Horten and Åsgårdstrand

Munch and Viking history

The charming seaside towns of Horten and Åsgårdstrand are rich in
history and culture, and offer tranquil coastal and inland nature.

A map of Norway with a red dot on Horten.
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Horten is located on the western shore of the Oslofjord in Vestfold, Eastern Norway's 'sunshine coast'. This seaside town has a rich cultural life.

Delve into Norwegian history at the Midgard Viking Centre, the Borre burial mounds or Karljohansvern, a historic former naval base that is now home to museums and numerous listed buildings.

The municipality’s long coastline ends at Åsgårdstrand in the south, where the artist Edvard Munch painted some of his most famous works. You can even visit his summer home.


Find inspiration below, or go directly to:

A boat drives in a leisurely pace in the Hortenkanalen canal in Horten in Vestfold, Eastern Norway
Three girls on a bridge in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold, Eastern Norway - a remake of “The girls on the bridge" by Edvard Munch
Two women walking with bike in front of Edvard Munch's old house in Åsgårdstrand

Drift past the trees on a boat and walk along waterside trails.

Do you recognize this famous motif?

Local landmarks and landscapes feature in many of Norwegian-born expressionist painter Edvard Munch's works, including Pikene på broen ​(The girls on the bridge).

Experience picturesque Åsgårdstrand, where one of Modernism's most important artists found his inspiration, and ...

... visit Edvard Munch's house, where everything remains as it was when the artist lived there.

Stroll through idyllic streets with small wooden houses, cafés and galleries in Åsgardstrand.

Top things to do

Don't miss these highlights.

  • munchs house
    Åsgårdstrand

    Edvard Munch´s house in Åsgårdstrand

    It was in 1889 that Edvard Munch (1863-1944) spent the first of many summers in Åsgårdstrand.
    Munchs hus
    Åsgårdstrand

    Åsgårdstrand

    In picturesque Åsgårdstrand you will find the Åsgårdstrand women's bathing club, which is committed to carrying on the long-held bathing traditions of this small coastal town.
    Sykkel i Borreparken
    Horten

    Bicycle trails in Horten

    Horten is an eldorado for bicycling as you can cycle along historical viking areas, protected forests and a breathtaking coastline.
    Party around a fire, in Viking costume
    Borre

    Midgard Viking Centre

    Midgard Viking Centre was opened in 2000 with the purpose of promoting Vestfold's Viking heritage.
    Kyststier i Horten
    Horten

    Coastal trails in Horten

    The hiking opportunities are many. Horten has an exciting cultural history dating back to the Iron Age. The medieval Viking Age has also left some traces in Horten, so there is a lot to discover for those searching to find treasures around Horten's many excursions.
    Front of the museum building
    Horten

    Marinemuseet - Navy Museum

    One of the world's oldest Marine museums is located on beautiful Karljohansvern in Horten.
    Barn Santa drives a tractor with children sitting in the hay.
    Nykirke

    Fjøsnissens Verden - Family Park

    Did you know that Fjøsnissen lives in Vestfold? Welcome home to his house.
    Book now
    Preus museum outside at the entrance.
    Horten

    Preus Museum

    Preus Museum offers visitors many exciting experiences within the expanded field of photography: from the earliest technical and scientific experiments to modern photographic art that has pushed back the boundaries of what a photograph can be.
Vikings at Midgard Vikingsenter, Borre, Horten
Karljohansvern in Horten
Two women visiting the outdoor submarine at Karljohansvern, in Horten

Journey back in time and unleash your inner Viking at ...

... the Midgard Viking Centre.

The centre is located near the Borre burial mounds, one of Norway's most important cultural heritage sites. Explore Viking history and try your hand at Viking games and activities.

Norway’s national photo museum, Preus Museum, is located at the historic former naval base Karljohansvern in Horten, offering visitors many fascinating exhibitions.

Enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack in the café.

Here, you will also find the Navy Museum, one of the oldest naval museums in the world. Established in 1853, its collection includes more than 150 model ships, and you can even climb into a submarine.

Where to stay

Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.

