The region is bounded by mountains in the north and west, the Swedish border to the east and by Østfold and Skagerrak to the south.

Most of eastern Norway's southern half is dominated of rolling hills with pine and spruce forests, and agricultural land down in the valleys The area around the Oslo fjord and towards the north east are comparatively flat, and there are patches of intensely cultivated lands, notably Hedmarken, Toten, Hadeland, Ringerike and others.

The Norwegian dialects spoken in the south-east share a common intonation, but there is some variation in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

The eastern forests of Finnskogen and Finnemarka were the home of a Finnish minority, that immigrated in the area in the 17th century.

There are many tourist traps, which have a tendency of becoming Disneyland versions of the actual culture, especially in the ski resorts, which are transformed by people from the cities, with increased building of shops, hotels and vacation houses.

Traditionally the biggest export was timber and shipping, now employment in the industrial sector is in decline and most people are working in service-oriented companies.

The coastal area is varied, from the metropolitan Oslo to the more quiet and idyllic old maritime city of Drøbak, and the oldest city in Norway, Tønsberg There is also some museum railway lines, for example the Krøder Line, where one can ride heritage steam and diesel trains on old twisty railway tracks.