Vestfold

Vestfold is the old name of the region which was revived in modern times. Fold was the old name of the Oslofjord, and the meaning of the name Vestfold is the region west of the Fold (see also Østfold). Before 1919, the county was called Jarlsberg og Larvik Amt. The amt was created in 1821, consisting of the two old counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik.{{Cite web|url=http://gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222130/http://gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/|url-status=dead|title=County Vestfold|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=gonorway.no}} In the Viking Age, Vestfold also referred to Eiker, Drammen, Kongsberg, Lier, now in Buskerud.{{cite book |last=Munch |first=Peter Andreas |title=Historisk-geographisk beskrivelse over kongeriget Norge (Noregsveldi) i middelalderen |publisher=W. Gram |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historiskgeogra00muncgoog/page/n206 168]–179 |year=1849 |url=https://archive.org/details/historiskgeogra00muncgoog}}[http://www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Text%20Series/Historia%26Passio.pdf Vol. XIII: A History Of Norway And The Passion And Miracles of the Blessed Óláfr] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221232519/http://www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Text%20Series/Historia%26Passio.pdf |date=21 February 2016 }} Anthony Faulkes and Richard Perkins (Viking Society for Northern Research), p. 128)[https://snl.no/Vestfold%2Fgammelt_navn Vestfold - gammelt navn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018180736/https://snl.no/Vestfold/gammelt_navn |date=18 October 2016 }}, snl.no

Vestfold Hills on Antarctica's Sørsdal Glacier is named after the county.

File:Gokstadskipet1.jpg ship, Gokstad ship, was discovered at Gokstad Mound, Sandefjord.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/article/ap-7K2r8.html|title=Fant 1000 år gammel fot|first=Hedda|last=Sødal|website=Aftenposten|date=24 September 2009 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-bank-note-of-the-year-2017-2018-4|title=Sharks, otters, and a man playing rugby: These are the 6 most beautiful banknotes in the world right now|first=Will|last=Martin|website=Business Insider|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704012851/https://www.businessinsider.com/best-bank-note-of-the-year-2017-2018-4|archive-date=4 July 2019|url-status=live}}]]

File:Istre Hågan.jpg, ancient burial ground which dates to the Roman Iron Age, 1500-500 BC{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/larvik/product/?TLp=200315|title=Rock carvings and standing stones at Haugen Farm|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}]]

{{Historical populations

|footnote = Source: [http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/02/folkendrhist_en/tables/tab/07.html Statistics Norway].{{Cite web|url=http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=folkfram|title=Projected population - Statistics Norway|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023110552/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=folkfram|archive-date=23 October 2013|url-status=dead}}

|shading = off

|1951|154670

|1961|174382

|1971|175402

|1981|186691

|1991|198354

|2001|215030

|2011|233705

|2021?|262777

|2031?|287496

}}

Vestfold is mentioned for the first time in a written source in 813, when Danish kings were in Vestfold to quell an uprising amongst the Fürsts {{vague|date=October 2020}}.{{cite news |author1=Bjørn Brandlien |title=Var Vestfold Norges vugge? |publisher=Klassekampen |date=5 October 2015 |page=10}} There may have been as many as six political centers in Vestfold. At that time Kaupang, which was located in Tjølling near Larvik, had been functioning for decades and had a chieftain. Kaupang, which dates from the Viking Age, is believed to be the first town in Norway, although Tønsberg (which dates from ca. 900) is the oldest town in Norway still in existence. At Borre, there was a site for another chieftain. That site held chieftains for more than one hundred years prior to 813.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/tonsberg/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522125130/http://www.visitnorway.com/us/Product/?pid=30178|url-status=dead|title=Tønsberg - the oldest town in Norway|archive-date=22 May 2014|website=www.visitnorway.com}}

The stone mounds at Mølen have been dated to the Viking Age.{{cite news |author1=Bjørn Brandlien |title=Var Vestfold Norges vugge? |publisher=Klassekampen |date=5 October 2015 |page=11}} The mounds at Haugar in present-day Tønsberg's town centre have been dated to the Viking period. At Farmannshaugen in Sem there seems to have been activity at the time, while activity at Oseberghaugen and Gokstadhaugen dates from a few decades later.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

An English source from around 890 retells the voyage of Ottar (Ottar fra Hålogaland) "from the farthest North, along Norvegr via Kaupang and Hedeby to England", where Ottar places Kaupang in the land of the Dane - danenes land. Bjørn Brandlien says that "To the degree that Harald Hårfagre gathered a kingdom after the Battle of Hafrsfjord at the end of the 9th century - that especially is connected to Avaldsnes - it does not seem to have made such a great impression on Ottar".

Kaupang is mentioned under the name of Skiringssal (Kaupangen i Skiringssal) in Ottar's tales.{{Cite web|url=http://www.travels-in-time.net/norway09arteng.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708182159/http://www.travels-in-time.net/e/norway09arteng.htm|url-status=dead|title=Vestvågøy Theme 9 of Travels in Time|archive-date=8 July 2015|website=www.travels-in-time.net}}{{cite web |url=https://nbl.snl.no/Ottar |title=Ottar |publisher=Norsk biografisk leksikon |access-date=29 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208100628/https://nbl.snl.no/Ottar |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live }}

By the 10th century, the local kings had established themselves. The king or his ombudsman resided in the old Royal Court at Sæheim i Sem, today the Jarlsberg Estate (Jarlsberg Hovedgård) in Tønsberg. The farm Haugar (from Old Norse haugr meaning hill or mound) became the seat for Haugating, the Thing for Vestfold and one of Norway's most important place for the proclamation of kings.{{cite web |url=https://snl.no/Jarlsberg |title=Jarlsberg |publisher=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia |author=Terje Bratberg |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208101720/https://snl.no/Jarlsberg |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=https://snl.no/Haugar%2FT%C3%B8nsberg |title=Haugar – Tønsberg |publisher=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia |author=Geir Thorsnæs |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110207/https://snl.no/Haugar%2FT%C3%B8nsberg |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live }}

The family of Harald Fairhair, who was most likely the first king of Norway, is said to have come from this area.

The Danish kings seem to have been weak in Vestfold from around the middle of the 9th century until the middle of the 10th century, but their rule was strengthened there at the end of the 10th century. The Danish kings seem to have tried to control the region until the 13th century.

File:Halvdan Svartes saga-Tittelfrise-Gerhard Munthe.jpg, 9th century king of Vestfold. His brother was long believed to be buried at the Gokstad Mound.Børresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 46. {{ISBN|9788292284070}}.Tore, Sandberg and Cato Arveschoug (2001). Sandefjord zoomet inn av fotograf Tore Sandberg. C. Arveschoug and Magne Helland. Page 40. ISBN 9788299616706.Tollnes, Ivar and Olaf Akselsen (1994). Sandefjord: Den lille storbyen. Sandefjords Blad. Page 103. ISBN 9788299070447.]]

• Erik Agnarsson
• Halfdan Hvitbeinn (part of Vestfold)
• Eystein Halfdansson
• Halfdan the Mild
• Gudrød the Hunter
• Halfdan the Black, together with his brother, Olaf Gudrødsson
• Ragnvald the Mountain-High, Cousin of Harold Fairhair
• Harald Fairhair
• Bjørn Farmann
• Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf, brother of Bjørn
• Harald Gudrødsson Grenske, 976–987

File:Sandefjord Southern Actor.jpg, whale-catcher turned museum ship]]

Whaling was an important 19th century industry in coastal cities such as Larvik, Tønsberg, and Sandefjord, which was the world centre for the world's modern whaling industry. Not only did men from Vestfold County make up practically all the crew on the Norwegian whaling fleet, but many were also involved in the whaling industry in other nations.Tønnessen, Johan Nicolay and Arne Odd Johnsen (1982). The History of Modern Whaling. University of California Press. Page 25. {{ISBN|9780520039735}}. As an example, the first phase of modern Australian whaling was almost entirely based on workers from Larvik.Tønnessen, Johan Nicolay and Arne Odd Johnsen (1982). The History of Modern Whaling. University of California Press. Page 222. {{ISBN|9780520039735}}. While the first whaling station in the Faroe Islands was established by Sandefjordians,Joensen, Jóan Pauli (2009). Pilot Whaling in the Faroe Islands: History, Ethnography, Symbol. Faroe University Press. Page 225. {{ISBN|9789991865256}}. Larvik played a similar role for the Shetland Islands. Tønsberg initiated much of the whaling industry in Iceland and the Hebrides.Tønnessen, Johan Nicolay and Arne Odd Johnsen (1982). The History of Modern Whaling. University of California Press. Page 84. {{ISBN|9780520039735}}.

