diff --git a/openml/config.py b/openml/config.py
index c23fda788..91d7345e0 100644
--- a/openml/config.py
+++ b/openml/config.py
@@ -38,6 +38,54 @@
 connection_n_retries = _defaults['connection_n_retries']
 
 
+class ConfigurationForExamples:
+    """ Allows easy switching to and from a test configuration, used for examples. """
+    _last_used_server = None
+    _last_used_key = None
+    _start_last_called = False
+    _test_server = "https://test.openml.org/api/v1/xml"
+    _test_apikey = "c0c42819af31e706efe1f4b88c23c6c1"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def start_using_configuration_for_example(cls):
+        """ Sets the configuration to connect to the test server with valid apikey.
+
+        To configuration as was before this call is stored, and can be recovered
+        by using the `stop_use_example_configuration` method.
+        """
+        global server
+        global apikey
+
+        if cls._start_last_called and server == cls._test_server and apikey == cls._test_apikey:
+            # Method is called more than once in a row without modifying the server or apikey.
+            # We don't want to save the current test configuration as a last used configuration.
+            return
+
+        cls._last_used_server = server
+        cls._last_used_key = apikey
+        cls._start_last_called = True
+
+        # Test server key for examples
+        server = cls._test_server
+        apikey = cls._test_apikey
+
+    @classmethod
+    def stop_using_configuration_for_example(cls):
+        """ Return to configuration as it was before `start_use_example_configuration`. """
+        if not cls._start_last_called:
+            # We don't want to allow this because it will (likely) result in the `server` and
+            # `apikey` variables being set to None.
+            raise RuntimeError("`stop_use_example_configuration` called without a saved config."
+                               "`start_use_example_configuration` must be called first.")
+
+        global server
+        global apikey
+
+        server = cls._last_used_server
+        apikey = cls._last_used_key
+        cls._start_last_called = False
+
+
 def _setup():
     """Setup openml package. Called on first import.
 
@@ -140,8 +188,18 @@ def set_cache_directory(cachedir):
     cache_directory = cachedir
 
 
+start_using_configuration_for_example = (
+    ConfigurationForExamples.start_using_configuration_for_example
+)
+stop_using_configuration_for_example = (
+    ConfigurationForExamples.stop_using_configuration_for_example
+)
+
 __all__ = [
-    'get_cache_directory', 'set_cache_directory'
+    'get_cache_directory',
+    'set_cache_directory',
+    'start_using_configuration_for_example',
+    'stop_using_configuration_for_example',
 ]
 
 _setup()
diff --git a/tests/test_openml/test_config.py b/tests/test_openml/test_config.py
index aa2c6d687..44cf4862f 100644
--- a/tests/test_openml/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_openml/test_config.py
@@ -9,3 +9,47 @@ class TestConfig(openml.testing.TestBase):
     def test_config_loading(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(openml.config.config_file))
         self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(os.path.expanduser('~/.openml')))
+
+
+class TestConfigurationForExamples(openml.testing.TestBase):
+
+    def test_switch_to_example_configuration(self):
+        """ Verifies the test configuration is loaded properly. """
+        # Below is the default test key which would be used anyway, but just for clarity:
+        openml.config.apikey = "610344db6388d9ba34f6db45a3cf71de"
+        openml.config.server = self.production_server
+
+        openml.config.start_using_configuration_for_example()
+
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.apikey, "c0c42819af31e706efe1f4b88c23c6c1")
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.server, self.test_server)
+
+    def test_switch_from_example_configuration(self):
+        """ Verifies the previous configuration is loaded after stopping. """
+        # Below is the default test key which would be used anyway, but just for clarity:
+        openml.config.apikey = "610344db6388d9ba34f6db45a3cf71de"
+        openml.config.server = self.production_server
+
+        openml.config.start_using_configuration_for_example()
+        openml.config.stop_using_configuration_for_example()
+
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.apikey, "610344db6388d9ba34f6db45a3cf71de")
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.server, self.production_server)
+
+    def test_example_configuration_stop_before_start(self):
+        """ Verifies an error is raised is `stop_...` is called before `start_...`. """
+        error_regex = ".*stop_use_example_configuration.*start_use_example_configuration.*first"
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(RuntimeError, error_regex,
+                               openml.config.stop_using_configuration_for_example)
+
+    def test_example_configuration_start_twice(self):
+        """ Checks that the original config can be returned to if `start..` is called twice. """
+        openml.config.apikey = "610344db6388d9ba34f6db45a3cf71de"
+        openml.config.server = self.production_server
+
+        openml.config.start_using_configuration_for_example()
+        openml.config.start_using_configuration_for_example()
+        openml.config.stop_using_configuration_for_example()
+
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.apikey, "610344db6388d9ba34f6db45a3cf71de")
+        self.assertEqual(openml.config.server, self.production_server)