Larvik & Stavern Archives

Kur Sauna

Kur Sauna is located right by the water at Bjønnesstranda in Tjodalyng, overlooking Viksfjord. Here, you can relax in a preheated sauna and enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea just outside.

Sauna with views of Viksfjord
The electrically heated sauna accommodates eight people and has a separate changing room. It's ready when you arrive, so you can settle straight into the warmth. Kur Sauna takes care of heating and general cleaning.

Sea swimming just steps away
A pier with a swimming ladder and diving board is located right outside the sauna, giving you easy access to the fjord between sauna sessions. The sauna is available all year round, whether you're looking for a relaxing break by the water or want to experience the contrast between the warmth of the sauna and the cool sea.

Discover more saunas in Larvik
For more sauna experiences along the coast, explore Visit Vestfold's guide to saunas in Larvik.

Plan your visit
Kur Sauna is located at Bjønnesstranda marina, Østbyveien 216 in Tjodalyng, approximately 7.5 kilometres from Larvik town centre. Advance booking is required. Check current availability, prices and booking conditions directly with the operator. Check availability and book with Kur Sauna.

What to bring

Swimwear
A towel to sit on
Drinking water

Important to know

The sauna accommodates eight people and is preheated before arrival.
The sauna is available year-round and must be booked in advance.
Check the weather and swimming conditions before entering the sea.
Avoid swimming alone, especially in cold water.
Read the operator's current terms and sauna rules before your visit.

Fritzøe Gård

Fritzøe Gård, with a history dated back to 1835, facilitates a varied and rich offer and meaningful experiences for people of all ages.

On the site is Fritzøe Gård Golf Course with a 9- and 18-hole golf course, driving range and golf simulator. You will also find a yoga and wellness center, paddle courts, kindergarden, accommodation options and attractive hiking areas in idyllic surroundings. Since 2015, the Stavernfestivalen has taken place on the farm. In 2019, the festival had over 87,000 spectators over 3 days at Fritzøe Gård Arena and artists such as Sir Elton John, Pharell Williams, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith have performed there.

Boat trips in the Helgeroa archipelago with Zentora

Explore the archipelago near Helgeroa aboard Zentora, a traditional wooden vessel built in Landskrona, Sweden, in 1924. The boat is available for private charter with a skipper and accommodates up to 12 passengers, with plenty of space on deck.

Tailor-made trips in the archipelago
Zentora offers day trips from Helgeroa, with longer journeys available on request. Routes and itineraries can be adapted to the group's preferences or the skipper's suggestions. The boat is suitable for families, friends and corporate groups planning a summer party, birthday, anniversary or a day together on the water.

Food, drinks and booking
Food and drinks are not sold on board, but guests are welcome to bring their own. Catering can also be arranged with the skipper in advance.

Contact Zentora to discuss your plans and request a quote. For more inspiration, explore boat trips in Vestfold.

Skipperstua Restaurant

Skipperstua Restaurant is located in Skippergaten in the heart of Stavern and is open throughout the year. Stop by for lunch or dinner, with a menu ranging from Norwegian prawn sandwiches and creamy fish soup to pizzas, burgers and à la carte dishes.

Lunch and dinner in Stavern
For lunch, try an open sandwich with hand-peeled prawns or the restaurant's stjerneskudd, made with breaded plaice, prawns and caviar. The house fish soup, with salmon, pollack, cod and prawns, is another choice. In the evening, you can choose from meat and fish dishes, while pizza and several other options are served throughout the day. The restaurant also offers a children's menu and vegetarian dishes. Almost everything on the menu is available for takeaway.

Indoor and outdoor dining
Skipperstua has both indoor seating and an outdoor dining area, making it a convenient choice for lunch in Stavern or dinner with family and friends.
For larger gatherings, there is a separate function room upstairs. The restaurant can arrange menus for private events, including tapas and multi-course dinners.

Opening hours and reservations
Skipperstua is open all year. The kitchen serves food Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 9 pm.

You can reserve a table online through the Skipperstua website or call +47 97 64 71 46. Check the website for the latest menu and any changes to serving hours.

Sjøslag Restaurant

French-inspired à la carte and today's 3-course meal based on seasonal ingredients, great variety with fish, meat, poultry and vegetarian dishes. Here, the food is prepared with home-made stock and good sauces made from scratch.

5-course "tasting menu" and "chef's choice" 7-course can be pre-ordered.

The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Mondays in July. The kitchen closes for last orders at 20:30 on weekdays and at 21:30 Friday and Saturday.

See the menu and book a table at Sjøslag.