The largest settlement in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Grytviken, was established by Carl Anton Larsen of Sandefjord on 16 November 1904.Headland, Robert (1992). The Island of South Georgia. CUP Archive. Page 130. {{ISBN|9780521424745}}.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hvalfangstmuseet.no/en/the-beginnings/ |title=The Beginnings – Hvalfangstmuseet |access-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142228/http://www.hvalfangstmuseet.no/en/the-beginnings/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }} Sandefjordian Nils Larsen's expeditions to Antarctica in the early 20th century led to the Norwegian annexation of Bouvet Island (1927) and Peter I Island (1929). A cove on Peter I Island is named Sandefjord Cove in honor of Nils Larsen's hometown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.polarhistorie.no/hendelser/1209014058.72|title=Andre "Norvegia"- ekspedisjon med kaptein Nils Larsen og dr. Ole Olstad besøkte Bouvetøya og gjennomførte den første landingen på Peter I Øy 2. februar 1929. Øya ble annektert for Norge, offisielt anerkjent ved kgl. res. 1. mai 1931. -|website=www.polarhistorie.no|access-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208095027/http://www.polarhistorie.no/hendelser/1209014058.72|archive-date=8 February 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.polarhistorie.no/personer/Christensen%2C%20Lars|title=Lars Christensen -|access-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221205559/http://www.polarhistorie.no/personer/Christensen,%20Lars|archive-date=21 December 2018|url-status=live}}

Sandefjord Harbor is now home to Southern Actor, the only whale-catcher from the Modern Whaling Epoch still to be in its original order.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/Sandefjord|title=Sandefjord|first=Sten|last=Lundbo|date=26 April 2019|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511092454/https://snl.no/Sandefjord|archive-date=11 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/sandefjord/product/?TLp=3495|title=The Whale catcher Southern Actor|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/the-whale-catcher-southern-actor/13/|title=The Whale catcher Southern Actor|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143535/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/the-whale-catcher-southern-actor/13/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} The museum ship is owned by Sandefjord Whaling Museum, Europe's only museum dedicated to whaling.Philpott, Don (1991). Visitor's Guide: Norway. Moorland. Page 76. {{ISBN|9780861904242}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/sandefjord/see-and-do/attractions/?TLp=3492&The-Whaling-Museum |title=The Whaling Museum |website=Visitvestfold.com |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100321/https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/sandefjord/see-and-do/attractions/?TLp=3492&The-Whaling-Museum |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hvalfangstmuseet.no/en/ |title=Hvalfangstmuseet |website=Hvalfangstmuseet.no |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126214958/http://www.hvalfangstmuseet.no/en/ |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=live }} Sandefjord has been named the centre of the Modern Whaling Epoch,Holskjær, Lars (2017). Kamper uten tall. Forlagshuset i Vestfold. Page 8. {{ISBN|9788293407294}}. and has been nicknamed "the whaling capital of the world."Engel, Lyle Kenyon (1963). Scandinavia: A Simon & Schuster Travel Guide. Cornerstone Library. Page 145.Ryder, Simon and Cameron Duffy (2018). Insight Guides Norway. Insight Guides. Page 163. {{ISBN|978-1786717580}}.Alspaugh, Emmanuelle (2006). Fodor's Norway. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 73. {{ISBN|9781400016143}}.Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1985). Sandefjord: A modern city with vast potential. Grafisk Studio. Page 81. {{ISBN|82-90636-00-8}}.

File:CairnInMoelen.jpg, Scandinavia's first UNESCO Global Geopark]]

Vestfold is Norway's smallest county, with the exception of the city-county of Oslo. It lies on the western shore of the Oslofjord. Vestfold borders with Buskerud County in the north and with Telemark County in the west. It is bordered by Skagerrak in the North Sea to both the south and east. The county has a total area of {{convert|2157|km²}} and has a {{convert|980|km}} coastline. Vestfjellet at {{convert|634.04|m}} is the tallest peak in the county. It is also home to 1,407 islands. Nøtterøy ({{convert|60|km²}}) is the largest island in Vestfold, while Tjøme ({{convert|39|km²}}) is the second-largest island.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/Tj%C3%B8me|title=Tjøme|first=Sten|last=Lundbo|date=10 January 2018|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514190757/https://snl.no/Tj%C3%B8me|archive-date=14 May 2019|url-status=live}}Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Page 191. {{ISBN|9788290636017}}.

There is a total of 634 freshwater lakes in Vestfold, with a total area of 79 square kilometers. Large lakes include Farris, Eikeren, Goksjø, Hallevannet, Akersvannet, and others. Vestfold makes up 0.7 percent of Norway's total land area. Ten Norwegian municipalities are larger in size than Vestfold County. As an example, Kautokeino Municipality in Finnmark County is over four times larger than Vestfold County. Finnmark county is 22 times larger than Vestfold county.

File:Bjørnhodet, Fuglevik (14424799377).jpg is the largest island in Vestfold.]]

File:Færdernasjonalparksenter.jpg in Færder National Park]]

The county's soft soil is composed of varieties of moraine and sedimentary soils. The Ice Age left large parts of Vestfold below sea level, and the most cultivated soil can be found on the marine terraces. Marine clay and sand cover most of the lower lying country in the south-west and north. The Vestfold moraine, a continuation of the Østfold moraine at Moss, is an ice-formed formation which stretches as a cohesive gravel ridge through the county, from Horten in the east to Mølen in the south.

Færder National Park was the county's first national park when the decision was formalized by King Harald V on 23 August 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/travel/attractions/28845-this-is-norways-new-national-park|title=This is Norway's new national park|first=Julie|last=Ryland|website=The Norway Post|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143916/http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/travel/attractions/28845-this-is-norways-new-national-park|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} The visitor center is at World's End, and was officially opened by Queen Sonja on 26 June 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/visitor-center-f%c3%a6rder-national-park/183071/|title=Visitor Center Færder National Park|website=www.visitnorway.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/F%C3%A6rder_nasjonalpark|title=Færder nasjonalpark|first1=Leif|last1=Ryvarden|first2=Sten|last2=Lundbo|first3=Svein|last3=Askheim|date=6 November 2018|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524033025/https://snl.no/F%C3%A6rder_nasjonalpark|archive-date=24 May 2019|url-status=live}} The national park lies in Nøtterøy- and Tjøme municipalities, and is made up of {{convert|325|km²}} of ocean and {{convert|15|km²}} of land. It stretches from Ormøy in the north to Færder Lighthouse in the south. It is one of two marine national parks in Norway, and is made up of coast, skerries, islands and sea bed.{{Cite web|url=https://ferdernasjonalpark.no/en/|title=Færder Nasjonalpark – Come closer Go Færder|website=ferdernasjonalpark.no|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143138/https://ferdernasjonalpark.no/en/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}

Mølen in Larvik is home to Norway's largest stone beach{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/attractions/molen/a/poi-sig/1544033/360161|title=Mølen | The Coast, Norway The Coast|website=www.lonelyplanet.com}} and is an ancient burial site consisting of 230 cairns, some exceeding {{convert|35|m}} in diameter. Excavations have dated the rock piles to about 250 A.D.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/molen|title=Mølen|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140636/https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/molen|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/articles/5380|title=Mølen|website=www.gonorway.com|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145200/http://www.gonorway.com/norway/articles/5380|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} It was the first UNESCO Global Geopark in the Nordics when established in 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.op.no/nyheter/article3609340.ece?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Åpnet Geopark på Mølen og i Lardal|date=16 June 2008|website=www.op.no}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vestfoldguide.no/molen-vestfold|title=MØLEN|website=VESTFOLD GUIDE|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142715/https://www.vestfoldguide.no/molen-vestfold/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} Mølen is one of Larvik's most popular tourist attractions. It is home to over a hundred species of rock, including Norway's national stone, Larvikite, which is named from the area. It is a crucially important seabird habitat, where over 316 species of bird have been recorded.https://issuu.com/visitvestfold/docs/visit_larvik_2018-2019_web{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Page 26).{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/larvik/product/?TLp=1121470|title=Mølen|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}File:Kommuner i Vestfold.png

Vestfold has experienced a large reduction in number of municipalities. As of 1949, the county was home to 19 rural municipalities and 7 city municipalities. There were 14 municipalities as of 2016, but the number decreased to 6 as of 2024. Vestfold has the least amount of municipalities of any county in Norway.

