BODØ

The mini metropolis up north

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What is it about this small city in Northern Norway that makes it so special?

The nature? The culture? The people?

The secret is quite simple:
It’s a little bit of everything!

Bodø in Northern Norway .
Photo: SL Media

With Bodø as your base, you can easily fill a whole week with fun activities, cultural events, good food, and nature experiences in the Salten region.

Midnight sun in Bodø .
Photo: Ernst Furuhatt

But start by exploring Bodø, which has developed rapidly in the last few years. The cultural centre of Kulturkvartalet Stormen is especially worth a visit.

Stormen’s library was named one of the world’s 10 most beautiful in 2016 by Wired Magazine, and the concert hall attracts internationally renowned stars.

Bodø Public library .
Photo: Christine Baglo / Visitnorway.com

Thanks to its thriving cultural scene, Bodø will be the European Capital of Culture in 2024.

Discover new bands and make friends at the nightclub Dama di …

… or at the Parken Festival in August. Expect a great atmosphere, no matter the weather!

Dama Di in Bodø .
Photo: Dan Mariner

For more culture, go for a stroll in the city and discover exciting street art …

Street art in Bodø .
Photo: Karoline O. A. Pettersen

… and niche shops like Studio EBEN, which sells designer bags made of salmon skin!

Shopping in Bodø .
Photo: Karoline O. A. Pettersen

Be sure to pop into the ice cream and confectionary paradise Craig Alibone Pâtisserie. It’s a must for anyone who’s tempted by the combination of champagne and candy or who fancies a fresh macaroon.

Craig Alibone in Bodø .
Photo: Kontrafei Media

Explore Northern Norway’s rich culinary traditions and try some of the freshest seafood imagineable.

Other top tips include the bakery Brødrene Berbusmel and restaurants like LystPå and Bjørk. Enjoy local clipfish and tasty game …

… preferably with a little something from one of the local breweries, for example Hundholmen and Bådin.

Finish off the evening with a cocktail in one of the city’s beloved sky bars, where you have a panoramic view of the sea and mountains.

Lystpå in Bodø .
Photo: Karoline O. A. Pettersen

A hike in Bodømarka or in the mountains close to the city is pretty much mandatory on a trip to Bodø. A local favourite is Keiservarden, which is a moderate walk for most people.

During the week-long music festival Nordland Musikkfestuke, you can even enjoy a concert up here!

Hiking to Keiservarden in Bodø .
Photo: Karoline O. A. Pettersen

In the summer, you can bask in the sun until late in the evening.

The midnight sun gives both visitors and locals extra energy. It's perfect when you want to swim, fish, play golf or make your way up to Rønvikfjellet mountain for a magnificent bird’s eye view of the surroundings.

Midnight sun in Salten, Northern Norway .
Photo: SL Media

Or perhaps you prefer a seat in the front row of a northern lights show on a clear winter night?

Northern lights in Bodø .
Photo: Visit Bodø

If you’re after an adrenaline rush, you can’t go wrong with a RIB trip to the world’s strongest maelstrom Saltstraumen …

Saltstraumen in Bodø .
Photo: Tommy Andreassen / www.nordnorge.com

… perhaps combined with a wildlife safari?

There aren’t many places in the world where you have a better chance of getting close to sea eagles than here.

Sea eagle in Bodø .
Photo: Ole Jørgen Liodden / Naturfokus / www.nordnorge.com/Bodø

Another highlight in Bodø is the Norwegian Aviation Museum. It has a great collection of both civilian and military aircraft, including the famous U-2 spy plane that put Bodø on the map during the Cold War.

Do you want to fly yourself? Be a pilot for a day in the authentic flight simulator at the Newton Flight Academy, next door to the museum!

Luftfartmuseet in Bodø .
Photo: SL Media

Bodø has achieved the prestigious Sustainable Destination label. While this does not mean that the destination is sustainable, it does mean that it has committed to working systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism and to strengthen its positive ripple effects.

If you ask the locals for their tips for a long weekend in Bodø, most of them will recommend a trip to Kjerringøy.

This idyllic trading post is one of the best-preserved in the country. It was also the inspiration for the fictional town of Sirilund, a setting that features in many of Norwegian Nobel laureate Knut Hamsun's novels.

In Hamsun’s day, so-called jekt ships frequented the trading routes along the coast, especially for fish export. The tradition of building these square sailboats goes back to the Viking Era.

Visit the Jekt Trade Museum in Bodøsjøen to see Anna Karoline, one of few old jekt ships that have been preserved.

Kjerringøy in Bodø .
Photo: Ernst Furuhatt

Kjerringøy in Bodø .
Photo: Ernst Furuhatt / Nordlandsmuseet

Today’s modern speedboats are something else altogether, functioning a bit like metro lines along the coast.

They are perfect for island hopping along the Helgeland coast or exploring Steigen and Hamarøy, with or without a bike.

Island hopping in Bodø .
Photo: Kontrafei Media

These boats can also take you to the fantastic archipelago with islands like Givær, Bliksvær, Landegode, Helligvær and Karlsøyvær, and Fleinvær (pictured). Great for a day trip, and even better if you include an overnight stay.

Fleinvær in Northern Norway .
Photo: Christine Baglo / Visitnorway.com