Things to do in Bodø

Bodø is often referred to as the mini metropolis of Salten – and that’s not without reason! Here you get a bit of everything a city should offer – great culinary experiences, exciting activities and a bustling cultural scene.

Located on the beautiful Nordland coast, nature experiences are waiting in line, with activities suitable for both young and old alike. Bodø has also historically held a strategically important position within the fishing and shipping industry.

The cultural life is also strong here, and Bodø has actually been named the European Capital of Culture in 2024. The program is called ARCTICulation and as an audience, you can expect a whole year of art and culture, with nature as the main stage. But Bodø’s cultural scene is already spreading and growing with the Nordland Music Festival Week and Stormen Concert Hall.

There are two Thon hotels in Bodø: Thon Partner Hotel Skagen is centrally located, but quiet in the Bodø city centre, within walking distance of "everything". Thon Hotel Nordlys is located right next to the marina and the pier, and has a great view of the Lofoten Wall and the Hurtigruten ship passing by.

Here are our best tips for activities and attractions to visit in Bodø.

Keiservarden

Perhaps Bodø’s most famous hiking mountain stretches 366 metres above sea level, and is a simple and manageable hike for most people. The top can be reached from two different starting points, either by following the road from Maskinisten or the path from Turisthytta, both a short distance from the city centre. The tour is around 4-5 kilometres each way, depending on which route you choose – and from the top you get a view of the Bodø Peninsula, the sea and the Lofoten Wall. And if you look closely, you can glimpse the peaks of Saltfjellet and the mountains of Sulitjelma.

Tips! Nordland Adventures arrange guided tours to Keiservarden if you prefer to take a guided tour.

Pallfjellet

A short but lovely hike all year round goes to the top of Pallfjellet on Rønvikfjellet, where beautiful views on all sides await. The hike is a 3.5 kilometres round trip and starts at Rønvik school, which is around 3.5 kilometres from Thon Hotel Nordlys. We’re talking top class local adventures!

To the top of Junkerfjellet

Another hiking gem in Bodømarka, which is nice to walk all year round, is the hike to the top of Junkerfjellet at 283 metres above sea level. The starting point is from the Bestemorenga ski resort, about 15 minutes from the city centre, where you can follow a gravel road all the way to the top – either on foot or by bike. From here you can enjoy fine views, including the airport and Fugløya. The road is cleared in the winter and is a six kilometres round trip.

Round trip by the sea

If you don't want to go on a summit hike, then the four-kilometre Bodøsjørunden is a good alternative. The hike starts at the Bodøsjøen open-air museum, where you can also catch a glimpse of Norway’s only original Nordlandsjekt inside the large boathouse. The hike goes along the road and a gravel path sometimes right down to the shore, and is also suitable for those with a pram, bike and wheelchair.

Nordland National Parks

If you want to experience more than Bodømarka and the mountains close to the city, our hotels are also a good starting point for those who want to explore Nordland’s many national parks. The county has a total of nine national parks, including Sjunkhatten, Rago and Junkerdal, accessible by car – with great hiking experiences in store.

Get up close to sea eagles

Did you know that Bodø is considered to have the world’s densest population of sea eagles, and has been voted Norway’s sea eagle town? The sea eagle is Northern Europe’s largest bird of prey, and the bird that is popularly called the king of the coast can have a wingspan of more than 2.5 metres. On a sea eagle safari with Arctic Rib or Stella Polaris, skilled guides will give you the opportunity to experience the majestic bird up close.

Glacier hiking on Svartisen

Ready for a real adventure? Equipped with rope, ice axe and crampons, you can join a guided tour of the beautiful blue ice with Nordland Adventures. The actual glacier hike lasts for approx. 6–8 hours, but including the the round-trip to Bodø you should calculate approx. 12 hours. The tour normally runs from May to September, both during the day and as a midnight hike, and is a trip most people can manage. And whatever you choose, we can promise that it will be a spectacular experience.

The magical northern lights

Sheer, undulating and dancing, in a wide range of colours – the northern lights are a stunning sight as they light up the sky above you. In Bodø, there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights in various ways: Join Experience North on a northern light hunt with an electric bike, take a bus trip with Polar Tours or head to the Turisthytta, Jakobsbakken or one of the other of Bodø’s best places to see the northern lights.

Tips! In the summer, you can also witness another magical light phenomenon in Bodø – the midnight sun!

Try your hand at dog sledding

Imagine being able to glide across a white and arctic landscape, with a group of happy and eager huskies pulling the sled in front of you. Sounds like fun, right? Dog sledding is a fun and exciting experience for people of all ages, and with Nordland Adventures you can join a day trip in Bodø, where you choose whether you want to steer the team or just sit on the sled. Together with Saltenguidene you can also take a dog sledding tour at Beiarfjellet, about 1.5 hours' drive from Bodø, who arrange everything from short day trips to several days’ expeditions.

