South of Norway’s oldest town, Tønsberg, along the eastern side of the Oslo fjord, you arrive at the islands of Nøtterøy and Tjøme. The skerries there are fantastic summer hangouts, a real Norwegian summer playground.
Verdens end (World’s End) is the end of the chain. The old lighthouse there is a beautifully simple structure made of stone.
Sandefjord
On the other side of Tønsberg fjord lies Sandefjord, a whaling town and home to Oslo’s second airport. The town center is compact, and near Badeparken are the former spa and the Old Town.
Related: Viking Vestfold in Norway
Gokstad Viking Longship
Just outside Sandefjord is a burial site, Gokstadhaugen, in which the Gokstad ship, now in Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum, was discovered in 1880.
The Vesterøy penninsula
The Vesterøy peninsula is a supremely peaceful place, ideal for walking, biking and boating.
Related: Outwards and Southwards from Oslo, Norway
Larvik – a town with shipping traditions
Larvik was home to two legendary boat-lovers, Thor Heyerdahl and master boatbuilder Colin Archer (1832-1921), designer of the polar ship Fram. Archer’s first house was at Tollerodden, by the fjord. At Larvik’s back is Farris lake, site of the country’s only natural mineral water spring.
Feature image (on top): From Nøterøy. Photo: Wikipedia
A Norwegian Summer Playground, written by Tor Kjolberg