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.

Horten .
Photo: Visitvestfold.com

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

Horten .
Photo: Visitvestfold.com

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 ...

Åsgårdstrand .
Photo: Sven Erik Knoff / Visitvestfold.com

... 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.

Edvard Munch's house, Åsgårdstrand .
Photo: Visit Vestfold

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.

Gildehallen, Borre .
Photo: VisitHorten

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.

Karljohansvern .
Photo: VisitHorten

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.

The Navy museum in Horten .
Photo: Visitvestfold.com

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.

Treetop Cabins Oslofjord outside Horten .
Photo: Knut Bjerva

Sample some delicious Norwegian seafood!

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

Eating out in Åsgårdstrand .
Photo: Visit Vestfold

Want to explore these quaint surroundings at your own pace?

Scroll below and start planning your trip today!

Strolling the street in Åsgårdstrand .
Photo: Didrick Stenersen/Visit Vestfold

Port towns in historic surroundings

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 and many remains of Viking Age settlements.

Visit Midgard Viking Centre and the Borre burial mounds to experience Norway's Viking history. Karljohansvern is a historic former naval base that is now home to museums and numerous listed buildings. A culture trail runs through the area along the Horten Canal and through the historic base.

The municipality’s long coastline ends at Åsgårdstrand in the south, where the artist Edvard Munch painted some of his most famous works. His summer home is now a museum.

Its proximity to Oslo makes is easy to get to Horten and the surrounding area. The hotels in Horten and Åsgårdstrand are centrally located, within walking distance of many of the main shops and attractions.

Find more inspiration on Vestfold’s official website.

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visitvestfold.com/horten

Activities and attractions

Where to stay

Food and drink

Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information on Horten’s official website.

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Midgard vikingsenter

Midgard vikingsenter is situated near the Borre burial mounds, which form one of Norway's most important cultural heritage sites. This historical… Read more

Midgard vikingsenter

Edvard Munch´s house in Åsgårdstrand

It was in 1889 that Edvard Munch (1863-1944) spent the first of many summers in Åsgårdstrand. In 1898 he bought a house built at the end of the 18th… Read more

Edvard Munch´s house in Åsgårdstrand

Preus museum

Preus Museum offers visitors many exciting experiences within the expanded field of photography: from the earliest technical and scientific… Read more

Preus museum

Marinemuseet - Navy Museum

The navy museum was founded in 1853 and has been in the old magazine on Karljohansvern since 1864. Read more

Marinemuseet - Navy Museum

Buggegården - The Bugge Farm - Family Park

Theatre Farm with family shows, animals and activities. Cuddle with the animals, jump in the hay or drive the traktor Fergie. Read more

Buggegården - The Bugge Farm - Family Park

Local Historical Centre

The Local Historical Centre consists of a museum, an archive collection of local history and a coffee shop called "Café Breda". Read more

Local Historical Centre

Gildehallen - The Viking Hall

"Gildehallen" - The Viking Hall, is a reconstruction of one of the Viking Age's large halls. It is newly found imprint of such halls in Borre, and it… Read more

Gildehallen - The Viking Hall

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… Read more

Åsgårdstrand

Birdwatching Horten (Falkensten)

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Birdwatching Horten (Falkensten)

Coastal trails in Horten

History, culture and nature all in one Horten is a coastal municipality with a 40 kilometer long coastline from Tønsberg municipality to the… Read more

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Horten and Åsgårdstrand

Munch and Viking history

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Åsgårdstrand by the Oslofjord

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