About Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway and the country’s largest city with over 700,000 inhabitants.
It is a compact capital city surrounded by the Oslo Fjord on its south side and the national protected forest Marka to its east, north and west. Oslo is a very accessible city and Norway’s hub for national and international travel. Growing out of the Norwegian egalitarian and transparent society, it is easy to connect with people. Oslo is small enough to give people, companies and ideas visibility and powerful enough to be a springboard for growth.
Oslo is a city in constant growth and transformation. A well-developed public transportation system of underground and over ground trains, buses, trams, and boats gives easy to access to the city and its surrounding region. The city center is easily covered on foot, and city bikes are available throughout Oslo. Located between the fjord and the forest, the city offers great connectivity to nature. This is a central Norwegian value which underlies Oslo’s aspiration to be a green capital and its aim to become a fossil free city by 2030.
Oslo and its surrounding region counts for more than 1.2 million inhabitants. It is one of the most prosperous regions in Europe. The Oslo Region is a natural gateway to the Norwegian market and a preferred location for head offices of national and international companies with operations in the country. The Oslo Region is Norway’s main location for knowledge-based industries and services.
Oslo stands out as one of the leading maritime capitals in the world with a unique concentration of competence in shipping and specialised services developed from our strong history as a maritime nation. Advanced technology and expertise are also found within fields such as life sciences, information and communication technologies (ICT), energy and environmental technologies and creative industries.
Oslo is one of Europe’s fastest growing cities. The growing international and immigrant population adds rich variation to the atmosphere of the city. Oslo has a diverse, vibrant and varied cultural scene. Its historic and cultural offerings can be found in art, design, architecture, Michelin star restaurants, popular music festivals and a lively night life, in addition to famous attractions like the Munch Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Vigeland Sculpture Park and the national Opera House located on Oslo’s waterfront.
The City of Oslo
The City of Oslo holds both municipal and county functions.
The City is responsible for a wide range of matters, including elementary school and pre-school education, cultural institutions and events, health care services, social services, child protection services, housing and urban renewal, local roads, local transport for people and goods, parks and green areas, environmental issues, land use and urban planning. The City is also responsible for secondary education, technical colleges, secondary road systems and other activities that are not decided at the national level.