The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Bodø
Explore the best of Bodø with this self-guided walking tour.
What you get
Historic overview of Bodø (with photos of what the city used to look like)
Printable map with the route and major landmarks highlighted
Link to a Google Map that can be loaded into your phone for easier navigation
Clear directions with English & Norwegian names of places, addresses, and step-by-step guides
Photos of each point of interest
This guide is 9 pages and comes in a PDF format.
European Capital of Culture
Bodø is a relatively new city; it was established in the 19th century as a port close to the rich fisheries in the Vestfjord. However, the fisheries soon died out and Bodø re-organised itself as an administrative centre for the region. Rebuilt after World War II, Bodø is now going through a shift. It is the European Capital of Culture for 2024, boasting a year of cultural events. While certainly not a tourist hot-spot, it is a charming town and lovely to walk around.
Trip Highlights
- See the iconic Bodø street artworks
- Learn about Bodø during World War II and the subsequent reconstruction period
- See the highlights of Bodø while the ship is in port
Distance
3km round-trip (2 miles)
Activity Level
Level 1 – flat path, no stairs, paved.
Start Location
Coastal Ferry Terminal
End Location
Coastal Ferry Terminal
Itinerary
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.
Bodø Station
Bodø Station is the terminus of the Nordland Line that was completed in 1961
Street Art
Bodø is famous for its street art. In 2015, the first UpNorth festival was held here, where international and national artists were given the freedom to paint on some of Bodø’s walls.
Bodø Town Hall
Bodø Town Hall is the main municipal building in Bodø with the municipality’s political and administrative headquarters. The building was built after the war, and it was designed by Gudolf Blakstad and Herman Munthe-Kaas, who gave it a functionalist style.
Nordland Museum
Recounting the short history of Bodø, this gem of a museum has an entertaining and informative 25-minute film with English subtitles on the town’s development
Bodø Cathedral
The original church was built in 1888. It was yellow, wooden, and neo-Gothic. The church was destroyed during the bombing on 27 May 1940. In 1946, an architectural competition was held for the design of the new church. The new church was finished in 1956.
Bodø Library
These buildings are a welcome modern addition to the city’s post-war architecture. Plans for a library began in 2009, when an international competition was held to design the library. The plan was to build a new, modern cultural quarter in Bodø.
Example of what the guide looks like.
Watch the walk on Youtube
This walk around Bodø was filmed during the polar night in December 2023.