Car hire Sandefjord

Introduction

Sandefjord is a historical, but also a modern town and was important in the Viking age. From that time, several remains have been found. Most famous is the Gokstad ship, from which there is a replica in the harbor. The original is in the Vikingskipshuset in Oslo. Furthermore, Sandefjord used to be a whaling city. Nowadays, the ship Southern Actor is a whaling museum. Today, Sandefjord is a popular summer holiday destination for Norwegians, who rent a summer house there or moor their boat in the marina.

Population

The town has a population of 45,000.

Location

Sandefjord is located in the southeast of Norway on a rugged coastline formed by two headlands: Østerøya (Eastern Island) and Vesterøya (Western Island). Because of this unusual shape, the municipality of Sandefjord has no less than 146 km of coastline. West of Western Island is the Sandefjord Fjord, east of this peninsula is the Mefjord. Further east lies the (much longer and bigger) Oslo Fjord. The coast near the city is very diverse: sandy beaches, coves and rocky islets (skerries).

Economy

The construction of merchant ships – once very important for the local economy – has completely disappeared from Sandefjord. However, there are still yacht building companies. Nowadays, Sandefjord’s economy is very diverse: from a paint factory to a chocolate factory, and from a brewery to an oil and gas company. Furthermore, the three largest online stores in Norway have their headquarters in Sandefjord. Also, the city and its surroundings are a summer tourist destination, especially for Norwegians.

Airports

Sandefjord's airport is located ten kilometers northeast of the city center. Sandefjord Airport is mainly used by budget airlines as an alternative for Oslo Airport. The airport is easily accessible by rental car via highway E18. The exit to the airport is clearly indicated.

Public Transport

Public transport is provided by VKT (Vestviken Kollektivtrafikk). The company operates connections in the provinces of Vestfold (in which Sandefjord is located), Buskerud and Telemark with buses, regional trains and ferries.

Traffic and Parking

In summer it can be very busy in Sandefjord, especially near the marina. For the rest you can easily drive around in your rental car. It is even the most ideal means of transport to explore the area around town. In the center you have to pay to park in the street. Do not exceed the parking time: there is strict control.

Hotels

There are several (small) hotels in Sandefjord. Apart from that, the accommodations consist of apartments, summer houses and campsites. If you would like to visit Sandefjord in summer, we recommend you to book your accommodation well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Sandefjord we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Sandefjord
• Official website Sandefjord (multilingual)
• Tourist Information Sandefjord (multilingual)