1. Holmestrand Municipality
2. Horten Municipality
3. Tønsberg Municipality
4. Færder Municipality
5. Sandefjord Municipality
6. Larvik Municipality

{{Main|list of towns and cities in Norway}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Holmestrand
• Horten
• Larvik
• Sandefjord
• Stavern
• Tønsberg
• Åsgårdstrand

{{div col end}}

{{Main|list of villages in Vestfold}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Andebu
• Barkåker
• Berger
• Bergsåsen
• Bjerkøya
• Bjørnevåg
• Borgheim
• Borre
• Brekkeåsen
• Buerstad
• Duken
• Eidsfoss
• Eik
• Eikeberg
• Fevang
• Fokserød
• Fon
• Freberg
• Føynland
• Gjone
• Glomstein
• Gretteåsen
• Grimestad
• Gullhaug
• Hafallen
• Helgeroa
• Hem
• Hof
• Hulebakk
• Husvik
• Husøy
• Hvasser
• Høyjord
• Hårkollen
• Kaupang
• Kjose
• Kjøpmannskjær
• Klever
• Kodal
• Kvelde
• Lahelle
• Linnestad
• Melsomvik
• Nesbrygga
• Nesbygda
• Nevlunghavn
• Nykirke
• Ormelet
• Oterbekk
• Ramnes
• Revetal
• Rånerudåsen
• Råstad
• Sande
• Selvik
• Sem
• Skallestad
• Skinmo
• Skjerve
• Skoppum
• Solløkka
• Solvang
• Stokke
• Storevar
• Strand
• Strengsdal
• Sundbyfoss
• Sundene
• Svarstad
• Svelvik
• Svinevoll
• Teie
• Tenvik
• Tjøllingvollen
• Torød
• Ula
• Unneberg
• Valberg
• Vassås
• Vear
• Veierland
• Verdens Ende
• Verningen
• Vestskogen
• Vollen
• Årøysund

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Andebu
• Arnadal (Arendal)
• Berg
• Borre
• Botne
• Brunlanes
• Fon
• Fredricksværn, see Stavern
• Hedrum
• Hem
• Hillestad
• Hof
• Holmestrand
• Horten
• Hvarnes
• Høyjord
• Kjose
• Kodal
• Konnerud
• Kvelde
• Langestrand
• Lardal
• Larvik
• Nykirke
• Nøtterøy
• Ramnes
• Sandar
• Sande
• Sandefjord
• Sandeherred, see Sandar
• Sankt Laurentii
• Sem
• Skjee
• Skoger
• Slagen
• Stavern
• Stokke
• Strømm (Strømmen)
• Strømsgodset
• Styrvoll
• Svarstad
• Svelvik
• Tanum
• Tjølling
• Tjøme
• Tønsberg
• Undrumsdal
• Valløy
• Vassås
• Vivestad
• Vor Frue (Maria)
• Våle
• Åsgårdstrand
• Larvik Branch (LDS, early-1927)
• Tønsberg Branch (LDS, early-1951)
• Larvik (Katolske Apostoliske, 1888–1963)

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

{{Main|list of former municipalities of Norway}}

• Andebu Municipality
• Borre Municipality
• Botne Municipality
• Brunlanes Municipality
• Hedrum Municipality
• Hof Municipality
• Lardal Municipality
• Nøtterøy Municipality
• Ramnes Municipality
• Sandar Municipality
• Sem Municipality
• Skoger Municipality
• Stavern Municipality
• Stokke Municipality
• Strømm Municipality
• Tjølling Municipality
• Tjøme Municipality
• Våle Municipality
• Åsgårdstrand Municipality

{{div col end}}

Results from parliamentary elections in Vestfold County since 1973:{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/a/nos/|title=Publikasjoner fra Statistisk sentralbyrå|website=Statistics Norway|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731041539/https://www.ssb.no/a/nos/|archive-date=31 July 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://valgresultat.no/vestfold?type=st&year=2017 |title=Norwegian Directorate of Elections: Results in 2017 in Vestfold County |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025073841/https://valgresultat.no/vestfold?type=st&year=2017 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |url-status=live }}

Bold letters represent the alliances (Leftwing Ap+SV. Centre KrF+V+Sp. Rightwing H+Frp). M = Number of elected parliamentarians.

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|- style="background:#CCCCCC"

! Year

! Ap

! SV

! Total

! M

! KrF

! V

! Sp

! Total

! M

! H

! Frp

! Total

! M

|-

| 1973

| align="right"|33,8

| align="right"|8,9

| align="right"|42,7

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|10,3

| align="right"|3,0

| align="right"|7,6

| align="right"|20,9

| align="right"|2

| align="right"|26,5

| align="right"|6,6

| align="right"|33,1

| align="right"|2

|-

| 1977

| align="right"|39,8

| align="right"|2,6

| align="right"|42,4

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|10,2

| align="right"|2,8

| align="right"|7,2

| align="right"|20,2

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|33,7

| align="right"|2,0

| align="right"|35,7

| align="right"|3

|-

| 1981

| align="right"|33,9

| align="right"|2,9

| align="right"|36,8

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|8,2

| align="right"|3,2

| align="right"|4,2

| align="right"|15,6

| align="right"|0

| align="right"|41,9

| align="right"|4,7

| align="right"|46,6

| align="right"|4

|-

| 1985

| align="right"|35,4

| align="right"|4,0

| align="right"|39,4

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|7,0

| align="right"|2,7

| align="right"|4,4

| align="right"|14,1

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|40,9

| align="right"|4,8

| align="right"|45,7

| align="right"|3

|-

| 1989

| align="right"|30,1

| align="right"|8,3

| align="right"|38,4

| align="right"|4

| align="right"|7,1

| align="right"|2,7

| align="right"|4,5

| align="right"|14,3

| align="right"|0

| align="right"|28,9

| align="right"|16,5

| align="right"|45,4

| align="right"|3

|-

| 1993

| align="right"|35,4

| align="right"|6,5

| align="right"|41,9

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|6,9

| align="right"|2,7

| align="right"|13,2

| align="right"|22,8

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|23,1

| align="right"|10,3

| align="right"|33,2

| align="right"|3

|-

| 1997

| align="right"|33,5

| align="right"|5,3

| align="right"|38,8

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|12,5

| align="right"|3,2

| align="right"|5,6

| align="right"|21,3

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|18,1

| align="right"|20,1

| align="right"|38,2

| align="right"|3

|-

| 2001

| align="right"|21,6

| align="right"|11,6

| align="right"|33,2

| align="right"|3

| align="right"|11,0

| align="right"|2,8

| align="right"|3,3

| align="right"|17,1

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|25,5

| align="right"|18,7

| align="right"|44,2

| align="right"|4

|-

| 2005

| align="right"|30,2

| align="right"|8,4

| align="right"|38,6

| align="right"|4

| align="right"|6,0

| align="right"|5,0

| align="right"|3,6

| align="right"|14,6

| align="right"|0

| align="right"|15,3

| align="right"|29,3

| align="right"|44,6

| align="right"|3

|-

| 2009

| align="right"|33,7

| align="right"|6,5

| align="right"|40,2

| align="right"|4

| align="right"|4,7

| align="right"|3,0

| align="right"|3,2

| align="right"|10,9

| align="right"|0

| align="right"|19,6

| align="right"|27,2

| align="right"|46,8

| align="right"|3

|-

| 2013

| align="right"|29,6

| align="right"|3,8

| align="right"|33,4

| align="right"|2

| align="right"|4,9

| align="right"|4,5

| align="right"|3,0

| align="right"|12,4

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|30,0

| align="right"|19,5

| align="right"|49,5

| align="right"|4

|-

| 2017

| align="right"|28,0

| align="right"|5,0

| align="right"|33,0

| align="right"|2

| align="right"|3,7

| align="right"|3,8

| align="right"|6,3

| align="right"|13,8

| align="right"|1

| align="right"|30,1

| align="right"|16,9

| align="right"|47,0

| align="right"|4

|-

|}

{{bar box

|title=Religion in Vestfold{{Cite web|url=http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716151336/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable%2FhovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=kirke_kostra|url-status=dead|title=Statistikkbanken|access-date=11 October 2010|archive-date=16 July 2012}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2010-12-13-02-en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102060754/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2010-12-13-02-en.html|url-status=dead|title=Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010|archive-date=2 November 2011}}

|titlebar=#ddd

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Christianity|Purple|84.85}}

{{bar percent|Islam|Green|1.41}}

{{bar percent|Buddhism|Red|0.26}}

{{bar percent|Other|Blue|13.48}}

}}

According to Statistics Norway, Vestfold County was home to 244,967 residents as of 1 January 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/folkemengde/aar-per-1-januar/2016-02-19?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=256001|title=Mannsoverskotet auka òg i 2015|website=ssb.no|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612150117/https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/folkemengde/aar-per-1-januar/2016-02-19?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=256001|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} Immigrants made up 11.9 percent of the population in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdi.no/tall-og-statistikk/|title=Statistikk|website=IMDi|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411092654/https://www.imdi.no/tall-og-statistikk/|archive-date=11 April 2019|url-status=live}} Most immigrants were from Poland (4,287 people), followed by Lithuania (2,794) and Iraq (1,549). Despite its small size, Vestfold had the third-highest population density in Norway. However, the population density may still have been considered low; as an example, the population density of the Netherlands was four times higher than that of Vestfold County in 1998.

