Oslo, Norway » City Info

Oslo is one of the largest cities and has been the capital of Norway since 1814. The name of the city has changed from time to time as it was called Christiania from 1624 to 1878, and Kristiania from 1878 to 1924.

Oslo first founded its own municipality in 1837 and after its separation from the county of Akershus in 1842, a county of its own was formed. Oslo is the third largest Scandinavian city after Copenhagen and Stockholm. The Royal Family of Norway, the Government and the Parliament, are also based in Oslo.

The city is located at the head of Oslo Fjord and therefore is surrounded by a lot of greenery and woody hills. For those who love hiking, trekking and other outdoor activities, the city is the best place to be in. All the attractions are nearby to each other and most of the parks are within walking distance of around ten minutes.

During the winter season, one can access all eight ski centres in the city, or for the more adventurous individuals there are hundreds of kilometres of cross country trails in the snow covered forests and mountains. In 2007, the Reader’s Digest ranked Oslo number two from a list of the world's greenest and best cities to live in.

The city offers plenty of attractions, large shopping malls displaying the latest fashion and a wide range of restaurants serving the most delectable cuisines. Many opportunities and countless choices are what make the lively city of Oslo a desirable holiday destination.