If you're planning a trip to Tønsberg and wondering where to stay, the good news is that choosing a hotel here is actually pretty easy.
Tønsberg is quite small, and the town centre and harbour are very close together. If you choose one of the central hotels, you'll be able to walk to the restaurants around the harbour, shops, Viking attractions and many of the main things to do in Tønsberg.
We stayed at Quality Hotel Tønsberg, right on the harbour, and for us the location was perfect. We could walk everywhere, there were loads of places to eat within a few minutes of the hotel and, best of all, there was a heated rooftop pool and sauna overlooking the harbour.
In this guide, I'll show you where we stayed in Tønsberg, what we liked and didn't like about the hotel, plus a few other centrally located hotels to consider.
If you're flying into Oslo Torp, I've also put together a separate guide showing exactly how to get from Oslo Torp Airport to Tønsberg by shuttle and train. The whole journey takes around 25 minutes once you're on the shuttle and train, and we found it incredibly easy.
Just a quick note before we begin. Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products, services and experiences we've used ourselves or genuinely believe will help you plan your trip.
Our stay at Quality Hotel Tønsberg was kindly gifted as part of our visit to Tønsberg. There was no obligation for us to write a review or feature the hotel, but we've chosen to include it in this guide and, as always, all opinions are completely our own.
For a short trip, I'd personally stay around Tønsberg harbour or the town centre.
The two areas are so close together that you don't really need to choose between them. We spent our weekend walking everywhere and never needed a taxi or local bus to get around Tønsberg itself.
The harbour, known as Brygga, would be my first choice. There are lots of restaurants and bars along the waterfront, and it's a lovely area to come back to in the evening. You're still only a short walk from the main shopping streets and attractions in the centre.
Three of Tønsberg's main hotels are around the waterfront, including Quality Hotel Tønsberg, Thon Hotel Tønsberg Brygge and Hotel Klubben.
If being close to the train station is more important, there are options slightly further back towards the centre too. Even then, you're not going to be miles away from everything because Tønsberg really is very compact.
We stayed at Quality Hotel Tønsberg for our weekend and I'd definitely choose it again.
The hotel sits right on the harbour and is around a five-minute walk from Tønsberg station. Once we'd arrived, we didn't need any other transport during our stay.
What really made us choose this hotel though was the rooftop pool. If you've followed Build a Break for a while, you'll know I love finding a hotel with something a little bit extra, particularly when it doesn't send the price of the trip through the roof.
A heated rooftop pool overlooking the harbour definitely ticked that box.
The location was probably one of the biggest advantages of staying here.
Quality Hotel Tønsberg sits right beside the harbour, with restaurants and bars practically on the doorstep. There were at least ten different places we could have eaten within around a five-minute walk, so we were spoilt for choice when it came to finding somewhere for dinner.
It's also right beside Vikingodden, which was one of the places we wanted to visit during our weekend. This is where you'll find Viking ship replicas and learn more about Tønsberg's Viking history.
The town centre is only a short walk away too, so the hotel worked really well as a base for exploring both sides of Tønsberg.
This was probably my favourite part of the hotel.
Quality Hotel Tønsberg has a rooftop Pool Club on the fifth floor, with a heated outdoor pool, sauna and views across Tønsberg and the harbour.
The pool is heated to around 32°C, so it isn't just something you can use during the Norwegian summer.
After an early flight, travelling from Torp and then spending most of the day exploring Tønsberg, it was perfect to come back to the hotel and head straight up to the rooftop.
We grabbed a drink from the Pool Club bar and sat in the heated pool overlooking the harbour. There's also an indoor sauna and relaxation area, so you can easily spend a couple of hours up there rather than just having a quick swim.
For me, this is what really sets Quality Hotel Tønsberg apart from the other hotels in the centre. We were only in Tønsberg for a short weekend, so having something like this at the hotel gave us another experience without having to travel anywhere.
One thing I would check before booking is the current opening hours. The Pool Club wasn't open on the Sunday of our stay, which meant Saturday was our only opportunity to use it. If the pool is one of the main reasons you're choosing this hotel, check that it will actually be open on the days you're visiting.