Sandefjord was the most populous city of Vestfold County; one in four people from Vestfold were from Sandefjord, or 25.2 percent of the county population.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sb.no/nyheter/sandefjord/vestfold/na-teller-vi-62-622-innbyggere/s/5-73-695042?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Nå teller vi 62.622 innbyggere|date=30 April 2018|website=Sandefjords Blad}}

File:Sandefjord Jotun fabrikker IMG 6040.jpg is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paints and coating products.C. Gopalkrishnan (2016). The Entrepreneur's Choice: Cases on Family Business in India. Routledge. Page 243. {{ISBN|9781134906598}}.{{Cite web |url=https://www.jotun.com/iq/en/corporate/media/news/Increased-sales-but-weaker-results-for-Jotun.aspx |title=Increased sales, but weaker results for Jotun | Jotun |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144014/https://www.jotun.com/iq/en/corporate/media/news/Increased-sales-but-weaker-results-for-Jotun.aspx |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/finance/1504294/jotun-suffers-drop-in-profit|title=Jotun suffers drop in profit|date=4 June 2018|website=TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144131/http://www.tradewindsnews.com/finance/1504294/jotun-suffers-drop-in-profit|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}]]

Traditional industries in Vestfold have included whaling and ship building. For over 50 years in the 19th century, Sandefjord and partially Tønsberg functioned as the world centre for the whaling industry. However, whaling ended in the 1960s and the ship building industry has gradually reduced since the 1980s. Information technology is currently a growing industry, and the county is home to large web shops such as Komplett, MPX.no and netshop.no. 18.9 percent of the county's total area is used for agriculture, the highest percentage of any county in Norway. 70% of agricultural lands are used for the cultivation of grains. Vestfold's farming area makes up five percent of Norway's cultivated areas. However, by area, Vestfold only makes up 0.7 percent of Norway's land area.

Vestfold has Norway's most expensive vacation homes. Sandefjord had Norway's most expensive vacation homes in 2012, while Tjøme had the most expensive homes as of 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/livet/2012/12/27/165194/norges-dyreste-hytteomrade-har-en-gjennomsnittpris-pa-7-1-millioner-kroner|title=Norges dyreste hytteområde har en gjennomsnittpris på 7,1 millioner kroner|date=27 December 2012|website=www.abcnyheter.no}}{{Cite web|url=http://eiendomnorge.no/|title=Eiendom Norge|website=eiendomnorge.no|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607221447/http://eiendomnorge.no/|archive-date=7 June 2018|url-status=live}} General property values appreciated 28.3 percent between 2010 and 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dn.no/bolig/boligmarkedet/boligpriser/her-har-boligprisene-steget-mest-og-minst-de-siste-arene/1-1-5371658|title=Her har boligprisene steget mest - og minst de siste årene|first=Anita|last=Hoemsnes|date=6 May 2015|website=www.dn.no}}

File:Tjøme Lilleskagen badestrand.JPG in Færder]]

File:Brygga i Tønsberg.JPG]]

File:Nevlunghavn - brygga.jpg, the southernmost point in mainland Vestfold (excluding islands).Lund, Arild and Charlotte Jørgensen (2001). Larvik. Capella Media. Page 67. {{ISBN|978-8299606912}}.Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Page 48. {{ISBN|9788290636017}}.]]

Summer tourism is an important industry in Vestfold, particularly in coastal communities such as Sandefjord, Tjøme and Stavern. Coastal cities also have large numbers of vacation homes. There were 534,724 hotel stays in 2015, where the purpose was vacationing for 236,895. Most international tourists were from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. There were 781,459 stays at rental cabins or campgrounds in 2015. Consequentially, the population increases drastically during summer months in municipalities such as Sandefjord,Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). 40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn. Vett Viten. Page 27. {{ISBN|9788241202841}}. Tjøme, and elsewhere. The population at Tjøme goes from 4,500 to around 50,000 each summer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visittjome.no/|title=VISIT TJØME|website=VISIT TJØME|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141506/https://www.visittjome.no/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} The population of islands such as Tjøme often quadruple during summer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/tonsberg/|title=Tønsberg - the oldest town in Norway|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522125130/http://www.visitnorway.com/us/Product/?pid=30178|archive-date=22 May 2014|url-status=live}} while summer communities as Stavern often sees a doubling or tripling.Evensberget, Snorre (2014). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Norway. Penguin. Page 129. {{ISBN|9781465432469}}. Tjøme Island is home to nearly as many vacation homes as residential homes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tb.no/meninger/tjome/notteroy/fare-for-lokalpolitisk-havari-i-nye-farder-kommune/o/5-76-468309?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Fare for lokalpolitisk havari i nye Færder kommune?|date=7 February 2017|website=www.tb.no}}

While Tjøme has the nickname Sommerøya ("the Summer Island"),{{Cite web|url=https://www.visittjome.no/tjome|title=VISIT TJØME — TJØME|website=VISIT TJØME|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142934/https://www.visittjome.no/tjome/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tb.no/nyheter/kliner-til-pa-kyssebenken-1.6403742?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Kliner til på kyssebenken|date=5 August 2011|website=www.tb.no}} Sandefjord is nicknamed Badebyen ("the Bathing City") due to its many beaches and former spas.Alspaugh, Emmanuelle (2006). Fodor's Norway. Fodor's Travel Publications. Pages F-7 and 73. {{ISBN|9781400016143}}. Sandefjord is known for its many great beaches,McKay, D. (2004). Fodor's Scandinavia. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 398. {{ISBN|9781400016426}}.Alspaugh, Emmanuelle (2006). Fodor's Norway. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 74. {{ISBN|9781400016143}}. and it is primarily known as a summer resort community.Berman, Martha (1995). Fielding's Scandinavia. Fielding Worldwide. Page 240. {{ISBN|9781569520499}}.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sandefjordby.no/sandefjords-historie/ |title=Sandefjords Historie – Sandefjordby.no |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418231023/http://www.sandefjordby.no/sandefjords-historie/ |archive-date=18 April 2018 |url-status=dead }} It first became a bathing destination when sulphur was discovered in 1837.Ebbesen, Jorgen Tandberg (2018). The Sulphureous Bath at Sandefjord in Norway. Sagwan Press. Page 18. {{ISBN|9781297731068}}. The city gained further recognition when Sandefjord Sulfur Spa and Resort (Kurbadet) was established in 1837. The bath was one of the most visited in Europe during the late 19th century.Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). 40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn. Vett Viten. Page 36. {{ISBN|9788241202841}}.

Vestfold's most visited tourist attractions include Borre mound cemetery, the largest burial site in Northern Europe, as well as numerous sites along the coast. Architectural sites include the villages of Åsgårdstrand, Karljohansvern in Horten, and Fredriksvern in Stavern. Other important attractions are Sandefjord Whaling Museum, Mølen Geopark in Larvik, as well as Tønsberg Fortress (Slottsfjellet) in Tønsberg.

Largest companies in Vestfold County based on operating income in 2015:{{Cite web|url=https://www.vestviken24.no/vv24naringsliv/vestfold/okonomi-og-naringsliv/her-er-vestfolds-250-storste-bedrifter/s/5-83-50496?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Her er Vestfolds 250 største bedrifter|date=21 October 2016|website=www.vestviken24.no|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027082343/http://www.vestviken24.no/vv24naringsliv/vestfold/okonomi-og-naringsliv/her-er-vestfolds-250-storste-bedrifter/s/5-83-50496?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|archive-date=27 October 2016|url-status=live}}

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! No.

! Company

! Operating income
in 2015 (in NOK)

|-

| 1

|Jotun A/S

|16 844 327

|-

|2

|Komplett AS

|7 256 700

|-

|3

|Kongsberg Maritime AS

|6 957 840

|-

|4

|Asko Vestfold Telemark AS

|4 617 791

|-

|5

|Sykehuset i Vestfold HF

|4 595 010

|}

File:Høyjord stavkirke tak.jpg, Vestfold's only stave church. Its chancel dates to year 1100.Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Page 113. {{ISBN|9788290636017}}.]]

