A Day in Tønsberg, Norway: Top 5 Things to Do

Despite being relatively unknown to international tourists, Tønsberg is full of history and a great place for a day trip from Oslo city center!

About an hour and a half away from Oslo by train, Tønsberg is considered to be Norway’s oldest town, with some historians dating it back to the year 871. Here, you can see plenty of fascinating historical attractions, including Viking burial mounds and old church ruins.

Standing watch over the town is Castle Rock Tower, a monument dating from 1888 and the area’s most famous landmark.

Top things to do in Tønsberg

1) Walk to Castle Rock Tower

Castle Rock Tower was built to commemorate the 1,000-year anniversary of Tønsberg – an anniversary not many cities can claim! The currently standing Castle Rock Tower was built in 1888 after the original tower, which was built in 1851, burned down.

Castle Rock Tower is also the highest point in town, so it’s worth a visit for the views alone! During the high season (summer), you can pay to climb to the top of the tower, but you can still see the whole city just from the hill that the tower stands on.

2) See some art at Haugar kunstmuseum

This small art museum is quite an enjoyable place to spend a few hours! It houses a permanent collection on the first floor and rotating exhibitions on the second.

There is also a small cafe where you can sip a coffee while overlooking a small park. This is a lovely spot to stop for a break whether or not you’re visiting the museum!

3) Stroll along the waterfront

The docks in Tønsberg are a very pretty spot for a walk. There are many nice restaurants along the waterfront if you want to stop for a bite to eat.

You can also find painstakingly built Viking ship replicas moored along the docks in Tønsberg. This includes a reproduction of the Saga Oseberg. The original Saga Oseberg ship was discovered in a burial mound nearby.

4) Learn more about local history at Slottsfjellsmuseet 

Slottsfjellsmuseet is a small museum that includes exhibitions on the history of the area around Tønsberg. It primarily focuses on Vikings and maritime life.

Highlights include the remains of the Klastad, a Viking ship that was built around A.D. 800, and a huge blue whale skeleton.

5) Enjoy the oceanside views at nearby Færder National Park

If you want to get a little further outside the city, Færder National Park is a beautiful national park located about 30 minutes south of Tønsberg.

Færder National Park is the perfect place to enjoy southern Norwegian nature. You can do some hiking along the coast or relax at the beach!

Getting to Tønsberg from Oslo via public transportation

The best way to get to Tønsberg from Oslo using public transportation is by train. By train, it takes about 1.5 hours to get from Oslo Central Station to Tønsberg Station.

The train to Tønsberg leaves from Oslo Central Station every hour. Tickets should cost around 300 NOK each way and can be purchased from the Vy website.

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Tønsberg is a very cool little gem to discover in southern Norway, and I hope you get the chance to visit!

For more day trip destinations from Oslo, check out the post 6 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Oslo, Norway.

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