The breakfast was honestly one of the best hotel breakfasts I've had.
There was a huge buffet with loads of choice, including cooked breakfast items as well as cold meats, cheeses, breads, fruit, yoghurt and plenty of other options.
It wasn't one of those hotel breakfasts where you walk around trying to cobble together enough things you actually like. There was so much choice that we went back more than once, and it set us up perfectly for another full day exploring.
Norway isn't necessarily the cheapest place to eat out either, so having such a substantial breakfast included with your hotel can also help keep your food costs down during a short trip.
Being able to leave our bags at the hotel was another big plus for us, particularly as we were only visiting for the weekend and wanted to make the most of every hour we had.
We arrived before check-in, dropped our bags at the hotel and headed straight out to explore rather than carrying them around Tønsberg with us.
Our flight home wasn't until the evening the following day, so after checking out we left our bags with the hotel again and collected them when we were ready to head back to Torp Airport.
It's a small thing, but on a one or two-night trip it makes such a difference when you don't have to plan your day around your luggage.
There wasn't anything that would stop us staying here again, but there were a few things that weren't quite to my personal preference.
Our room didn't have air conditioning and the window only opened a limited amount. I like a really cold bedroom with plenty of fresh air, so I would have preferred to be able to get the room a bit cooler. The heating also came on automatically through the vents in the morning, which wasn't ideal for me when I was already trying to keep the room cool.
There was also no kettle or tea and coffee making facilities in our room. I don't drink hot drinks, so it didn't bother me, but my husband does and he definitely noticed its absence. It's worth knowing if you like a tea or coffee first thing in the morning without having to leave your room.
I also found the mattress quite soft and spongy, whereas I prefer a much firmer mattress. Again, that's completely down to personal preference and if you like a softer bed, you might think it's perfect.
The other thing to be aware of is the Pool Club opening times. It was closed on the Sunday of our stay, so we only had the opportunity to use it on Saturday. If the rooftop pool is a big part of the reason you're booking the hotel, I'd definitely check the opening days before choosing your dates.
None of these things would stop us returning and they're mostly down to personal preference. Next time I'd probably just bring a small portable travel fan with me, and maybe a travel kettle too!
Although we stayed at Quality Hotel Tønsberg, there are several other hotels in the centre that I'd consider if the price or availability worked better for your dates.
I haven't personally stayed at the hotels below, so these aren't reviews. I've included them because of their locations and facilities, and they're useful alternatives if you're comparing places to stay in Tønsberg.
If your priority is staying directly on the waterfront, Thon Hotel Tønsberg Brygge is another option worth looking at.
It's right on Brygga in the heart of Tønsberg and overlooks the harbour. That puts you close to the restaurants, bars and shops we enjoyed during our stay, while Tønsberg station is around 600 metres away.
The hotel offers a breakfast buffet and has its own bar. For me, its biggest selling point would be the location. You're staying right in the middle of the waterfront area, so it would be particularly handy if you want restaurants and nightlife within a very short walk.
Hotel Klubben is another waterfront option in the heart of Tønsberg.
The hotel has 144 rooms and suites, with some offering views towards Tønsberg Fjord. One of its more unusual features is Taket, its rooftop sky bar, where you can have a drink with panoramic views across the city and fjord.
There's also a restaurant at the hotel, and you're still within easy walking distance of the harbour, shops and attractions.
If you like the idea of staying centrally and having somewhere for drinks at the hotel in the evening, this could be a good alternative to Quality Hotel.
Wilhelmsen House is a little different from the larger waterfront hotels and could be worth considering if you'd prefer something quieter or more apartment-style.
It's set slightly further back from the harbour but is still close to the centre, so you're not sacrificing too much in terms of location.
This could also work well if being close to the train station is one of your priorities, particularly if you're arriving from Torp Airport and don't want a long walk with your bags.
If I was choosing between the central hotels, I'd base it more on the type of stay you want than the exact location because none of them are particularly far apart.
For the rooftop pool and sauna, I'd choose Quality Hotel Tønsberg.
