Oslo is Norway’s capital city with a population of half a million. It is beautifully positioned at the head of the Oslofjord in the shadow of Akershus Castle and although covering a wide area its centre is actually quite compact.

At the southern end of Karl Johan’s Gate, Oslo’s main boulevard, are many of the city’s finest shops and excellent restaurants offering both Scandinavian and international dishes – try the famed Grand Cafe on Karl Johan’s Gate where the writer Ibsen used to take coffee with his cronies. Here also stand the Cathedral, Storting (Parliament), National Theatre, University and Royal Palace.

The picturesque harbour, Aker Brygge, is a popular gathering point with its renovated wharf buildings which have been tastefully converted into restaurants and cafes as well as shops, craft studios, boutiques and luxury city centre apartments. It is also the departure point for many excursions into the Oslo archipelago. Set back a little from the harbour is Oslo’s controversial Rådhus or City Hall. Opened in 1950 the building had few fans being a twin-towered modern building in dark brown brick however over the years opinion has softened and the building is the venue for the presentation of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

Frogner Park lies to the northwest of the city centre and houses the open-air Vigeland Sculpture Park commemorating the modern Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. On a nice day it is definitely worth joining a guided tour of the park to learn a little about the history and meaning behind the sculptures particularly the magnificent central fountain depicting the burden of life and the 20 metre high obelisk depicting the cycle of life.

Other than the city centre the place you are most likely to spend most of your time is the Bygdøy peninsula to the southwest of the city. The peninsula houses 5 of the city’s most popular museums, the Kon-Tiki and Viking Ships museums, the Folk museum, the Fram museum and the Norwegian Maritime museum.