Sentrum

Although the city region is huge (454 square km [175 square miles]), downtown Oslo is compact, with shops, museums, historic buildings, restaurants, and clubs concentrated in a small, walkable center that's brightly illuminated at night. The rapidly diversifying population means some streets maintain a certain quiet charm, while others are a bit more noisy and bustling. Here you'll find the lion's share of historic buildings, such as the Royal Palace and the Parliament Building. This area is also chock-full of museums, including the gleaming new National Museum complex.