File:Tønsberg - tower and ruins.JPG in Tønsberg]]

Vestfold is the county in Norway with the most traces from the Viking Age.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/vestfold/|title=Vestfold - Viking heritage and seaside recreation in the Oslo region|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141359/https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/vestfold/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://vestfold.guide/vikinger-1|title=Vestfoldguide — Vikinger|website=Vestfoldguide|access-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613161232/https://vestfold.guide/vikinger-1/|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/no/artikler/Vikingveien-i-Vestfold/|title=Vikingveien i Vestfold - Artikler - visitvestfold.com|website=www.visitvestfold.com|access-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613161047/https://www.visitvestfold.com/no/artikler/Vikingveien-i-Vestfold/|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}} Examples include the Oseberg- and Gokstad Burial Mounds. While the Oseberg Ship was discovered in Tønsberg, the Gokstad Ship was discovered in Sandefjord. The Gokstad Ship is Norway's largest preserved Viking ship. Both ships are now located at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Additional burial mounds are found at Borre mound cemetery and Mølen, an UNESCO Global Geopark. Borre mound cemetery is home to Northern Europe's largest burial mound site from Viking Age.

Vestfold is home to 21 churches dating to medieval times. It is also home to one stave church, Høyjord Stave Church in Andebu (Sandefjord). Nearby Andebu Church also has Norway's oldest parish register, dating to 1623. The city of Sandefjord proper is home to Europe's only museum dedicated to whaling, Sandefjord Museum in the city centre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/sandefjord/|title=Sandefjord - In the footsteps of the Vikings|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140538/https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/sandefjord/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.norwaves.com/whaling-museum-sandefjord-or-hvalfangstmuseet.html |title=The Whaling Museum Sandefjord or Hvalfangstmuseet) - Viking Ship Museum, the whale ship "Southern Actor", development of whales and whaling from primitive ustensils to floating cookeries - South/East Norway Tourism and Vacation |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010223813/http://www.norwaves.com/whaling-museum-sandefjord-or-hvalfangstmuseet.html |archive-date=10 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://vestfoldmuseene.no/sted/hvalfangstmuseet/|title=Hvalfangstmuseet}} This museum also owns Southern Actor, a whale-catcher turned museum ship. Southern Actor is the only whale-catcher from the Modern Whaling Epoch still to be in its original working order. Also at Sandefjord Harbor is the Harbour Chapel (Bryggekapellet), which is the only floating church in NorwayDavidsen, Roger (2008). Et Sted i Sandefjord. Sandar Historielag. Pages 309 and 370. {{ISBN|978-82-994567-5-3}}. and most likely Europe,{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/no/sandefjord/produkt/?TLp=4038|title=Bryggekapellet|website=www.visitvestfold.com}} perhaps the only floating church in the world.{{Cite web|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/business/78-local-shortnews/27178-the-worlds-only-floating-church-27178|title=The world's only floating church?|first=Rolleiv|last=Solholm|website=The Norway Post|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143714/http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/business/78-local-shortnews/27178-the-worlds-only-floating-church-27178|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}

The city of Tønsberg is Norway's oldest city, most likely founded in year 871.Schandy, Tom and Tom Helgesen (2012). Naturperler i Vestfold. Forlaget Tom & Tom v/Schandy. Page 100. {{ISBN|9788292916148}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/toensberg/7635e48e567c830/index.html|title=Tønsberg|website=www.gonorway.no|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308163855/http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/toensberg/7635e48e567c830/index.html|archive-date=8 March 2010|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Tonsberg|title=Tønsberg | Norway|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612154046/https://www.britannica.com/place/Tonsberg|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} Tønsberg is home to Tønsberg Fortress, which is Scandinavia's largest ruin site. It includes ruins from Castrum Tunsbergis, Norway's largest castle in the 13th century. An outdoor music festival is held at Tønsberg Fortress every July.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tonsberg.kommune.no/_f/p4/i5e4f1595-febb-4516-8d2a-a624a3fb102f/byguiden-tonsberg-2017_slottsfjellet.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140911/https://www.tonsberg.kommune.no/_f/p4/i5e4f1595-febb-4516-8d2a-a624a3fb102f/byguiden-tonsberg-2017_slottsfjellet.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }} Ruins of a German fortress can be seen at Folehavna Fort on West Island, Sandefjord.{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/see-and-do/activities/?TLp=166348&Vandring |title=Hiking |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144002/https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/see-and-do/activities/?TLp=166348&Vandring |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}

File:Color Viking IMG 5218 imo 8317942.JPG and Fjord Line connect Sandefjord to Sweden.Fodor, Eugene (1991). Fodor's Scandinavian Cities. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 93. {{ISBN|9780679019596}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/sandefjord/7635e3a768b71b0/index.html|title=Sandefjord|website=www.gonorway.no|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619042655/http://gonorway.no/norway/counties/vestfold/sandefjord/7635e3a768b71b0/index.html|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=live}}]]

The Vestfold Line is a railway line that runs from Drammen, through a number of towns in Vestfold and ending in the town of Skien in Telemark. European route E18 runs through the county roughly parallel to the railway.

There are two international ferry connections, both operated by Color Line. Larvik is connected to the Danish town Hirtshals, the other route is between Sandefjord and Strømstad in Sweden. Fjord Line is also a ferry operator between Sandefjord and Strømstad. In addition there is a domestic route connecting Horten and Moss.

Sandefjord Airport Torp is one of Norway's largest airports.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vy.no/en/traffic-and-routes/route-map-and-stations/airport-train-and-bus-routes|title=Airport train and bus service | Airport train | Airport bus | vy.no|website=www.vy.no}} Only Bergen- and Oslo Airports have more international flights than Torp Airport.{{cite web |url=https://www.torp.no/aktuelt/rekordsommer-pa-torp-article1502-281.html |title=Rekordsommer på TORP! |website=Torp.no |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213143948/https://www.torp.no/aktuelt/rekordsommer-pa-torp-article1502-281.html |archive-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=live }} Despite being located 74 miles south of Oslo, Torp is sometimes called Oslo Airport Torp. It is reached with a free shuttle bus from Sandefjord Airport Station on Vestfoldbanen. Torp is regional hub for low-cost carrier Norwegian, as well as low-cost carriers Ryanair and WizzAir also operate from the airport.Macmillan (2008). Let's Go 2009 Europe. Let's Go, Inc. Page 737. {{ISBN|9780312387082}}. Torp offers direct routes to over 30 international and domestic destinations,{{cite web |url=https://www.visitoslo.com/en/product/?TLp=16585 |title=Torp Sandefjord Airport |website=Visitoslo.com |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211105307/https://www.visitoslo.com/en/product/?TLp=16585 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |url-status=live }} including daily flights to European cities such as London and Amsterdam.{{cite web |url=http://www.sandefjord.no/en/new-residents/jobs/sandefjord-wants-your-business-to-succeed/ |title=Sandefjord wants your business to succeed |website=Sandefjord.no |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044519/http://www.sandefjord.no/en/new-residents/jobs/sandefjord-wants-your-business-to-succeed/ |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}

File:Minnehallen-stavern.jpg (Minnehallen) outside Stavern]]

File:Edvard Munch's house.jpg's former summer house at Åsgårdstrand]]

• Bøkeskogen, world's northernmost beech tree forest.Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Page 63. {{ISBN|9788290636017}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/larvik/product/?TLp=1121450|title=The Beech Forest|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}Ham, Anthony and Stuart Butler (2015). Lonely Planet Norway. Lonely Planet. Page 91. {{ISBN|978-1742202075}}.Schmidt, Martin (2020). Norwegen. Reise Know-How Verlag Peter Rump. Page 113. {{ISBN|9783831746248}}.
• Kaupang, home to remains for the oldest Nordic town yet discovered. The remains are from one of Scandinavia's earliest urban sites, established in year 800 A.D.Skre, Dagfinn (2007). Kaupang in Skiringssal. Aarhus University Press. Page 13. {{ISBN|978-8779342590}}.Doreen, Taylor-Wilkie (2018). Insight Guides Norway. Insight. Page 157. {{ISBN|978-1780052106}}.
• Mølen, Scandinavia's first UNESCO Global Geopark.
• Nevlunghavn and Helgeroa, adjacent coastal villages.
• Larvik Museum
• Fritzøehus, largest privately owned estate in Norway.Aadnevik, Kjell-Einar (2019). Turguide til Larvik og Omegn. Dreyers forlag. Page 92. ISBN 9788282654418.{{Cite web|url=https://www.op.no/treschow/article7401473.ece?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Fritzøehus|date=18 October 2014|website=www.op.no}}{{Cite web|url=http://stavernguiden.no/fritz-ehus---norges-st-rste-privatbolig.html|title=Fritzøehus - Norges største privatbolig|website=Stavernguiden.no|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311201910/http://www.stavernguiden.no/fritz-ehus---norges-st-rste-privatbolig.html|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=live}}
• Stavern, small coastal town, home of Citadell Island
• Fredriksvern, Norway's main naval base from the mid-1750s until 1864.
• Minnehallen (Hall of Remembrance), largest monument in Vestfold.{{Cite web|url=http://stavernguiden.no/minnehallen.html|title=Minnehallen|website=Stavernguiden.no|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710094238/http://www.stavernguiden.no/minnehallen.html|archive-date=10 July 2018|url-status=live}}

