Bodø
Municipality · Nordland
About Bodø
Saltstraumen's whirlpools, one of the world's strongest tidal currents, the 1800s trading post at Kjerringøy, and the Norwegian Aviation Museum.
Bodø is a town on a low peninsula, largely rebuilt after German bombing burned much of it in 1940. Around it the municipality spreads across Saltfjorden and Skjerstadfjorden to sharp peaks, with small islands and the rocky bulk of Landegode out to sea.
It is the end of Kystriksveien and the port for the Lofoten ferry, so many just pass through. Stay a night or two to climb the home hill Keiservarden or walk to the reddish sand of Mjelle beach under the midnight sun.
Good to know
- Getting there: Rv80 from the E6 at Fauske, about 55 minutes; Fv17 Kystriksveien ends here. Car ferries cross Vestfjorden to Moskenes in Lofoten, about 3 h 15.
- Season: Kjerringøy Trading Post is open 18 May to 31 August, and the midnight sun shows at Mjelle beach in June and July.
- Sleeping: Opsahl Gjestegaard in town, Kjerringøy Bryggehotell up the coast, and campsites such as Geitvågen Bad & Camping in summer.
- Food: Grilled stockfish, the dried cod of this coast, at Restaurant Bjørk or Bryggerikaia, and house beer at Hundholmen Brygghus.
What to do and where to stay in Bodø
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1SaltstraumenNature
A 3 km long, 150 m wide strait where up to 400 million m³ of seawater pushes through every six hours, forming whirlpools up to 10 m across at peak flow.
Saltstraumen, about 10 km south-east of Bodø town (straight-line) · 30–60 min (time it with the tide table) · all-year; strongest around new and full moon
2Kjerringøy Trading PostHistory & culture
Fifteen listed buildings of a merchant post licensed in the 1770s and run in its heyday by Erasmus Zahl, now a Nordland Museum site with guided tours.
Kjerringøyveien 1129, Kjerringøy, about 40 km north of Bodø · 1.5–2 h · 18 May–31 Aug, 11–17; café Nyfjøsen Saturdays 11:30–15 off-season
3Norwegian Aviation MuseumSight
A 10,000 m² national museum shaped like a propeller, with dozens of historic aircraft including a US U-2 spy plane, built over the road that runs beneath it.
Olav V gate, about 1.5 km from Bodø centre · 2–3 h · all-year
4Jekt Trade Museum (Jektefartsmuseet)History & culture
Built around Anna Karoline, an 1876 cargo boat described as the world's only preserved original Nordland jekt, with a café and a restaurant serving traditional dishes.
Kvernhusveien 26, Bodøsjøen open-air museum, Bodø · 1–1.5 h · all-year, Tue–Sun 11–16
5Mjelle beach (Mjellefjæra)Swim
A 2.2 km return walk from the road end leads to a beach whose sand often looks red or pink from garnet weathered out of the local rock.
Mjelle, off Fv834 towards Kjerringøy · 1 h (2.2 km return) · all-year; midnight sun June–July
6KeiservardenHike
Bodø's 366 m home hill, where a plaque marks Kaiser Wilhelm II's climb in 1891; a summit shelter and views over the town and sea to the Lofoten peaks.
Rønvik, above Bodø town · 2–3 h (about 5 km return) · June–September on foot; snowshoes/skis in winter
7Eidetinden, Kjerringøy's highest peakHike
A demanding 7 km return climb from Låter gains nearly 1,000 m to Kjerringøy's highest point, the 1,020 m summit, with all-round views of the surrounding peaks.
Låter car park, Kjerringøy · 5 h (7 km return) · June–September
8Svenskebyen (the Swedish quarter)Local oddity
Two blocks of houses in Østbyen, all gifted by the Swedish Red Cross and put up in 1941 after bombing destroyed large parts of Bodø in 1940.
Østbyen, between Prinsens gate, Hernesveien, Fredensborgveien and Harald Langhelles gate, Bodø · 20–30 min walk · all-year (residential streets)
9Nyholms SkandseHistory & culture
One of only two forts built in Northern Norway, raised in 1810 to guard grain stores from British warships, closed in 1835 and restored from the late 1960s.
Nyholmen, at the harbour entrance, Bodø · 30–45 min · all-year (outdoor)
10Hundholmen BrygghusFood & drink
A two-floor brewpub opened in 2016 with a house brewery upstairs and a changing menu built on local produce, named after the trading place that preceded Bodø.
Tollbugata 13, Bodø centre · 1–1.5 h · all-year
Book something local
boat
Silent Kjerringøy coastal cruise ↗
A four-hour cruise, about half of it on electric power, from Bodø past Hovdsundet and Mjelle beach to Kjerringøy, with an hour or so at the old trading post.
Brim Explorer · Behind Quality Hotel Ramsalt, Sjøgata 37, Bodø