Oslo

Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It is both a county and a municipality. In 2025, the city had over 700,000 people living in its main area, with more than a million in the wider region.

Oslo has a long history, dating back to the Viking Age. It was founded in 1040 and became an important trading place. After a big fire in 1624, the city was rebuilt and named Christiania. In 1925, it was renamed Oslo.

Today, Oslo is the economic and governmental center of Norway. It is a key location for trade, banking, and shipping, especially in maritime industries. The city is known for its high quality of life, though it is also one of the more expensive cities in the world.

In recent years, Oslo has grown quickly, with many people moving to the city from other countries and within Norway. This growth has made Oslo one of Europe's fastest-growing major cities.

Urban region

See also: List of boroughs of Oslo

Oslo is the largest city in Norway, with 724,290 people living within the city limits as of January 1, 2025. The city’s urban area stretches beyond its official borders into nearby areas such as Asker, Bærum, and Lillestrøm, adding about 500,000 more people. In total, around 1,546,706 people live in the greater Oslo area.

Oslo sits at the end of the Oslofjord and spreads out in three directions, shaping an upside-down “Y.” To the north and east, forested hills rise above the city. Oslo combines city and county roles, making it unique in Norway. The city covers 130 km² of built-up land and 9.6 km² of farmland.

Name and seal

After a big fire in 1624, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania to honor the king, King Christian IV. The old town east of the Aker river, called Oslo, stayed as a small village outside the new city. Later, in 1925, the name Oslo was given to the whole city, and the old village became known as "Gamlebyen," meaning "the Old town."

The name Oslo likely comes from Old Norse and may have been the name of a big farm near Bjørvika. It could mean "meadow at the foot of a hill" or "meadow consecrated to the Gods." Oslo uses a city seal instead of a formal coat of arms. The seal shows St. Hallvard, the city's patron saint, with a millstone and arrows, sitting on a throne with lion decorations.

The city is sometimes called "The Tiger City," a nickname from a poem by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, but this is mostly used by people who do not live in Oslo.

Main article: History of Oslo's name

Main article: Seal of Oslo

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Oslo.

Viking Age

During the Viking Age, the area that includes modern Oslo was located in Viken, the northernmost province of Denmark. Control over the area shifted between Danish and Norwegian kings in the Middle Ages, and Denmark continued to claim the area until 1241.

According to the Norse sagas, Oslo was founded around 1049 by Harald Hardrada. Recent archaeological research uncovered Christian burials dated to before AD 1000, showing an earlier settlement. This led to celebrating Oslo's millennium in 2000 instead of 2049.^{[citation needed]}

1000–1600

Main article: Old Town, Oslo

Under the reign of Olaf III of Norway (1067–1093), Oslo became a cultural centre for Eastern Norway. Hallvard Vebjørnsson became the city's patron saint.

In 1174, Hovedøya Abbey was built. The churches and abbeys became major landowners, helping the city's economy, especially before a big disease spread.

At the end of the 12th century, traders from Rostock moved into the city and gained influence.

On 25 July 1197, Sverre of Norway and his soldiers attacked Oslo from Hovedøya.

During the Middle Ages, Oslo reached new heights during the reign of Haakon V of Norway (1299–1319). He was the first king to live permanently in the city, and it has been regarded as the capital of Norway since his reign. He started building the Akershus Fortress and the Oslo Kongsgård.

A big disease spread to Norway in 1349, and the city suffered greatly. The churches' earnings from their land dropped, so traders dominated the city's foreign trade in the 15th century.

In 1380, Norway entered a union with Denmark, and Oslo's role was reduced. The monarchs lived in Copenhagen.

17th century

Fires destroyed parts of the city many times because many buildings were made of wood. After a big fire in 1624 that lasted three days, Christian IV of Denmark decided not to rebuild the old city. His men built a network of roads on the other side of the bay near Akershus Castle. He demanded that all citizens move their shops and workplaces to the newly built city of "Christiania", named in his honour. The part of the city built starting in 1624 is now often called Kvadraturen because of its square layout. Anatomigården is a historic timber framing house built in 1640.

The transformation of Christiania went slowly for the first hundred years. However, outside the city at Vaterland, Grønland, and the old town of Oslo, a new part of the city arose.

The last big disease outbreak in Oslo occurred in 1654.

18th century

In the 18th century, after a big war, the city's economy grew with shipbuilding and trade. The strong economy turned Christiania into a trading port.^{[citation needed]}

19th century

The Royal Frederick University (now the University of Oslo) was founded in 1811.

