Things to Do in Tønsberg — Norway's Oldest City, Viking History & Saunas

Tønsberg has a legitimate claim to a remarkable title: the oldest city in Norway, with roots stretching back to at least 871 AD. Situated on the western shore of the Oslofjord in Vestfold county, it combines a genuinely deep history — Viking burial mounds, a medieval fortress hill, and a proud whaling past — with a lively waterfront scene and a sauna culture that has flourished in recent years. If you’re driving south from Oslo (about an hour away), Tønsberg makes for an easy day trip or a rewarding overnight stop.

Sauna Experiences in Tønsberg

Tønsberg’s relationship with the fjord runs centuries deep, and the city’s sauna scene reflects that. The options here range from floating harbour saunas to hotel spas, giving visitors genuine choice.

Bris Flytende Badstu is the standout experience: a wood-fired floating sauna moored in the harbour, where you can sweat it out and then step straight into the fjord. The combination of sauna steam, cold salt water, and harbour views is exactly what this kind of experience should be. Book ahead — sessions fill up.

For a more rural retreat, Engø Gård offers a beautifully situated farmstead experience on the Nøtterøy island side of the fjord. The setting here is exceptional — a historic estate with sauna access and accommodation that lets you properly slow down.

Klopp Sauna brings a social, community-focused approach to the harbour area, while Sjøbadet Badstue pairs sauna access with outdoor swimming at an outdoor bathing venue — a great combination in the summer months when the fjord is warm enough to linger in. Those wanting a more polished, hotel-based experience can head to Quality Hotel Tønsberg, which offers spa facilities as part of its offering.

Viking History & the Oseberg Discovery

Tønsberg’s ancient status is more than a marketing claim. Slottsfjellet — the fortress hill that rises above the town centre — offers panoramic views over the fjord and the city, and the ruins of Tønsberg Castle at its summit are among the oldest in Norway. The hill is free to walk up and the views justify the climb at any time of year.

Just a few kilometres north lies the Borre National Monument, one of Scandinavia’s largest concentrations of Viking burial mounds. This is a genuinely atmospheric site — grass-covered mounds set in open woodland, largely undisturbed for over a thousand years. Nearby, the Oseberg Viking ship burial site is world-famous among archaeologists: the Oseberg ship, discovered in 1904, yielded extraordinary artefacts that are now displayed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Visiting the Borre area connects that museum experience back to its source.

The Haugar Vestfold Art Museum in the town centre is built directly above two Viking burial mounds — an unusual and thought-provoking combination of contemporary art and ancient history.

Whaling Heritage & Coastal Life

Vestfold was the heartland of the Norwegian whaling industry for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Tønsberg was its commercial centre. The Whaling Museum in nearby Sandefjord tells this story in detail — it’s one of the most complete whaling museums in the world and well worth the short detour south.

The coastline around Tønsberg is also excellent for sea kayaking. The Oslofjord in this stretch is scattered with small islands and sheltered bays, and several operators run guided kayak tours from the harbour. In summer, the water temperature is comfortable and the light stays long into the evening. Nøtterøy island, connected to the mainland by a short bridge, adds even more coastline to explore — cycling around its perimeter is a popular local activity.

Jarlsberg Manor, a short drive inland, is one of Norway’s few surviving aristocratic estates and lends its name to the famous Norwegian cheese. The grounds are occasionally open for events and visits.

Getting There & When to Visit

Tønsberg is roughly an hour’s drive south of Oslo on the E18, or reachable by direct train from Oslo Central Station in around 75 minutes. The town is compact enough to explore on foot, and a rental bike from the centre covers Nøtterøy easily.

Summer is the obvious peak, when the harbour saunas are at their most social and the fjord is swimmable. But Tønsberg in late autumn or winter has a different, quieter appeal — fewer crowds, the fortress hill wrapped in mist, and a sauna session followed by a cold fjord plunge taking on a genuinely restorative quality. Spring is excellent for the Borre burial mounds before the tourist season begins in earnest.

For a city that was already old when most of Europe’s great cathedrals were being built, Tønsberg wears its history lightly. Spend a day here, walk up Slottsfjellet, book a session at Bris, and let the oldest city in Norway show you what it’s made of.