Things to Do in Bodø, Norway — The Arctic City Everyone Skips (and Shouldn’t)
We’re in love with Pust floating sauna!
We’ll say it upfront: Bodø is wildly underrated. Everyone’s busy flocking to Tromsø or rushing off to the Lofoten Islands, and somehow this Arctic coastal city — perched just above the circle — stays blissfully uncrowded. Oh, and where else can you actually WALK from the airport to your accommodation?
We spent a couple of days here between a ferry and a flight (October), not expecting much… and ended up loving it. Bodø has that rare mix of gorgeous, wild nature (as pretty much everywhere in Norway), ultra-modern design, and real life still happening around you. It feels remote — but with great coffee, great sushi (yes!) and a floating sauna.
Here’s everything we discovered — the best things to do in Bodø, Norway, and why it deserves way more love than it gets.
Why visit Bodø and where is it?
Bodø’s harbor
Tucked into the fjords just north of the Arctic Circle, Bodø sits in Norway’s Nordland county as a quiet city surrounded by wild nature.
Bodø combines modern comfort with remote landscapes — so you can explore powerful nature, floating saunas, sea eagles, and Northern Lights without the crowds. In our humble opinion, it’s one of the most underrated places in Norway, and it probably won’t last.
If you’ve seen the Lofoten hype and want something a little quieter (especially in summer) — Bodø might just be your perfect stop.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
If you’re heading to the Lofoten Islands, it’s usually cheaper to rent a car in Bodø and drive or take the ferry to the islands.
Top things to do in Bodø
Do you feel Jake’s pain?
🌊 1. Feel the Power of the Saltstraumen Maelstrom
About half an hour from Bodø, Saltstraumen is home to the world’s strongest tidal current. Every six hours, 400 million cubic meters of seawater rush through a narrow strait, forming perfect spirals of whitewater.
You can stand on the bridge (and feel the vibration), or take a RIB boat tour and zip right through it — sea spray, adrenaline, and sea eagles overhead. It’s intense, humbling, and one of the coolest natural sights in Norway.
👉 See Saltstraumen tours on GetYourGuide
🦅 2. Go on a wilderness safari
Bodø is sometimes called the Sea Eagle Capital of Norway, and for good reason — these massive birds are everywhere. Local skippers know their flight paths by heart and will get you right beneath their glide zone. Watching them dive for fish a few meters from your boat? Unreal. You can also go moose watching!
👉 Book a moose watching tour from Bodø
♨️ 3. Try the floating sauna
We didn’t plan on it — but after a cold walk by the harbor, we saw someone coming out on a floating wooden platform. So, we asked, and found out that it was the Pust floating sauna! We immediately booked it for the next morning, and we did what we love the most: plunging into the Arctic water, laughing, steaming, then doing it again.
It’s one of the coolest sauna experiences in Norway — literally floating on the sea, with sunset or sunrise views (and maybe northern lights if lucky!) and the occasional sea eagle flying by. Bring your swimsuit and a towel, and just do it. Make sure to book ahead though — locals love it!
🚠 4. Hike (or drive) to Keiservarden
A short hike right outside town leads you to Keiservarden Viewpoint, where you get 360° views over the sea, the Lofoten wall, and Bodø’s colorful rooftops below.
In summer, the midnight sun paints everything gold; in winter, it’s one of the easiest spots to see the Northern Lights without leaving the city.
Did you know?
You’d think Norway would be pricey, but Norwegians live and breathe the outdoors — and some brands are actually cheaper here than in southern Europe.
Grab some cheap outdoor gear at Sport Outlet Bodø before heading north!
Bonus: a few sports stores have second-hand sections where returned jackets and boots go for a fraction of the price.
Pic: I got this awesome wool sweater for less than 30€ in Bodø!
🖼️ 5. Explore the Stormen Library & Concert Hall
In 2024, Bodø became the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle. And it’s well deserved!
The Stormen Library might be the coziest building in northern Norway — all glass, wood, and fjord views. Grab a coffee, watch the waves, and hide from the wind for an hour.
Next door, the concert hall hosts local bands and traveling artists.
🏛️ 6. Visit the Norwegian Aviation Museum
Massive hangars full of planes, helicopters, and Cold War exhibits — including an actual U-2 spy plane. We didn’t expect to like it, but it’s surprisingly fascinating (and warm). Great stop if you’re visiting in winter or traveling with kids.
🏖️ 7. Go the beach (really)
Ten minutes north of Bodø, Mjelle Beach shifts from white to deep red as the tide moves. Locals say the color comes from tiny grains of garnet — and they’re right, you can actually see the sparkle.
