Sandefjord

Town · Vestfold and Telemark County, 🇳🇴 Norway

Sandefjord is a harbour town on the Vestfold coast, at the head of a fjord that opens onto the Skagerrak. For more than fifty years it was a world centre of whaling, and the money from the Antarctic whaling fleets still shows in its museums and monuments. Before that, it was a fashionable spa town, and the Viking past is close too: a famous Viking ship was dug out of a burial mound at the edge of town.

The town suits a short, easy stay that mixes maritime history with time by the sea. The centre is small and walkable. The peninsulas of Vesterøya and Østerøya, south of town, have beaches, small islands and coastal walks. Many visitors also pass through on the ferry to Sweden or the nearby Torp airport.

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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 in July and August, and the whale catcher in the harbour is open to visitors from mid-June to August. May and September are quieter and good for coastal walks. Winters are dark, cold and often wet, with some snow.

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
4°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°
-1° 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

9° (feels like 5°) · extremes -1°–15°
3° at night
9 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
6°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low
14 hours of daylight

Typical weather in May

Fair

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

Typical weather in June

Good

18° (feels like 15°) · extremes 9°–23°
12° at night
11 rainy days
11 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate
18 hours of daylight

Typical weather in July

Great

20° (feels like 18°) · extremes 12°–25°
15° at night
11 rainy days
8 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
18°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate
18 hours of daylight

Typical weather in August

Great

19° (feels like 18°) · extremes 11°–24°
14° at night
13 rainy days
7 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
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

10° (feels like 6°) · 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 -3°–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 -3°) · 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

The Whaler «Southern Actor»Steam whale catcher built in England in 1950 and preserved in original working order. Its engine still runs, which makes it a rare survivor of industrial whaling.

Sandefjord kirkeRed brick cruciform parish church from 1903 with a 60-metre tower, designed by Karl Michalsen. It seats about 600 people.

Sandefjord MuseumSandefjordmuseene is a museum located in Sandefjord, Norway. It is dedicated to the whaling industry and is the only specialized museum on…

BadeparkenPublic park of about 4.8 hectares near the harbour, laid out in 1902 for guests of the Sandefjord spa. It has a playground, sculptures, reflection pools and an amphitheatre.

Gokstad MoundThe Gokstad Mound is a large burial mound at Gokstad Farm in Sandefjord in Vestfold County, Norway.

Whaler's MonumentWhaler's Monument, also known as The Whaling Monument, is a rotating bronze memorial statue situated near the harbor in Sandefjord, Norway.

Sandefjord Museum, known as the Whaling Museum, opened in 1917 as a gift from the whaling owner Lars Christensen. It tells the story of whaling and of the Antarctic, where the Sandefjord fleets hunted. The highlight is a full-size model of a blue whale, 21 m long, hanging from the ceiling.

The Whaler «Southern Actor» is a steam whale catcher built in England in 1950 and kept in working order, engine included. It is moored at the museum quay and opens to visitors from mid-June to August when it is in port. Entry is included in the Whaling Museum ticket.

Hvalfangstmonumentet is the town's best-known landmark, a bronze fountain by Knut Steen unveiled in 1960. It shows whalers in an open boat lifted by a whale, and it turns slowly. It stands by the harbour at the end of the main street, Jernbanealleen.

Badeparken was laid out in 1902 for guests of the town's spa, one of the most visited spas in Europe until it closed in 1939. Today it is a green space with sculptures, a playground and paths down to a small beach on the fjord. The restored spa building, Kurbadet, stands nearby and now hosts cultural events.

Gokstadhaugen is a large grass-covered burial mound where the 9th-century Gokstad Viking ship was found in 1880. The ship itself is now in Oslo, but the restored mound, ringed by birch trees, is a peaceful place to stop. It lies about 2 km north-east of the centre.

Sandefjord kirke is the main church in the centre, built in red brick after a fire destroyed the town centre in 1900. Its 60 m tower is a landmark visible across town.

Featured Lists

Carl Dørnberger / CC BY-SA 3.0

Sandefjord Essentials

Sandefjord’s identity is anchored in its history as Norway’s whaling capital. This selection features the Hvalfangstmuseet, Europe's only museum dedicated to whaling, alongside the coastal heritage preserved at Gokstad Kystlag. The town’s architectural landscape includes the 18th-century wooden Sandar kirke and the Midtås estate, former home of Anders Jahre, which houses a sculpture pavilion. Recreational spaces like Badeparken and Bugårdsparken offer green expanses, while historic sites like Øvre Myra showcase the region's rural heritage and traditional craftsmanship.

10 places

Tours & Activities

Sandefjord — Map

Getting there

By air: Sandefjord Airport Torp (TRF) is just north of town. A shuttle bus, with its own ticket separate from the train, links the terminal with Torp station, where trains run to Sandefjord in a few minutes and to Oslo in about 1.5 hours. From Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL), take the train via Oslo.
By train: Vy trains on the Vestfold Line run from Oslo to Sandefjord in about 2 hours, via Tønsberg. The line continues to Larvik and Skien. Buy tickets in the Vy app or at Vy.
By ferry: Color Line sails between Sandefjord and Strömstad in Sweden. The crossing takes about 2.5 hours, and the terminal is in the town harbour.
By car: The E18 motorway links Sandefjord with Oslo and Larvik.