Bodø Marina (Norway): arrival, harbour information and sailing destinations

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Bodø marina is right in the centre of the northern Norwegian town of Bodø, sheltered behind the long mole at the edge of the Vestfjord, opposite the Lofoten Islands. Here you can read how to get to your starting point, where exactly the harbour is, where to park and shop, what sailing weather to expect, which sailing destinations are nearby and what skippers need to bear in mind when berthing.

Where is Bodø marina?

Bodø marina is in the Molobukta, the basin behind the long mole in Bodø harbour. Coming from seaward you pass the mole head and then keep to starboard along the inside of the breakwater until you reach the visitor pontoons right inside. The town centre begins directly ashore.

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The rest of the harbour basin is used by cargo ships, the coastal route mail boats, fast ferries and the ferry to the Lofoten Islands. The marina is operated by the municipal port authority Bodø Havn.

Arriving for trip departure at Bodø marina

The airport is almost in the town, the Nordland Railway terminates in Bodø, and the ferry and coastal route berth at the centre.

From Bodø airport to the marina

Bodø airport (BOO) lies south of the centre; from the terminal it's about one kilometre to the town centre. From Oslo you fly for about 80 minutes; there are also daily connections to Trondheim, Bergen and Tromsø.

• On foot: From the main entrance walk straight ahead, cross the main road and follow Hernesveien, which leads directly into the centre. This takes 10 to 15 minutes; from there it's only a few more minutes to the pier.
• Bus: City bus routes 1 and 4 stop directly to the left of the main entrance and travel to the centre in about five minutes. Route 1 runs every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays, less frequently at weekends (as of October 2026).

By car, train, bus or ferry

The Nordland Railway connects Trondheim and Bodø over 729 kilometres; it is Norway's longest railway line. The journey takes about ten hours. There are two daily services in each direction, one of them as a night train with sleeping compartments. Bodø station lies on the northeastern edge of the centre.

The coastal route Bergen–Kirkenes mail ships call at Bodø; their terminal lies in the centre opposite the station. Northbound they arrive in the early afternoon and continue via Stamsund and Svolvær in the Lofoten; southbound they berth at night or early in the morning.

The car ferry to Moskenes right at the southern tip of the Lofoten departs north of the centre; some sailings call at the islands of Værøy and Røst. To Moskenes you need about three and a quarter hours. In stormy weather, departures are cancelled. Fast boats also connect Bodø with parts of the Lofoten, with Helgeland and the islands off the coast.

By car it's about 700 kilometres from Trondheim, so roughly ten hours, via the E6 or the coastal road Kystriksveien. Regional buses connect the airport and the town with the surrounding area in Salten.

Parking

The nearest car parks lie directly at the marina: on Sjøgata about 160 metres away and at the pier (Moloen) about 200 metres away.

For a trip of several days the airport is suitable: there are 599 parking spaces which you can book in advance, close to the terminal or a little further away and therefore cheaper. From the airport you walk to the centre in 10 to 15 minutes or take the city bus.

Showers and sanitary facilities

The marina has a service building with five showers and four washing machines and dryers each. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. After paying the berthing fee you receive a four-digit code for the door.

Shopping for the trip

Two supermarkets are within a few minutes' walk: Rema 1000 in the Sentrumsgården shopping centre on Sjøgata and Coop Prix on Moloveien, both about 300 metres from the marina. Plan your provisions before Sunday if possible: in Norway most shops must close on Sundays and public holidays. Small food shops up to 100 square metres, petrol stations and kiosks are allowed to open.

Supermarkets sell beer on Mondays to Fridays at most until 8 p.m. and on Saturdays until 6 p.m. Wine and spirits are only available from the state monopoly shop Vinmonopolet, which generally opens Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy is Vitusapotek in Glasshuset, about 400 metres from the marina. There are doctors' surgeries right nearby: Havna legesenter on Moloveien (about 160 metres) and Sentrumslegene on Sjøgata (about 300 metres). The town's hospital is Nordlandssykehuset Bodø at Parkveien 95. You can reach the medical emergency service (Legevakt) on 116 117.

