Oslo

Oslo promotes itself as an outdoors city where the people are friendly and the air and water are clean. It also unashamedly bills itself as Scandinavia's top destination and proudly boasts that its summer climate 'outwarms' all its rivals from home and abroad. In fact its 'niceness' is perhaps the most lasting impression that most visitors take home with them. It's not spectacular and there are other places in Norway that are more exciting, but Oslo is free from the very things that makes staying in most capital cities tedious. It's compact but not too small, it's old but not in decay, it's expensive but there are ways around it and it's welcoming without being in your face. So if you've saved your pennies and want to see a slice of Scandinavian beauty, pack your bags, head to Oslo and enjoy... everyone does.

Attractions

For a spectacular view of the city and the fjord, visit Akershus Castle. Sitting on a cliff, this fortress was originally built in 1300. The present structure dates mainly from the 17th century and features quaint buildings and beautiful grounds.

Activities

• Experience the sites, history and art of Oslo as you travel through the beautiful scenic countryside to Hadeland, where you can discover the art of Hadeland Glassworks.


• Visit the Royal Palace, current residence of the Royal Family.


• Take the winding road of Holmenkollen Hill where you'll see charming residences and impressive views. At the top, you'll see the world-famous ski-jumping area Hollmenkollen, built for the 1952 Olympics.


• Visit the Viking Ship Museum and see the incredible artisanship of all the beautiful Viking long ships.

Food

Får i Kål is a traditional dish here, a stew of lamb and cabbage. Kjottkaker (meatcakes) are also quite common, served with sauerkraut flavored with caraway. Reindeer appears on many menus, particularly further north. It's similar to beef, but a richer, slightly sweet-flavored meat. The Norwegians are also partial to wild berries. Two varieties native to the area are lingonberries, similar to cranberries, and cloudberries, which are like orange-colored raspberries, only they are a little crunchy and have a sharper taste.

Currency

The unit of currency in Norway is the Krone (NOK). Major credit cards are also widely accepted and often offer a good exchange rate.

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