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. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Bodø.
Bodø is the largest city as well as capital of Nordland County in northern Norway. It is also the administrative center of the Bodø municipality, which includes several other towns. Situated on a peninsula just north of the Arctic Circle surrounded by the Norwegian Sea, it experiences numerous midnight suns each summer as well as some very windy days. The town is small, having an airport, harbor, and railway station all within walking distance of one another. Tourists are attracted to the opportunities for hiking, skiing, and dog sledding as well as the chance to witness whirlpools, festivals, magical sunlit nights, and the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
Visitors can reach Bodø by air, water, or land. Once you have reached the city, there are a couple of hostels available for the budget-minded traveler. The typical hostel in Bodø is clean, includes good facilities and an efficient, professional staff. A basic breakfast and reliable wifi are often included in the price of a hostel stay. Unfortunately, there are not many hostels, and a bed can be quite pricey. The other budget options are campgrounds and cabins. Especially if you are traveling in a group, a shared cabin can be a very comfortable, budget-friendly option.
If you are visiting Bodø in the summer, chances are you wish to experience beautiful hikes, kayak or take a boat ride underneath the midnight sun between June 2 and July 10. Put on your best hiking boots and embark on a leisurely hike up Mount Ronvik until you reach Keiservarden at the top. As the sun glows at midnight, you can overlook the city, sea, and even Lofoten Islands. Also be sure to keep an eye out for the white-tailed sea eagles while you are in Bodø, the sea eagle capital. Alternately, you may opt to take a boat ride through the archipelago as the sunlight continues to shine throughout the night. You also may partake in the area’s summer music festivals, namely the Nordland Musikkfestuke and the Parkenfestivalen.
If you are arriving during the colder months, you are probably wishing to ski or sled down the mountains as well as catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, a natural phenomenon of colorful lights lighting up the sky between September and April. Be sure to check online for the ideal times to behold this spectacular sight. Once the cold weather has gotten to your core, you can enjoy some time in Nordlandsbadet, Bodø’s indoor swimming pool, water park and spa. You get to take advantage of some topnotch facilities, including steam rooms, a sauna, a jacuzzi, an ice cave, and even aromatic showers. Once you are all relaxed, you can opt to go swimming or slither down the water slides.
Another year-round attraction in the area is Saltstraumen, a strait about six miles (ten kilometers) from the city yet still within the Bodø municipality, where you can witness some of the fiercest tidal currents in the world. Check online for the times when the current will peak.
Written by local enthusiast for Bodø hostels
Jakob Lombardi
