Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Settling into Oslo
O ne of the oldest Scandinavian capi-
tals, Oslo has never been on the main-
stream European tourist circuit. Many
have the impression that it's lean on
historic and cultural sights. In fact,
Oslo offers enough sights and activities
to fill at least 3 or 4 busy days. It's also
the starting point for many easy excur-
sions along the Oslofjord or to nearby
towns and villages.
In the 1990s Oslo grew—from
what even the Scandinavians consid-
ered a backwater—to one of the glit-
tering cities of Europe. Restaurants,
nightclubs, cafes, and shopping com-
plexes opened and continue to open.
A Nordic joie de vivre permeates the
city. The only problem is that Oslo is
one of the most expensive cities in
Europe. Proceed with caution if you're
on a strict budget.
Oslo was founded in the mid-11th
century by a Viking king and became
the capital around 1300 under
Haakon V. In the course of its history,
the city burned down several times;
fire destroyed it in 1824. The master
builder Christian IV, king of Den-
mark and Norway, ordered the town
rebuilt near the Akershus Castle. He
named the new town Christiania
(after himself ), its official name until
1924, when the city reverted to its for-
mer name.
In 1814 Norway separated from
Denmark and united with Sweden, a
union that lasted until 1905. During
that period the Royal Palace, the
House of Parliament, the old univer-
sity, the National Theater, and the
National Gallery were built.
After World War II, Oslo grew to
282 sq. km (175 sq. miles); it now has
half a million inhabitants. That makes
it one of the largest of world capitals
in land mass—not in population.
Oslo is also one of Europe's most
heavily forested cities, and its citizens
relish this standing. Oslovians love
nature in both summer and winter.
When the winter snows fall, they bun-
dle up and take to their nearby ski
slopes. During their brief summer,
they're quick to shed their clothes and
head to the pine-covered hills in the
north for long hikes and picnics, or else
for sails on the blue waters of Oslofjord
to the south. After a long winter slum-
ber, the fjord suddenly becomes
clogged with hundreds of sailboats,
motorboats, windsurfers, and dozens of
sunbathers stripped down on the rocks,
taking in the few precious days of sum-
mer sun Oslovians are granted.
1 Orientation
ARRIVING
BY PLANE Planes from all over the world fly into Oslo International Air-
port in Gardemoen ( & 81-55-02-50 ), about 50km (31 miles) east of down-
town Oslo, a 45-minute drive from the center. All domestic and international
flights coming into Oslo arrive through this much-upgraded airport, including
aircraft belonging to SAS, British Airways, and Icelandair.
There's frequent bus service, departing at intervals of between 15 and 30 min-
utes throughout the day, into downtown Oslo. Bus service is maintained by SAS
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