Not everyone should drive in winter in Arctic Norway. Daylight is short and roads are narrow, winding and often icy. If you regularly drive in alpine or Nordic winter conditions, this should pose no problem for you. But if your daily life is frost-free and your winter experiences limited, driving on ice and snow might be a bad idea.
Why choose public transport?
Public transport is first of all much safer for inexperienced winter drivers It also allows you to look out of the window instead of focusing on the road. You arrive rested, ready to look for the Northern Lights, and parking is not an issue. Best of all, it can be organised easily. There is a good network of buses and express boats fanning out of Bodø; to the magical fjords and mountains of Salten, the beautiful coast of Helgeland, to the famous Lofoten island og further to Vesterålen. Why don’t more tourists take the bus or boat? Probably because they can’t find out when it leaves. This article aims at helping you with that.
Bodø is a hub for memorable experiences
In just a few hours from most European airports, you can now fly across the Arctic Circle, from Munich, or via Copenhagen, Stockholm or Helsinki to Bodø and the coastline of Nordland! As the airplane (or train) rolls into Bodø, it marks the completion of the first leg of the “grand journey” to Northern Norway. This is a perfect starting-point to explore the county of Nordland.
Close to the hub of Bodø
Salten – where the steep mountains meet the white beaches
The unhurried traveller will find calm, beauty and relaxation in snug cabins and peaceful holiday villages not far from Bodø. Go onboard the railway to Saltdal and explore the facinating local history of wooden boat building, the “Blood Road” during the WWII or explore the Nordland National Park Centre.
After listening to the famous Norwegian singer Terje Nilsen, on the train from Trondheim to Bodø, we wish to add the long Mjelle beach to the list. Kjerringøy, the peninsula with its famous old trading post, is also high on our bucket list.
Kathrine Sørgård, travel journalist and writer
Several of the nice white coral beaches around Bodø are surrounded by spectacular mountains, just within one hour by bus. The Børvasstindan mountain range, which you can see out towards Saltstraumen, seduces many into the mountains. If you are looking for a nice view of the Vestfjord and the Lofoten mountains, we recommend walking up to the easily accessible Keiservarden (“Emperor’s cairn”).
The article continues under the tips around Bodø
Go south
Helgeland – the long coastline and archipelago
You can travel south by express boat or Hurtigruten to Sandnessjøen and then continue from there out to the islands of Herøy and Dønna or to Brønnøysund and Vegaøyan – The Vega archipelago UNESCO World Heritage site. Torghatten, the mountain with a hole right through it, is not just a beautiful and famous landmark, it is also an easy walk which rewards you with superb panoramic views.
The article continues under the tips from Helgeland
Among the 13.000 islands along this coastline you will find several vibrant communities and villages. Experience the special “island life” below the Arctic Circle on Træna, Lovund or Myken. Sjøgata in Mosjøen is a street of historic, 19th century wooden buildings. The colourful houses are a delight for the camera lens, with shops, artists’ workshops and a local museum inviting you to enjoy a relaxing visit. But the best thing of all is the coffee break, for it comes with a view!
The article continues under the tips from Helgeland
Go west
Bodø has several thousand islands at their doorstep
Værran archipelago is one of best kept secrets in Bodø and Salten. While most of the islands are small and uninhabited, many are a favorite summer holiday destination for island hoppers, like Landegode, Helligvær and Fleinvær. Some people bring their bike, while others being hiking boots or climbing ropes. Besides magnificent scenery, certain places offer unique accommodation and exquisite cuisine. Read more about Island hopping around Bodø? By taking the local route out to the low-lying islands off the coast of Bodø, you experience unique communities. For tickets and timetables, please check Reis Nordland.
Ferries – here, there and everywhere
For ferry timetables, please check Reis Nordland.
Off-the-beaten-wake to Røst
Do you like to travel off-the-beaten-track? In fact, the islands of Røst is so low and far out, that is almost beyond the horizon, seen from Bodø. Røst is a far west as possible among the Lofoten island, but it is quite easy to reach from Bodø. Take the ferry to a less trafficked island kingdom and explore Røst, which is surrounded by sea and sky. With many times more seabirds than people and a lucrative export trade in dried fish, the outermost island in Norway, is full of surprises.
For heritage explorers, Italians, stockfish- and bacalao-lovers, the history of Røst is quite interesting. In 1432, Pietro Querini’s ship foundered en route from Crete to Bruges in Belgium. The survivors made it to Røst in a lifeboat, where they were given food and lodging by the locals. Querini took the first dried fish from Røst back to Italy, and that was the start of the export trade of Stoccafisso, dried fish. Read more about Røst – Norway’s outermost islands.
The article continues under the tips from western Lofoten
Go northwest
Lofoten – full of natural beauty, exciting history and fun people
You can continue by ferry from these islands to Moskenes at the southern tip of Lofoten. Everybody loves these magic islands off the coast of Northern Norway; hikers and skiers looking for a challenge, nature lovers seeking natural beauty, deep sea fishermen hunting the biggest cod, surfers looking for the wave to end all waves, hipsters seeking other hipsters, history buffs seeking the unexpected. It’s all there. Read more about Lofoten.
