Gardermoen is an area of Oslo dominated by the main airport of the city, less than 50 kilometres from the centre, with over 140 direct destination routes. Oslo Airport, or OSL, is the largest in Norway and one of the busiest in Scandinavia, as a central base for Scandinavian Airlines.
In addition to its great transport connections, the airport of Gardermoen has 24-hour shopping facilities and a range of duty-free items on sale. There are also numerous restaurants, bars, and cafes in which to grab something to eat and drink in-between flights. The architects of the airport included impressive works of art, including the interior design of wooden reefers and glass fronts, but also metal sculptures on the side of the building and electronic boards showing dancing images while people wait in baggage claim. There are numerous calming effects in the airport, as sound refreshment stations play soothing sounds for passers-by, and custom made art is scattered on the walls, making it more of a comfortable place to relax rather than a stressful transport hub.
The airport has strong transport links between Gardermoen and the greater city of Oslo, most efficiently connected by the Airport Express Train, also known as Flytoget. Travellers can also take the NSB intercity and local trains, or one of the Airport Coaches to get to the centre of the city. The connecting bus service, called Flybussen, also departs every 20 minutes every day.
Oslo Airport was initially a military airport for the Norwegian Army in the 1940s and remained a small-scale transport facility for years. In 1998, the Gardermoen airport opened as an international flight zone. The project cost billions in construction for what has now become one of the most important airports in Europe.