Car & Van Hire - Bodo

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 harbour. However, the bulk of the city's shopping is concentrated in the Koch shopping centre or at City Nord, the area's largest shopping mall. They both offer a wide variety of shops spanning fashion and electronics, as well as dining opportunities.

Restaurants are located within Bodo's harbour-front area and span 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.

Car or van hire in Bodo will grant 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 unspoilt 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 abide by similar conventions. However, remember that certain rules need to be followed. Seatbelts must be worn, and traffic typically gives way to vehicles on the right unless signposted (a yellow diamond sign).

Bodo's centre is well laid out with a grid structure of roads. Note that there are a lot of one-way streets and pedestrianised crossings that drivers must adhere to. What's more, much of Bodo's town centre is strictly 30 km/h or 40 km/h, as signposted. Adhere to these speeds at all times.

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

There is ample parking in Bodo, with free parking at shopping centres like City Nord. In the centre, most parking is operated by APCOA Parking. These are mostly multi-storey parking spaces 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 dual-carriageway road links Bodo with Fauske, where it then connects with the European route E6, an important country-spanning 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 are. Resting 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. Ensure you pay any charges on your car hire in Bodo to avoid penalties.