Around 1000, Oslo was founded at the very head of Viken, as Oslo Fjord was known at that time. One thousand years later, Oslo's great anniversary coincided with the millennium festival that was celebrated around the world.

Oslo, the capital of Norway, is situated at the head of Oslo Fjord surrounded by forested ridges and is both a municipality and a county.

Oslo is the seat of the Norwegian Government and Parliament, and the Royal Palace is situated at the end of Karl Johan Street - the main street of Oslo.

The city's many astonishing features are unusual for a European capital. The city limits encompass wilderness areas as well as an array of restaurants almost unparalleled in Scandinavia. In winter, the city has an artificial skating rink only a stone's throw from the National Theatre and the University. Oslo City Hall is located in the city centre only a few hundred metres from the city's main street and overlooks Oslo Fjord filled with moored pleasure craft, shrimp trawlers, cruise ships, charter boats and ferries to all the islands. Oslo abounds with sights of interest, such as museums, parks, urban districts with listed buildings and a well-developed array of shops. As most sights are within walking distance of each other, you can leave your car behind.

Oslo is considered to be one of the most leading shipping cities in the world. During peak season, many cruise ships dock at the quays that are still within walking distance of the city centre. It is only a ten-minute drive from these same quays to splendid bathing beaches with clean water.

Oslo is filled with paradoxes. For this reason, visitors perceive Norway's capital as an interesting city with an abundance of things to see and do - regardless if the visitor's purpose is shopping, tourism, business meetings or conferences. Many options are always available, regardless of whether you want to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at a restaurant rated in the Michelin Guide or a brisk, refreshing winter experience on dog sleds through Oslo's wilderness. Oslo also has hundreds of kilometres of well-prepared cross country ski runs and eight alpine slopes within its city limits. This was the same alpine environment in which Kjetil Andre Aamodt skied down his first slopes.

The Oslo winter landscape was also where polar researcher Fridtjor Nansen trained for his long, fatiguing ski treks more than a century ago. In 1888, he and Otto Sverdrup were the first to cross Greenland on skis.

Sonja Henie is the world's leading figure skater through the ages. She developed her talents at Frogner Stadium in Oslo, which eventually led to three Olympic gold medals and ten gold medals at the World Championships - in succession!

But Oslo is also more than just a winter city. The All-Norway Soccer Team has also won big victories at Ullevål Stadium, and many world records in track and field have also been set at Bislett Stadium.

However, you do not have to be a top athlete to be pleased with the wide range of offers for sporting enthusiasts. Every year, usually in late July or early August, the world's largest football tournament is held for young athletes at Ekebergsletta. For more than twenty-five years, Norway Cup has gathered more than 20,000 eager, dribbling artists in the mini-footballer category.

The city is beautifully situated at the head of Oslo Fjord surrounded by forested ridges, and this very location gives Oslo unexpected qualities for a national capital.

Arable fields, vast forests and untouched nature areas surrounding the city are only twenty minutes from the centre. They provide recreational opportunities that are frequently taken advantage of by the city's inhabitants, as well as increasingly by visitors, in summer and winter alike. Do you know of any other capital where you can go skiing and kayaking, make excursions to a nearby island or go skating - all within the city limits?

Oslo has a population of five hundred thousand, which is relatively low compared to most European capitals. However, it is paradoxically one of the largest in terms of area. Oslo covers more than 450 square kilometres, most of which comprises forests and arable land.

Oslo's climate is actually better than our northern latitude might indicate. This is due to the Gulf Stream bringing warmth from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean and up the coast of Norway.

The world-famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Winter Olympics have prompted many to regard Oslo as a leading winter capital. Yet Oslo is just as much a summer city that has all the activities and pleasures we normally associate with summer. During the summer months, temperatures often equal that of cities much further to the south.

The number of activities on the fjord and in the city's parks are a sign that Oslo's citizens exploit the summer to the utmost.

First-time visitors to Oslo are surprised by the wide range of restaurants and entertainment the capital has to offer. Oslo has a wide variety of restaurants, bistros and bars. Most are located within such a limited area that they are within walking distance of each other. In addition, each quarter of the city has an unusual atmosphere all worth visiting.

According to many globetrotters, Aker Brygge is the most attractive place in all of Northern Europe for persons who want to have fun, experience something unusual and eat well. New York has its South Street Seaport, San Francisco its Fisherman's Wharf and Oslo its Aker Brygge. Aker Brygge's restaurants have a seating capacity of 5000, 2500 of which are outdoors. This area has something for every taste and wallet, but the selection is probably greatest for persons with well-lined wallets. The waterfront along the fjord is teeming with activity 24 hours a day, particularly in summer, and it doesn't cost anything to wander along the quay and enjoy life.

In the centre of Oslo near Karl Johan Street you will find a wide variety of discotheques, nightclubs, bars, jazz clubs and cafés - among all the shops. There are suitable establishments for persons of all ages in this area. Rosenkranz Street has many discotheques and nightclubs; jazz and blues clubs are situated near Tinghuset and Stortorvet, while bars are the predominant nightspots along Karl Johan Street itself. The large concert halls are also well situated in the centre of town within walking distance of Karl Johan Street.

At Grünerløkka, you will be among the young and trendy. This quarter has a variety of small cafés, restaurants, bars and outdoor establishments to choose from. Sink into a sofa from the sixties with a good cup of cafe latté, sit in the bar and enjoy one of the best drinks in town or listen to some of Oslo's best DJs.

Grønland is the hottest quarter right now in terms of nightlife. The young and trendy are migrating eastwards from Grünerløkka to Grønland, and new establishments, bars and cafés are constantly cropping up. Grønland has an interesting blend of working-class pubs and ultra-trendy bars, where you will meet a wide variety of people from every corner of the world. It is easy to forget where in the world you really are.

Majorstua with Bogstadveien and Hegdehaugsveien has been an established dining, entertainment and nightlife area for many years. This quarter has a more sophisticated clientele, including successful young people from Vestkanten. You can eat well in this quarter, spend an enjoyable evening at a bar or dance all night to current pop hits or golden oldies.

In general, you can choose from good, old-fashioned rustic food, delicious dishes of fish, game, moose and reindeer or stimulating culinary dishes from every corner of the world. The produce come from Nature's own pantry - fresh and clean wildlife areas. These restaurants serve excellent, savoury dishes in every price category!