  • Tretopphytter Oslofjord
    Nykirke

    Tretopphytter Oslofjord

    The treetop cabins is an unique concept, with a view of the Oslo fjord. 5 cabins are built in the trees, 8 metres above the ground and 100 metres above sea level. The treetop cabins is located in Nordre Vegge outside Horten in Vestfold, only one hour drive from Oslo.
    Book now
    Facade
    Åsgårdstrand

    Grand Hotel Åsgårdstrand

    The Hotel occupies an idyllic position near the marina in Åsgårdstrand, with a panoramic view of Oslo Fjord.
    Book now
    Hytte Dal Gjestegaard
    Skoppum

    Dal Gjestegaard

    Dal Gjestegaard (guest house) is idyllically located at Skoppum, 6 minutes by car from Horten.
    Book now
    The Glamping site
    Horten

    Løvøya Oslofjord

    Løvøya is a peninsula in the Oslofjord just north of Horten in Vestfold, an hour's drive from Oslo. Løvøya is situated in a warm and lush area. There is a distinctive geology and beautiful spruce forests with a lot of exciting plant and animal life.
    Book now
    The hotel with a green lawn and a flagpole in the foreground.
    Horten

    Hotell Karljohansvern, Sjømilitære Samfund

    The Hotel is placed on Karljohansvern, surrounded by beautiful nature.
    Book now
    Bedroom
    Horten

    Horten Apartment

    Horten Apartment is centrally located in Horten, only 700 meters from the town center by the entrance to Karljohansvern.
    Book now
    Dog with glasses and hat on a motorcycle
    Borre

    Borre Family Camping

    Borre Family Camping is located by the sea between Horten and Åsgårdstrand.
    From Spring 2027 Thon Hotel Horten expand to 186 rooms!
    Horten

    Thon Hotel Horten

    The Hotel is located in the city centre of Horten, in the midst of Vestfold county, only 1 hours drive from Oslo.
    Book now
Treetop Cabin Oslofjord outside Horten, Eastern Norway
Enjoy some fresh seafood in Åsgårdstrand, Eastern Norway

Wake up to the sound of bird song!

Tretopphytter Oslofjord is located in Nordre Vegge just outside Horten. Its treetop cabins offer stunning views of the Oslofjord and the surrounding nature.

Sample some delicious Norwegian seafood!

Visit Grand Restaurant in Åsgårdstrand for a tasty meal by the harbour and panoramic views of the fjord.

Food and drink

Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.

  • Facade, water, building, evening time
    Horten

    RS Noatun

    Conference and banqueting rooms in an idyllic beachfront location, for small and large events.
    Book now
    Food
    Horten

    Baltzer Restaurant

    At Thon Hotel Horten you will find Baltzer Restaurant, where you can enjoy a tasty dinner in a pleasant atmosphere.
    Dessert
    Horten

    Sjømilitære Samfund restaurant

    The Historical Restaurant at Hotel Karljohansvern is surrounded by beautiful nature.
    Book now
    Grand Hotel Åsgårdstrand
    Åsgårdstrand

    Grand Restaurant Åsgårdstrand

    At Grand Restaurant Åsgårdstrand, you will get lovely food and great panoramic views of the harbour and the Oslo Fjord.
Picturesque Åsgårdstrand

Want to explore these quaint surroundings at your own pace?

Start planning your trip today!

Find more information on Horten and Åsgårdstrand's official website.

Visit Vestfold logovisitvestfold.com

Getting here and around

​Plan your trip to Horten with Entur, Norway's official travel planner.

Get inspired

Three girls on a bridge in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold, Eastern Norway - a remake of “The girls on the bridge" by Edvard Munch

Walk in Munch's footsteps

Explore the places that inspired Munch's most iconic works.
Two women are kissing in a street in Southern Norway

Where the locals go: 10 charming summer spots

Traditional wooden houses, photogenic harbours, and fresh seaside air – welcome to our most charming summer towns and cities.

See it for yourself

  • Åsgårdstrand by the Oslofjord

    A summer day in Horten

Discover more

Vippefyret at Verdens Ende, "The World's End", in Færder national park in Vestfold
Vestfold
Four women relaxing by the indoor pool at Engø gård at Tjøme, Eastern Norway
The Oslo region with the girls
Guided tour at Eidsfoss Jernverk near Holmestrand, Vestfold, Norway
Holmestrand
  • Svenner, one of many lighthouses in Norway open for overnight stays
    Larvik and Stavern
    Two women biking along the beach in Moss, Østfold
    Biking around the Oslofjord
    People in a horse-drawn carriage in Havlystparken at the culture destination Ramme Gård in Hvitsten by the Oslofjord in Eastern Norway
    Charming seaside destinations along the Oslofjord

Take advantage of top offers

See our selection of trusted companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.

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