Need to know: Bodø, Norway

When to go

Deep winter sets in between November and March, when daylight hours are short and temperatures can drop to -10ºc, but it’s a great time to see the aurora. Between June and July, the midnight sun barely sets and conditions (20ºc) are ideal for hiking.

Getting there & around

Norwegian Air (norwegian.com) operates direct flights to Oslo from London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh from around £80 return and take two hours. From Oslo, Norwegian Air and SAS fly seven times a day to Bodø (1.5 hours; £70 return). The airport is five minutes from town by bus (£4.40 one way).

Carbon offset

A return flight from London to Bodø via Oslo produces 382kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust encourages you to offset your travel footprint through a reputable provider. For advice on how to find one, visit wanderlust.co.uk/sustainable-travel.

Visa & currency

Visa: Not required by UK nationals for stays of up to 90 days. Currency Norwegian Kroner (NOK), currently around NOK13.39 to the UK£.

Where to stay

Quality Hotel Ramsalt is a 250-room three-star that punches well above its rating thanks to the superb ‘The Social’ restaurant and bar. Doubles from £118pn. strawberryhotels.com

Wood Hotel is a brand-new wooden hotel on the outskirts of Bodø that has a focus on wellness and is scheduled to open in summer 2024. woodbodo.com

Food & drink

Lövolds Kafeteria (lovoldskafeteria.no) is a beloved no-frills granny café that happens to be the best place to try the local cod. Dama-di (Sjøgata 18) promises ‘art, chaos and a bar’ – and it doesn’t disappoint on either front. Harbourside Txaba (txaba.no) is currently billed as the best eatery in town, pairing fine tapas with a quaffable wine list.

Don’t miss

Sami culture. Check the online calendar (bodo2024.no) for a host of Indigenous music, theatre, film and workshops, including 200+ Sami artefacts inside Stormen Library.

Nōua is a contemporary photography and art space that hosts rotating shows in the town’s post-war dance hall. noua.no

The 1903 Nordland Museum, with its distinctive mustard-hued exterior, is being upgraded to host a year-long spotlight on Sami art and culture. nordlandsmuseet.no

Saltstraumen is a small strait on the outskirts of town. Operators can arrange sea-eagle safaris and Arctic coastal walks. exploresalten.no

Go swimming in the Arctic Ocean at Pust Bodø, a harbourside sauna with steps into the very cold sea. pust.no

The world’s first cave concert takes place at Plura Cave. While only qualified cave divers can attend on the day, the event will also be live streamed (Mar 29).

Further information

bodo2024.no – Festival site visitbodo.com – Tourist board site