April, but the ruins can be visited year-round.

Galleri Gudem

Enjoy the peace and quiet and let the surroundings engulf you.

Lean back with nature's artwork right outside the window, wonderful walking opportunities along the beach, rocky cliffs, fresh sea air, as well as Norwegian contemporary art that fills the gallery's walls.

The place
Location and views are magnificent. Right in the center of Hvasser.

Here you get a kitchen with the possibility to cook and a nice dining area both inside and outside.

Galleri Gudem has a delicate bathroom and laundry room, with a shower cubicle, designed by the artist himself.

You will of course find art on every wall.

The gallery is best suited for 4 adults and 2 children.

RS Noatun

Spend your entire stay in inspiring surroundings by the sea in the Oslofjord.

In addition to a unique location on the beach, you will also find an outdoor swimming pool and boat garage on the site.

Enjoy a delicious meal at Restaurant Njord. Here, short-distance delights from Vestfold's archipelago, fields and forests are served.