Harbor at Ekeberg, OsloHarbor at Ekeberg, Oslo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sydhavna._Kongshavn_Oslo.jpg
Author: Lars Tiede
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Oslo is the capital and biggest city in Norway. It is also the third largest city in Scandinavia. The city covers 454.03 sq km (175.3 sq mi) and has a population of 605,000 (2011 estimate), within a metropolitan area of 1.4 million people.

Oslo is on the southeastern part of Norway, not far from the border with Sweden. It is on the northernmost end of the Oslofjord, which is split into two parts by the Nesodden Peninsula, and surrounded by hills and mountains.

Royal Palace of Norway, OsloRoyal Palace of Norway, Oslo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slottet_-_framsida_1.jpg
Author: Bjørn Erik Pedersen
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Oslo experiences a humid continental climate. Its warmest months are from June to August, when average high temperatures reach above 20.11°C (68.2°F). The coldest months are January and February, when temperatures going down to -6.78°C (19.8°F). Snowfall is heaviest in February and March, with over 21.4 cm (8.43 in). Rain is heaviest in August, registering 89 mm (3.5 in).

The history of Oslo is traced back to Norse sagas, which state that King Harald Hardråde founded it in 1049. However archaeologists believe that a settlement has existed in the Oslo area earlier than 1000 AD, based on early Christian burials excavated there.

Frogner Hovedgård, a manor in OsloFrogner Hovedgård, a manor in Oslo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frogner_Hovedg%C3%A5rd_X1.JPG
Author: Kph
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Oslo became a Norwegian capital for the first time when King Håkon V (1299-1319) made it his permanent residence. In the 14th century, when Norway, Sweden and Denmark were united under the Kalmar Union, the capital was moved to Copenhagen, where the king resided, and Oslo became just a provincial capital.

In 1624, a big fire destroyed most of Oslo. King Christian IV of Denmark (and Norway) ordered that it be result on the other side of the bay. He named the new settlement Christiana. It was often spelled Kristiana. It lost the position as the biggest city in Norway in the 16th century, when Bergen surpassed it in population, only to regain it in around 1850. The city reverted to its original name Oslo in 1925.

Vestre Aker Church, OsloVestre Aker Church, Oslo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestre_Aker_kyrkje_2.jpg
Author: Bjørn Erik Pedersen
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Visiting Oslo

The Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL) is the biggest airport in Norway and the second businest in the Nordic countries. The airport is a hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle. It is 35 km (22 mi) from Oslo.

Arriving at Oslo Airport, you have a number of options to reach downtown Oslo. The fastest is to take the high-speed train called Flytoget, which whizzes you to Oslo Central Station in 20 minutes. The tickets cost NOK 170 from the vending machines, and 200 NOK from the ticketing desk. There are also public trains by NSB to Oslo, taking about 40 minutes but costing only NOK 110. Flybussen buses connects the airport with downtown Oslo, making the journey in 45 minutes for NOK 140. Taxis cover the same distance for NOK 700+.

View of the City Hall, left, and Akershus Fortress, right, in OsloView of the City Hall, left, and Akershus Fortress, right, in Oslo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tunnels_Oslo_Port_Line.jpg
Author: Jim G
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Exploring Oslo

The public transportation system of Oslo comprises the metro (called T-bane), trains, buses and trams. Each NOK 27 single-ride ticket allows you one hour of travel with unlimited transfers. There are also 24-hour pass for NOK 70, weekly pass for NOK 210 and 30-day pass for NOK 590 available at selected newsagents and 7-Eleven stalls.

Places of Interest in Oslo, Norway

  1. Akershus Festning

  2. Holmenkollen

  3. Kirkeristen

  4. Opera House

  5. Oslo Cathedral

  6. Rådhuset (City Hall)

  7. Royal Palace

  8. Stortinget (Parliament)

  9. University of Oslo

Museums in Oslo

  1. Emanuel Vigeland Museum

  2. Henrik Ibsen Museum

  3. Holocaust Center

  4. Kon-Tiki Museum

  5. National Gallery

  6. Nobel Peace Centre

  7. Norwegian Maritime Museum

  8. Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

  9. Munch Museum

  10. Viking Ship Museum

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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