Oslo region

• City of Oslo
• Former Akershus county
  • Bærum (including Sandvika) and Asker suburbs west of Oslo
  • Follo - southern towns and suburbs including Nesodden peninsula, Drøbak and Ski.
  • Romerike which make up most of the area east and north of Lillestrøm, includes Lillestrøm town/suburb, agricultural areas on the flatlands, Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) and Eidsvoll

• 🌍 Oslo - Norway's capital and the heart of the region

Southern towns and suburbs

• 🌍 Ås
• 🌍 Drøbak
• 🌍 Ski

Western Suburbs

• 🌍 Sandvika
• 🌍 Asker

Further afield

• 🌍 Eidsvoll - hosted the 1814 Norwegian Constituent Assembly that introduced democracy and civil liberties
• 🌍 Oslo airport at Gardermoen and Jessheim
• 🌍 Lillestrøm - suburb and hub just outside Oslo at a river delta in Øyeren lake
• 🌍 Nittedal

Oslo and Akershus make up one contiguous metropolitan area and the visitor can regard it as one city. Large parts of Akershus are effectively suburbs for Oslo and also home to important industrial and business districts. While this is a single urban area it is relatively spaciously laid out, Greater London for instance has 10 times higher population density than the urban area. Only the eastern and northern agricultural districts of Akershus are clearly not part of the metropolis. If forests and agricultural areas are included the population density of Oslo region is similar to the Netherlands. Oslo airport sits at Gardermoen on the flatlands near Jessheim. Oslo and the former county combined are home to more than 25% of Norway's population. Oslo and Akershus has traditionally been governed as one district for instance with a joint governor.

Romerike area in the north is relatively flat or gentle hills. Norway's largest rivers (Vorma and Glomma) flows through the eastern parts of the region and there are major lakes and countless smaller lakes. The northern end of the area touches the south end of Mjøsa, Norway's biggest lake. There is also some rugged, low altitude terrain in Bærum and Asker and in Østmarka (east Oslo forest).

Follo is a traditional district located between Oslo and Østfold and includes southern suburbs of Oslo with a total of more than 100,000 inhabitants. Ski is the centre of Follo. Several settlements in Follo are situated along this coastline, like Nesoddtangen, Drøbak and Son, as well as several beaches that are well frequented in the summer. During the winter there are good opportunities of skiing in Østmarka and Sørmarka. 'Follo' presumably derive from 'Foldin', the old name for the wider reaches of the Oslo Fjord. Drøbak was for centuries the winter and transshipment harbour for Oslo. Hølen, Son, Hvitsten and Drøbak are all small coastal towns whose history as important trading ports is still very evident. The many discoveries of prehistoric hill forts, burial mounds and rock carvings in the areas cultivated during the Stone and Bronze Ages indicate that the Follo region has always been an attractive place to live in. Norway's largest collection of Stone Age dwellings and implements was discovered next to the Bunnefjord. Son, Drøbak and Hvitsten first became known as artists' colonies in the mid-nineteenth century. Edward Munch found inspiration for several of his paintings in this coastal landscape.

The urban area is concentrated around the northern (inner) part of Oslofjord in a horseshoe shape along a driving distance of some 50 kilometers. Within this horseshoe most people live with a view of the fjord or within minutes of the shore. In addition there is a north-eastern axis from central Oslo through the eastern valley and a low elevation to Lillestrøm at the other side of the waterdivide. Drøbak sits at the strategic narrow entrance to inner Oslofjord. The Oscarsborg fortress was installed to control this narrow strait. Inside the strait the Oslofjord is a sheltered small ocean with countless islands and peninsulas.

Oslo, Bærum and Asker are separated from the surrounding areas by hills and forests, and there are several smaller rivers flowing to Oslofjord. There are countless lakes in these uplands. These undeveloped hills and forests are collectively known as Marka and are protected by law. Marka covers about one third of the Oslo region. The largest part of Marka stretches for some 40-50 km north from the city to Lunner in Oppland. There are additional wide forests covering large parts of the region, about 60 % of the area is covered by forest. There officially some 3000 lakes covering 7 % of the region.

