Bodo Car Rental

The coastal town of Bodo is a micro metropolis in the Nordland region. Its history is fairly recent, developing as a fishing village that grew into a town by the 19th century. You can get a unique glimpse of this period at Kjerringøy Trading Post, an impeccably maintained timber trading station museum. Today, Bodo is a thriving cultural seat in the north, offering breathtaking scenery and day trips by car along the eye-catching Kystriksveien coastal route.

Bodo suffered widespread damage during WWII when it was bombed extensively by the Luftwaffe. You can explore war bunkers among other historic buildings at Bodøsjøen Friluftsmuseum. This open-air museum features several traditional timber turf-room houses as much of Bodo would have looked before the bombing. Another highlight is the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum, home to historic military and civilian planes.

As the capital of the Nordland region, visitors can learn all about both Bodo and the area's traditions at Nordlandmuseet. The museum includes details on the town's fishing heritage, its Viking past and Sami culture. While most of Bodo's architecture is postwar in origin, the historic Bodin Church is the oldest in the region, having been first built around 1240. By contrast, the central Bodø Domkirke provides an example of Norway's 1950s style.

Bodo provides a number of retail therapy options. The city's main shopping and dining street is Sjøgata, a road that runs parallel to the harbor. However, the bulk of the city's shopping is concentrated in the Koch shopping center or at City Nord, the area's largest shopping mall. They both offer a wide variety of stores ranging from fashion to electronics, as well as dining opportunities.

Restaurants are located within Bodo's harbor-front area and include everything from classic Norwegian staples to sushi and Chinese. Expect an excellent variety of fish and seafood dishes, including regional delicacies like Boknafisk and Tørrfisk fra Lofoten, two types of dried fish.

Renting a car or van in Bodo will provide access to the stunning Nordland region. Many visitors head to Bodo en route to the Lofoten archipelago, accessible via ferry. You can also explore the unspoiled Sjunkhatten National Park, a rich region of mountains, fjords and lakes just east of the city. Other highlights by road include Saltstraumen to the south, the world's strongest maelstrom, and Hovdsundet Beach to the north.

Bodo and Nordland are some of the most exciting areas of Norway to discover by car. Driving in Bodo is much like the rest of Europe. Vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road and follow similar rules. However, remember that certain rules need to be followed. Seat belts must be worn, and traffic typically yields to vehicles on the right unless posted (a yellow diamond sign).

Bodo's center is well laid out with a grid structure of roads. Note that there are a lot of one-way streets and pedestrian crossings that drivers must comply with. What's more, much of Bodo's downtown area is strictly 30 km/h or 40 km/h, as posted on speed limit signs. Obey these speed limits at all times.

The standard speed limits in operation throughout Norway are 50 km/h and 60 km/h in urban areas, 70 km/h on rural roads, 90 km/h on two-lane roads and up to 110 km/h on freeways. However, speed limits differ greatly throughout the region, so always look out for signs.

There is ample parking in Bodo, with free parking at shopping malls like City Nord. Downtown, most parking is operated by APCOA Parking. These are mostly parking garages that are accessible 24/7. On-street parking within the city is pay and display, with evenings and Sundays free. These spaces are limited and more prevalent outside central zones 1 and 2.

Bodo is well connected for road travel with the Rv80 highway. This mostly divided highway links Bodo with Fauske, where it then connects with the European route E6, a major cross-country road. Bodo also offers access to the Fv17, a scenic county road to Steinkjer. This route is also known as the Kystriksveien Coastal Route, widely considered one of the world's most beautiful road trips.

Away from these major routes and even on some portions of them, the roads in Nordland can be narrow and winding. Always watch where you are going, no matter how beautiful the panoramas. Rest stops dot scenic routes with viewpoints – stop at these and never on the side of the road. Many highways, tunnels and ferry crossings include tolls. These include the important Bodøtunnelen. Make sure you pay any charges on your car rental in Bodo to avoid penalties.