Keiservarden

Keiservarden is the classic Bodø hike: a 366-metre plateau on the Ronvikfjellet ridge, about 3.5 km from the city centre by trail. On a clear day the panorama takes in the full length of the Lofoten Wall — the jagged mountain chain that forms the backbone of the archipelago — hovering above the open sea to the west. The hike draws well over 100,000 visitors a year, which gives some indication of how good the view is.

The trail is well-maintained and accessible for most of the year, with a sherpa-built stone path for the steepest section. From the city centre, follow the signs from Rønvikfjellet; the ascent takes around 45 minutes at a steady pace. On summer nights, the midnight sun lights the Lofoten Wall in amber and the sea shimmers below — arrive after 11 pm for the full effect. In winter the summit is a reasonable spot to watch for the northern lights, though the ridge can be icy so bring poles and crampons.

things to do sight hiking
A story
The plateau takes its name from Kaiser Wilhelm II, who visited Bodø in 1889 and stood on this ridge during his Norwegian cruise. The German emperor was a regular on these waters — Norwegian fjords were fashionable among European royalty in the late nineteenth century — and the locals named the viewpoint in his honour. That connection became awkward by 1940, when Luftwaffe bombers destroyed most of the city below.

Other places in Things to Do