Travel Oslo Guide

Oslo, Norway's capital, is a quickly modernizing city. Despite its modernization, it remains as enchanting as a storybook, with statues of gnomes gracing the street corners and flower boxes checkering old wooden buildings. Oslo sits in the middle of pristine wild lands, and is only minutes from the snowy mountains and wide white beaches. A large city with a small population, Oslo is home to hills, mountains, the city itself and 40 islands!

While in Oslo, be sure to visit Akershus Fortress and castle. Built in the 13th Century, this fortress has lived to see nearly every important battle fought by the Norwegians. Sitting on the water with a backdrop of Norwegian greenery, these buildings are interesting inside and out. The modern Oslo City Hall is home to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and is located in the center of the city.

Oslo has a wealth of museums, including a Viking Museum, the Historical Museum and the National Gallery which houses Edvard Munch's "The Scream". Separate from the National Gallery, there is a museum dedicated to Edvard Munch, the Munch Museum. This museum houses more than half of all of Munch's productions. The painting "The Scream" and another Munch classic, "The Madonna" have recently been returned to the city of Oslo after having been stolen in 2004.

The Oslo Palace is flanked by a large city park and makes for a lovely daytime excursion. The palace was built for the Royal family in the 19th Century by the Danish architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow. As the palace was neglected for years, a recent renovation project has brought it back to its original glory and the palace has only been open to the public since 2002.

Tour buses and boats will bring you around the city, and will most likely drop you at the sculpture park or the famous Viking Ship Museum. In addition to the sites and fun activities available in Oslo, it offers some of the best cuisine in Scandinavia. Oslo is the perfect city for a business meeting or a family vacation and its central location makes it a great starting point for visiting the rest of Norway. Visit the classy and captivating Northern city of Oslo, the jewel of Scandinavia. Further information you'll fin in every oslo guide or a library.