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OsloLegends of heroes, trolls and princesses roaming the countryside outside this charming city attract many travelers looking for a Scandinavian holiday. Oslo, situated at the end of a 70-mile (110km) long fjord, is Norway's capital and its largest city, rich in culture and folklore with a fascinating Viking history.
Oslo is an eclectic mix of old medieval buildings, churches and modern architecture, sitting among the green trees and extending forests that form the natural balance of nature and civilization. Around the city there are numerous museums, art galleries and places
of interest, especially the Edvard Munch Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum on the sought after Bygdøy Peninsula. Other attractions include Vigeland Park with its interesting collection of sculptures, and the medieval Akershus Fortress dominating the seafront.
Although Oslo has small population compared to other European capital cities, it retains a true vibrancy about it. The city center is filled with restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and theaters and has a very cosmopolitan feel to it with street artists hanging around the main street, Karl Johans Gate. Oslo is renowned as a city of culture and the City Hall hosts the annual awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Getting Around: Oslo is a relatively small city and parking is at a premium so a car is a bit of a liability. Fortunately there is an extensive and superbly efficient public transport system involving buses, trams, subway, trains and ferries, operated by Oslo Sporveier. The city is served by 50 bus lines and eight tram routes, all starting from Jerbanetorvet at Oslo S Station. The subway is called the Oslo T Bane and there are five underground lines covering the city. All public transport runs from 5.30am to midnight, with tickets available from bus drivers or vending machines at stations. The Tourist Ticket allows for unlimited use within 24 hours, while the 1, 2, and 3-day Oslo Card allows unlimited travel on any form of public transport, and includes free museum admissions and other discounts. Ferries operate on a seasonal basis, between April and September, linking the City Hall to the museum-studded island of Bygdøy. There are also ferry services to the harbor islands. Metered taxis are easy to come by, and can be found at ranks near shopping centers, city squares, stations and other gathering points. Cabs can also be ordered by telephone from a central office, or hailed in the street if the rooftop light indicates it is available for hire.
FjordlandFjordland is Norway's most important tourist destination with its breathtaking scenery of high mountains, spectacular fjords and glaciers. These are the alluring images of Norway, a wild and rugged landscape and deep, peaceful waters.
Carved by glacial ice in river valleys, the fjords are diverse in character, each with individual qualities and attractions as they wind their way inland, some with lush green fields alongside and others with steep mountains plunging straight down into the deep water. Geirangerfjorden is a tiny S-shaped fjord with magnificent waterfalls, sheer, rugged sides and striking scenery. Sognefjord is the best known of the fjords, the longest and deepest, with several charming villages such as Balestrand and Flåm
,and old stave churches along its shores. Surrounded by towering mountains is the narrowest and most impressive branch of the Sognefjord, the beautiful Nærøyfjord. To the north lies the Nordfjord, dominated by the vast ice plateau of the Jostedalsbreen glacier that trickles down into the surrounding valleys, giving the water its distinctive blue-green color.
A highlight of the region's attractions is the Flåm Railway, with the steepest track gradient in the world that took 20 years to build. In a masterful piece of engineering the railway twists and turns its slow way down through numerous tunnels, dropping 2,952 ft (900m) to the valley below and ending at a tiny arm of the Sognefjord. Along the way the train passes magnificent mountain scenery and is regarded as one of the most exciting train rides in all of Europe.
Bergen is the gateway to the Fjords, an attractive city with a delightful natural setting and is a superb base from which to explore the area.
BergenThe historic city of Bergen was medieval Norway's capital, and is today an international tourist center and gateway to the Fjords. It has a spectacular setting on a sheltered harbor of the North Sea, situated among seven hills that form a delightful backdrop to the brightly painted wooden houses along the waterfront, and is one of Norway's most enjoyable cities.
Bergen's history is closely linked to the sea. It became a major trading port of the medieval merchants of the Hanseatic League, who dominated European trade during the Middle Ages. The hub of the city's social life is around the Torget, the picturesque harbor-side market plaza that is surrounded by an assortment of cafes, restaurants and pubs, and home to the vibrant fish market. Flanking one side of the harbor is a colorful row of old wooden houses, part of the historic wharf area and the remaining influence of the Hanseatics, from where narrow cobbled streets wind their way up between the quaint houses of the picturesque old neighborhood.
The city center is divided into two parts: the old Hanseatic town along the wharf area and the modern center stretching inland from the harbor. It has a pleasant, slow pace and a cultured atmosphere with numerous interesting museums, galleries, an aquarium and surviving medieval buildings. A cable car and a funicular carry visitors to the top of two of Bergen's hills, Mount Ulriken and Mount Fløyen, to enjoy splendid views over the city and coast. Mount Fløyen is covered in forest with a well-marked series of walking trails. Boat trips to the fjords are very popular and the excellent 'Norway in a Nutshell' package tour provides a spectacular glimpse of Norway's scenery in a day, for those short on time.
Getting Around: Bergen has an efficient bus and night bus network, though service to the city's outskirts can be erratic. Tourist tickets for public transport are available and cost NOK 80 for 24 hours unlimited travel within the city boundaries. Metered taxis are plentiful and can be hailed, caught at one of the many taxi ranks or ordered by phone. The city also has an extensive ferry system, which tends to be less tourist-orientated than the express catamaran service available, and visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the fjords. Driving in Bergen can be somewhat harrowing as Norway operates on a priority from the right rule and traffic circles are usually confusing with little indication of intent from drivers. Drivers must also pay a toll every time they enter the city and so driving and parking becomes expensive. Car rental agencies are available, although drivers usually must be over 21 and have had their license for a minimum of one year. Central Bergen is easy to negotiate on foot, with plenty of attractions within walking distance.
TromsøSet in a magnificent landscape of dramatic snow-capped mountains with a rocky shoreline, Tromsø is a lively town characterized by unusual old wooden houses, street music, cultural events and the most pubs per capita in Norway. It is the capital of the north and a bustling metropolis in comparison to the surrounding fishing communities along the northern coast of Norway; it is also a vibrant university town.
Known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic' and situated within the Arctic Circle, the town is an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area and has the greatest amount of Northern Light activity on earth, making it a sought-after tourist destination from which to experience the spectacular show of the Aurora Borealis. The Midnight Sun during summer is another strange phenomenon, when continuous daylight makes people forget to go to bed, and the winters experience a few hours of bleak twilight during midday. It is these extreme light conditions that hold the greatest fascination for tourists, regardless of the season, and make it such an intriguing place to visit.
There are several museums and other places of interest, a cable car to the top of one of the surrounding hills providing fantastic views, and boat trips into the fascinating landscape of the arctic fjords.
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