Oslo, called Christiania 1624-1878, Kristiania 1878-1924, is the capital and largest city of Norway. The population of the city proper is 544,073 and the city area extends into the surrounding county of Akershus. Oslo has a current annual growth exceeding 15,000 people.
The city centre of Oslo is situated at the end of the Oslofjord from where the city sprawls out both to the north and to the south on both sides of the fjord giving the city area more or less the shape of a U.
The Oslo fjord is an inlet of the Skagerrak bay, stretching inland from the North Sea towards Øresund and the Baltic Sea. Oslo has an impressive archipelago of islands, which in summer becomes the city's favoured playground.
Oslo is situated in an amphitheater like setting, with the city centre in the bottom close to the Oslo fjord, and residential areas stretching uphill from there in all directions.
Behind the residential areas, the forested area of Nordmarka extends, with flora and fauna that is quite extraordinary for a city of this size. Elks are commonplace (easily spotted in winter), and the area is also part of Norway's wolf reserve (even if they rarely come here).
The city centre is bounded by Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) to the east, the Royal Castle (Slottet) to the west and the sea to the south. It's a fairly compact area and easily walkable.
However, several of the neighbourhoods close to the centre hold interesting sights and entertainment offerings, so to explore these you should make use of the city's comprehensive public transport system.
Get around
There is a comprehensive public transport system in Oslo, consisting of buses, trams, metro (T-bane) and boats. All run on the same tax scheme, and the same tickets are valid for all modes of transport. A single ticket costs NOK 20 when bought in advance from a kiosk or a machine, and NOK 30 when bought from a bus or tram driver.
The ticket is valid for one hour of free travel. Cards with 8 coupons, each valid for one hour of travel, cost NOK 160. There are also daily passes (NOK 60), weekly passes (NOK 210) and monthly passes (NOK 720). No passes are valid on night traffic (Fridays and Saturdays only; NOK 50).
On a bus or tram, the tickets are stamped when you board, either by the driver or in a stamping machine. On the subway and the large railway stations, you stamp the ticket before entering the platform. Random spot checks are fairly common and being caught without a valid ticket leads to an automatic fine of at least NOK 750.
Trafikanten is the information centre for public transport in Oslo, situated just outside Oslo Central Station, by the foot of the clock tower.