In 1814 the former provincial town of Christiania became the capital of the independent Kingdom of Norway, when the union with Denmark ended and a union with Sweden began. Several state institutions were established and the city's role as a capital led to rapid population growth. The government needed buildings for its growing administration and institutions. Several important buildings and landmarks were erected in the 19th century, including the Royal Palace (1825–1848), the Stock Exchange (1826–1828), the Bank of Norway (1828), the Storting (1861–1866), the National Theatre (1899), and several University buildings. Among the world-famous artists who lived here during this period were Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun.

Large areas of the surrounding Aker municipality were added to the city in 1839, 1859, and 1878. The 1859 expansion included Grünerløkka, Grønland, and Oslo. At that time the area called Oslo (now Gamlebyen or Old Town) was a village outside the city borders east of Aker river. The population increased from approximately 10,000 in 1814 to 230,000 in 1900. In 1850, Christiania overtook Bergen and became the most populous city in the country. Christiania expanded its industry from 1840, most importantly around Akerselva. There was a big building boom during the last decades of the 19th century, but it collapsed in 1899.

In 1877 the city was renamed Kristiania.

1900–present

The city and municipality used the name Kristiania until 1 January 1925 when the original name of Oslo was restored. This was because Norway became fully independent in 1905, and Norwegians felt a name memorializing a Danish king was inappropriate as the name of their capital.

The municipality developed new areas such as Ullevål garden city (1918–1926) and Torshov (1917–1925). City Hall was constructed from 1931 to 1950. In 1948, Oslo merged with Aker, a municipality which surrounded the capital and was 27 times larger, creating the modern, vastly enlarged Oslo municipality. Other suburbs, such as Lambertseter, began to be developed in the 1950s. Aker Brygge was constructed from 1982 to 1998.

Norway was invaded by Germany on 9 April 1940. Efforts to stop the invasion delayed the occupation of Oslo for several hours which allowed King Haakon to escape the city. Oslo remained occupied throughout the war until Germany capitulated in 1945.

The city has continued to expand. New large scale housing areas and infrastructure projects are being built and planned across the city, notably in Hasle, Helsfyr, Bjørvika, Nydalen and Sinsen, increasing the density in and around Ring 2 and Ring 3. The Fornebu line on the metro is under construction as of 2024, and further subway lines crossing the inner city are being planned.

Geography

See also: Oslo Graben

Oslo is located at the northern end of the Oslofjord. The fjord is to the south, and the city is surrounded by green hills and mountains in other directions. Inside the city, there are 40 islands, with Malmøya being the largest. Oslo also has 343 lakes, and the biggest one is Maridalsvannet, which provides drinking water to many parts of the city.

Oslo has two smaller rivers: Akerselva and Alna. The waterfalls along Akerselva powered some of Norway’s first factories in the 1840s. The highest point in Oslo is Kirkeberget, standing at 629 meters. Even though Oslo isn’t a very large city by population, it covers a big area, much of which is protected forest, hills, and lakes. This makes the city feel open and green.

Climate

Oslo has a climate where winters are cold and summers are warm. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, with summer and autumn being the wettest seasons. Because Oslo is far north, the amount of daylight changes a lot. In summer, there can be more than 18 hours of daylight, while in winter, there are only about 6 hours of light.

The warmest temperature ever recorded in Oslo was 35 °C in July 1901. In recent years, July 2018 was very warm, with temperatures reaching 34.6 °C. Winters can be quite cold; the lowest temperature ever recorded was −29.6 °C in January 1841. On average, about three out of four days in January are below freezing.

Parks and recreation areas

Main article: Parks and open spaces in Oslo

Oslo has many beautiful parks and green spaces both in the city center and outside it. Some of the most popular places include Frogner Park, which is the largest and most famous park in Norway, filled with interesting sculptures. Bygdøy is a lovely green area by the sea, known as the Museum Peninsula. Ekebergparken Sculpture Park offers great views of the city, while St. Hanshaugen Park is an old park on a hill in the middle of Oslo. Tøyen Park is a big, grassy area near the old Munch Museum and includes a botanical garden.

Oslo is surrounded by forests, making it easy to enjoy nature. Two big forests, Østmarka on the east and Nordmarka on the north, border the city. Sognsvann is a lake just north of Oslo, perfect for hiking, swimming, and barbecues. The city also has many public swimming pools, with Tøyenbadet being the largest indoor pool and Frognerbadet a big outdoor option.

