Olympic relations in the region of Hedmark, brought Norway into the international limelight. Hamar and the Viking ship, Trysil and Trysil mountain for great outdoors. The "Finnskogleden" stretches through Finnskogen a well marked foothpath. You can walk for one day or several days and enjoy both nature and culture. Between Halden and Elverum, you find the Wilderness road (Villmarksveien), which is 400 km long. Arts and entertainment are also strongly represented in Hedmark through the many movie theaters, galleries and museums in the county. The towns offer great shopping as well as a solid selection of restaurants, cafes and nightclubs in all genres.
The 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer. The county´s two major cities are Gjøvik and Lillehammer. National Parks: Dovre, Jotunheimen, Rondane and Ormtjernkampen. Nature reserves: Fokstumyra and Vassfaret. Oppland has northern Europe´s highest mountain peak, Galdhøpiggen (2.369 metres), and 56% of the county´s area is more than 900 metres above sea level. Both Gudbrandsdalen and Valdres are valley and mountain areas, while Toten, Land and Hadeland are level agricultural areas. Pure air and water, beautiful and unspoiled uplands are today a resource in great demand.
It´s no wonder that people thrive in Buskerud. This is where you can land the biggest salmon, taste the juiciest apples and pick the sweetest strawberries. You can follow in the foot steps of the Vikings at Ringerike, explore the mines at Kongsberg, go rafting down rivers and rapids, or enjoy a swim in the fjords.
Buskerud also boasts several of Norway´s finest winter sports resorts, such as Geilo and Hemsedal. Cultural activities and traditions flourish alongside the commercial opportunities and night life offered by the larger towns. Towns like Drammen, Kongsberg and Hønefoss are well set up to look after themselves. Because of its central position, Drammen is the capital of the county.
Oslo is the capital of Norway. In addition to beeing the seat of the government, Oslo is also the business and cultural capital of the nation. Oslovians love nature. They devote much time to pursuits in the forests and on the fjords. Oslo is made for walking - in fact, you can walk from the Central Station all the way to the Royal Palace in a straight line. Except for excursions to the museum-loaded Bygdøy peninsula and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, most attractions can be covered on foot. Oslo is a ski-eldorado with over 2,000 km (1250 miles) of prepared ski tracks for cross-country skiing and many ski lifts for alpine skiing. The tracks are also used throughout the rest of the year: Bærumsmarka, Nordmarka and Østmarka are all places where many people meet every weekend. Oslo is both County and township.
Norways international Airport (Gardermoen) is located here. Akershus borders on Oslo, Østfold and Sweden in the south, Hedmark in the east, Oppland in the north and Buskerud in the west. With a total area of 4,916 square kilometres, Akershus is about 125 kilometres from north to south and around 90 kilometres from west to east.
Its highest peak, Fjellsjøkampen in Hurdal, rises 812 metres above sea level. Its coastline, along the Oslofjord and the Bunnefjord, is 152 kilometres long. Hurdalsjøen (Lake Hurdal) is its largest lake, but parts of Lake Mjøsa and most of Lake Øyerell are also situated here.
Due to Østfold´s long stretch of coastline shipping has always had a central role here. Mild winters and ice-free conditions in the harbours ensure that traffic at sea can move without any problem all year round. Place to visit: Fredriksten Fortress in Halden, Old Town in Fredrikstad and the Hvaler islands outside Fredrikstad and Gallery F 15 in Moss.
The Scandinavian summer and its long days are at their best in Vestfold. The beautiful coastline, scattered with magnificent beaches and majestic bare rock faces, tempts many to bathe. Vestfold is Norway´s sunny coast and a eldorado for golfers of all levels.
If you are interested in history, Vestfold has a rich selection of historical treasures from ancient and Viking times. With the largest collection of royal graves in the north, at Borrehaugene, Vikings ships buried in Gokstadhaugen and Oseberghaugen. Tønsberg, founded in the Viking-Ages, is Norway´s oldest town. Horten, first came the navy and the town was founded.
Picturesque Åsgårdstrand is best known as the place where "The Girls on the Bridge", Edvard Munch and Hans Heyerdahl lived. Larvik is Thor Heyerdahl´s birthplace and the home of the Farris Well. A few minute´s drive south lies the the happy little summer town of Stavern, a pearl full of life and laughter the whole season. Sandefjord perhaps best known as the whaling town. Svelvik, the beautiful little village 20 km outside Drammen.
Alvdal, Eidskog, Elverum, Engerdal, Folldal, Grue, Hamar, Kongsvinger, Løten, Nord-Odal, Os, Rendalen, Ringsaker, Stange, Stor-Elvdal, Sør-Odal, Tolga, Trysil, Tynset, Våler, Åmot and Åsnes.
Dovre, Etnedal, Gausdal, Gjøvik, Gran, Jevnaker, Lesja, Lillehammer, Lom, Lunner, Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Nord-Fron, Sør-Fron, Nordre Land, Søndre Land, Ringebu, Sel, Skjåk, Vang, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Østre Toten, Vestre Toten, Vågå and Øyer.
Drammen, Flesberg, Flå, Gol, Hemsedal, Hol, Hole, Hurum, Kongsberg, Krødsherad, Lier, Modum, Nedre Eiker, Nes, Nore and Uvdal, Ringerike, Rollag, Røyken, Sigdal, Ål and Øvre Eiker.
Oslo is a County and a muncipality.
Asker, Aurskog-Høland, Bærum, Eidsvoll, Enebakk, Fet, Frogn, Gjerdrum, Hurdal, Lørenskog, Nannestad, Nes, Nesodden, Nittedal, Oppegård, Rælingen, Skedsmo, Ski, Sørum, Ullensaker, Vestby and Ås.
Aremark, Askim, Eidsberg, Fredrikstad, Halden, Hobøl, Hvaler, Marker, Moss, Rakkestad, Rygge, Råde, Rømskog, Sarpsborg, Skiptvet, Spydeberg, Trøgstad and Våler.
Andebu, Hof, Holmestrand, Horten, Lardal, Larvik, Nøtterøy, Re, Sande, Sandefjord, Stokke, Svelvik, Tjøme and Tønsberg.