Oslo, Norway

Oslo follows the steps of such great cities like Moscow, Belgrade, Helsinki, Athens and Kyiv by being the Host City of the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2010. But the city has a lot more to offer and people all over Europe have noticed it, as it's one of the fastest growing cities on the European continent!

The basics

Oslo is the capital and largest city in Norway. As of 2009, the metropolitan area of Oslo had a population of 1,4 million; of whom, 876,391 lived in the contiguous conurbation. Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. It is also an important centre of maritime knowledge in Europe, and is home to approximately 980 companies and 8,500 employees within the maritime sector—among which are some of the world's largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and insurance brokers.

Oslo will co-host the Eurovision Song Contest with the tiny city of Bærum. Tiny they might be, but also, very excited about having Europe's favourite TV-show in their backyard! It's the home of the Telenor Arena, which will be the place where the 55th Eurovision Song Contest will take place. History

Oslo was founded in 1050 by Harold III and in the 14th century it came under the dominance of the Hanseatic League. After a great fire in 1624, the city was rebuilt and renamed Christiania (or Kristiania) until 1925 when the name Oslo again became official.

In World War II, Oslo fell to the Germans, and it was occupied until the surrender (May, 1945) of the German forces in Norway. The neighbouring industrial commune of Aker was incorporated into Oslo in 1948.

Modern Oslo

Oslo is considered a global city and ranked "Beta World City Plus" in studies performed by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network in 2008. Oslo has for several years been listed as one of the most expensive cities in the world alongside cities such as Tokyo, Copenhagen and Paris.

The city's nightlife attractions rivalling most other major European cities, and it's unique position between a fjord and the hills makes it an unforgettable experience. During summer one can enjoy a summer concert at Holmenkollen, or order something cold to drink at Aker Brygge. Or take a bike ride through Nordmarka. The city also have several interesting museums - the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Fram Museum, the Ski Museum, the Munch Museum etc.