The best approach to Oslo is by sea, sailing up the fjord (where shrimpers and small sailing boats jostle with ferries and merchant ships) to where the city sprawls out from its compact centre around the quays to the flanks of the surrounding hills. Although Oslo is not noted for grand architecture, its history lives on in medieval buildings like Akershus Slott.  The wealth created by the oil industry has contributed both to the country’s and the capital’s current resurgence. In Oslo, this is reflected in its bustling docks and the lively retail and leisure sector around Aker Brygge, a transformed former warehouse area along the quay.  The population of just over half a million is small for a major city, but with its late-night shopping, crowded cafés, pubs, restaurants and theatres playing to full houses, Oslo has a self-assured and cosmopolitan feel. During the long summer days, when the sun drops only briefly below the horizon and it never gets truly dark, the inhabitants spend much of their time outdoors. Summer is perfect for exploring the parks and hiking paths, or relaxing on the beaches of the fjord.  More liberal drinking laws have helped create a lively nightlife and oil money provides support for arts and culture, making it a thriving and vibrant city.