Oslo urban area

Oslo spreads far beyond its own city limits. The built-up area reaches into parts of nine surrounding municipalities across three counties. It stretches from the Oslofjord in the south-west up into inland valleys in the north-east. The landscape here is a mix of waterfront districts and inland suburbs, all linked by continuous urban development.

The city’s size is matched by its importance. More than a million people live in this urban zone, making it by far the largest in Norway. The transport system ties the whole area together. Roads such as the E18 and E6 carry traffic through the heart of the city, while the main railway station at Oslo S connects long-distance services to Bergen, Stavanger and Sweden. The airport at Gardermoen sits outside the built-up zone but serves the entire region.

Inside the city you find the national parliament and the Oslo town hall. A network of trams, metro lines and ring roads keeps the centre linked to the outer districts. The western suburbs of Bærum and Asker show the highest average incomes, while the eastern side of the city has traditionally been more mixed. The urban area continues to grow, steadily filling the spaces between the fjord and the inland hills.