Oslo

State

Norway

Country

Norway

Continent

Europe

Size

454 KM²

Population

1,019,513

Spending Budget

$1,122 - $4,418

Famous For

Oslo cathedral
Viking Ship Museum
Munch Museum
Kon-Tiki Museum

Best Time to Visit

May
June
July
August

History

The history of the city can be traced back over 1,000 years. Oslo was founded in 1048, by the king Harald Hardråde. The city became capital of Norway around 1300, but lost its privileges during the Danish-Norwegian union from 1348 to 1814. In 1624, a fire devastated old Oslo, and the city was moved some kilometres west to gain protection from the fortress at Akershus. The city was renamed Christiania, after the Danish King Christian IV, a name that remained until it was officially renamed on January 1st 1925 to Oslo. Traces have been found close to Ekeberg indicating settlement as far back as 10,000 BC. After the devastating 1624 fire, Old Oslo (around the mouth of the Aker river) was largely abandoned and the ruins converted to farmland. Today, a few church ruins are still visible under the Ekeberg hill (across the water from the new Opera House, located between the E18 road and the railway). Beyond these ruins, virtually nothing of medieval Oslo remains. Ironically, the new city Christiania was established outside the borders of Oslo, and 'Oslo' remained the name of the small, surviving settlement outside the new city borders. During Christiania's rapid expansion in the 19th century, as the capital of a new state, the site of the original Oslo (Old Oslo, or 'Gamlebyen') was included in the city. Due to the rapid inclusion of surrounding agricultural areas in the 19th century, a large number of remnants from the city's farming history are still clearly visible in place names and farm houses. Remnants of historical pastures, such as St. Hanshaugen, are now used as a recreational parks for Oslo's residents.

Present Day

Oslo has a population of about 650,000 people and nearly a million including its extra-municipal suburbs (such as Bærum and Lørenskog). It has the highest population growth of any European capital, with exorbitant real estate prices to match. The Oslo metropolitan area has a population of around 1.4 million. The diverse population includes some of Norway's wealthiest celebrities. About a quarter of the population are of non-Norwegian origin, the majority hailing from Sweden, Poland and Pakistan. This has made Oslo an ethnically and culturally diverse city. Accompanied by a large influx of people from all around Norway, Oslo is thus often referred to as the "melting pot" of Norway. Cultural differences have affected Oslo's society and cityscape in matters of cuisine and shopping, which have all blended into the everyday life of Oslo's population. Oslo, with its approximately 453 square kilometres, is one of the largest capitals in the world by area. Most of this is forest, making Oslo a city in close contact with the nature surrounding it. Oslo is situated in an amphitheatre-like setting, with the city centre in the bottom close to the Oslofjord, and residential areas stretching uphill from there in all directions. Behind the residential areas, the forested area of Marka (Nordmarka, Østmarka, Lillomarka) extends, with flora and fauna that is quite extraordinary for a city of this size. Moose are commonplace (easily spotted in winter), and the whole of the capital is part of Norway's wolf reserve (a breeding couple is thought to have settled in Østmarka). However, polar bears are non-existing in Norway proper, even some might think so, due to old stories about Norway. 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.

Future

Oslo, the capital of Norway, could soon be home to the most future-oriented, sustainable city in the world. Haptic Architects and the Nordic Office of Architecture have just released plans to create a city next to Oslo Airport, known as Oslo Airport City (OAC), that will be the “first energy-positive airport city.” OAC will use only energy created within the city itself, and driverless, electric vehicles will roam its streets. The city will be extremely walkable. Those living there or just visiting won’t have to take any form of transportation, it will be easy for them to walk to most places. The city’s centre will be entirely car-free. This will be made possible, in large part, by the city’s innate walkability. OAC plans to use a host of boundary-pushing, green technologies. While not all tech has been specified yet, the city will use driverless cars, auto-lighting, “smart” waste tech, and security tech. The city will only use only the renewable energy that it produces. This will cut down on fossil fuel use and the energy used to transport fuel and energy. OAC will sell excess energy that it produces, and it will also use excess energy to de-ice planes – cutting down the airport’s fuel usage. Only electric cars will be used inside of the city. Public transportation will be extremely close, a cycling route, and a host of outdoor activities that don’t require electricity. This location might seem random, but it could be ideal for the utopian city being planned. Oslo Airport expects its employees to double by 2050. This city could be a perfect location for their families to reside alongside visitors in transit.

Must Visit Places ------------

Vigeland Sculpture Park

The iconic Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigelandsanlegget), which sits inside Oslo's famous Frogner Park (Frognerparken), is one of Norway's most famous tourist attractions. Open year-round, this unique sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's lifework and contains 650 of his dynamic sculptures in bronze, granite, and wrought iron. The majority of the sculptures are in five themed groups along a 853-meter-long axis. The oldest is the fountain group, depicting the cycle of human life, beyond which can be seen the 16-meter-high Monolith, comprising 121 intertwined human bodies.

