Porsgrunn is an industrial town set on the banks of the Skienselva River. The town has a proud history of porcelain making and produces some of the most beautiful fine-grain pottery in Norway. A picturesque promenade skirts the riverbank and is lined with cafes and restaurants. Porsgrunn is also a great base for outdoor adventures in Gea Norvegica Geopark.
Things to do in Porsgrunn
Porsgrund Porselænsfabrikk is one of the oldest and most famous porcelain factories in Norway. Guided tours take you behind the scenes of the factory, where you can watch highly skilled artisans painting intricate patterns. Stop by the gift shop to pick up a hand-painted porcelain souvenir.
The DuVerden Maritime Museum and Science Centre charts the long history of seafaring in Porsgrunn. There’s also a focus on how advances in science and technology have shaped the town over the years – learn about electricity, kinetics, space travel and more. The museum occupies a striking contemporary building set on the riverbank and is filled with interactive exhibits.
Gea Norvegica Geopark protects a unique landscape of rocky coastline, glacier-carved valleys and lush beech forests. Hiking trails wind through the park and take you past rock formations carved in the Ice Age. The beaches of the Langesundstangen peninsula are not only beautiful but strewn with ancient fossils and shells.
The tiny town of Brevik is a short drive down the coast and is built around a postcard-perfect harbour. It’s a beautiful place for a stroll and features marked trails that wind through the countryside and pass by a series of dams.
Getting around Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn is located in Telemark county, a two-hour drive from Oslo. Trains run between Porsgrunn and Oslo Central Station in around three hours. Local buses are also an option. Skien Geiteryggen Airport is a 15-minute drive away and Oslo Airport is 2.5 hours away.