Whaling Museum
Learn how whaling shaped Sandefjord and Norway’s maritime economy.
Use Sandefjord as a starting point for ferry planning: check routes and prices first, then organise the port, local transport and time you want to spend in the destination.
Search dated ferry options linked with Sandefjord, including passenger fares, vehicle space and accommodation where available.
Schedules, terminals and availability can vary by sailing. Confirm the exact route and booking details before arranging onward travel.
Sandefjord is a compact harbour town on Norway’s Oslofjord coast, known for its maritime history, nearby Viking heritage and a convenient international ferry crossing to Sweden.
The waterfront is the natural centre of Sandefjord, with marinas, restaurants and easy walks around the inner harbour. The town centre rises just behind it and can be explored comfortably on foot.
Sandefjord’s Whaling Museum documents the industry that shaped much of the town’s modern identity, while the Whaler’s Monument on the harbour is one of its most recognisable landmarks.
Viking history is equally important nearby. The Gokstad burial mound, where the famous ninth-century Gokstad ship was discovered, lies only a short distance from the centre.
Outside town, the Vestfold coastline offers beaches, wooded trails and skerries that work well for summer cycling, kayaking and short drives. Midtåsen’s house, sculpture park and gardens provide another easy local excursion.
Color Line operates the international passenger and vehicle ferry between Sandefjord and Strömstad in Sweden. The route is served by Color Hybrid and takes about two and a half hours.
The ferry makes Sandefjord especially useful for Scandinavian road trips, allowing travellers to link southern Norway with Sweden without routing around Oslofjord. The railway also provides onward connections towards Oslo and other Vestfold towns.
Sandefjord combines a pleasant harbour setting with unusually rich maritime and Viking history for a town of its size.
Learn how whaling shaped Sandefjord and Norway’s maritime economy.
See the dramatic harbour sculpture that has become a symbol of the town.
Visit the burial site where one of the world’s best-known Viking ships was discovered.
Explore the historic estate, sculpture park and gardens above the town.
Walk the marina and continue to beaches, islands and viewpoints around the Oslofjord shore.
Use Sandefjord as a base for coastal towns, Viking sites and summer drives through southern Vestfold.
Browse Oslofjord, Viking-history, coastal and outdoor experiences that can be combined with a Sandefjord ferry trip.
Tours and activities displayed in this section are supplied through Viator. Availability, descriptions and prices are provided by the activity supplier and can change.
Color Line advises passengers to arrive no later than 30 minutes before departure to retain a reserved place. Bring valid identification and your booking details, and allow extra time if travelling with a vehicle in busy periods.
The ferry terminal is close to central Sandefjord, making it straightforward to reach from the town centre, railway station and main road network.
Color Line operates the Sandefjord–Strömstad international passenger and vehicle ferry using Color Hybrid. The crossing links Norway directly with Sweden across the outer Oslofjord.
Sandefjord’s centre and ferry terminal are compact, while rail and road links make onward travel through Vestfold straightforward.
The ferry terminal, marina, shopping streets and main museums are all relatively close together.
Sandefjord station has trains towards Oslo and other Vestfold destinations. Find Sandefjord rail tickets here...
A car, bicycle or local bus is useful for beaches, Gokstad, coastal villages and wider Vestfold excursions.
Central accommodation keeps the ferry terminal, restaurants, museums and railway within easy reach and works particularly well for an early or late crossing.
Color Line departs from Fergeterminalen at Tollbugata 5, close to central Sandefjord.
Color Line operates the international passenger and vehicle ferry between Sandefjord and Strömstad in Sweden.
Color Line states that the crossing takes about 2.5 hours.
Yes. The route is designed for passenger and vehicle travel, with cars, campervans and other vehicle types bookable subject to dimensions and availability.
Color Line advises passengers to arrive no later than 30 minutes before departure to keep their reserved place.
The Whaling Museum, harbour, Gokstad burial mound, Midtåsen and the surrounding Oslofjord coastline are key highlights.
Yes. Sandefjord has rail services towards Oslo and other Vestfold towns, and the station is convenient for the centre.
Advance booking is recommended, particularly for vehicles, campervans and popular summer or weekend departures.
Check current routes, dated fares and passenger or vehicle options, then choose the ferry journey that best fits your plans for Sandefjord.