As far as you can get in the Oslo-fjord, lies the largest city in Norway – Oslo. It has been the nation’s capital since 1299, but its heritage goes further back than that – recent archeological digs found remains of Christian graves pre-dating 1000 B.C. and Oslo therefor celebrated the city’s 1000-year anniversary in the year 2000.
Ambiance
In addition to being full of historical landmarks, Oslo has grown to become quite the metropolis with fascinating modern architecture, trendy restaurants and great shopping. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and offers a vast selection of parks, museums, theatres and world class art expos in addition to a vivid entertainment and culinary scene – Oslo is truly a multifaceted experience where they have successfully managed to create a vibrant city life whilst retaining the small town charm.
Exploring and getting around
This is a wonderful city to explore on foot – the Royal Castle, the National Museum, Aker Brygge with all its restaurant and cafés, the Nobel Peace Centre, Akershus Fortress and the Opera house are for example all conveniently located within walking distance from each other.
If you would like to go out to Bygdøy to visit e.g. the Kon-Tiki and/or Fram museums, or just rest your legs a bit, Oslo has great public transport – it features both a tram service (“trikken”) and an extensive subway system as well as bus services throughout the city and its surroundings.