Cycling along the Coastal Road

Get on your bike and discover the coast on two wheels! Bodø is a good starting point for bike tours, both to Lofoten and south along the extensive Coastal Road. The road, which has been referred to as the world’s most beautiful route, stretches from Steinkjer in the south to Løding around 16 km east of Bodø in the north. If you have plenty of time, you can cycle the whole 650 kilometres, or you can choose a leg or two. A nice route that takes three days, for example, goes from Bodø to Gildeskål and back again, with highlights such as Saltstraumen and high mountains and long beaches along the way. You can rent a bike from Experience North - who also arrange various bike tours in the Bodø area.

Tips! The Coastal Road is also great to discover by car.

Explore exciting caves

Nordland is the county with the most caves in all of Norway, so if you have dreamt of walking in beautiful marble corridors and seeing stunning waterfalls and potholes below ground level, this is the place to go on a cave excursion. Nordland Adventures arrange guided tours in both Vikgrotta and Aspfjordgrotta on a full day excursion from Bodø. Both tours are medium to slightly demanding in difficulty level – and both offer a spectacular experience.

Island hopping

The number of islands and peninsulas along the coast of Bodø and Salten is almost countless – but what is certain is that many of them are worth visiting. On these coastal gems, beautiful water to swim and white beaches, idyllic island communities, old trade sites, great mountain hikes, climbing opportunities and cycle paths await. From Bodø you can take a speedboat and travel both south and north, to favourites such as Hamarøy, Steigen, Bliksvær, Fleinvær, Støttet and Bolga – to name a few. At most of the piers where the boat docks, there are also good eateries and opportunities for activities such as deep-sea fishing and bicycle hire.

Experience Saltstraumen – the world’s strongest tidal current

Just half an hour’s drive from Bodø centre you can experience the spectacular Saltstraumen, a world-famous natural phenomenon known for its fierce and beautiful swirls. When the tide turns large bodies of water force through a small channel, creating whirlpools of up to 10 metres in diameter. The time when this happens varies, so check out the Saltstraumentabellen to be updated.

There are a number of experiences where you can experience Saltstraumen up close. Among other things, you can choose between diving or snorkelling with the company Nord&Ne, RIB safari with Stella Polaris, a bus tour with Polar Tours or a combined RIB and sea eagle safari with Explore Salten. Saltstraumen is also an Eldorado for sport fishing, with good opportunities to catch cod, saithe, monkfish, halibut and catfish.

Sea kayaking

Jump in the kayak and get close to the beautiful coastline of Nordland! Bodø is a great starting point for enriching kayak tours – where you can glide across flat, crystal clear water, find hidden beaches, discover the world of animals and find tranquillity at sea. Nordland Adventures arrange both half- and full-day guided tours between May and September, and also winter for small groups. The tour is adapted according to the weather and the group’s skills, and you do not need any previous experience with kayaking. Rett Kjøl also arrange various kayak tours and courses.

Beach life

Even though the water temperatures in the north are often more suitable for ice bathers than bathers, the beaches here are still worth a visit. Because with crystal clear waters and white sand, it’s almost like being in the South or in the Maldives – if you ignore the water temperature. Some of the finest beaches around Bodø include Mjelle, which is about half an hour’s drive from the city centre, and is a popular spot to watch the sunset. Closer to the city you will find beautiful Ausvika, and if you have a kayak, Paradisbukta on Store Hjartøya is a great destination for a kayakking trip from the city centre.

For water nymphs and luxury animals

If the northern Norwegian water temperatures are a bit too harsh, you can instead visit Nordlandsbadet, which is part of the Bodø Spektrum sports, culture and experience centre. Here you can splash around in several pools, including a heated pool and a wave pool, and dive from both 1, 3 and 5 metres. Bodø Spektrum also has its own spa and wellness department, where you can take care of tired holiday muscles and charge the batteries in a steam bath, infrared sauna, ice cave, Finnish sauna and hot tub both indoors and outdoors.

Try your luck at fishing

Do you dream of catching big fish? Explore Salten arrange fishing trips with the boat MS Medstraum, where you can rent a fishing boat with crew including warm clothes and all the equipment you need for fishing. The boat also has a heated lounge, toilet on board and the option for eating. The tour starts in Bodø city centre and is suitable for the whole family.

Learn about Norway’s aviation history

At the Norwegian Aviation Museum, you can experience Norway’s history through both military and civil aviation history, and see how aviation brought Norway together as a nation. The museum is a staggering 10,000 square meters and houses the famous U-2 spy plane, a large exhibition of artefacts and Bodø Airport’s old air traffic control tower. Do you dream of flying yourself? In the Newton Flight Academy you can try your hand as a pilot in a flight simulator and experience the feeling.

