Region

Nordland

Base in Bodø or Narvik; use regional flights or ferries to reach islands; 7–10 days lets you see Lofoten, Vesterålen and inland caves with a multi-base route.

Explore Bodø Plan a trip

More: share, save offline, report a correction

Key facts · Norway

Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Norwegian krone (NOK, kr)
Language: Norwegian and Sámi in the north
Plugs: C · F · 230 V
Time zone: CET, summer CEST

Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…

Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
Norway ↗Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
Norway ↗Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
Norway ↗The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
Northern Norway ↗Winter tyres are required by law in winter conditions; rental cars come fitted, but check before booking a winter self-drive.
Northern Norway ↗You may walk and camp on uncultivated land (allemannsretten), but keep distance from houses and leave no trace.

Nordland is a long coastal county with thousands of islands, dramatic fjords, the Arctic Circle, midnight‑sun summer days, aurora‑rich winter nights, and glaciers such as Svartisen.

Where to sleep

2 places in this region

BodøCity guide
Airport hub, ferry connections to Lofoten and Vesterålen, gateway to Saltstraumen and Svartisen glacier.
Best Feb–Mar, Jun–Aug
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bodø →
NarvikCity guide
Near Harstad/Narvik airport (EVE), terminus of Ofotbanen railway from Sweden, gateway to Ofotfjorden and northern mountains.
Best Feb–Apr, Jun–Aug
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Narvik →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

7 nights: Base Bodø 3 nights (Lofoten day trip), Narvik 2 nights (Ofoten area), Mo i Rana 2 nights (caves and Svartisen).
10 nights: Base Bodø 4 nights (Lofoten, Vesterålen, Saltstraumen), Narvik 3 nights (Ofotbanen, fjord), Mo i Rana 3 nights (caves, Svartisen glacier).

Ferry schedules vary by season; summer runs daily, winter may be limited.
Road 17 (Helgeland coast) is scenic but slower than E6; allow extra travel time.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Lofoten	Bodø	240 min	check	Ferry from Bodø to Moskenes (Lofoten) ~4 h; early summer runs daily, winter less frequent.
Saltstraumen	Bodø	60 min	check	Bus or car 30 min from Bodø; tidal whirlpool visible at peak flow times.
Svartisen glacier	Mo i Rana	180 min	check	Bus to Svartisen visitor centre (approx 1.5 h) then guided walk; full day trip.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding between Bodø and Narvik is possible via post; arrange at hotel reception.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Bodø	×	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×
Narvik	×	go	go	go	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×
Northern Norway (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen	Bodø Airport (BOO)	Domestic flight (SAS, Norwegian)	~1 h 15 min	Bodø is a hub for regional flights and ferries.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen	Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE)	Domestic flight	~1 h 30 min	45 min by car to Narvik.
Oslo	Bodø via train	Nordlandsbanen to Fauske + bus to Bodø	~10 h	Scenic but long; consider overnight stop.
Stockholm / Kiruna	Narvik via train	Ofotbanen (SJ) from Kiruna	~3 h from Kiruna	The Iron Ore Railway connects Sweden to Narvik; no direct train from Oslo.
Coastal ports	Nordland coastal towns	Hurtigruten coastal express	varies	Stops at Bodø, Narvik, Tromsø.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Nordland County travel card

check

May save on bus and ferry trips; verify current price and coverage.

Norway Rail Pass

skip

Does not cover regional ferries; only useful for Nordlandsbanen segment.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Stockfish	Bodø fish market	Dry‑cured cod, a local specialty; served grilled or in stews.
Lutefisk	Narvik restaurants	Traditional dried cod re‑hydrated in lye; try during winter festivals.

Go next

Troms

planned

Continue north on E6, ~3 h from Narvik

Aurora and coastal scenery.

Trøndelag

South on E6, ~6 h from Bodø

Historic towns and fjords.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 3, 1 h to 4 h
Nights suggested: 7–10 nights
Ways in: 5 listed

Explore Bodø Up to Northern Norway

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialWikidata Nordland
secondaryWikivoyage: Nordland, revision 5266376 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Nordland

Loading…

Was this useful?