• 113: medical emergency
• 112: Police
• 110: Fire brigade
• 116 117: medical emergency service
• At sea: VHF channel 16. The coast radio station Kystradio Nord in Bodø monitors it round the clock; it is located in the same building as the main rescue coordination centre for northern Norway. Its emergency number is +47 75 55 90 00.

What does Bodø marina offer?

Bodø marina is open all year round and offers about 100 berths for visitors at four floating pontoons. Electricity and use of the service building are included in the berthing fee.

Feature	Details
Location	Molobukta behind the pier, at the centre of Bodø
Operator	Bodø Havn (municipal harbour authority)
Visitor berths	about 100 at four floating pontoons
berthing	alongside or in boxes at the floating pontoon
Payment	via app or at the machine, electricity and service building included
service building	daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
VHF	Channel 12 (harbour watch)
Phone	Harbour watch +47 90 89 80 20 (24 hours), harbour master in summer +47 95 85 72 82

Equipment

Most berths have shore power and fresh water. The service building has five showers, four washing machines and four tumble dryers. Dispose of oil-contaminated waste in the environmental container next to the service building. There is also a slipway at the service building. The harbour has a fuel station with a card-operated pump.

In summer a harbour master is on site at the service building; for the rest of the year the harbour watch at Bodø Havn looks after the marina.

What is the weather like for sailing in Bodø?

The wind in Nordland usually comes from the southwest, but changes frequently. Low-pressure systems forming between Iceland and Jan Mayen move rapidly eastwards and bring rapid changes in the weather. On calm summer days the wind along the coast is usually from the north or northwest. In winter, cold katabatic winds from the southeast and east are common, reaching gale force 6 to 7 at fjord mouths.

At spring tides the water in Bodø rises and falls by a good two metres. In the narrow Saltstraumen southeast of the town, the tidal stream reverses direction four times a day and runs at an average of around 7 knots. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute issues a coastal warning from 15 metres per second mean wind, which is force 7.

What sailing destinations lie near Bodø?

From Bodø you sail across the Vestfjord to the Lofoten Islands or stay among the islands and fjords along the mainland coast. Distances are rounded over-water distances on the usual course from the marina; for precise planning use the chart.

• Saltstraumen: around 12 nm round the headland into the Saltfjord. The sound is three kilometres long and only 150 metres wide at its narrowest point. The whirlpools are several metres wide and passable for yachts only around slack water.
• Helligvær: around 15 nm to the northwest. The island group has a marina with a quay and floating pontoon, power and water; there is a shop at the quay.
• Kjerringøy: around 20 nm to the northeast. The small marina lies behind a breakwater and wave barrier; the old trading post stands a few hundred metres to the south.
• Moskenes and Reine in the Lofoten: around 50 nm northwest across the Vestfjord.
• Svolvær in the Lofoten: around 60 nm north across the Vestfjord.

The Lofoten Islands are a long day's passage from Bodø. If you plan to sail further north after your trip, you can read more about the harbours there in the profile of the Tromsø harbours.

What can you do in Bodø on a harbour day?

You can reach the main sights in the town on foot from the marina, because the centre begins immediately behind the harbour.

• Bodø Cathedral: The church was built in 1956 after the old church burnt down in an air raid in 1940. The concrete vaults span around 35 metres without columns, and the altar window is about 12 metres high. The tower stands free beside the church.
• Bymuseet: The town museum at Prinsens gate 116 stands in one of the oldest buildings in the centre, built in 1903. It shows Bodø's industrial history and in the basement a historic dry aquarium. It opens daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Norsk Luftfartsmuseum: The national aviation museum is on Olav V gate near the airport. On 10,000 square metres stand military and civilian aircraft, including a Spitfire and a U-2 spy plane. You can also climb the old control tower.
• Kjerringøy: If you do not sail there, the 19th-century trading post is also worth a trip. The main house has an exhibition showing the contrast between rich and poor; in summer there are daily guided tours.