Cityscape

Oslo is changing into a modern city with many ways to get around, including a big metro system. There is a new financial district and a cultural area by the water. In 2008, an exhibition in London showed off some of Oslo’s famous spots like the Oslo Opera House and a new library.

Oslo has many different kinds of buildings. Some of the taller ones are the Plaza, Posthuset, and the buildings at Bjørvika. Older buildings, like the Oslo Katedralskole, have been updated over time. The city has buildings in many styles, including some from the 1800s and others built in the 1900s.

Politics and government

Main article: Politics and government of Oslo

Oslo is the capital of Norway and home to the country's national government. Many important government offices, including the office of the Prime Minister, are located in a group of buildings called Regjeringskvartalet, near Norway’s national Parliament, the Storting.

Oslo is both a municipality and a county, and it sends twenty representatives to the Storting. The Conservative Party has the most representatives from Oslo, followed by the Labour Party.

Oslo has used a parliamentary system of government since 1986. The main governing body is the City Council (Bystyret), which has 59 members elected every four years. The council has five committees that handle different areas of city management.

After the 2023 election, the Conservative Party worked with the Liberal Party to form the city government, with support from other parties. The Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, leads the city council and represents the city in important events. The Governing Mayor of Oslo, Eirik Lae Solberg, heads the city government.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Greater Oslo

Oslo has a strong and varied economy. In 2012, it was named the top European city for economic potential. It is also known for being very business-friendly.

The city is a key center for maritime activities in Europe, with many large shipping, brokering, and insurance companies. Its port is the biggest in the country for both cargo and passengers.

In 2016, Oslo's economy was worth €64 billion, which was about 20% of Norway's total economy. The city is also one of the most expensive places to live in the world, especially for housing and everyday items. Many important companies, especially in oil and gas, have their headquarters in Oslo.

Environment and decarbonization

Oslo is a compact city where it is easy to get around using public transportation and rentable city bikes, especially in the city centre. In 2003, Oslo won The European Sustainable City Award, and in 2007, it was named one of the world’s greenest, most livable cities. In 2019, Oslo was chosen as the European Green Capital.

The city of Oslo aims to become a low carbon city and has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% from 1990 levels by 2030. In 2017, Oslo became the first city in the world to create a climate budget, with each department responsible for tracking and cutting emissions. Progress is reported three times a year along with financial reports. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group later made having a climate budget a membership requirement by 2030.

By October 2022, Oslo had many bicycle lanes and tram lines, most ferry boats were electrified, and the city was working toward having an all-electric public transport system, including electric buses. The Port of Oslo also has plans to use low-carbon contracts and install shore power for ships that are docked.

Education

Oslo is home to many important schools and universities. Some of the well-known ones include the University of Oslo, which offers many different subjects for students to study. There is also Oslo Metropolitan University, which focuses on professional degrees that help students start careers. Other schools include the BI Norwegian Business School for business studies, the Oslo School of Architecture and Design for design, and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences for sports.

Many people in Norway with advanced education live in the Oslo area. This makes Oslo one of the top places in Europe for learning and working. In fact, the greater Oslo region has over 70,000 students and many teachers and workers in schools and universities. The University of Oslo is the biggest university, with thousands of students and staff members.

Culture

Oslo has many cultural attractions, including buildings with artwork by famous artists such as Edvard Munch and other international and Norwegian artists. Several world-famous writers have lived or been born in Oslo, like Knut Hamsun and Henrik Ibsen. The government has invested in cultural facilities, buildings, and festivals in Oslo. Bygdøy, outside the city center, is a center for history and Viking culture, with many parks, seaside spots, and museums such as the Fram Museum, Vikingskiphuset, and Kon-Tiki Museum. Oslo hosts the Oslo Freedom Forum, a conference described as becoming a human-rights equivalent of the Davos economic forum. Oslo is also known for giving out the Nobel Peace Prize every year.

Grønland, central areas around Youngstorget and Torggata, Karl Johans gate (the main pedestrian street), Aker Brygge, Tjuvholmen, Sørenga, and boroughs like Frogner, Majorstuen, St. Hanshaugen / Bislett, and Grünerløkka all have many cafes and restaurants. Mathallen Food Hall at Vulkan is the largest food market, with over 30 specialty shops, cafés, and eateries.

Oslo has several major museums and galleries. The Munch Museum contains The Scream and other works by Edvard Munch, who donated all his work to the city. The city plans to build a new Munch Museum in Bjørvika, named Munch/Stenersen. Fifty museums are located around the city.