• Borre National Park, largest burial mound site in Northern Europe.
• Løvøy Chapel
• Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
• Preus Museum
• Borre Church, romanesque medieval church constructed in the 1100s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/borre-church/189418/|title=Borre Church|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628205027/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/borre-church/189418/|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live}}
• Tordenskioldeika
• Åsgårdstrand, oceanside resort town.Fodor (1987). Fodor's Scandinavia 1988. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 279. {{ISBN|9780679015581}}.Nickel, Phyllis and Hans Jakob Valderhaug (2017). Norwegian Cruising Guide—Vol 2: Sweden, West Coast and Norway, Swedish Border to Bergen. Attainable Adventure Cruising Ltd. Pages 85-86. {{ISBN|9780995893962}}.
• Borre Golfbane

File:Slottsfjelltårnet TBG.jpg contains ruins from Norway's largest 13th century castle.Børresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 55. {{ISBN|9788292284070}}.]]

• Tønsberg Fortress, largest ruin park in the Nordic countries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/castle-rock-tower/81/|title=Castle Rock Tower|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142534/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/castle-rock-tower/81/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}
• Oseberg Mound, site of the discovery of the Oseberg Ship
• Haugar
• Tønsberg Cathedral
• Sem Church
• Slottsfjellmuseet
• Nordbyen
• World's End, southernmost point at Tjøme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/verdens-ende-%e2%80%9cthe-world%e2%80%99s-end%e2%80%9d/175562/|title=Verdens Ende - "The World's End"|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711234549/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/verdens-ende-%e2%80%9cthe-world%e2%80%99s-end%e2%80%9d/175562/|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=live}}
• Herkelås
• Tjøme Church
• Færder National Park, first National Park in Vestfold.

File:Gokstadhaugen.jpg was buried at the Gokstad Mound.Tore, Sandberg and Cato Arveschoug (2001). Sandefjord zoomet inn av fotograf Tore Sandberg. C. Arveschoug and Magne Helland. Page 40. {{ISBN|9788299616706}}.]]

• Sandefjord Museum (the Whaling Museum), Europe's only museum dedicated to whaling.
• Southern Actor, only whale-catcher from the Modern Whaling Epoch still to be in its original working order.
• Gokstad Mound, site of the discovery of the 9th-century Gokstad Ship.
• Gaia ship, replica of the Gokstad Ship docked at Museum's Wharf.
• Sandar Church, built on ruins of a 13th-century medieval stone church. Present church was erected in 1792.
• Whaler's Monument, rotating bronze monument erected in honor of pioneering whalers.
• Sandefjord Church
• Istrehågan, ancient burial ground which dates to the Roman Iron Age around 1500-500 BCE.
• Kurbadet, former resort spa and one of Europe's most visited baths in the late 19th century.
• Folehavna Fort, ruins from a German fortress erected in 1941 during the German occupation of Norway.
• Høyjord Stave Church, the only stave church left in Vestfold County.
• Langeby, popular bathing beach at West Island.
• Goksjø, third-largest lake in Vestfold County.

File:Istrehågan, Tjølling (14550732106).jpg resemble a ship.Davidsen, Roger (2008). Et Sted i Sandefjord. Sandar Historielag. Page 144. {{ISBN|9788299456753}}.Lund, Arild and Charlotte Jørgensen (2001). Larvik. Capella Media. Page 16. {{ISBN|978-8299606912}}.]]

File:Borreparken, gravhaug, Horten kommune, Vestfold.jpg is home to Scandinavia'sNickel, Phyllis and Hans Jakob Valderhaug (2017). Norwegian Cruising Guide—Vol 2: Sweden, West Coast and Norway, Swedish Border to Bergen. Attainable Adventure Cruising Ltd. Page 86. {{ISBN|9780995893962}}. and Northern Europe's largest burial mound site.]]

{{Main|Istrehågan}}

Istrehågan is an ancient burial ground which dates to the Roman Iron Age around 1500-500 BCE. It is located at Jåberg in Tjølling, on the border between Sandefjord and Larvik.Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). 40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn. Vett Viten. Page 123. {{ISBN|9788241202841}}. The rock settings at Istrehågan resemble a ship. It is {{convert|24|m}} long, and {{convert|9|m}} meters broad. Archaeological excavations made in 1959-61 uncovered

remains of bones, bear claws, pottery shards, a brooch, and more.https://www.visitvestfold.com/Images/Bilder%20Visit%20Vestfold/Vestfold/Dokumenter/viking_trail_engelsk_web_951579.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143439/https://www.visitvestfold.com/Images/Bilder%20Visit%20Vestfold/Vestfold/Dokumenter/viking_trail_engelsk_web_951579.pdf |date=12 June 2018 }} (Page 8). At Haugen farm on the Sandefjord side is Vestfold County's largest collection of petroglyphs.Børresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 38. {{ISBN|9788292284070}}.

{{Main|Borre National Park}}

File:Redskaper fra Kaupang.jpg]]

At Borrehaugene near Borrre there are 9 large mounds and around 30 smaller ones.{{cite web |url=https://snl.no/Borrehaugene |title=Borrehaugene |publisher=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia |author=Bergljot Solberg |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208132854/https://snl.no/Borrehaugene |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live }} It is the largest burial mound site in Northern Europe.

Borre mound cemetery most likely contains graves belonging to kings of the Yngling dynasty. It is mentioned in the poem Ynglingatal as the burial site of one of two kings belonging to the royal dynasty of the Ynglingas.Carver, M.O.H. (1992). The Age of Sutton Hoo: The Seventh Century in North-Western Europe. Boydell Press. Page 301. {{ISBN|9780851153612}}.

{{Main|Kaupang}}

Kaupang in Skiringssal (Larvik) is home to remains from the oldest Nordic town yet discovered. It was a trade centre established around year 800, making it one of Scandinavia's earliest urban sites. The settlement was abandoned in the mid-10th century. It is located in Kaupang Bay in Viksfjord, Larvik. Archeological finds include melting pots, jewelry parts, casting moulds and casting models.{{Cite web|url=https://vestfoldmuseene.no/fordypning/kaupang/|title=Kaupang|first=av: Anne|last=Doksrød}} Most of Kaupang remains not excavated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/kaupang-viking-town/177404/|title=Kaupang Viking Town|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140154/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/kaupang-viking-town/177404/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} There are replicas of Viking homes at Kaupang today, giving insight to how homes were constructed during the Viking Age.https://issuu.com/visitvestfold/docs/visit_larvik_2018-2019_web{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Page 23).{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/larvik/product/?TLp=1113540|title=Kaupang Viking Town|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}

{{Main|Oseberg Ship}}

File:Le bateau viking dOseberg (4835828216).jpg was excavated in Tønsberg.]]

Oseberg Mound is located in Tønsberg and is where the Oseberg Ship was discovered. The ship, which dates to 834 A.D., had a length of {{convert|22|m}}. Two female skeletons were found in the ship's burial chamber.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/Osebergfunnet|title=Osebergfunnet|date=13 December 2018|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518172711/https://snl.no/Osebergfunnet|archive-date=18 May 2019|url-status=live}}

Gulli, outside Tønsberg, was the site of an archaeological excavation during the period from 2003 to 2004, prior to asphalt being laid for constructing the new E18 (road).{{cite news |author1=Bjørn Brandlien |title=En ganske vanlig mann |publisher=Klassekampen |date=5 October 2015 |page=11}} There were 60 graves - 20 of those were preserved to a degree that [authorities decided] permitted examinations. "Perhaps the most spectacular [item] was a høvre" - used with a horse's harness. "There are few of those in Norway - one in Trøndelag and a gilded one found in Borre".