Norway's first railway line, Hovedbanen (literally "The main line"), was built between Oslo and Eidsvoll via Lillestrøm in 1854. This stretch is still Norway's main transport corridor and main roads E6 and E16 runs across the plains north of Oslo. When Oslo airport was constructed on the Romerike plains in the 1990s, the main line was shifted to include the airport.

Rental cars and taxis are often available, but are rather expensive in Norway in general. The public transportation system is relatively good. All railway lines run through the area and serves long distance as well as local trains. Oslo itself has a fine public transport network of frequent metro, tram and bus departures. Some metro and tram lines cross the city line to Bærum. Buse lines cover the whole urban area as one integrated system. There are buses going between the major cities and stopping at bus stops marked with a sign (blue with a white bus on it, rectangular) and/or an open air booth with the place name written above with white lettering. Public transport is reasonably inexpensive though costs can build up if you buy tickets every time you get on, day/week/month/season passes can be purchased at the major stops. At the central bus station in any town, cashiers will speak English. For local buses, see http://ruter.no%5Bdead+link%5D. Public transport focused on Oslo has an integrated ticket system.

• Eidsvoll 1814 in Eidsvoll is where the 1814 constitution was signed, and a democracy museum.
• Lake Mjøsa near Eidsvoll is Norway's largest lake and one of the deepest in Europe. Norway's first railway was the Oslo-Eidsvoll-line, simply called the "main line" (1854), station at Vorma river in Eidsvoll from where boats could sail to Lillehammer. The Svanfoss locks & dam allows boats to sail the Vorma river. The dam controls the outflow from Mjøsa lake.
• Tusenfryd Amusement Park, Ås, is the largest amusement park in Norway. Carousels, roller coasters, and a ghost castle.
• Oscarsborg Fortress lies like a jewel in the Drøbak Sound. In summer, Oscarsborg is perfect for families and for those interested in nature, culture and history. Oscarsborg Fortress Museum presents the history of the place and organises guided tours. The fortifications are a central part, as is the story of the sinking of the German cruiser Blücher on 9th April 1940.
• Norsk Landbruksmuseum is a museum dedicated to contemporary agricultural history. Children's department, museum shop, café.
• Follo Museum is the regional museum of Follo. The open air museum has an attractive and childfriendly location at Seiersten near Drøbak and contains both buildings and artefacts from Follo, as well as a bookshop with reading matter of local interest, a museum shop and café.
• Roald Amundsen’s home "Uranienborg": The polar explorer lived here from 1908 to 1928. The house stands exactly as Amundsen left it when he departed on his last expedition and so gives us a good insight into his life.
• Tregaardens Julehus is the only Christmas shop in the Nordic region to open all year. Wide selection of Christmas decorations and other items. Greetings to friends are stamped with Father Christmas' own postmark at Father Christmas's Post Office.
• Ramme Gaard Farm, Hvitsten, an eco-cultural meeting place Exciting cultural programme, with concerts, festivals and exhibitions. Garden days, market days and Christmas market. Diversen Café, with home cooked food and the chance to buy the farm's organic produce.

• Kolsåstoppen summit, north of Sandvika, is a hill and summit in Bærum, that has a nice view over the Oslo Fjord from the top.
• There's also an even better hill in Asker with an even more excellent view.
• 🌍 Aurskog-Hølandsbanen railway (Urskog–Hølandsbanen, Tertitten). The Aurskog-Høland-Railway was a narrow gauge, steam powered railway between Sørumsand (at Glomma river) and Skulerud at Halden Canal. Locally the train was known as "Tertitten". Operations began in 1896, the service was discontinued in 1960 and was later converted to a museum. The train takes passengers som kilometers on the old tracks. (updated Oct 2020)

Norway has high water quality and tap water is completely safe. If you still want bottled water, most stores carry several brands of non-artificially treated water.

Most areas in Akershus are more or less crime free, and you should not be afraid to walk around alone day or night, though you should always take precationary measures and follow your common sense when in a new country. Signs and maps are usually in Norwegian, but do not be afraid to ask for directions; the vast majority of Norwegians speak enough English to help out a lost tourist.

• Hedmark
• Oppland: Valdres, Gjøvik
• Buskerud: Drammen, Ringerike
• Sweden: Värmland
• Copenhagen
• Kiel