As the capital city of Norway, Oslo enjoys the majority of the tourists to Norway. Oslo is beautifully located in the southeastern portion of Norway on the Oslofjord Bay and lovely green hills and mountains surround the city. Although there are beautiful attractions across the entire country, Oslo offers the best in terms of a complete holiday. In fact, this is one of the only cities in the world where it is often preferable to visit in winter. One of Norway’s most visited attractions is the Holmenkollen Ski Jump that is located at the top of Oslo and is the gateway to the forests that surround the city.

A good reason to visit Oslo in winter is the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. This resort rose to prominence on the back of the 1952 Winter Olympics. Situated just outside of Oslo, this is one of the best places to get a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding area. Even if you are not into skiing, you can visit the Ski Museum which will give you a good look into the evolution of the sport over the last 4,000 years. If you are scared of heights, however, the 200 foot jump will either scare you even more or cure you.

If you want to stay near the ski resort then there are plenty of options in terms of holiday apartments and hotels. The public transport system in Oslo is world class so no matter where you stay you should be able to find your way around with relative ease. You could also hire a car, but just be careful in the winter months when the roads become iced over. Just take it slow and take in the views because Norway is a beautiful country.

If snow isn’t your thing then maybe a bit of culture will be more to your liking. The Munch Museum has made art more accessible to those who are not necessarily art enthusiasts. Edvard Munch one of Scandinavia’s best and most loved painters has an exhibition of over 1,000 paintings, almost 5,000 sketches and close on 20,000 prints on show. Add the sculptures and life material and you are left with a museum that will appeal to all your senses. This museum is entertaining enough to take the kids along if that is how you are travelling.

Depending on where you are staying, there is always something to do in Oslo. The summer months are best for outdoor activity however the winter allows you access to the ski slopes and similar areas. No matter what time of year you decide to go you should always take some warmer clothing along. Being so far north the weather can change from warm to cold without much notice.

Accommodations in Oslo are varied, as the city has a generous offering of hotels within the city limits as well as bed and breakfasts, campsites and youth hostels. Be warned however, that Oslo is a very popular city and that its hotels are often fully booked, so booking ahead is highly recommended. A terrific option if you plan to visit Oslo is to rent an apartment.Booking in advance will increase your chances of finding the more charming accommodation as well as allowing you access to better deals.

Norway is a perfect mixture of interesting cities and sprawling wilderness. Norway’s development culture was flourishing here from at least the ninth century. Findings from burial sites indicate that the Vikings were great shipbuilders with a strongly developed artistic tradition represented in crafts, woodcarving and jewelers. Significantly, these skills were also passed on to those parts of Europe that they occupied. The beautifully decorated stave churches built after Christianity was introduced into Norway also underscore the artistic abilities of the Norwegian people.

The Gothic cathedral of Trondheim, known as Nidarosdomen, represents a golden age of Norwegian cultural development. It was the last monument to be erected before the dark era in which nearly half the population was wiped out by bubonic plague and Norway ceased to be an independent state.
During the union with Denmark, Copenhagen functioned as the capital of Norway, so that not only the written language, but also Norwegian culture and artistic life became strongly influenced by Denmark.

In Copenhagen Norwegian artists found work opportunities that were simply not available to them in Norway; Ludwig Hulbert staged his early plays there, whilst Copenhagen’s University was the only institution at which Norwegians could undertake academic studies. As a result, when it was finally reinstated as an independent nation, Norway had relatively little of the cultural life so typical of other European capitals during the 19th century. However, a vigorous culture was developing in the regions, embracing architecture, decorative arts and music and folk tales.

Furthermore, when Romanticism experienced its breakthrough in Europe, Norwegian artists found ready inspiration in the breathtaking landscapes of their motherland. Subsequently the second half of the 19th century witnessed a new era of rich artistic development and the work of Henrik Ibsen, alongside the paintings of Edward Munch, became a part of international cultural history.During the course of the 20th century Norway, like many other countries, was affected by many foreign cultural influences. Norway’s development cultures, taking place against a background of widespread determination to uphold and support the uniqueness of Norwegian culture, has created an interesting mixed expression in contemporary Norwegian artistic life.

In recent decades the Norwegian cultural sector has prospered and a number of literary and performing artists- particularly in the fields of contemporary dance, fine arts and music – have won international acclaim for their work. It is hoped that in the future their achievements will be recognized alongside the more high-profile activities of Norway’s scientists and adventurers who have hitherto been responsible for putting Norway on the world map. This section takes a look at developments and trends in each Norwegian cultural sector, backed up with detailed directory entries for key organizations and bodies throughout the country.