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Nature; Do you enjoy spending your free time in the outdoors? Then I have some recommendations for you! The weather here can be quite intens, but do not let that hold you back. There is nothing like a long hike in the rain. Weather forecast that have been working for me and many are Storm and YR. When you are going out into nature it is nice to have a trip planned, apps like Maps me and UT can help you with that. However I can recommend you to just start hiking a trail near you and explore as you go since Norway is very safe. Talking about safety, if you are planning on going on extensive trips and are planning to go solo often, I can really recommend the app Hjelp 133. This app uses tracking information to be able to rescue you if you get lost or hurt. There are many possible tracking apps that you can use and it depends on where you are going if it is helpful to use specific ones. I know many people that visit northern Norway want to visit Lofoten and a specific app/website that is really fun to look at is Kuula.
Northern lights; Watch the colourful lights dance above you as you enjoy a hot chocolate milk. There are endless options within sightseeing the northern lights, but how can I spot them at their best? Apps and websites like the Aurora forecast 3d, Hello aurora forecast and Norway lights give accurate ratings for the northern lights. However it is also very important to look at cloud formations since they effect the visibility of the lights, a website I find helpful with that is YR.
Public transport; Something that can be very overwhelming is transport. However there are many options to it here in Bodø. If you are lucky you will be provided with a bike by one of our colleagues Nils, this is an easy and comfortable way to get around Bodø. A faster and more adventurous way to get around the city is by electric scooters rented out by Ryde. The steps are spread around the city and easy to use since you can park them anywhere. It is a good way to practice on these vehicles since they are being used all over Norway and Europe. If you are looking for transport outside of the city you are looking at busses and ferrys. The train only goes to the south region of Norway, because you reached the outer point of the railway! Overall apps for these kinds of services are Billett Nordland, torghatten-nord and Rail.
Money; Since you will most likely deal with a change in Currency it is good to invest in a way to safe money. Revolut is a bank where you can create a Norwegian account. It is possible to create multiple global bank accounts, so it is also very easy and convenient to have while traveling. Revolut automatically creates a virtual debit card for you, this is useful for online payments. If you consider downloading the app, we recommend you buying a physical card as well since you can use this for groceries and in store payments. Buy the card at least a month before you leave home, due to the arrival date.
Communication; Your usual apps like WhatsApp are not used as often here. Most people here use Messenger and Facebook to communicate with each other, so we definitly reccomend to downlaod those apps. Other medias like instagram, snapchat and bereal are used a lot under younger people to just share photos.
As mentioned before people communicate through facebook, this is also a great way to make friends. There is a group for international students called international students of Bodø where you can ask questions and invite people for coffee. There you will also find information about language cafes, possible sporting events and free courses to learn Norwegian. It can be quite hard to make friends since Norwegians are quite to themselves and their own friends, but don not let that get you down. If you have any specific hobbies like reading, guitar playing or photography for example it is always an option to look for clubs that discuss those subjects and try to make friends through that.
Coffee; If you are a Starbucks lover you will be pleasantly surprised by The Espresso house, a diverse coffee and sweets cafe. With their app you will be saving some money with fun sales. Are you a daily coffee lover? No problem, The espresso house even offers monthly subscriptions for an affordable price. If your more of a small business shop then Moloca coffee and food and Melkebaren might be something for you.
Drinks; Watching sports as you sip on a locally brewed beer, does sound good or does it not? Sportsbaren located in the city center is the perfect place for that. With the cosy vibe and the competitive spirit in the air is this bar the best place to enjoy a drink and a game. Right beneath the sportsbar is a fancy and lux wine tasting called Larsen Mat & Vinbar, for all the wine lovers. Are you more of a cocktail lover and do you want to enjoy a 365 view of Bodø from your table? Then Top 13 Bar & Lounge is something for you!
Food; This really depends on what kind of food your looking for, but there are a lot of options within the different restaurants in Bodø. Pangea Kitchen & Bar offers streetstyle kinds of foods on the menu. Tiger sushi offers a wide range of seafoods with an affordable price, like an all you can eat sushi buffet for 200 kroner. If you are looking for something typical Norwegian Bryggerikaia is the place to be!
Groceries; OBS is my favourite store for cheap products. It is also very big and almost everything is there. When it comes to fruit I recommend going to a supermarket next door called Extra Stormyra, they have a more broad and in my experience fresh fruit.
Decor; The cheapest decor comes from Rusta, a Ikea like store with good basics and all of the essentials you will need for your stay. They sell products like pillows, plates, plastic boxes and hangers ets. Stores like Søstrene Grene and Flying Tiger have more modern and aesthetic decor. They sell products like candles, art supplies and school supplies ets. They are also quite a bit more expensive then stores like Rusta.
Art; Are you looking for local art, places like Gundersons and Ingridoline are the prefect stores for that. They both sell unique designs inspired by Norway and its beauty.
Thrifting; If you are looking for a cheap thrift-store, then the red cross is a good shop. Be aware that there are people out there who have less money, so it is good to be respectful and not buy to much in those thrift-stores. There are also a hand of vintage stores in Bodø that have really fun and unique items. My personal favourites are Bodø vintage, Drabant vintage, Fretex Bodø and Jessen Brukt og Nytt.
