Bodø is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway, situated within the traditional region of Salten just north of the Arctic Circle. It serves as the administrative centre for both the municipality and the county, with its town acting as the capital of Nordland. The area features significant geography including the Skjerstadfjorden, the Saltstraumen tidal current, and numerous islands in the Vestfjorden, positioning it as a key location in Northern Norway.

The name originates from the old Bodøgård farm, with elements meaning sunken rock or meadow. While mentioned as a village with postal service in 1663, the city grew significantly through fish canning in the nineteenth century. It suffered extensive bombing by Nazi Germany in 1940, leading to a modern architectural landscape rebuilt during and after the war. In 2024, it was named one of the European Capitals of Culture.

The town is the largest urban area in Nordland county and the second largest in North Norway, characterized by its peninsula location facing the open sea. Notable sites include the Saltstraumen with its powerful tidal currents, the preserved trading village of Kjerringøy, and Sjunkhatten National Park. The municipality also contains Lurfjelltinden, its highest point, and several lighthouses in the Vestfjorden.

Cultural attractions include the Norwegian Aviation Museum and the Nordland Museum, which comprises eighteen smaller museums across the region. The city is home to Bodø/Glimt, the northernmost club to win a European national league competition. Visitors are drawn to its wilderness for hiking, white-tailed eagles at Geitvågen, and its role as a gateway to the Arctic via ferry stations and the northern end of the railway network.

Bodø has a population of 53,638 as of 2026. The local economy has historically been supported by the military presence of the Royal Norwegian Air Force and NATO, though fighter jet activity is moving to Ørland. The climate features humid continental conditions with midnight sun from June to July. Access is provided via Bodø Airport, the Nordland Line railway terminal, and daily Hurtigruten ferry services.