Travel back in time on Kjerringøy

Are you wondering how life was in the old northern Norwegian trading posts? You can find out if you go to Kjerringøy trading post, which is idyllically located on the beautiful Kjerringøy (where season 12 of the TV2 programme Hver gang vi mødes was recorded), around an hour’s drive from Bodø city centre. The site consists of 15 well-preserved, listed buildings, including one of the oldest preserved Nordland boats, an old shop with nostalgic goods and a main house with authentic 19th century interiors. Various activities are also held from time to time for both young and old, demonstrations or small plays where you get a unique insight into "life in the old days".

Explore Jekte Trade Museum

For almost 400 years, jekts were responsible for almost all freight of goods from northern Norway to the cities further south and on out into the world, and at the Jekte Trade Museum you can get an insight into the history of Norway’s largest exports before oil and fish. This was the lifeblood of the communities at the time, and goods such as cod liver oil, dried fish, salted fish and timber were exchanged for grain, spirits and fishing equipment. With the jekts, there were also cultural impulses, new customs and goods from distant lands, but the voyages were often carried out with the lives at stake for the crew on board.

An insight into Bodø’s history

In the exhibition and the "Our City" slide show at the Bodø city museum, you can learn about Bodø’s history from 1816 to the present day, in what is one of the oldest buildings in Bodø city centre. The museum, which is part of the Nordlands Museum, also houses several exhibitions, a dry aquarium and arranges various activities and city walks.

Urban Art

Did you know that Bodø is decorated with beautiful street art? During the Up North Festival in 2016, a number of international artists left their mark on Bodø’s buildings, and the art can still be discovered on a walk around the city. Free cultural refill – yes please!

Lystpå

The restaurant Lystpå is referred to as modern Nordic cuisine, where honest cooking meets fresh Norwegian ingredients, accompanied by one of the country’s largest selection of wines by the glass. The restaurant is located in Torghallen and has its own day and evening menu based on northern Norwegian traditions. In the summer there is also a large outdoor dining area, where you can savour something delicious in the glass under the midnight sun.

Bryggerikaia

No Bodø trip is complete without tasting local seafood! Bryggerikaia, which is beautifully located right by the harbour, serves the coast’s best seasonal ingredients: shellfish platters, northern Norwegian fish soup, mussels, homemade fish & chips and their own classic – grilled dried fish.

Bjørk

If you’re in the mood for Italian, the restaurant Bjørk in Glasshuset is a good option. Here everything is served from homemade pasta and pizza baked in a stone oven, to dishes such as pumpkin schnitzel and grilled reindeer cooked on a charcoal grill. When the weather is nice, the outdoor dining area is opened with views of the Kulturkvartalet and the harbour.

Craig Alibone Pâtisserie

Sweet tooth? Then head to the city’s pastry king in the heart of the city centre! The Craig Alibone Pâtisserie is an artisan patisserie and champagne bar that blends Scandinavian culture and Parisian elegance. The menu includes award-winning chocolate, macaroons, confectionery and cakes, accompanied by champagne, wine and top quality cocktails.

Brødrene Berbusmel Bakeri & Deli

At the central square you will find a cosy artisan bakery with a cafe and its own delicatessen. The place is run by brothers Ola and Lars, one a baker and the other a chef, and together they focus on modern craftsmanship, quality and local ingredients. Inspiration comes from their childhood, including deep sea fishing, mother’s homemade bread and grandfather’s cream cakes.

Sports Bar Bodø

Are you in Bodø while your favourite team is playing the most important football match of the season? Don't worry.
Since its opening in 2017, the Sports Bar Bodø has become a popular meeting place for friends, colleagues and all those looking for a good bite to eat, something tasty in the glass and sports on a big screen. The bar also has shuffleboards, darts, and board games for those who want to be a little active too – as well as arranging sports quizzes and live music evenings.

Hundholmen Brygghus & Gastropub

At the city’s largest restaurant, you can choose to eat in the restaurant with a changing à la carte menu based on local ingredients, or a little simpler, but equally top quality traditional food in the bar. There is also a strong focus on beer, with its own in-house brewery and an ambition to offer up to four different types of home-produced beers, as well as a wide selection of all types of beverages. The atmosphere is informal, and there’s room for as many as 450 people, who can also try their hand at shuffleboards or dance to DJ music at the weekends.

Get up close to sea eagles

Did you know that Bodø is considered to have the world’s densest population of sea eagles, and has been voted Norway’s sea eagle town? The sea eagle is Northern Europe’s largest bird of prey, and the bird that is popularly called the king of the coast can have a wingspan of more than 2.5 metres. On a sea eagle safari with Arctic Rib or Stella Polaris, skilled guides will give you the opportunity to experience the majestic bird up close.