For a waterfront hotel right on Brygga, I'd look at Quality Hotel Tønsberg or Thon Hotel Tønsberg Brygge.
For rooftop drinks and fjord views, Hotel Klubben would be worth considering.
For a quieter, more apartment-style stay, I'd look at Wilhelmsen House.
If prices were fairly similar, I'd personally still go back to Quality Hotel Tønsberg because we loved being able to use the heated rooftop pool after a full day exploring.
If you like the idea of having your hotel and activities combined, Visit Vestfold also offers a Tønsberg Viking Stay package.
The package includes accommodation at Thon Hotel Tønsberg Brygge with breakfast, along with two guided Viking experiences. You'll take a guided cycling tour from Vikingodden to the Oseberg mound, around 5km from the centre of Tønsberg, where the famous Oseberg Viking ship was discovered.
You'll also join Walk with a Viking, a two-hour guided walking tour through Tønsberg covering the city's Viking history, Norse myths, sagas and Viking ships. We did this activity and it was fascinating.
The bicycle is included with the cycling tour, so you don't need to arrange your own, and both activities are guided. This could be a really good option if Viking history is one of the main reasons you're visiting Tønsberg and you'd prefer to book your accommodation and experiences together.
When I checked, the package was available throughout 2026 and started from 4,832 NOK (£384) for two people. Prices and availability can change, so I'd check the latest details with Visit Vestfold before booking.
I wouldn't worry too much about finding a hotel directly beside the station.
Tønsberg is small enough that the station, town centre and harbour are all within walking distance of each other. We stayed on the harbour and simply walked from the station with our bags when we arrived from Torp.
This makes Tønsberg particularly easy for a short break using public transport. You can arrive by train, walk to your hotel and then spend the rest of the weekend exploring on foot.
If you're planning the same journey we did, have a look at my guide to getting from Oslo Torp Airport to Tønsberg, where I've included the shuttle, train, ticket prices and exactly how the connection works.
You'll find far more accommodation once you widen your search to include Tønsberg and Færder, but it's important to realise that some of the hotels you'll see aren't actually in Tønsberg town centre.
Places such as Engø Gård Hotel & Restaurant and Havna Hotel & Sjøbad are further south on Tjøme, so I wouldn't choose these as direct alternatives to a central Tønsberg hotel if your main aim is a weekend exploring the town.
They make more sense if you're planning a wider trip around Færder, want to be closer to the coast and nature, or have access to a car.
There are also campsites, cabins, apartments and some more unusual places to stay around Tønsberg and Færder. If you're specifically visiting Tønsberg for a short city break though, I'd keep things simple and stay centrally.
If you do want to explore the wider area, Visit Vestfold has a full list of accommodation options across Tønsberg and Færder, including hotels, cabins, campsites and other places to stay.
I think Tønsberg works really well for a short weekend.
Because the town is compact, you can see a surprising amount without spending half your trip travelling between different areas. We were able to explore on foot, visit the Viking attractions, spend time around the harbour and still have time to actually enjoy the hotel.
For a first visit, I'd look at one or two nights, depending on your flight times and what you want to see.
If you're staying longer, you could start looking at exploring more of Vestfold and Færder or combining Tønsberg with another destination in Norway.
Yes. We found Tønsberg incredibly easy for a weekend using public transport.
We travelled from Oslo Torp Airport using the shuttle and train, walked from Tønsberg station to our hotel and didn't need a car, taxi or local bus while exploring the centre.
That's one of the things I really liked about Tønsberg as a short break. Once you've arrived, everything feels very manageable and you don't need to spend lots of time working out how to get from one attraction to the next.
I'd book Quality Hotel Tønsberg again.
There are other well-located hotels around the harbour, and I'd always compare prices before booking, but the rooftop pool would swing it for me if there wasn't a huge difference in cost.
After travelling and spending the day exploring, being able to come back to the hotel, grab a drink and sit in a heated rooftop pool overlooking Tønsberg harbour was such a lovely way to finish the day.
Combine that with the breakfast, location and how easy everything was on foot, and I don't think we'd have any reason to choose somewhere different next time.
I'd just remember to pack that travel fan.
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