Folkemuseet on the Bygdøy peninsula is dedicated to folk art, folk dress, Sami culture, and Viking culture. It features 155 authentic old buildings from all parts of Norway, including a Stave Church.

The Vigeland Museum in Frogner Park is free and contains over 212 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, including an obelisk and the Wheel of Life. Another popular sculpture is Sinnataggen, a baby boy stamping his foot in fury. There is also Ekebergparken Sculpture Park with works by artists such as Salvador Dalí.

The Viking Ship Museum features three Viking ships found at Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune, along with other unique items from the Viking Age. The museum is closed for renovation but will reopen in 2026 as the Museum of the Viking Age.

The Oslo City Museum has a permanent exhibition about the people and history of Oslo.

The Kon-Tiki Museum houses Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-tiki and Ra II ships.

The Fram Museum features items from arctic and antarctic expeditions, including the wooden ship Fram used by Fritjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.

The National Museum holds Norway's largest collection of art. It shows permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions from its collections and loans. A new National Museum will open in Vestbanen behind the Nobel Peace Center.

The Nobel Peace Center, opened in 2005, has a permanent exhibition about every Nobel Peace Prize winner. The building is mainly used as a communication center.

Many festivals are held in Oslo, such as the Oslo Jazz Festival, Øyafestivalen (or "Øya"), the Oslo International Church Music Festival, the Oslo World Music Festival, the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and the Norwegian Wood Rock Festival. The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony is held annually in The City Hall on December 10. The World Cup Biathlon in Holmenkollen is held every year. Other annual events include Desucon, a convention focusing on Japanese culture, and Færderseilasen, the world's largest overnight regatta.

Rikard Nordraak, composer of the national anthem of Norway, was born in Oslo in 1842. Norway's principal orchestra is the Oslo Philharmonic, based at the Oslo Concert Hall since 1977.

Oslo has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest twice.

Oslo has over 20 theatres, including the Norwegian Theatre and the National Theatre on Karl Johan Street. The National Theatre is the largest theatre in Norway. The Oslo Opera House, opened in 2008, is a national landmark with over 2000 seats.

Most great Norwegian authors have lived in Oslo, including Nobel Prize-winning author Sigrid Undset and playwright Henrik Ibsen, who wrote famous plays like Hedda Gabler, Peer Gynt, A Doll's House, and The Lady from the Sea. Recent novelists like Lars Saabye Christensen, Tove Nilsen, Jo Nesbø, and Roy Jacobsen have also written about Oslo.

Newspapers such as Aftenposten, Dagbladet, Verdens Gang, Dagens Næringsliv, Finansavisen, Dagsavisen, Morgenbladet, Vårt Land, Nationen, and Klassekampen are published in Oslo. The main office of the national broadcasting company NRK is located at Marienlyst in Oslo. TVNorge and TV 2 also have offices in Oslo.

Oslo is home to the Holmenkollen National Arena and Holmenkollbakken, the country's main biathlon and Nordic skiing venues. It hosts annual world cup tournaments and has hosted several Biathlon World Championships and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as the 1952 Winter Olympics.

Oslo has several football clubs in the Norwegian league system. Ullevål Stadion is the home arena for the Norway national team and has hosted various finals and championships. Skiing is popular in Oslo due to the cold climate and nearby forests. The Tryvann Ski Resort is the most used ski resort in Norway. Vålerenga Ishockey is the most successful ice hockey team in Norway, based in Oslo. Bislett Stadium hosts the annual Bislett Games for track and field. Oslo Spektrum is used for large ice hockey and handball matches. The 1999 IIHF World Championship in ice hockey was held in Oslo.

In 2018, Oslo was named one of Lonely Planet's Top Ten Cities, praised for its innovative architecture, unmissable museums, and cool bars, bistros, and cafés.

Crime

Oslo is often seen as one of the safest capital cities in Europe. In 2020, the police in Oslo received reports of 72,102 crimes, and overall crime rates in the city have been going down. Property theft is one type of crime that has been decreasing the fastest.

Police

The Oslo Police District is the largest in Norway, with over 2,300 workers. This includes more than 1,700 police officers, nearly 140 police lawyers, and about 500 civilian staff. The district has five police stations in different parts of the city. It also houses important national police services.