The artifacts are on display at the Midgard Historical Centre in Borre.{{cite web |url=http://midgardsenteret.no/en/ |title=Welcome to Midgard – the World of the Vikings! |publisher=Midgard Historical Centre |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204080022/http://midgardsenteret.no/en/ |archive-date=4 February 2016 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=http://midgardsenteret.no/en/entombed-the-vikings-gravefield-in-gulli/ |title=Entombed – Viking burial customs at Gulli |publisher=Midgard Historical Centre |date=30 January 2011 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208102233/http://midgardsenteret.no/en/entombed-the-vikings-gravefield-in-gulli/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=live }}

19th century archeologists were struck by the many burial mounds and artifacts discovered at Fevang near Torp Airport in Sandefjord. Local farmers had discovered various artifacts in the 19th- and early 20th centuries. Archeologist Nicolay Nicolaysen traveled to Fevang and concluded that Fevang was home to an array of ancient burial mounds. Nicolaysen further discovered that Fevang had been an active graveyard for over 1,000 years - since year 0 A.D. until the first Christian cemeteries were established. Among the artifacts discovered were a gold jewel named Berlokk, which was retrieved in a woman's grave along with two gold beads, two blue glass beads, a hairpin, ceramic, burnt bones, and two clips of bronze. Her tomb is dated to the Old Iron Age, around 0-400 A.D.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/sandefjord/product/?TLp=1262079|title=The burial mounds of Fevang|website=www.visitvestfold.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vfk.no/meny/tjenester-og-fagomrader/kulturarv/kulturarvartikler/fevang/|title=Fevang|website=Vestfold fylkeskommune|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202248/https://www.vfk.no/meny/tjenester-og-fagomrader/kulturarv/kulturarvartikler/fevang/|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Gokstad Mound}}

File:Gokstad.jpg

File:Moelen Larvik.jpg dated to the Bronze Age]]

Gokstad Mound in Sandefjord was where the Gokstad Ship was excavated by Nicolay Nicolaysen in 1880.Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). 40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn. Vett Viten. Page 106. {{ISBN|9788241202841}}. The skeleton of a man was found in the ship, long believed to be Olaf Geirstad-Alf, former king of Vestfold and half-brother of Halfdan the Black, the father of Harald Fairhair, Norway's first king. However, recent discoveries have increased uncertainty and it therefore remains unknown what chieftain was buried at Gokstad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/the-gokstad-mound/2407/|title=The Gokstad mound|website=www.visitnorway.com|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143923/https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/the-gokstad-mound/2407/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}Davidsen, Roger (2008). Et Sted i Sandefjord. Sandar Historielag. Page 210. {{ISBN|978-82-994567-5-3}}.

The ship, which is the largest found in Norway, is currently located at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The {{convert|23.8|m}} ship was buried along with numerous gifts, including weapons, jewels, a gaming board, fish-hooks, 64 shields, six beds, three smaller boats and kitchen utensils. Twelve horses, eight dogs, two goshawks and two peacocks were also discovered in the grave.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/exhibitions/gokstad/gokstad-grave.html|title=The Gokstad grave - Museum of Cultural History|website=www.khm.uio.no|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502120853/https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/exhibitions/gokstad/gokstad-grave.html|archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/maldon/gokstad.html|title=Gokstad Ship|website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}

Interpretive signs have been put up at the mound and Gaia, an exact replica of the Gokstad Ship, can be seen on Museum's Wharf at Sandefjord Harbor.Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). 40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn. Vett Viten. Page 24. {{ISBN|9788241202841}}.

{{Main|Mølen}}

File:Gravhaug.jpg is home to one of Norway's largest burial grounds from the Iron Age.]]

The Old Norse word Mol translates to cairns, a site often used by ancient peoples to mark a burial site. Mølen, which is Norway's largest stone beach, is home to 230 cairns, which have been built over ages. Some cairns have been dated to 250 A.D. The isthmus of Mølen is home to stone piles, grave mounds, and stone settings, which are all part of a protected historic site. The last Ice Age pushed large amounts of gravel and stones ahead of it, and deposited it as a moraine through all of Vestfold, known as Vestfoldraet. Raet meets the ocean at Mølen, where the moraine sinks into the sea. Its encounter with the Skagerrak ocean waves has uncovered and polished the huge round stone floor for centuries.Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Page 54. {{ISBN|9788290636017}}.

{{Main|Bøkeskogen}}

Besides being the largest beech tree forest in Norway, and the most northernmost beech tree forest in the world, Bøkeskogen is also an important archeological area. 83-90 burial mounds have been discovered in the forest. Some of these include the largest burial grounds from the Pre-Roman Iron Age in Vestfold County.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/Larvik|title=Larvik|first1=Geir|last1=Thorsnæs|first2=Sten|last2=Lundbo|first3=Lars|last3=Mæhlum|date=20 April 2019|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140538/https://snl.no/Larvik|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Moelen3.jpg GeoPark in Larvik]]

At least 238 kilometers of coastal hiking trails can be found in Vestfold County, from Larvik in the south to Svelvik in the north.Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Page 234. {{ISBN|9788293057222}}. Hiking trails are found throughout the county, including at World's End in Færder National Park. Furthermore, there is a 35 km (22 mi.) marked trail between the towns of Stavern and Helgeroa. Mølen, Kjærrafossen and Bøkeskogen are also home to various trails. Tønsberg Barrel, an old beacon dated to Sverris saga in the Middle Ages,Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Pages 297-298. {{ISBN|9788293057222}}. sits at Yxnøy on Sandefjord's East Island. West Island is home to Folehavna Fort and additional trails.https://issuu.com/visitvestfold/docs/visit_larvik_2018-2019_web{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Page 73). Combined, the trails on Sandefjord's East- and West Islands are 45 km (28 mi.), and a part of the international North Sea Trail.Mšbius, Aaron and Michael (2014). Norwegen. DuMont Reiseverlag. Page 168. {{ISBN|9783770167326}}.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sandefjord.kommune.no/globalassets/kultur-friluftsliv-by--og-stedsutvikling/kfbs-dokumenter/idrett-og-friluftsliv/ut-pa-tur/kyststien-side-2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209153015/https://www.sandefjord.kommune.no/globalassets/kultur-friluftsliv-by--og-stedsutvikling/kfbs-dokumenter/idrett-og-friluftsliv/ut-pa-tur/kyststien-side-2.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=live }} Bøkeskogen in Larvik is home to various trails, varying from 2.6 km (1.6 mi.) to 10 km (6.2 mi.) in length.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/larvik/attractions/bokeskogen/a/poi-sig/1499575/360251|title=Bøkeskogen | Larvik, Norway Attractions|website=www.lonelyplanet.com|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617115713/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/larvik/attractions/bokeskogen/a/poi-sig/1499575/360251|archive-date=17 June 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Lynx lynx2.jpg}}]]

Vestfold's fauna includes species such as the White-tailed eagle, Roe deer, Moose, European hedgehog, Eurasian eagle-owl, Mountain hare, European badger, European pine marten, and Norway lemming. Rare observations of Gray wolf, European lynx, and Brown bear do occur.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/ansvarsomrader/vilt/|title=Vilt - Miljødirektoratet|website=Miljødirektoratet/Norwegian Environment Agency|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510183530/https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/ansvarsomrader/vilt/|archive-date=10 May 2019|url-status=live}} A wolf shot in Lardal in 2013 was the first wolf killed in the county in over 100 years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tb.no/nyheter/ulv-trolig-oppdaget-i-sandefjord-1.8196625?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Ulv trolig oppdaget i Sandefjord|date=4 December 2013|website=www.tb.no}} Between 700 and 800 moose are annually hunted in Vestfold. Larvik has one of the highest numbers of moose in Norway.

The Harbor seal is the most commonly observed species of seal in Vestfold, and it was estimated to be at minimum 183 seals in Vestfold as of August 2014.https://prosjekt.fylkesmannen.no/Documents/Jomfruland/Dokument/Rapporter/Minirapport%20om%20sel%20i%20forbindelse%20med%20arbeidet%20med%20Jomfruland%20nasjonalpark.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144013/https://prosjekt.fylkesmannen.no/Documents/Jomfruland/Dokument/Rapporter/Minirapport%20om%20sel%20i%20forbindelse%20med%20arbeidet%20med%20Jomfruland%20nasjonalpark.pdf |date=12 June 2018 }} (Page 2).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sb.no/nyheter/15-steinkobber-skal-skytes/s/5-73-9843?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=15 steinkobber skal skytes|date=22 December 2014|website=Sandefjords Blad}} Dolphins are uncommon, however, a Common bottlenose dolphin was observed by Nøtterøy in 2014,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tb.no/nyheter/her-far-jon-en-opplevelse-han-sent-vil-glemme-1.8550362?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Her får Jon en opplevelse han sent vil glemme|date=20 August 2014|website=www.tb.no}} and a Striped dolphin was observed the same summer at Helgeroa in Larvik.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/vestfold/se-delfin-pa-svommetur-1.11830942|title=Se delfin på svømmetur|first=Susann J.|last=Rismyhr|date=14 July 2014|website=NRK|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915173012/http://www.nrk.no/vestfold/se-delfin-pa-svommetur-1.11830942|archive-date=15 September 2015|url-status=live}}

Common European Viper is the only venomous snake found in Norway.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/hoggorm|title=hoggorm|first1=Jon Kristian|last1=Skei|first2=Espen|last2=Knutsen|date=16 May 2019|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524191353/https://snl.no/hoggorm|archive-date=24 May 2019|url-status=live}} There are two non-venomous snake species in Vestfold County: European grass snake and European smooth snake.Larsen, Erlend (2012). På tur i Vestfold: Del 2. E-forlag. Page 10. {{ISBN|9788293057222}}.

