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Oslo, the capital of Norway, is one of the oldest in Northern Europe. It is also one of its fastest growing cities. Its port, used for cargo and cruise lines, is the largest in the country, which helps explain why Oslo continues its growth spurt. It seems whatever you might be interested in Oslo has something for you to do. Outdoor enthusiasts love the easy access to a host of great activities. Urbaners love the attractions, boutiques, clubs and restaurants. In fact, Oslo is proud to point out that although they resemble any other cosmo city, it continues to embrace and protect the nature that surrounds them. Whoever you are, and whatever your interests, Oslo is a great European destination.

Visiting Oslo can be quite expensive. In fact, it is considered to be one of the more costly cities in all of Europe. There are ways to save money though. First, try to get your hand on an Oslo Card. This pass has fantastic savings to many attractions, including the transportation you might need to get around. Or, you could take advantage of their bike option. All you need to do is get a keycard from a tourist office and you are ready to go. It allows you to hop on a bike from one of the designated stations for around three hours before you return it to any of the other stations. It is a great way to see Oslo up close.

The Nasjonalgalleriet, the National Gallery, proudly exhibits paintings from impressionist painter Edvard Munch. And why not, considering he grew up in Oslo. There are of course many other fantastic works of art, but his exhibit is a definite must. If you are interested in seeing more of Munchs work, make your way to the Munchmuseet, the Munch Museum. It is here that you can view thousands of his creations.

The Royal Palace, known locally as Det Kongelige Slott, is the official zip code for the Norway King. Interestingly enough there are no barbed wire fences or mile high walls. In fact, the grounds are open to the public. Try to get there for the changing of the guard ceremony, which occurs each day at 1:30 p.m. Now, not all of Oslo was so inviting. The Akershus Fortress used to protect the city from sea attacks still stands today. Some of the buildings that survived date back to 1300 and the harbor view from the hill is one of the best Oslo has to offer.

In our world today it feels good to know that one person can make a difference. Head over to the Nobel Peace Centre and view the exhibits for each winner of this esteemed prize. A few worth mentioning include Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama. The fantastic ceremony honoring the years recipient is held in December.

The Kon Tiki Museum showcases the adventures of Thor Heyerdahl, a local hero. Seeing the ships he built and used to sail across the Pacific Ocean is truly amazing. If you are a ship enthusiast though, you will want to make your way to the Viking Ship Museum. It is here that you will find three of the best-preserved Viking ships. Interestingly enough, they were found along Oslos fiords. You can learn more about the Norwegian culture at the Norsk Folkemuseum. Its open-air concept gives you a firsthand look at the medieval buildings.

Norwegians are extremely proud of the abundance of nature that surrounds them. They even have a subway line that takes you to the citys forest. Not sure what is more amazing that they have a subway that takes you there or that the city has a forest Anyways, there are an abundance of hiking trails and great outdoor activities for you to try out. Once the snow falls, make your way to the Norefjell. This ski resort is about two hours away from Oslo and played host during the 1952 Olympic Games. If you would rather stay closer to home, you could visit the Homenkollen. Over one million visitors come to see this impressive ski jump tower, although I am sure far fewer have actually gone down it. If you happen to be here in March you could try to see the ski jump competition that attracts hopefuls from all over the world.

Of course, there are also many wonderful parks found throughout the city. One of the most famous though can be found in the Frogner neighborhood. The Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park, known locally as the Vigelandsparken, is one of the most visited sites in Oslo. The 200-plus sculptures on display are located across 80 acres of picture perfect park space. Climb your way to the top of the hill located in the center of the park and you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city. Oslo has an abundance of fantastic restaurants for you to enjoy and the ones found in the Frogner region has some of the finest in the country. The Grunerlkka area, found along the Akerselva River, also has many great restaurants.

Your evenings can be spent enjoying a theater performance, opera, concert or the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. The Valle Hovin and Oslo Spektrum are venues where you can catch some of todays biggest headliners. Oslo is also a city that knows how to party. With huge events such as the Oslo Jazz Festival, the Notodden Blues Festival and the Homenkollen Ski Festival, that should come as no surprise.

Oslo is quite simply a fantastic European city where being urban and natural blend perfectly together. Any visitor can enjoy the world-famous sites, historic events and beautiful scenery. Although it can be costly to visit, this is one destination worth saving up for.