This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Bo is a small town that is located in the county of Telemark, Norway. It is a part of the older Norwegian region of Midt-Telemark. Since the days of old, Bo has been a parish. The area around the town became its own municipality in the early 1800s. With a population of about 6000 people, it is one of the most sparsely populated towns in Norway.
Staying in Bo might be harder than you expect. Hostels are not too common in the area, although those that you find are usually staffed by very friendly locals. The food at the hostels and homestays is traditional local cuisine. The hostels you do find will usually be on the very affordable end of things.
The economy of the town is based on education, tourism, and farming. You can take a trip through the town center, which looks like a traditional college town due to the nearby Telemark University College. There is a rich culture in the town and the surrounding region. It has been called the most beautiful place in Norway by a number of modern writers.
Being a parish, the town has many old churches. Bo gets its name from the Norse word Boer, which was the name of an old farm in the area where the first church was constructed. Built in 1100, the stone building has about 200 seats. In the 1600s, more sections were added to the original design of the church. The Bo New Church is a newer place built in 1875, with 450 seats and a Gothic architecture.
Bo is also famous for its nearby water park. Called Sommarland, this is the largest waterpark in Norway and is one of the reasons why the town depends on tourism for its economy to be a success. If you want something more historical, check out the Gygrestol rock formation instead.
Written by local expertz for Bø in Telemark
Jakob Lombardi