Terrorist attacks

Main articles: 2011 Norway attacks and 2022 Oslo shooting

• One part of the 2011 Norway attacks took place in central Oslo on July 22, 2011. The government offices were damaged by a bombing.
• In June 2022, a shooting occurred at a pub in Oslo that was known for being a place where people in the LGBTQ community gathered. Sadly, two people were killed and many others were hurt. Because of this, the pride parade planned for the next day was cancelled for safety reasons.

Transport

Main article: Transportation in Oslo

Oslo has Norway's largest public transport system, run by Ruter. It includes the five-line Oslo Metro, which has more lines per person than any other city in the world. There are also six lines of the Oslo Tramway and eight lines of the Oslo Commuter Rail. Trams mainly serve the city centre, while the metro goes underground through the centre to reach farther suburbs, including areas in Bærum and the Ring Line that loops north of the centre. Buses cover the whole city, with 52 city lines and regional buses to Akershus.

Oslo Central Station is the main train hub, connecting to major cities in southern Norway, as well as Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. The Airport Express Train runs on the high-speed Gardermoen Line. The Drammen Line passes under the city centre through the Oslo Tunnel. Ferries link city islands and the nearby area of Nesodden. Daily cruiseferry trips go to Copenhagen and Frederikshavn in Denmark, and to Kiel in Germany.

The main airport for Oslo is Gardermoen Airport, located in Ullensaker, about 47 km from the city centre. It is Norway's main international airport and was the 23rd busiest in Europe in 2021. It is a hub for Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe. A smaller airport, Torp Airport, about 110 km away, serves some low-cost airlines.

Many motorways in Oslo go through tunnels, and roads are partly funded by a toll ring. The main motorways are European Route E6 and E18. Oslo has three ring roads; the two inner ones are city streets, and the outermost, Ring 3, is an expressway.

Oslo has worked to limit private car use and encourage electric vehicles since the late 2000s. In 2018, non-residents were not allowed to drive in downtown Oslo. The city is known for having many electric cars—about 41% of all cars in Oslo are fully electric. In September 2021, more electric cars than regular cars entered Oslo's toll ring. This is because electric cars pay cheaper tolls, have no import tax, no VAT, free parking, and can use bus lanes.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Oslo

Oslo is growing very fast, with its population increasing by nearly 2% each year. In 2015, about 648,000 people lived in Oslo city, and around 1 million people lived in the nearby urban area.

Many people in Oslo come from different countries. About 30% of the city's residents were born outside of Norway or have parents who were born outside of Norway. The largest groups come from Pakistan, Poland, Somalia, and Sweden. Some parts of Oslo have more people from immigrant families than others.

Oslo has many different religious groups. About half of the people belong to the Church of Norway, while others follow different Christian religions, Islam, Buddhism, or have no religious affiliation.

Notable residents

Main category: People from Oslo

Public figures

Oslo has been home to many important people. Some of these include Niels Juel, a famous Danish-Norwegian admiral. Fridtjof Nansen was a polar explorer and scientist who won a Nobel peace prize. Trygve Lie was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. Gro Harlem Brundtland served as Prime Minister of Norway and led a global health organization. Jens Stoltenberg was a former Prime Minister of Norway and led a major international military alliance.

Arts

Oslo has produced many talented artists and performers. Henrik Ibsen, a famous playwright, was born here. Edvard Munch, known for his paintings, lived in Oslo. Morten Harket is the lead singer of the popular band A-ha. Other notable figures include writers, actors, and musicians who have made their mark in various fields.

Sport

Many athletes have come from Oslo. Sonja Henie was a three-time Olympic champion in figure skating. Grete Waitz was a marathon runner who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Kjetil André Aamodt is an alpine skier with many Olympic medals. Today, Oslo continues to be a place where talented sports people grow up and achieve great things.

International relations

Oslo works with groups like the Council of Europe and the European Commission to support friendly connections between cities.

Oslo used to have special friendships with cities like Minneapolis, Tel Aviv, and Vilnius, but now it focuses on working together with other places instead.

Since 2012, Oslo has worked closely with cities and areas such as Artvin in Turkey, Gothenburg in Sweden, Mbombela in South Africa, Saint Petersburg in Russia, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, Shanghai in China, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Warsaw in Poland.

Every year, Oslo sends a big Christmas tree to several cities including Washington, D.C., New York City, London, Edinburgh, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Reykjavík. This tradition started in 1947 and is a way to thank Britain for helping Norway during World War II. The trees are tall spruces, usually between 65 and 80 feet high and about 50 to 100 years old.