Oslo

The city of Oslo, Norway is set in a exceptionally beautiful part of the world. Located at the base of the Oslo Fjord, the city extends up the mountains that surround it on three sides. The city's cultural center is downtown, right on the water, making it easy to navigate and so compact that visitors can walk almost everywhere.

Once considered the sleepy cousin of Stockholm and Copenhagen, Oslo has finally come into its own with cultural and entertainment possibilities that rival those of cities many times its size. An opera house has opened on reclaimed land in the fjord, and Oslo's Philharmonic Orchestra is world-class. A giant sports stadium was built to replace the original stadium at Bislett, where dozens of speed-skating and track records were set.

Outdoor recreation is a big focus in Oslo, but for those who love the outdoors, Oslo has more than 1,550 miles of hiking and skiing trails within the city limits with good views at almost every turn. Travelers should not be worried - Oslo's climate is not as cold as commonly thought. Norway's coast is bathed in warm water thanks to the Gulf Stream, so Oslo experiences winter temperatures that are similar to London's. Summers bring pleasantly warm days, cool evenings and a sun that doesn't set until around 11:00 pm, giving visitors even more time to spend outdoors.

According to the United Nations, Oslo enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world, partly because of the discovery of substantial oil and gas deposits in the late 1960s. The United Nations has consistently named Norway the best place in the world to live. The capital city's public transport, clean water, access to nature, low crime rate and superb medical service in no small way contribute to this. But to go along with that, Oslo also regularly tops the list of the most expensive cities in the world.