Lofoten is a place of contrasts. It’s a natural wonder with thriving local communities. It’s where mountains meet the sea, and where local businesses meet recreation. Lofoten’s distinctive magic lies in its ability to bring together everyday local life with a global interest in its natural beauty. Find your things to do, eat, drink and accommodation at Visit Lofoten.
The article continues under the tips from Lofoten
Go by Hurtigruten or Widerøe to Lofoten and Vesterålen
The Hurtigruten, these days a shared operation between the companies Hurtigruten and Havila Kystruten, sails every afternoon from Bodø to Svolvær/Lofoten, taking around 6 hours. Further north, to the Vesterålen islands taks further 6 hours more. However, you should definitely prebook this voyage as part of your holiday planning. A good time saver is the Plane. Lofoten has two airports, Leknes (LKN) and Svolvær (SVJ), and Vesterålen has two airports at Stokmarknes/Sortland (SKN) and Andenes (ANX). Book directly with the airline Widerøe, flying smaller, comfortable propeller machines. It is a very good idea to plan well ahead, as there is a demand for the seats. Why not go overland or by sea one way, and do it the easy way the other?
Vesterålen – villages and trails surrounded by whales, seals and seabirds
Vesterålen has many wonderful experiences with beautiful scenery, majestic mountains and fjords, white beaches and a magnificent westside with the great ocean close by. Kingdom of the whales and hikers’ paradise! Vesterålen is the home of the whales, the birthplace of Hurtigruten, the favourite of the puffins, the mild Northern Lights location; Vesterålen is a tasty archipelago of stunning nature, teeming wildlife, old fishing culture and even fine dining. Create holiday memories with family, friends or your dear one in the beautiful archipelago of Vesterålen. Relaxing on a beach or active hikes under the midnight sun. Find your experience at Visit Vesterålen.
The article continues under the tips from Vesterålen
Go north
Steigen og Hamarøy – the realm of Knut Hamsun
If you travel just a few miles north of Bodø, you can take the Express boat to Steigen and Hamarøy. And even across the Vestfjord to Svolvær, the capital of Lofoten. Even though you plan plan to travel around the Vestfjord and explore many of the places on our wish list, we recommend a few days to experience Bodø first. If you go by train from Bodø to Fauske, hop on the bus to Narvik, you are already on an important historical track that goes back to the second World War.
Nevertheless, from Fauske and northwards, what will strike you is all the deep fjords, the high mountains, the winding E6-mainroad and all the tunnels, making the self car drive dangerous in wintertime, but the bus drive is quite safe. Passing the realm of the famous author Knut Hamsun over Hamarøy. You can even take a turn left, out to Steigen and the spectacular cabins at Mannshausen. Or out to the Hamsun Centre to learn more about his literature and the famous architecture. Check out the time tabels for the buses i Nordland.
The article continues under the tips from northern Salten
Have you seen the movie “The Battle of Narvik?”
Passing the Tysfjord you will find Narvik and the Ofoten region surrounded by an arctic landscape and nature. Where you do not need to be a world champion to participate in world class alpine activities. The town is known as an important harbor for shipping iron from the Swedish mountains, transported by train down to the ice-free Narvik harbor. This is where the huge battles were fought. Where history was created. Let’s go back to the dramatic April days in 1940. Through unique activity packages you can visit the historical places where the film ‘The Battle of Narvik’ was filmed. Learn more about the War History Experiences, in which you can participate!
The article continues under the tips from Narvik
Narvik and Ofoten offers a range of outdoor activities, stunning views, and fascinating history, making it an excellent destination for a stop or vacation. Find your experiences and accommodation at Visit Narvik. Check out the time tabels for the bus from Bodø to Narvik.
Good to know about public transport in Arctic Norway
Yes. Buses and express boats are generally very reliable, even in winter. Delays are rare, and if a connection is slightly late, the next bus often waits – within reason. In extreme weather, services may be cancelled, but in those conditions driving yourself is usually not advisable either.
Absolutely. Professional drivers and crews are used to Arctic conditions. Roads are maintained and ferries operate year-round. For visitors unfamiliar with icy roads and winter darkness, public transport is often the safer choice.
For most buses, you can buy tickets on the day of travel via apps such as EnTur or Reis Nordland. Express boats now offer seat reservations, which is recommended in peak season. Overnight sailings with Hurtigruten or Havila should always be pre-booked.
Yes. these attractions are reachable by a combination of bus, but reqire a little bit more planning and maybe more time to stay overnight there.
Yes. You can travel by coastal ship, express boat and bus combinations, long-distance bus, or plane. Many travellers choose to go one way by sea or land and return by air.
You should always allow generous time between long-distance bus or boat travel and your departure flight from Bodø. Local transport operators do not compensate for missed flights due to weather-related delays.
Yes. Many routes run through areas with excellent Northern Lights conditions, especially on the coastal sailings, or the inner parts of Salten where the cloud conditions are better. On clear nights, you may see the aurora from the bus window or the deck of a ship.
Express boats and coastal ships usually have simple cafeterias and toilets onboard. Long-distance buses typically have toilet facilities, but not always catering – bring water and snacks for longer journeys.
Often yes – especially if you are travelling alone or as a couple. You also avoid fuel costs, parking fees and the stress of winter driving.