You Can See Gorgeous Fjord Views From the Rooftop Pool at This New Hotel in Norway — Read Our Review

There’s rain in the air. I can feel it and see it: A grey curtain is slowly moving across the ocean en route to dump down over Bodø. It’s just my luck that it came across during my allocated rooftop time at Wood Hotel Bodø. As the first fat drops hit, staff scramble to pull the sunbeds inside, and the handful of other guests up here retreat to their rooms. I rather like the idea of swimming in the rain, so I stand my ground and remain in the warmth of the pool, enjoying the panoramic views — and solitude — as the rain beats down.

The weather in Arctic Norway is unpredictable, but an evening of rain does little to dampen my stay at the region’s newest hotel. While it’s put my plans of soaking up the midnight sun with Champagne on hold, it’s done nothing to take away from the beauty of where I find myself. From eight floors up in a hotel perched atop Rønvikfjellet, there’s an unmatched view of Bodø peninsular, Saltfjorden, and the Norwegian Sea, even when partially obscured by a veil of rain.

Impressive views are a running theme here, with every guest room, the large Finnish sauna, and the glass-front elevators providing you with something to look at; the snow-capped mountains of Straumøya beat elevator music hands-down for between-floor entertainment. This focus on the outdoors plays into the hotel’s mission to incorporate nature into its design, creating somewhat of an indoor-outdoor hotel with definite nods to Norwegian cabin culture.

No link to this culture is stronger than the hotel’s location: the former Rønvikfjellet tourist cabin site. Before it was abandoned, the public cabin was a refueling stop for people hiking the surrounding mountains, serving coffee, cakes, and friendly conversation. Now, the hotel pays homage to the tourist cabin through the ground-floor cafe and generously embraces cabin culture with its heavy reliance on timber throughout.

Outside, the striking modernist build is clad in dark timber, said to closely match the colors and textures of the surrounding pine forests. Inside, light pine dominates, with everything from the floors and furniture to integral structural beams made from sustainably sourced material. It’s in line with the construction of the country’s 500,000-odd cabins, but there’s a much more distinct modernity and minimalism to it all. As someone more accustomed to the bells and whistles of southern European or American-style hotels, I find this simplicity an interesting reality. But one that, after a few day’s stay, I start to understand the beauty of.

Fancy a pared-back stay with unrivaled views? Here’s my review of Wood Hotel Bodø.

The Rooms

In true Scandinavian style, each of the hotel’s 177 spruce-heavy rooms is furnished minimally; they’re fuss-free, and every inclusion is intentional. Two wide occasional chairs sit by the floor-to-ceiling picture windows to maximize the ocean, mountain, and fjord views. The king-sized beds (queen-sized in the ‘Standard Small’ rooms) are also positioned to take in the views, with the windows at their feet and TVs relegated to a swiveling bracket in the corner; the focus is well and truly on the captivating show outside.

Unlike most hotels in the country, just a single king-sized down duvet tops the beds here — not two singles as is considered the norm. Two fluffy robes are waiting for you as you enter the door, too. Hidden in the nearby console cabinet is a small but thoughtful minibar with European wines, beer by the local Bådin Brewery, chocolates from chocolatier Craig Alibone, and tørrfisksnacks (a local dried fish snack). A simple Caffitaly capsule coffee machine, two branded coffee mugs, and two wine glasses complete the pared-back ‘courtesy tray.’

Amenities, such as a pre-packaged and disposable toothbrush, razor, sewing kit, and sleek Steamery handheld steamer, are placed in a cabinet by the bathroom door. Here, Scandinavian minimalism strikes again. Other than the rainfall shower, toilet, and sink, there are just two white bath sheets, a handtowel, a hairdryer, and Swedish SKOG shampoo, conditioner, and wash in the room.

Food and Drink

On the ground floor, the sprawling Café Turisthytta pays homage to the site’s former life as a public tourist cabin. Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the cafe serves typical Scandinavian baked goods — think cinnamon and cardamom buns — and a range of open-topped sandwiches called smørbrød. Over the rim of your coffee mug, enjoy views of Saltfjorden and the snow-capped mountains beyond.

The hotel’s single restaurant, Attme, is on the second-to-top floor and has panoramic seventh-floor views of the Bodø peninsular. Here, couples dine side by side rather than across from each other to make the most of the vista. The menu is concise, with the option of just four or five Arctic-inspired dishes per course, most of which skew towards ‘hearty’ rather than ‘high-end.’ I’m tempted by the traditional torsk (dried cod) with bacon but ultimately decide on a more modern beer-braised pork cheek and a strawberry and vanilla cream dessert that celebrates the midnight sun.

Just don’t expect to be able to walk in for dinner, even if the restaurant isn’t full. Bookings are essential, though you’ll not be warned of this at check-in.

Activities and Experiences

Unlike resorts in the Bahamas or Bali, a pool isn’t a given in Norwegian hotels. Most don’t have them, but Wood Hotel Bodø boasts a 33-foot-long heated rooftop pool. It’s the crowning jewel of the sprawling top floor’s well-being area, with an almost 360-degree view of Bodø and the surrounding mountainous islands while you’re in it.

After a dip, soak up some late evening sun on the sizeable outdoor terrace, or in inclement weather, relax in the large and somewhat sparse indoor lounge with a glass of Champagne. The sauna — a quintessentially Scandinavian experience — is another highlight, sharing the same view as the pool. If you’re so inclined, you can also fit in a simple workout at the small gym.

Despite the wellbeing area’s spaciousness, there’s a strict cap on the number of people allowed on the rooftop at any one time. This cap is enforced with 2.5-hour bookable timeslots and a $29 fee, even for hotel guests — who get a small $6 discount.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Norway doesn’t follow the same accessibility regulations as the U.S.; however, there’s a strong focus on universal design across new builds. The lobby at Wood Hotel Bodø adheres to this and has been designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind, as have the 322-square-foot ‘Deluxe’ rooms. With their minimal furnishing, there’s plenty of space to move about, and additional handles and rails have been installed in the bathroom for support. Plenty of parking at the entrance makes for easy access to the hotel, too. If you have specific questions about the hotel’s suitability, it’s best to call ahead.

Sustainability is ingrained in Norwegian culture. Nearly 100 percent of the country’s power comes from hydro and wind, so Wood Hotel Bodø’s carbon footprint is already less than that of hotels elsewhere. Even the EV chargers installed for guest use in the carpark are powered by clean energy. The hotel’s design is inherently sustainable, too, as it’s constructed mainly of spruce glulam (‘glued and laminated timber’) and timbers sourced from environmentally certified forests in Norway and Sweden. On a smaller, everyday scale, all the usual commitments to sustainability apply, like refillable glass bottles of water in the rooms, full-sized products in the bathrooms, and no daily linen refreshes.

Location

Wood Hotel Bodø sits at the top of Rønvikfjellet, a 10-minute drive from Bodø town center. Its relative remoteness makes it difficult to get to and from without a car (there are no Ubers in Norway, only taxis), but it’s perfect for nature lovers. Extending from the hotel are three ‘easy’ hiking trails that lead through the woods and to viewing points at the top of the surrounding mountains; they’re great (and free) alternative midnight-sun viewing points to the rooftop at the hotel. Just be warned: The Norwegian definition of an easy hike differs from the rest of the world’s definition of an easy hike, and there are points where the trails get steep.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Wood Hotel Bodø is an independent hotel, so there’s no big loyalty program or points redemption here, but the hotel does offer various packages throughout the year that may include meals or even picnic lunches for hikes.