Vestfold has a rich avifauna: over 130 bird species have been observed in Svelvik,{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/Svelvik|title=Svelvik|first1=Geir|last1=Thorsnæs|first2=Sten|last2=Lundbo|date=5 March 2019|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521070627/https://snl.no/Svelvik|archive-date=21 May 2019|url-status=live}} while Mølen in Larvik has the national record of 320 species.{{Cite web|url=https://vestfold.guide/mlen-rullesteinstrand|title=Vestfoldguide — Mølen rullesteinstrand|website=Vestfoldguide|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143823/https://vestfold.guide/mlen-rullesteinstrand/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}

Saltstein is part of a protected habitat for birds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/article/ap-G1kwV.html|title=Løsning for omstridte bølger|first=Ntb Tore|last=Meek|website=Aftenposten|date=27 December 2013 }} From 2014 surfing was permitted off Saltstein.

Besides being an UNESCO Global Geopark, Mølen in Larvik is a habitat for a variety of rare bird species.{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/M%C3%B8len_-_i_Larvik|title=Mølen – i Larvik|first=Lars|last=Mæhlum|date=11 June 2018|via=Great Norwegian Encyclopedia|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141419/https://snl.no/M%C3%B8len_-_i_Larvik|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} Mølen became a protected sanctuary for birds in 1970. 320 species of birds have been recorded at Mølen, more species than at any other site in Norway.Nord, Einar and Gunnar Christie Wasberg (1999). Magiske Mølen. Larvik og omegns turistforening. Page 85. ISBN 8299524903.

Wildlife preserves include Melsom- and Hemskilen Wildlife Preserves. Hemskilen Wildlife Preserve lies on the Larvik-Sandefjord border and is an important habitat for shorebirds, geese, and Passerines.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Vestfold/Miljo-og-klima/Verneomrader/Vestfolds-verneomrader/Hemskilen-naturreservat/ |title=Hemskilen naturreservat - Fylkesmannen i Vestfold |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004432/https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Vestfold/Miljo-og-klima/Verneomrader/Vestfolds-verneomrader/Hemskilen-naturreservat/ |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=live }} Melsom Plant- and Wildlife Preserve in Sandefjord is home to various older oaks, some of them home to as many as 1,500 different species of insects.{{Cite web|url=https://faktaark.naturbase.no/?id=VV00002454|title=Naturbase faktaark|website=faktaark.naturbase.no|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202036/http://faktaark.naturbase.no/?id=VV00002454|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=live}} Marøyskjæra Bird Preserve consists of two skerries west of Natholmen Island, which have been important nesting areas for Common tern and Common gull since the 1980s. Over 500 seagulls hatched on the islets in the 1990s.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Vestfold/Miljo-og-klima/Verneomrader/Vestfolds-verneomrader/Maroyskjara-fuglefredningsomrade/ |title=Marøyskjæra fuglefredningsområde - Fylkesmannen i Vestfold |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143506/https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Vestfold/Miljo-og-klima/Verneomrader/Vestfolds-verneomrader/Maroyskjara-fuglefredningsomrade/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Documents/Dokument%20FMVE/Milj%C3%B8%20og%20klima/Verneomr%C3%A5der-PDF/Mar%C3%B8yskj%C3%A6ra-fuglefredningsomr%C3%A5de/Sandefjord-Maroeyskjaera-fuglefredningsomraade-Natur-i-Vestfold-2014.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.fylkesmannen.no |access-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140740/https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Documents/Dokument%20FMVE/Milj%C3%B8%20og%20klima/Verneomr%C3%A5der-PDF/Mar%C3%B8yskj%C3%A6ra-fuglefredningsomr%C3%A5de/Sandefjord-Maroeyskjaera-fuglefredningsomraade-Natur-i-Vestfold-2014.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}

Although not filmed in Vestfold, the City of Tønsberg appears in the films Thor (2011) and also in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), and in Avengers: Endgame{{Cite web|url=https://p3.no/filmpolitiet/2011/08/captain-america-the-first-avenger/|title=Captain America: The First Avenger|date=11 August 2011 |access-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616054919/https://p3.no/filmpolitiet/2011/08/captain-america-the-first-avenger/|archive-date=16 June 2018|url-status=live}}

Some films shot in Vestfold include:

• Norway (2018), movie based on the 2011 Norway attacks, filmed in Tønsberg and Nøtterøy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/vestfold/spiller-inn-storfilm-utenfor-tonsberg-1.13756443|title=Spiller inn storfilm utenfor Tønsberg|first=Henrik|last=Bøe|date=30 October 2017|website=NRK|access-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216041352/https://www.nrk.no/vestfold/spiller-inn-storfilm-utenfor-tonsberg-1.13756443|archive-date=16 December 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/a/68838371|title=Spiller inn Netflix-film om 22. juli på datterens ferieparadis: - Får Marias død midt i fleisen|first=Knut-Eirik|last=Lindblad|date=1 November 2017|website=Dagbladet.no}}
• Olsenbanden tar gull (1972), filmed in Stavern (Larvik) and Sande in Vestfold.{{Cite web|url=https://www.op.no/navn-i-dag/museum/foto/det-er-ofte-i-de-private-samlingene-de-virkelige-skattene-finnes/s/5-36-303345?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=– Det er ofte i de private samlingene de virkelige skattene finnes|date=5 January 2017|website=www.op.no}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oa.no/nyheter/article6769976.ece?ns_campaign=article&ns_mchannel=recommend_button&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=facebook&ns_fee=0|title=Helt kanon i 30 år|date=20 July 2013|website=www.oa.no}}
• Baadshah (1999), Tønsberg{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=T%C3%B8nsberg,+Norway|title=Filming Location Matching "Tønsberg, Norway" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)|website=IMDb}}
• Christmas Blood ("Juleblod") (2017), Tønsberg and Sandefjord.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6228890/locations|title=Christmas Blood (2017) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}
• Wisting (2018– ), Larvik and Sandefjord.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7875794/locations|title=Wisting (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}
• Nonni and Manni (1988–89), Horten.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121003/locations|title=Nonni and Manni (TV Series 1988– ) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719130757/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121003/locations|archive-date=19 July 2009|url-status=live}}
• Head Above Water (1993), filmed at East Island in Sandefjord.Davidsen, Roger (2008). Et sted i Sandefjord: lokalhistorisk stedsnavnsleksikon. Sandar historielag. Page 74. ISBN 9788299456753.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107121/|title=Head Above Water|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908062723/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107121/|archive-date=8 September 2019|url-status=live}}
• Deadline Torp (2005), movie based on the 1994 Torp hostage crisis, filmed in Sandefjord and Larvik.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448189/locations|title=Deadline Torp (TV Movie 2005) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225125154/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448189/locations|archive-date=25 February 2014|url-status=live}}
• Valfångare (1939), Sandefjord.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032089/|title=Valfångare|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209101813/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032089/|archive-date=9 February 2017|url-status=live}}
• Den starkaste (1929), Sandefjord.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020450/locations|title=Den starkaste (1929) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}

Færder.jpg|Færder National Park

Borreparken, gravhaug, Horten kommune, Vestfold.jpg|Borre National Park in Horten

Excavation Oseberg ship 1.jpg|The Oseberg Ship was discovered in Tønsberg.

Stavern Wasilioff.jpg|Town centre in Stavern

Citadellet 1.jpg|Citadellet, 19th-century fortress in Stavern

Høyjord stavkirke, MIS.jpg|Høyjord Stave Church, only stave church left in VestfoldBørresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 67. {{ISBN|9788292284070}}.

Trollfoss.jpg|Trollfoss in Larvik, the tallest waterfall in Vestfold.Børresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 96. {{ISBN|9788292284070}}.Aadnevik, Kjell-Einar (2019). Turguide til Larvik og Omegn. Dreyers forlag. Page 274. {{ISBN|9788282654418}}.Schandy, Tom and Tom Helgesen (2012). Naturperler i Vestfold. Forlaget Tom & Tom v/Schandy. Page 192. {{ISBN|9788292916148}}.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091222061033/http://norwegen.piranho.de/Vestfolde.htm Vestfold photo gallery]

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