Sjøslag has built one of Vestfold’s largest wine cellars over the years, featuring more than 1,800 wines on its wine list. The main focus is on Old World wines, with a particular emphasis on Burgundy from France.

In 2025, the restaurant received the award for “Norway’s Best Wine List – Southern Norway Region.” Since 2024, Sjøslag has also held a White Star rating in the Star Wine List guide and has been awarded Two Glasses by the international magazine Wine Spectator.

The cellar includes many mature vintages from some of the world’s most respected producers. Located just a one-minute walk from Farris Bad, Sjøslag is a natural choice for a gastronomic experience throughout the year.

Arrangements
Throughout the year, Afternoon Tea, Winemakers Dinner and concerts are organized at Sjøslag. Wednesdays are Steak Night.

Courses and tastings for smaller groups
Are you a small group, colleagues, a group of friends or family, and would you like to do something extra out of the evening? Sjøslag offers packages with food and wine in combination, bar courses and wine tasting with its knowledgeable staff.

Nordgardsetra Farm

Cows, calves, horses, pigs, sheep and chickens walk in the yard, and in the forest you will find the tussiesti, an activity trail for children. There is also an outdoor bakery that produces fresh bread and buns every weekend and pizza if you are lucky.

Ice cream, coffee and, of course, home-made waffles are sold in the guest booth.

Throughout the summer, various courses and themed days about life at Nordgardsetra are organized for children and adults. Here you can come and take part in activities like milking, separation, cheese making, churning butter and cooking prim. And care for and cuddle with the animals, of course. At weekends there is entertainment of various kinds, music, singing, stories, cooking and other activities.

Nordgardsetra is located in the forest a couple of kilometers past Vindfjelltunet with a road all the way up and with parking 100 meters from the yard.

Come for a day visit or stay a day or two!

Nordgardsetra is open during the school's summer holidays, every day from week 26-31.

Thor Heyerdahl monument

The Thor Heyerdahl Monument stands at Tollerodden in Larvik, overlooking the nearby fjord. Created by Norwegian sculptor Nico Widerberg from local larvikite stone, it was unveiled by Thor Heyerdahl himself on his 75th birthday, 6 October 1989. The monument commemorates one of Norway's best-known explorers in the town where he grew up.

A monument made from Larvik's own stone
Larvikite is a natural choice for a monument honouring Thor Heyerdahl. Known for its distinctive play of colour, the stone has a strong connection to the Larvik region. Nico Widerberg's sculpture stands in the green surroundings of Tollerodden. Visitors can admire the work up close and see how its material and form relate to the coastal setting. The monument was erected to mark Heyerdahl's 75th birthday in 1989, and the explorer attended the unveiling.

The explorer from Larvik who crossed the oceans
Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002) grew up in Larvik and became internationally known for his expeditions and theories about contact between ancient cultures. In 1947, he crossed the Pacific Ocean aboard the balsa-wood raft Kon-Tiki with five other crew members. The expedition demonstrated that such a voyage was possible using traditional raft-building techniques. Heyerdahl believed this supported his theories about connections between South America and Polynesia.

He later organised the Ra expeditions across the Atlantic in 1969 and 1970 and the Tigris expedition in 1977–1978. Using vessels built from traditional materials, he explored the possibility of maritime contact between ancient civilisations. Although several of his historical theories remain disputed, his expeditions attracted international attention and inspired interest in exploration and seafaring.

Explore more of Thor Heyerdahl's Larvik
To learn about his early life, visit Thor Heyerdahl's Childhood Home at Steingata 7. Guided tours are offered during the summer season. You can also visit Larvik Maritime Museum, where the exhibition Explorers and Adventurers introduces Heyerdahl and other explorers with connections to Larvik. The museum has separate opening hours and admission arrangements.

Enjoy the surroundings at Tollerodden
The monument stands in one of Larvik's historic waterfront green spaces, overlooking the fjord. Nearby, Tollerodden Beach offers grassy areas, coastal rocks and places to relax by the water. You can also see Larvik Church, built in 1677. A visit to the monument is easy to combine with a stroll along the harbour and through Larvik's historic neighbourhoods.

Plan your visit
The Thor Heyerdahl Monument is located outdoors at Tollerodden, 3263 Larvik, Norway. It can be viewed from the public waterfront park without an admission ticket or advance booking. Seeing the monument takes only a few minutes, but allow extra time to explore Tollerodden and the surrounding area.

Access is through an outdoor park. Ground conditions, parking and step-free access directly to the monument should be checked in advance if you have specific accessibility requirements.