Come at sunset or under the midnight sun — the light makes the sand look like Mars.
A bit further, Hovdsundet Beach is an incredible “double beach” with turquoise waters on each side of the sand strip.
🎨 8. Hunt for street art
Bodø has one of the best street art scenes in Norway thanks to the UpNorth Festival. Artists from around the world painted massive murals across the city — everything from Arctic wildlife to surreal dreamscapes. It’s like a treasure hunt through side streets and parking lots.
🚗 9. Take a road Trip to Kjerringøy
An hour north of Bodø lies Kjerringøy, a tiny trading post that feels frozen in time — red warehouses, drying racks, and silence. The road there winds through fjords and meadows, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot moose along the way.
🌌 10. Chase the Northern Lights
You don’t need to go all the way to Tromsø for auroras — Bodø sits right inside the auroral oval. From September to April, you can see the Northern Lights from Keiservarden, Mjelle Beach, or even your hotel balcony if the skies are clear. Check our Northern Lights Hub for the best tips, and explore the best northern lights tours from Bodø here.
Where to stay in Bodø
The view from the Radisson Blu Bodø
Radisson Blu Bodø: Our go-to hotel in Bodø, very affordable off-season and overlooking the harbor. The staff were so friendly they actually remembered us on our second visit and gave us a free upgrade, and the breakfast is great value.
Scandic Havet — modern, harbor views, possibly the best breakfast buffet in Norway.
Thon Hotel Nordlys — waterfront rooms and local art on the walls.
Saltstraumen Hotel — nature base near the maelstrom, quieter and more relaxed.
FAQ: Visiting Bodø
We got so excited to walk to our hotel from the airport in just 15 min!
Is Bodø worth visiting?
Definitely. It’s less touristy than Tromsø or Lofoten, but still full of Arctic character — floating saunas, red beaches, sea eagles, and great food. It’s one of those cities that surprises everyone who goes.
When is the best time to visit Bodø?
If you want long days and hiking weather, come between June and August for the midnight sun. For Northern Lights and cozy evenings, October to March is ideal.
Can you see the Northern Lights from Bodø?
Yes — Bodø lies just inside the auroral oval. You can often see the lights right from the harbor or Keiservarden viewpoint.
How do I get to Bodø?
You can fly directly from Oslo in about 1.5 hours or take the scenic train north through the Arctic Circle. Ferries also connect Bodø to the Lofoten Islands.
Do I need travel insurance for Bodø?
We always recommend it. Arctic weather can change fast, and cancellations happen. We use Heymondo travel insurance, which covers delays, lost gear, and outdoor activities (including cold-water plunges!).
👉 Get 5–15% off Heymondo here
When’s the best time to visit Bodø for the northern lights?
Mid-December to early March. January usually offers the best mix of clear skies and snow cover. Check our guide of the Best Time to See the Northern Lights.
We didn’t expect much from Bodø — it was supposed to be just a stopover between a flight and a ferry. But it turned out to be one of those places that quietly gets under your skin. It has that balance we’re always chasing in the north: wild nature without chaos, locals who genuinely love where they live, and breathtaking views everywhere you look.
You can sit in a floating sauna under the Arctic sky, watch eagles dive into the sea, walk along red-sand beaches, then grab a hot chocolate in one of the most beautiful libraries in Norway — all in a single day.
Bodø may not shout like Lofoten or Tromsø, but that’s exactly why it feels special. It’s real, and it still feels a little bit like a secret.
Planning a trip to Northern Norway? Check out our guides:
❄️ Alta, Norway — Ice hotels, rock carvings, and one of the best places on Earth to spot the aurora.
🌌 Northern Lights Tours in Alta, Norway — Clear skies, quiet roads, and a front-row seat to the aurora.
🏨 Best Hotels in Tromsø — Cozy stays, fjord views, and a front-row seat to the Northern Lights.
🦌 Alta vs. Tromsø — How to choose the perfect Norwegian Arctic getaway.
🧊 Svalbard & Jan Mayen — Polar bears, ghost towns, and next-level Arctic mystery in Norway’s far north.
⛰️ Lofoten Hiking Guide — Dramatic ridges, secret beaches, and cod-drying racks in Arctic Norway.
🏠 Best Hotels to see the Northern Lights in Europe — Watch the aurora from your bed.
✨ Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
📅 Best Time to See the Northern Lights — Month-by-month, season-by-season, when the sky is most likely to dance.