For skippers: Berthing and sea weather in Bodø

You reach Bodø marina on VHF channel 12 via the harbour watch at Bodø Havn, which is manned 24 hours. Monitor channel 16 as the distress and calling channel.

Registration and Berthing

• You berth alongside or in a box at one of the four floating pontoons. In summer a harbour master is on site at the service building, by telephone on +47 95 85 72 82.
• You pay the berthing fee by app or at the machine. Power and access to the service building are included; you receive the door code after payment.
• Outside the summer months the harbour watch looks after the marina, by telephone 24 hours on +47 90 89 80 20.

Approach

All approaches to Bodø are well buoyed. If you pass through the Nyholmsund into the harbour or out, watch for the sharp bend south of the island of Nyholmen. In the harbour basin watch for cargo vessels, the Hurtigruten coastal ships, fast ferries and the Lofoten ferry, which berth there. After the mole head turn to starboard and run along the inside of the breakwater into the inner part of the Molobukta.

Saltstraumen: Passage only at slack water

For yachts the Saltstraumen is passable only in a short window around slack water. According to local practice, displacement craft pass through from about 20 minutes before to 20 minutes after slack water. The stream turns there approximately one hour and 40 minutes after high water in Bodø, but wind and fresh water from the rivers in the Skjerstadfjord can shift the time significantly.

For the Saltstraumen there is therefore a dedicated tidal stream forecast, which the Norwegian Coastal Administration Kystverket runs with BarentsWatch. It shows the direction and strength of the stream and the times for slack water up to two days ahead and is updated twice daily. The Explanation of the Saltstraumen current forecast published by BarentsWatch on its website.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Bodø?

For the Norwegian coast, the state weather service Meteorologisk institutt (MET Norway) issues the official forecasts and warnings. You will find them on the weather portal yr. Strong wind and gale warnings are also broadcast by the coast radio on VHF; for Northern Norway that is Kystradio Nord in Bodø. The warning thresholds for the coast are explained by MET Norway on its website.

Trips from Bodø on Törnfinder

In October 2026, Törnfinder has 7 trip dates in the next twelve months departing from or arriving at Bodø. Most depart in April, October and September; typically 11 days.

Trips along the entire Norwegian coast, including to the Lofoten, can be found under cabin charter in Norway, all sailing areas in the trip overview.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Bodø Airport to the marina?

On foot or by town bus: The airport is only about one kilometre from the centre; on foot you will reach the town centre in 10 to 15 minutes. Bus routes 1 and 4 stop to the left of the main entrance and take about five minutes.

Where do I park at trip departure in Bodø?

Nearest are the car parks on Sjøgata and at the pier (Moloen), around 160 and 200 metres from the marina. For several days, the airport is also suitable, with 599 parking spaces that can be booked in advance; from there you walk 10 to 15 minutes into the centre.

Are there showers in Bodø marina?

Yes, the service building has five showers as well as four washing machines and four dryers. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; you receive the door code after paying the berth fee.

Can I shop in Bodø on Sundays?

Only to a limited extent: on Sundays only small food shops up to 100 square metres, petrol stations and kiosks may open. Wine and spirits are not available at all on Sundays; the monopoly shop Vinmonopolet is open Monday to Saturday.

How do I get from Bodø to the Lofoten?

By your own boat it is about 50 nm to Moskenes and about 60 nm to Svolvær across the Vestfjord. Without a boat, the car ferry takes about three hours and a quarter to Moskenes; the coastal route mail boats call at Stamsund and Svolvær northbound.

When can I pass through the Saltstraumen by boat?

Only in a time window of about 20 minutes before to 20 minutes after slack water, which is roughly one hour and 40 minutes after high water in Bodø. The exact times are shown in the current forecast for the Saltstraumen.

Which VHF channel does Bodø marina use?

Channel 12, where the harbour watch of Bodø Havn responds round the clock. By telephone you can reach them on +47 90 89 80 20, in summer the harbour master on +47 95 85 72 82.