Sandefjord - Norwegian Sopot

In Norway, it can be not only beautiful and clean, but also warm and sunny - and that's for sure in Sandefjord. The whaling town in the south is one of the sunniest places in the country of the Northern Lights.

The north of Europe can boast many advantages when it comes to tourism, but the number of sunny days is certainly not one of them. As a result, cities with more sun than their neighbors are very popular, even if they do not have many monuments. Such a place is Sandefjord, a young city famous for being the whaling capital of Norway. Some tourists, somewhat unfairly, do not give him a chance to get to know each other, treating the resort only as a transfer point to Oslo (Oslo-Torp airport) or Sweden (ferry to Stromstad). Meanwhile, you can spend a very nice day walking the streets of Sandefjord. The city is neat and pretty, and its surroundings are also attractive. It is called "Norwegian Sopot" for a reason.

Sandefjord whales

Sandefjord is located in the south of Norway, on the Skaggerak Bay. You can drive to Oslo in about an hour. It is a famous resort where the sun shines exceptionally - often for a harsh country. It is young, because it was born in the first half of the last century, during the whaling boom.

In the city, we will come across many accents referring to the history of its creation, ranging from the Whaling Museum, through the famous Hvalfangstmonumentet sculpture (monument to the whalers) standing in the middle of the roundabout, and ending with two giant whale ribs lying between the Rica Hotel, Badeparken and the harbor swimming pool .

Harbor wharf

The city's life, which is fully understandable given its history, revolves around the bay and the waterfront. In the western part of the port, there are cafes and pubs, there are also modern apartment buildings. Passenger ferries have been operating since morning, traveling on the Sandefjord - Stromsad route. There is also the Colorline ferry, offering fairly inexpensive tickets (they can be purchased for around 3 euros).

Sandefjord is most beautifully seen from the top of the Prestasen hill , which stretches over Bjergata. The Norwegian flag flutters at the top, and below it is a bench where you can sit down and admire the city, the fjord and the horizon.

Bjerggata is the oldest part of Sandefjord, where tourists enjoy the sight of white, red or orange houses. They are wooden, made in accordance with the tradition of the nineteenth-century construction.

The excavation site is located east of the center. You can walk to it in approx. 10 minutes. One of the best-preserved warships of the Northern warriors - the Vikings, was excavated here.

A campsite in the Sandefjord area

Someone who would like to get to know this part of Norway closer will probably be interested in accommodation as close to the city as possible. Approximately 9 km from Sandefjord, in the western part of the Vesterøya peninsula, there is Vøra camping , where tourists have 150 places for caravans or tents. The pitches have access to electricity and the bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

You can stay overnight on the campsite from May 1 to September 1, and the facility itself is open all year round (guests can accommodate in rooms and bungalows). The cost of staying at the campsite ranges from NOK 250 to 300 per day. The price for a place for a tent is 250 NOK (without electricity).

Having more than one day to visit, we give ourselves a chance to get to know the attractions of the area in more detail. One of them is the glacial lake Goksjø, liked not only by anglers