Northern lights in Bodø

Bodø by light

With its dramatic surroundings and ever-changing light, Bodø and Salten are sought-after holiday destinations for photographers and nature lovers alike.

Bodø and Salten have good light conditions all year round, even during the darkest months. The polar night, which many assume is a time of darkness, is in reality just endless variations of light. The winter months surprisingly reveals beautiful glimpses of the sun – from deep blue to glowing variants of red, orange, yellow, magenta and indigo.

The northern lights are at their most intense in the far north of the northern hemisphere. Beautiful, magical and mythical, floating like silk veils waving across the sky. It can be seen on dark, clear evenings from September to April. For the best northern lights experience, go to one of the city rooftop bars or take an organised bus tour to a more desolated area where you can hunt the light.

The ever-changing light has become a favourite subject for photographers from all over the world. Find out how to photograph the phenomenon.

In Salten you can enjoy dramatic, unspoilt surroundings, with very little traffic and short distances between city life, culture, and outdoor adventures. With its 50,000 inhabitants, Bodø is the hub of Salten and the perfect starting point for exploring the region.

With its wild and wonderful landscapes, mountains, mountain plains, woodlands, islands, shorelines, fjords, and national parks, Salten is an eldorado for nature enthusiasts providing endless opportunities for hiking at all levels of difficulty.

And if you are the adventurous type, you might prefer caving, scuba diving, eel fishing, mountaineering, kayaking, stand up paddling or snorkelling in Saltstraumen – the worlds strongest tidal current only a short drive from Bodø.

Find more inspiration on Bodø’s official website.

visitbodo.com

A person watching the green northern lights next to a building in Bodø, Northern Norway

Fordypningsrommet at Fleinvær, Bodø.
Photo: Martin Losvik

Vikings under the northern lights in Gildeskål in Salten, Northern Norway

Langsand at Sandhornøya, Gildeskål.
Photo: Petter Formo

Saltstraumen in Bodø.
Photo: Tommy Andreassen

Birds flying over Hamarøy in Salten, Northern Norway

Birds flying over Hamarøy.
Photo: Andreas Ellingsen

Winter activities in Bodø and Salten

Where to stay in Bodø and Salten

Northern lights forecast

The NorwayLights app provides the best prediction for when to see the northern lights in the area.

Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information on Bodø’s official website.
Plan your trip to Bodø and Salten with Entur.

By train

There are daily train connections between Trondheim and Bodø. The trip takes about 10 hours, and Lonely Planet has named the 729-kilometre long railway one of the world’s most beautiful night train journeys.
By road

Rv. 80 links Bodø to the E6, the main road through Norway.

Another alternative is the Coastal Route Rv. 17, which hugs the coast a few kilometres to the west and takes you all the way to Trondheim. Note that there are several ferry crossings on this route.

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By ferry

The Norwegian coastal express Hurtigruten calls at Bodø twice a day.

Fast passenger boats and car ferries take you from Bodø to several ports in the Lofoten Islands and along the Helgeland coast.

Ad: Hurtigruten – “The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage”.
By plane

Bodø Airport is located 2 kilometres from the city centre. The airport bus has many daily departures and covers the distance in about 5 minutes. A flight from Oslo to Bodø takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Transfer in Bodø for your trip to the Lofoten Islands.

Ad: Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia.
Local travel

A bus network takes you around the city and municipality of Bodø.

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