Boat trip with Fjord Express from Stavern to Svenner

Daytrip by boat to Svenner!

The boat trip from Stavern to Svenner lighthouse takes approx. 0,5 hours. You can choose whether you take the trip as a round trip, or you can stay on the islands until the next departure.

Daily route from 29 June to 9 August
The boat will depart from Dampskipskaia in Stavern 3 times a day, at 10.00, 12.00 and kl. 15.00 every day.

Note: The route has been extended through 10 – 16 August with an additional round trip departing daily at 12:00. Passengers will have the opportunity for a short visit to Svenner Lighthouse before the boat departs Svenner at 13:00 for the return journey. A separate round-trip fare applies – use booking code AUGUST.

Timetables 2026
Departure Stavern at 10.00. Arrival Svenner lighthouse at 10.40.
Departure Stavern at 12.00. Arrival Svenner lighthouse at 12.40.
Departure Stavern at 15.00 Arrival Svenner lighthouse at 15.40.

Advance booking by BookSpot

The boat has capacity of 48 passengers.

You can choose whether you take the trip as a round trip, or want to stay on the islands until the next departure.

Departure from Svenner lighthouse at 10.30 Arrival Stavern at 11.10.
Departure Svenner lighthouse at 12.30. Arrival Stavern at 13.10.
Departure Svenner lighthouse at 15.30 Arrival Stavern at 16.10.

Charter and Stavern-Svenner May to September
Charterboat from medio May – August outside the route.

The route boat is operated by Bolærnebåtene AS.

Orders on the day are taken directly with the boat by phone: +47 919 24 001

Kayak and SUP rentals

Explore the archipelago off Stavern by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). At Stavernopplevelser, located at the historic Fredriksvern naval base, you can rent equipment and head out onto the water at your own pace. Paddle along the coast, through narrow channels and past small islands while enjoying the sea and coastal scenery.

Choose between kayaking and SUP
Stavernopplevelser offers single sea kayaks, double sit-on-top kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Kayaking lets you explore the coastline and discover the archipelago from the water. If you prefer SUP, you can stand or sit on your board and paddle at a leisurely pace.

More to explore in Stavern
The rental location is at historic Fredriksvern verft, where you can combine your paddling trip with a walk among historic naval buildings and art galleries. For more adventures on the water, explore Visit Vestfold's guide to kayaking in Larvik and Stavern.

Plan your paddling trip
Kayaks can be collected near the entrance to Fredriksvern verft, approximately 100 metres from the water. SUP boards are collected at Galeien, where you can launch directly from the waterfront.

You must be over 16 or accompanied by an adult. A Norwegian kayaking certificate, known as a Våttkort, is recommended for kayaking.
Check the weather and wind conditions before heading out, wear a life jacket and choose a route suited to your experience. Visit Stavernopplevelser for rental information and booking.

Ellings – Festiviteten

Ellings is located inside Festiviteten in the centre of Larvik, serving lunch and dinner in historic surroundings. The menu includes open sandwiches, salads, burgers and a selection of fish and meat dishes. Every Wednesday, Ellings serves the traditional Norwegian dish flesk og duppe, a regular favourite at the restaurant.

Lunch, dinner and a Wednesday tradition
Stop by Ellings for coffee and lunch, or settle in for dinner. The menu features dishes such as open prawn sandwiches, beef patty sandwiches, fish soup, Caesar salad and club sandwiches, along with burgers and fish and meat dishes.

Wednesdays are dedicated to flesk og duppe, a traditional Norwegian meal of pork served with a creamy sauce. For visitors interested in Norwegian home-style cooking, it is a good reason to visit. The menu may change, so check Ellings' website for current dishes and prices.

A literary connection to Larvik
The restaurant takes its name from Elling, a fictional character created by Larvik author Ingvar Ambjørnsen. Excerpts from the author's writing are displayed on the restaurant walls. The literary connection gives Ellings a distinctive local identity within Festiviteten, a historic building long associated with gatherings and cultural life in Larvik.

Summer in Festivitetshagen
During the summer, Festivitetshagen opens in the courtyard behind the restaurant, offering outdoor dining in green surroundings in the heart of town.
The garden also hosts concerts and other entertainment during the summer season. Check Festiviteten's events calendar for current dates and programmes.

Opening hours and reservations
Ellings opens daily at 11 am. The kitchen serves food until 7 pm from Sunday to Thursday and until 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant may remain open after the kitchen closes.

Tables can be reserved online through Festiviteten's website. Check the website for current opening hours, menus and reservations.