Between the Oslo Fjord and the green hills of Oslomarka lies the Norwegian capital! The combination of city life and easy access to outdoor activities makes Oslo a unique destination.

In the 8th century a settlement was built right at the top of the Oslo Fjord. This settlement grew rapidly during Viking times. Agriculture, trade and shipbuilding were important commercial activities, and Oslo sometimes are refered as the "Viking Capital". The city of Oslo was founded long after the town had been developed by the Vikings. Recent archeological findings state that the city was founded year 1000. Approximately the half of the Oslo's population died during the time of Black Death in 1348. This epidemic caused that Norway became reduced to a province of Denmark. During this time Copenhagen was the actual capital of Norway. Oslo was completely destroyed by fire in 1624. The King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway , decided to move Oslo from what we today call the Old Town , and rebuild it near the Akershus Fortress. A completely new city was created and named Christiania. Norway was united with Sweden in 1814. This caused a very strong economic and political growth of Christiania with substantial expansion right up until the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905. The original name of Oslo was re-instated on January 1, 1925.

Oslo's climate is fairly temperate thanks to warm air being wafted across the Atlantic from the Gulf Stream. Oslo has warm summers and manageable (though decidedly dark) winters. Summer temperatures average around 20°C (68°F) in June and July, though it can get as high as 30°C (86°F). In winter temperatures hover just above or below freezing, snow is plentiful.

The Oslo region is the country's premier business centre and has a diverse and dynamic economy with one of the highest regional GDPs in Europe. Oslo is at the centre of Norway's national and international transport infrastructure and as such is easily accessible. Oslo airport is one of the most modern airports in Europe and was opened in 1998. In a recent passenger survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Oslo Airport was ranked as the second best airport in its category, which included 23 airports with less than 15 million passengers a year. The Port of Oslo is the country's most important general cargo port, it offers daily connections to continental ports and overseas destinations. The port has 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) of quays with depths of up to 36 feet and due to the limited tide fluctuations birthing in the port is possible at any time of day. The port also enjoys good road and rail connections with the rest of the country.

The city itself has an extensive public transport system which is comprised of buses, trams, ferries and underground and overland trains. Oslo is a relatively small city and parking is at a premium so a car is a bit of a liability. The city is served by 50 bus lines and eight tram routes, all starting from Jerbanetorvet at Oslo Station. The subway is called the Oslo T-Bane and there are five underground lines covering the city. Ferries operate on a seasonal basis, between April and September, linking the City Hall to the museum-studded island of Bygdoy. There are also ferry services to the harbour islands. Metered taxis are easy to come by, and can be found at ranks near shopping centres, city squares, stations and other gathering points. Cabs can also be ordered by telephone from a central office, or from taxi ranks.

All children between 6 and 19 of age have a right to 13 years of education, including 10 years of compulsory education and 3 years of upper secondary school. The majority of upper secondary pupils continue their education after graduation. All pupils who have completed 10 years of basic schooling have a right to three years of upper secondary training. This right lasts for four years, which means you have to start upper secondary school no later than one year after completing primary/lower secondary. After a foundation course (GK) lasting one year, the next step is advanced course 1 (VK 1) which builds on the foundation course. Advanced course 2 follows and is a specialisation of VK 1, or you continue with in-service training if you are on a vocational course. The University of Oslo is Norway’s largest and oldest institution of higher education. It was founded in 1811 when Norway was still under Danish rule.

Amongst the internationally known attractions are: the Viking Ship Museum, the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen. New attractions in Oslo include the Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocaust Center. Oslo offers a great variety of opera, theatre, concerts, folk dance and music throughout the year. The Oslo Concert Hall is the home of the famous Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to several large stages for concerts, shows and theatre, Oslo also has a variety of smaller scenes where you can experience everything from stand-up comedy to ballet and modern dance. The city is host to a number of annual festivals of: chamber music, theatre, rock, jazz, contemporary music and much more.

Norwegian Wood Festival is one of the highlights on the country's musical calendar attracting many of the world's top artists as well as plenty of local Scandinavian bands. Independence Day is the biggest day of the year in Norway and the whole country celebrates with parades and music, performances and parties throughout the long spring nights.