Norway's capital city of Oslo sits at the head of a spectacular 70 mile fjord. It was founded in 1050 on the site of a Viking settlement and after the building of an imposing castle in the late 13th century it grew into a major European trading centre. The city was burnt to the ground in 1624 but rebuilt. By the 19th century it had grown into a major trading, financial and military centre. The discovery of north sea oil led to a major boost in its economy.< /p>
Today the compact city centre, built around the port, is surrounded by urban sprawl to the surrounding hills. A lively night life and major cash infusion into arts and culture has helped the city shake off a dull and parochial image. The population is small for a major city but good shopping, crowded cafes and pubs, good theatres and revamped port area gives it a cosmopolitan air.
For its size Oslo is well supplied with galleries and museums and the compact city centre owes much to its medieval tradition. There are pleasant districts and good parks within walking distance. Fine panoramic views abound in the spectacular setting and there are walking and skiing trails within 15min of the city centre.
Key attractions are the Akerhus Palace and Fortress which dominates the sea front, the National Galley with works by major modern artists including Edward Munch and Oslo Cathedral. A short ferry ride away is the Bygdoy peninsula and the Norsk Folk Museum, one of Europe's largest open-air museums and the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
Oslo has a comprehensive and efficient transport network of trains, buses, trams, ferries and metro. Norges Statsbaner is the national rail provider with local and long-distance services. The main highways are the E6 from Lillehammerand the north, the E16 from Bergen in the west and the E18 from Stockholm in the east. With the opening of the Øresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark it is possible to drive from Norway to Denmark without using a ferry.
Buses offer a network of domestic and international long-distance routes. Destinations include larger Norwegian towns and European destinations such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, Berlin and Hamburg.
Oslo Gardermoen airport is 47km north and takes about 14million passengers a year. The terminal layout entails a lot of walking. There are express trains to the city every 10min and fixed pices for airport taxis. Sandefjord Airport 118km south west of Oslo has alternative low cost international and domestic routes and direct coach services. A railway station is 8km from the airport.