Akershus Fortress

Rising above the Oslofjord, on the promontory of Akernes, sits the majestic Akershus Fortress (Akershus Festning) built by Håkon V at the end of the 13th century. You can easily spend the best part of a day sightseeing here. Wander in the grounds and ramparts with the wonderful harbor views before exploring the quaint chapel with its tomb of Håkon VII (1872-1957) and the remains of the original medieval castle. Also located in the grounds is the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance, also known as the Norwegian Home Front Museum (Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum). Be prepared to spend a few hours here learning about the German occupation of 1940-45.

Viking Ship Museum

No trip to Norway would be complete without visiting at least one of the many museums and exhibits dedicated to the country's Viking past. One of the best is the Viking Ships Museum (Vikingskipshuset på Bygdøy). This popular attraction is home to three historic 9th-century vessels, the best-preserved being the 21-meter-long Oseberg Ship. The largest surviving pre-Christian artifact in Scandinavia, this impressively decorated vessel was built around AD 800 and was used for the burial of a chieftain's wife and two other women. They were buried with a large selection of items, including furniture, clothing, and personal items, which provide a great deal of insight into Viking life. The other vessels on display include the 23-meter-long Gokstad Ship, a seagoing vessel designed for use under sail or with oars, and the less intact Tune Ship. The museum's film, Vikings Alive, provides a fascinating look at these artifacts and demonstrates the long process of Viking shipbuilding by use of CGI animation. The museum is also home to several additional exhibits and films, which explore Viking life on the seas.

Munch Museum

Dedicated to the life and work of Norway's greatest painter, Edvard Munch (1863-1944), the Munch Museum (Munch-museet) contains a vast collection of paintings, graphic art, drawings, watercolors, and sculptures from the great artist's life. Containing almost 28,000 works of art in addition to personal effects and tools - even his private library - the museum also puts on special exhibits devoted to particular aspects of Munch's work through film screenings, concerts, guided tours, and lectures.

Royal Palace

Located high up on the northwest end of Karl Johansgate, the Norwegian Royal Palace (Slottet) was built in 1825 and dominates the cityscape. The impressive 173-room building is open to the public for guided tours during the summer only, with English-language guides available four times daily. Tours include the Cabinet Parlour and Cloakroom, the White Parlour, Mirror Hall, Great Hall, Banquet Hall, and other significant rooms in the palace. Visitors are also free to wander the grounds and gardens or watch the regular changing of the guard year-round. Just to the south of the palace sits the Norwegian Nobel Institute (Det Norske Nobelinstitutt) where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented.

The Museum of Cultural History

The Museum of Cultural History (Kulturhistorisk museum) also operates the Viking Ship Museum and oversees the city's Historical Museum, which explores various aspects of human history. It houses the largest assembly of Egyptian artifacts in Norway, including mummies and funerary objects. The museum's Medieval Gallery is also extensive, exhibiting an impressive collection of daily items, as well as several examples of church art and religious artifacts. There is also a large exhibit dedicated to the history of gold coinage, including examples of coins from the past 2,600 years.

Fram Museum

Named after the first Norwegian ship built specifically for polar research, the Fram Museum (Frammuseet) is a must for anyone with an interest in Arctic exploration. The museum's star attraction is the Fram, an icon due to its many successful polar voyages, as well as Gjøa, the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage. While there, be sure to visit the nearby Norwegian Maritime Museum (Norsk Maritimt Museum). With its fascinating exhibitions about fishing, shipbuilding, and marine archeology, as well as an impressive collection of models and paintings, a visit here is time well spent.

Kon-Tiki Museum

Opened in its present location in 1957, this fascinating attraction offers plenty of details both about Heyerdahl and his famous ship. In addition to seeing the famous Kon-Tiki up close, other vessels used by the legendary Norwegian are also on display, including the 14-meter-long Ra II, made of papyrus and in which he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1970. Set in an adjoining building to the Fram Museum stands the Kon-Tiki Museum (Kon-Tiki Museet), with its displays dedicated to Thor Heyerdahl. This Norwegian sailor, explorer, and adventurer captured the hearts and minds of the world when, in 1947, he sailed from Peru to Eastern Polynesia on a raft made entirely of balsa wood to demonstrate how he believed the Pacific region was settled.

Oslo Cathedral

Oslo Cathedral (Oslo domkirke) has been rebuilt and renovated numerous times. Its tower was rebuilt in 1850, while its interior was renovated soon after the end of WWII. Notable features include the main doorway with its decorated bronze doors, as well as the ceiling paintings by H. L. Mohr, the Baroque pulpit and altar (1699), and the stained glass by Emanuel Vigeland. Afterwards, be sure to visit the Oslo Bazaar along the old church walls. Dating back to 1841, these fascinating halls are now occupied by galleries, cafés and antique dealers.

City Hall (Rådhuset)

Oslo's enormous City Hall (Rådhuset) is undoubtedly one of the city's great landmarks. This imposing square building, built of concrete faced with brick, was designed by Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulson and has two towers, one of them adorned with a huge clock face. One of the towers houses the 38 bells that can be heard chiming throughout the harbor area.