Glacier hiking on Svartisen 

Ready for a real adventure? Equipped with rope, ice axe and crampons, you can join a guided tour of the beautiful blue ice with Nordland Adventures. The actual glacier hike lasts for approx. 6–8 hours, but including the the round-trip to Bodø you should calculate approx. 12 hours. The tour normally runs from May to September, both during the day and as a midnight hike, and is a trip most people can manage. And whatever you choose, we can promise that it will be a spectacular experience.

The magical northern lights

Sheer, undulating and dancing, in a wide range of colours – the northern lights are a stunning sight as they light up the sky above you. In Bodø, there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights in various ways: Join Experience North on a northern light hunt with an electric bike, take a bus trip with Polar Tours or head to the Turisthytta, Jakobsbakken or one of the other of Bodø’s best places to see the northern lights.

Tips! In the summer, you can also witness another magical light phenomenon in Bodø – the midnight sun!

Try your hand at dog sledding

Imagine being able to glide across a white and arctic landscape, with a group of happy and eager huskies pulling the sled in front of you. Sounds like fun, right? Dog sledding is a fun and exciting experience for people of all ages, and with Nordland Adventures you can join a day trip in Bodø, where you choose whether you want to steer the team or just sit on the sled. Together with Saltenguidene you can also take a dog sledding tour at Beiarfjellet, about 1.5 hours' drive from Bodø, who arrange everything from short day trips to several days’ expeditions.

Cycling along the Coastal Road 

Get on your bike and discover the coast on two wheels! Bodø is a good starting point for bike tours, both to Lofoten and south along the extensive Coastal Road. The road, which has been referred to as the world’s most beautiful route, stretches from Steinkjer in the south to Løding around 16 km east of Bodø in the north. If you have plenty of time, you can cycle the whole 650 kilometres, or you can choose a leg or two. A nice route that takes three days, for example, goes from Bodø to Gildeskål and back again, with highlights such as Saltstraumen and high mountains and long beaches along the way. You can rent a bike from Experience North - who also arrange various bike tours in the Bodø area.

Tips! The Coastal Road is also great to discover by car.

Explore exciting caves

Nordland is the county with the most caves in all of Norway, so if you have dreamt of walking in beautiful marble corridors and seeing stunning waterfalls and potholes below ground level, this is the place to go on a cave excursion. Nordland Adventures arrange guided tours in both Vikgrotta and Aspfjordgrotta on a full day excursion from Bodø. Both tours are medium to slightly demanding in difficulty level – and both offer a spectacular experience.

Island hopping

The number of islands and peninsulas along the coast of Bodø and Salten is almost countless – but what is certain is that many of them are worth visiting. On these coastal gems, beautiful water to swim and white beaches, idyllic island communities, old trade sites, great mountain hikes, climbing opportunities and cycle paths await. From Bodø you can take a speedboat and travel both south and north, to favourites such as Hamarøy, Steigen, Bliksvær, Fleinvær, Støttet and Bolga – to name a few. At most of the piers where the boat docks, there are also good eateries and opportunities for activities such as deep-sea fishing and bicycle hire.

Experience Saltstraumen – the world’s strongest tidal current

Just half an hour’s drive from Bodø centre you can experience the spectacular Saltstraumen, a world-famous natural phenomenon known for its fierce and beautiful swirls. When the tide turns large bodies of water force through a small channel, creating whirlpools of up to 10 metres in diameter. The time when this happens varies, so check out the Saltstraumentabellen to be updated.

There are a number of experiences where you can experience Saltstraumen up close. Among other things, you can choose between diving or snorkelling with the company Nord&Ne, RIB safari with Stella Polaris, a bus tour with Polar Tours or a combined RIB and sea eagle safari with Explore Salten. Saltstraumen is also an Eldorado for sport fishing, with good opportunities to catch cod, saithe, monkfish, halibut and catfish.

Sea kayaking 

Jump in the kayak and get close to the beautiful coastline of Nordland! Bodø is a great starting point for enriching kayak tours – where you can glide across flat, crystal clear water, find hidden beaches, discover the world of animals and find tranquillity at sea. Nordland Adventures arrange both half- and full-day guided tours between May and September, and also winter for small groups. The tour is adapted according to the weather and the group’s skills, and you do not need any previous experience with kayaking. Rett Kjøl also arrange various kayak tours and courses.

Try your luck at fishing

Do you dream of catching big fish? Explore Salten arrange fishing trips with the boat MS Medstraum, where you can rent a fishing boat with crew including warm clothes and all the equipment you need for fishing. The boat also has a heated lounge, toilet on board and the option for eating. The tour starts in Bodø city centre and is suitable for the whole family.