"An Island of History and Delight Hovedøya is an island located in the Oslo fjord. The name derives from Norse word hǫfuð, meaning height. It probably got this name from a large hill on the Eastern part of the island where there used to be a military watch tower in Medieval times. Hovedøya has a rich and varied history; from being a strategic military base in Viking times, to a monastery in the Middle Ages, to a quarantine station in the 1800's. Used as an internment camp for women who had consorted with Nazis after WWII, this camp was later used for temporary housing as there was a great shortage of houses after the war. Nowadays the island is used mostly for recreational activities; beaches and art galleries, and some times puppet shows. You can take a ferry from Vippetangen to get there."

"Living History This former ironworks, located west of Oslo , is now a charming little village that still retains the air from its bygone days. Picturesque cottages that used to house workers now house cafés, galleries, and museums, and the foundry itself poses as a small shopping centre. Bærums Verk also features the oldest pub in Norway that's still in use. Værtshuset Bærums Verk dates from 1640 and still serves punters on a daily basis."

"Winding Down in Nordmarka Large woodland Nordmarka is the largest and most central of the Oslo woods, located North of the city. Here you'll find several 'stuer'; small cabins that are often open during weekends to serve hikers snacks and refreshments. The more famous cabins are Kikutstua, Skjennungstua and the historic Frognerseteren (another afar.com highlight). The woods are dotted with waters to dip your toes in and hills to scale, and there's even a tucked away hut used by the resistance during WWII that you can have a look at."

"Visiting Santa Claus in Drøbak The village of Drøbak isn't technically in Oslo , but it's such a short a way off and a lovely place to visit that it has to be highlighted. It's of historical importance too, as the German crosser Blücher was sunk in the waters here, thus delaying the invasion of Norway in 1940. The village is dotted with wooden buildings (some dating back to the 1600s), most of them housing galleries, shops, and cafés these days. Historically a spa town, wealthy Norwegians would come here to 'take the waters'. And if that's not enough to get you interested – Santa Claus himself lives here! You can even visit his house! 'Nuff said."

"Woodland Wonderland Tryvann is a nice little area within Nordmarka (another afar.com highlight), that has everything you can ask for in a forest. Tryvannshøgda, a large hill, overlooks the three small lakes: Skomakertjern, Lille Tryvann, and Store Tryvann. The television mast Tryvannstårnet on top of Tryvannshøgda is open to visitors, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Sweden from it. Tryvannstua, a small cabin that serves snacks and refreshments to hikers, is open year-round. If you're into skiing, Oslo Vinterpark has 18 slopes and is Norway 's 4th largest ski park."

"Dining on Oslo's Roof Take the subway-line 'Holmenkollen' to its end station and there you'll find Frognerseteren; a popular attraction to both tourists and locals. Originally a shieling belonging to ancient Frogner Manor, the building now houses a restaurant dating back from 1891. The architecture is typical of the Norwegian romanticist movement and features wood carvings of dragons and other Viking inspired ornaments. Close by is Tryvannshøgda (Tryvann is another afar.com highlight); the large hill where hikers can get their pulses going."

"Royal Strolling in the Palace Gardens If you fancy a stroll in the park but don't want to stray too far from the city centre, look no further than the Royal Palace Gardens. A typically romantic park featuring ponds, creeks, bridges and a whopping two thousand trees, the park dates from 1838 and has been a classic ever since. Statues are dotted around the park, some by famous Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. His Majesty the King's Guard have their HQ there, in a beautiful Swiss chalet style house dating from 1845. Dronningparken, a smaller park within the Royal Palace Gardens, is the Royal Family's private park and has a larger array of flowers and shrubbery than the other parts of the park. Dronningparken (the Queen's Park) dates from 1751 and is open to the public from May to October."

"Sleuthing in Oslo's St. Mary Mead Ullevål Hageby is a residential area in Oslo with a historic air. Nouveau Baroque houses are nestled around a pond known as Damplassen, where you'll find small shops and a lovely bakery, usually full of yummy mummies. The idea of a 'hageby' – a garden city – was a way to get working-class people out of unhealthy living arrangements in the city centre and out into the open air. Modeled on an English idea, the buildings look very St. Mary Mead, though there hasn't been a murder there – yet."

"Medieval Walking in Oslo's City Center For history buffs, Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park) is the place to go. The park is part of the 'medieval city of Oslo ', the part of Oslo that houses the most medieval ruins of once-upon-a-time cathedrals, churches and monasteries. Several buildings are still intact, like Akershus fortress (another afar.com highlight) and the beautiful Old Bishop's Palace. Many of the ruins aren't much to look at today; there are no ghostly structures and many of the ruins could be mistaken for random stones scattered on the ground, but don't let that fool you into thinking that this place isn't worth a visit. Walking here, you'll walk with the ghosts of Oslo's past. From here, you can gaze at the newly constructed business area known as 'Bar Code', and if you're of a philosophical nature, it might get you thinking about what has been, what is, and what will be..."