national park
Kosterhavet National Park
Sweden's first marine national park, a cluster of car-free islands and turquoise waters off the rugged Bohuslän coast.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Vestfold, Norway · Europe
Sandefjord sits on the route: 20 minutes from Tjøme, 55km from Kosterhavet National Park.
Sandefjord is a town located in Vestfold, Norway. With a population of 64,345, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Sandefjord sits in Norway, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Oslo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Sandefjord to your route.
Sandefjord (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈsɑ̂nːəfjuːr] ) is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Vestfold. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. Other population centres in Sandefjord include Andebu, Fevang, Fokserød, Fossnes, Freberg,Read more
Hafallen, Helgerød, Himberg, Høyjord, Kodal, Lahelle, Melsomvik, Råstad, Solløkka, Stokke, Storevar, Strand, and Unneberg.
The 422-square-kilometre (163 sq mi) municipality is the 233rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Sandefjord is the most populous municipality in Vestfold and the 14th most populous municipality in Norway, with a population of 67,009 (2025). The municipality's population density is 158.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (411/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.6% over the previous 10-year period.
Sandefjord is known for its rich Viking history and the prosperous whaling industry, which made Sandefjord the richest city in Norway. Today, it has built up the third-largest merchant fleet in Norway. Sandefjord Museum is the only museum in Europe dedicated to whaling, and is home to Gokstad Mound where the 9th-century Gokstad Ship was discovered.
Sandefjord has numerous nicknames, including the whaling "capital" of Norway or as the undisputed summer city of Norway. Sandefjord is also known as the "whaling capital of the world". It has also been dubbed the "Bathing City" (Badebyen), due to its many beaches and former resort spas. It is still considered a resort town, due to high numbers of visitors during summer months.
Sandefjord has become a transportation hub, home of Torp Airport, one of Norway's largest airports. Daily ferry connections to Sweden are provided by Color Line from the city harbor. European Route E18, one of Norway's main north–south highways, traverses the municipality.
Sandefjord is a stronghold for the Conservative Party; the Conservative coalition received over 70 percent of votes cast in 2011. Current mayor is Bjørn Ole Gleditsch from the Conservative Party, who has been mayor since 2004.
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Sandefjord offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Sandefjord is located in Vestfold, Norway, Europe. The coordinates are 59.1312 latitude, 10.2166 longitude.
Sandefjord has a population of approximately 64,345 people, making it a town in Norway.
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Essential numbers in Norway
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Full driving guide for Norway1 notable place within an hour's drive.
national park
Sweden's first marine national park, a cluster of car-free islands and turquoise waters off the rugged Bohuslän coast.
55 km · about 65 min drive
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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