Travel Facts - Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the capital of Norway and the third largest city of Scandinavia. Oslo is 453 square kilometers (281 miles) which makes it one of the biggest capitals in the world. Most of this is nature and forest and it shows the close connection Oslo has with nature.

Although Oslo is very north - on the same latitude as Alaska and St Petersburg - it has a mild climate due to the warm air being blown across the Atlantic from the Gulf Stream. Summers are mild and pleasant whereas winters are around freezing temperate or above.

Oslo has got a very diverse architecture with many of the landmark buildings in different styles. The biggest tourist attractions are: The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, the Norwegian Opera and Ballet and the National Theatre. There are currently a lot of interesting building projects going on which will change the face of Oslo. However, most of the charm of Oslo is found in the rich inner-city suburbs.

Even though Scandinavia has a tradition of wooden houses, they are not permitted downtown. They can however be found out of the city center.

According to UN, Oslo and by extension Norway, is the best place to live in the world. It has the highest Human Development Index and the lowest unemployment rate in the world.