Other main population centres in the municipality include the town of Stavern and the villages of Gjone, Helgeroa, Hem, Kjose, Kvelde, Nevlunghavn, Skinmo, Svarstad, Ula, Verningen, and Tjøllingvollen.

[6][7] The city of Larvik achieved market town status in 1671, but it did not become a self-governing municipality until 1 January 1838 when the formannskapsdistrikt law went into effect.

The municipality (originally the town of Larvik) is named after the small cove at the end of the Larviksfjorden, which was historically called Lagarvík in Old Norse.

The green color in the field and the tree design symbolize the local beech forest around the town.

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The blazon is "Azure, a tree with seven droplet-shaped leaves, of which six are opposite two and two, issuant from a mount argent" (Norwegian: I blått et oppvoksende tre med syv dråpeformede blader hvor av seks er motstående to og to, alt i sølv).

This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a tree design with six leaves shaped like water droplets that are arranged symmetrically, three on each side and one on top.

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The seven drops symbolize forest water that flows into streams and further into the main Numedalslågen and Farriselva rivers.

[17][21][22][23] Various remains from the Stone Age have been discovered throughout the municipality of Larvik, for instance by Torpevannet near the village of Helgeroa.

Ancient peoples have carried rocks from Raet and constructed vast numbers of burial mounds at Mølen.

During the Roman Iron Age, ancient peoples erected a stone monument resembling a ship at Istrehågan, one of Norway's greatest remains (oldtidsminne) from prehistoric times.

[25]: 12  Skiringssal has remains from the oldest town yet discovered in the Nordic countries,[26] and it was one of Scandinavia's earliest urban sites.

In 1671, the village received kjøpstad (market town) status in 1671 when Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve bought the Fritsø estate.

[64] Figures from a census held at the beginning of the 19th century indicate that Larvik's population has quadrupled in approximately 200 years.

Due to its stable climate and one of Norway's highest median temperatures, Larvik experiences significant summer tourism.

[9]: 97 [25]: 70  Larvik's climate is among the mildest in Norway, with one of the nation's highest number of annual sunshine days.

[64][9]: 64 The coastal town of Stavern and picturesque villages of Helgeroa and Nevlunghavn receive large numbers of tourists during summer months.

[9]: 64  Other attractions include the Maritime Museum, Fritzøehus, Herregården, the home of Thor Heyerdahl, and Bøkeskogen.

[11] Larvik occupies the southwestern corner of Vestfold county, between Sandefjord Municipality in the east and the Langesundsfjorden in the west.

The land is relatively flat along the coast and by the many bays, while the interior parts consist of large and hilly woodlands.

The highest point is the 622-metre (2,041 ft) tall mountain Vindfjell which lies on the western border with Siljan Municipality in Telemark county.

[9]: 32 Notable geographical features include the lake Farris and the river Numedalslågen, locally called Lågen, which terminates at the Larviksfjorden at the town of Larvik.

Larvik is also noted for its natural springs of mineral water, Farriskildene, which have been commercially exploited under the brand name Farris.

Daily ferries to Hirtshals, Denmark depart from the city harbour and are operated by Color Line.

[83] Hiking trails can also be found at Mølen, which is an UNESCO GeoPark and home of Norway's largest stone beach.

Larvik Museum was established with the purpose of preserving, and restoring the city's collection of historic buildings.

Verkensgarorden displays tools, equipment, drawings, and models illustrating the iron-production era in Larvik, which dated from 1670 to 1870.

Larvik Maritime Museum is located in the old customs house, and is the residence of the local building inspector.

This museum displays models of ships, paintings of sailing vessels, and other nautical artifacts to bring the port's maritime history alive.