Making the most of Bodo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The dock is 1km from town and within walking distance.
A printable map is available to take along.
Just north of the Arctic Circle, the city sees the midnight sun from June 2 to July 10. Atmospheric refraction means Bodø has no true polar night, although mountains south of the city block the sun from early December until early January.
Most travellers pass through Bodø en route to the Lofoten islands.
Bodø is the largest city and capital in Norway’s county of Nordland. Its population is above 50 000 people, making it Northern-Norway’s second largest city, beaten only by Tromsø.
Norsk Luftfartsmuseum, the Norwegian Aviation Museum, is in the shopping centre area, 20 minutes’ walk from the city centre. Its substantial collections cover aviation history and highlights of the Cold War.
Take a boat trip to Saltstraumen maelstrom, one of the world’s strongest tidal currents, for a close view of this natural phenomenon.
Getting around
Taxis are available, but typical Norwegian prices make them a costly choice for longer journeys. A 10 km ride in a normal size car costs about 200-250 kr, charged per trip regardless of passenger numbers. Up to a point, four people sharing a full car can be cheaper than bus fare.
Nearby places
The popular Geitvågen recreation area is 10 kilometres north of Bodø and supports a large White-tailed Eagle population.
A typical 19th century Northern-Norway trade center, Kjerringøy trading post is now a museum with guided tours. Kjerringøy peninsula offers beautiful scenery and many tourist activities, with buses from Bodø.
Money
Norway’s currency is the Norwegian crown (Norske krone), shortened to kr. One 1/100th of a krone is an øre. 1.00 EUR = about 9 NOK. Norway is among the world’s most expensive countries.
Norwegian ATMs are known as Minibank.
Almost every store accepts major credit cards, including Mastercard and Visa. Bring a passport or driver’s license, as credit-card users must identify themselves.
Staying connected
Norwegian is Norway’s official language and is very close to, and mutually intelligible with, the other two Scandinavian languages. English is widely spoken.
Most Norwegian households have some form of internet connection, often broadband, so Cybercafés are difficult to find beyond major cities because the market is small. Most public libraries provide free public internet access, and WiFi is available in many places.
Opening Hours and
Norway’s opening hours have improved, but many small stores still close early on Saturday, typically at 1 PM or 3 PM, and almost everything shuts on Sundays. Doors often show “9-21 (9-18)”, meaning 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.