Larvik

Town · Vestfold and Telemark County, 🇳🇴 Norway

Larvik is a harbour town on the Vestfold coast, where the Larviksfjord meets the open sea. Behind the centre lies Farris lake, which shares its name with a well-known Norwegian mineral water brand. The local larvikite stone, a dark rock that shines blue when polished, is quarried here and shipped around the world.

The town suits a short, calm stay that mixes beech woods, coastal walks and maritime history. In summer, many visitors base themselves in Stavern, a small resort 7 km south, with an old naval base and a guest harbour. Explorer Thor Heyerdahl of Kon-Tiki fame was born in Larvik, and boat designer Colin Archer built his famous ships here.

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When to visit

June to August is the best time to visit. Days are long, the sea is warm enough for a swim, and Stavern is full of life. May and September are quiet and good for walking, and the beech forest turns gold in October. Winters are dark and cold, with some snow.

The biggest annual event is Stavernfestivalen, a large music festival in Stavern in July. Book a room well ahead for that week.

Best time to visit: July, August

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

1° (feels like -4°) · extremes -11°–7°
-2° at night
13 rainy days
0 sunny days
1 hour of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
5°C · too cold to swim
UV index 0 · low
7 hours of daylight

Typical weather in February

Poor

2° (feels like -3°) · extremes -10°–8°
-2° at night
11 rainy days
3 sunny days
2 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
3°C · too cold to swim
UV index 0 · low
9 hours of daylight

Typical weather in March

Poor

5° (feels like 0°) · extremes -7°–11°
0° at night
9 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
3°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low
11 hours of daylight

Typical weather in April

Poor

10° (feels like 6°) · extremes -1°–16°
3° at night
9 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
6°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low
14 hours of daylight

Typical weather in May

Good

14° (feels like 11°) · extremes 3°–21°
8° at night
11 rainy days
11 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
11°C · too cold to swim
UV index 4 · moderate
17 hours of daylight

Typical weather in June

Good

18° (feels like 16°) · extremes 8°–23°
12° at night
11 rainy days
11 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate
18 hours of daylight

Typical weather in July

Great

20° (feels like 19°) · extremes 12°–26°
15° at night
12 rainy days
8 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
18°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate
18 hours of daylight

Typical weather in August

Great

19° (feels like 18°) · extremes 12°–24°
14° at night
13 rainy days
7 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
18°C · cool for a dip
UV index 4 · moderate
15 hours of daylight

Typical weather in September

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 8°–20°
11° at night
12 rainy days
7 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low
13 hours of daylight

Typical weather in October

Poor

11° (feels like 7°) · extremes 2°–15°
7° at night
14 rainy days
5 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low
10 hours of daylight

Typical weather in November

Poor

6° (feels like 1°) · extremes -2°–11°
3° at night
15 rainy days
1 sunny day
1 hour of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
9°C · too cold to swim
UV index 0 · low
7 hours of daylight

Typical weather in December

Poor

3° (feels like -2°) · extremes -9°–8°
-1° at night
14 rainy days
0 sunny days
1 hour of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
6°C · too cold to swim
UV index 0 · low
6 hours of daylight

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Top sights

MølenNorway's largest beach of rolling stones, a glacial moraine headland with about 230 ancient burial cairns. It is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Seamen’s Memorial HallMinnehallen or Hall of Remembrance is a national memorial located outside Stavern in Larvik, Vestfold, Norway.

Colin ArcherColin Archer was a Norwegian naval architect and shipbuilder known for his seaworthy pilot and rescue boats and the larger sailing and…

Oscar WistingOscar Adolf Wisting was a Norwegian Naval officer and polar explorer. Together with Roald Amundsen he was the first person to reach both the…

BøkeskogenBeech forest on the Farris lakeshore, Norway's first public recreation area, with Iron Age burial mounds and walking trails. Protected as a landscape area since 1980.

HerregårdenTimber manor house begun in 1674 as the residence of Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, first owner of the Laurvigen county. Protected since 1923, it is now a museum.

Bøkeskogen is a protected beech forest just north of the centre, along the shore of Farris lake. Paths lead past Viking Age burial mounds to viewpoints over the lake.

Herregården is a large timber manor house built in the 1670s for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, the first Count of Larvik. It is now part of Larvik Museum and opens for guided tours in the museum season, so check the dates before you go.

On the Tollerodden headland by the harbour, statues of Colin Archer and Oscar Wisting honour two local men of the sea. Archer designed the polar ship Fram and the famous Colin Archer rescue boats, and Wisting stood at the South Pole with Roald Amundsen. A larvikite statue of Thor Heyerdahl stands nearby, and his childhood home in Steingata opens for guided tours in summer.

The Seamen’s Memorial Hall is a stone pyramid just outside Stavern, the national memorial to Norwegian sailors lost in the two world wars. Copper plates inside list thousands of names, and the site has wide views over the sea.

Mølen is Norway's largest beach of round stones, a short drive south-west of town. Around 230 ancient burial cairns line the shore. It is part of the Gea Norvegica UNESCO Global Geopark, and a coastal path runs along it.

Tours & Activities

Larvik — Map

Getting there

By air: Sandefjord Airport Torp (TRF) is the nearest airport. A shuttle bus links the terminal with Torp station, where trains run south to Larvik. From Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL), take the train via Oslo.
By train: Vy trains on the Vestfold Line run from Oslo to Larvik in about 2 hours, via Tønsberg and Sandefjord. The line continues to Skien. Buy tickets in the Vy app or at Vy.
By ferry: Color Line sails between Larvik and Hirtshals in Denmark, usually twice a day. The crossing takes about 4 hours, and the terminal is close to the town centre.
By car: The E18 motorway from Oslo takes about 1.5 hours.
To Stavern: Local buses from Larvik station reach Stavern in about 15 minutes.