TOURISTS looking for a unique destination to visit in 2024 might want to consider a trip north of the Arctic Circle.
There they will find a city that has been earmarked for an exciting year of events, as well as some eye-catching sights already in place.
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Bodø in Norway might not be top of everyone’s bucket list, but it has been named European Capital of Culture for this year.
To celebrate, a programme of 1,000 cultural events has been planned, with the city the first north of the Arctic Circle to have been given the prestigious title.
The scheduled events have been described as “the largest cultural happening in Norway in over a decade” with the city following the sunlight throughout the year with a series of special experiences.
Firstly, the people of Bodø will be welcoming back the sun on January 13 after the long polar night the evening before.
The season will be marked with a series of concerts, art exhibitions and performances celebrating the Sami people in the region.
An opening ceremony will follow on February 3 with a “spectacular show” in the city’s marina, a Sami market and other festivities happening throughout the city.
As the temperature warms up in spring, the Bodø will “celebrate the boundless optimism that blooms as the Arctic landscape awakens from its winter slumber”.
There will be an arctic ski race to mark the season, while the First Lego League Open European Championship will also take place.
As part of the children’s science and technology competition, teams will have to build and programme a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.
Later in the year, the summer will bring about long, light nights with as many as 19 hours of sunlight in some of the warmer months.
To celebrate, Bodø will be hosting “Midsummer Madness” which will include parties, concerts and outdoor games.
They also encourage people to enjoy the “simpler pleasures” like picking berries, fishing, or having meals outdoors in the arctic nature.
Additionally, there will be a large outdoor family event designed together with the help of an experienced performing arts company.
Plenty of other special experiences will be hosted throughout the year, but there’s more than enough to enjoy in the city, even if you’re not paying attention to this year’s cultural calendar.
It has some pretty special and unique beaches, including one Norwegian Air describes as the city’s answer to Bora Bora, Hovdsundet.
They said: “Bodø’s answer to Bora Bora is the hidden paradise beach of Hovdsundet.
“The water comes in from both sides of the beach and the white sand is a mega Instagram favourite.”
A strip of sand extends between two sea hills, providing a secluded and peaceful beach with clear blue waters either side.
Sea eagles nest in the crags around the area, while dolphin and whale watching tours leave the city into the nearby seas.
Tours head out from Bodø to see other natural wonders too, including the population of moose who live in the woods and fields not far from the centre of the city.
These quieter countryside spots also make great places to look for the northern lights too, with the Arctic location perfect for spotting the aurora during the dark winter months.
Hiking and glacier walks are also high on people’s agendas when visiting Bodø, while the city centre has the Norwegian aviation museum, parks and traditional churches to explore.
Getting to Bodø from the UK is fairly straightforward, with flights taking around five hours, with a change in Oslo.
A night for two in the city can be booked from around £47.
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