Introduction to Alta
Alta is located more than 375 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, in the heart of Finnmark, the area also known as Norwegian Lapland. Recently its population has peaked to 20,000 inhabitants and this steady rise in inhabitants is reflected in a number of growing restaurants, shops, and things to do.
Alta has a rich history and culture. In 1960 rock carvings and paintings thought to be several thousand years old left by hunters and fishermen were discovered by a local farmer. The importance of these rock carvings were acknowledged in 1985 when they were inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
When walking around the centre of Alta, you might notice that the buildings looks quite new and homogenous with their metal cladding. There are only few traditional wooden cabins but there’s a reason for this. Alta was almost entirely destroyed in World War II.
While Alta has had a difficult past, its future is bright. In recent years, growing numbers are relocating to Alta, and more people than ever choosing Alta as a holiday destination. It’s fast becoming a place known for Arctic adventures. It’s a place where you can witness the Northern Lights, embark on snowmobiling and dog-sledding tours, and even spend a night sleeping in an igloo hotel.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on the activities you want to do. If you want to see the Northern Lights, sleep in an igloo and go snowmobiling then you’ll have to go in winter. But if you want to experience 24/7 sunshine, go hiking across Alta’s stunning mountainscape, and just generally enjoy longer days for sightseeing then summer is the season for you.
I’ve been to Alta twice and both times I visited during the winter. It’s an ideal base for winter activities, but I would still like to go during summer to experience more the nature and amazing hiking opportunities.
Where else can you visit from Alta?
Alta is quite remote but since you’ve already travelled all the way to the Arctic of Norway, I recommend visiting North Cape, Tromsø, Bodø, the Lofoten Islands, and if you’re feeling really ambitious, Svalbard, which is also referred to as the ‘last stop before the North Pole’.
I’ve been to all these places and recommend them wholeheartedly for an unforgettable experience. If you can’t hire a car, all of these destinations are located along Norway’s beautiful coastline so can be reached by Hurtigruten Ship or by Wideroe which are small, local planes used by many locals.
Top 10 things to do in Alta
For a place that many people have never even heard of, Alta has a surprising number of unique things on offer. It’s not a big town by any means, but it’s the perfect place for Arctic activities, especially in the winter.
Here they are:
Sleep in an igloo
Is there a more memorable introduction to the Arctic than spending a night sleeping on ice? Having done it myself, I can attest that it’s surprisingly more comfortable than it sounds thanks to a layer of reindeer skin, and a sleeping bag that has been designed for Arctic temperatures.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is imaginatively built every year from scratch by ice taken from the Altafjord. The hotel remains open from mid December to the end of March before spring appears and the ice begins to melt. To ensure you stay as toasty and relaxed as possible there two hot tubs and a sauna which I recommend before heading into your room to sleep. For availability and to book click here.
Snowmobile safari
From the Igloo Hotel I actually booked one of their snowmobiling excursions. They operate several times a day including at night to search for the Northern Lights.
From my experience, I would advise booking a day-time snowmobile excursion so you can observe the Arctic landscape and a separate dedicated Northern Lights tour, purely because it’s hard to drive and do everything at once.
You will get all the necessary types of equipment before safari starts. You will also learn driving snowmobile and rules about driving. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, you can have two-people per snowmobile with the 2nd person paying a supplement.
Northern Lights Cathedral
Alta Church, also known as the Northern Lights Cathedral was recently built in 2013 and has become an iconic landmark in the small city of Alta.
The striking contemporary appearance was designed by the Danish architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects who are responsible for many other notable buildings in Scandinavia such as the Black Diamond Library in Copenhagen.
See Prehistoric Rock Art at Alta Museum
During any trip to Alta, a visit to the Alta Museum to see the famous rock art is a must. The carvings and paintings are thought to be several thousand years old and were made by hunters and fishermen.
The first rock art in Alta was discovered only 60 years ago by a local farmer. It was a small stone known as Pippisteinen (the ‘Pippi-stone’) which has lead to over 6000 carvings being registered in the Alta area, the largest in Europe. The artwork feels like you are reading a storybook of the local people’s lives in prehistoric times and provides evidence that Alta must have been one of the largest settlements in Arctic Norway.
N.B. During winter a lot of the carvings are covered by snow so the best time to visit is during summer.
Go dog-sledding
I don’t think there’s any more fun you can have in the Arctic than when you’re dog-sledding! Unless you have a fear for dogs you’re going to love these furry fellas as you lead you into an unforgettable journey into the Arctic wilderness.
There are a few companies you can use for dog sledding but I recommend Trasti & Trine. The company is owned by a couple who go by the same names. Trine is well known as an accomplished musher having competed both the Finnmarksløpet race and the legendary Iditarod race in Alaska.
Northern Lights Chasing
I’ve seen the Northern Lights a few times but the best display I’ve witnessed was in Alta where this photo was taken by Trygve Nygard, the owner of GLØD Explorer. They offer the best Northern Lights excursions in Alta and have a fantastic track record of spotting the stunning celestial display. Included in their tours is your very own photo taken by one of the guides which will be emailed to you afterwards.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for with GLØD, or if they don’t have availability for the dates you want. I’ve hand selected a few more Northern Lights tours based in Alta for you to research. One is a small-group tour by mini-van, and the other is Northern Lights hunting by snowmobile. Both excellent options!
Tirpitz Museum
The Altafjord was the Nazi’s largest naval base outside Germany. The Tirpitz Museum is just outside the town in Kafjord and is named after the battleship that was based here and later destroyed by the British. There is an insightful film about the Tirpitz and many artifacts that show Norway’s struggle against the Germans.
Experience Sami Culture
If you want to learn more about Sami culture, visit Boazi Sami Siida, a Sami family who will show you the traditional costumes, and demonstrate the Sami reindeer herders’ way of life. You will also have the chance to have a reindeer ride depending on times.
The camp is centred around a lavvu, from where you can experience traditional Sami food, and even listen to a yoik. A yoik is a very personal form of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people and can be comparable to a chant. Music researchers believe joik is one of the oldest continuous musical traditions in Europe
Explore Alta Canyon
The largest canyon in Northern Europe, there are several possibilities to see the canyon, such as canoeing, hiking, in a riverboat, car, or guided bus tour. During summer you have 24/7 hours of sunlight so an exploration of the Canyon is best during the summer months when you can bike or join a hiking tour from Gargia Mountain to the Canyon. You can also paddle the riverboat from Sorrisniva to Alta River. There are many possibilities!
Day trip to North Cape
North Cape is the northernmost point of mainland Europe. In fact, the only dry land between you and the North Pole is the Svalbard archipelago, so you can imagine why this place has for centuries been a destination for explorers to reach.
Driving to North Cape from Alta will take around 4 hours so you may wish to spend the night in nearby Honningsvåg which is the northernmost city in Norway (everything is considered ‘the northernmost something’ when you’re this far up north!). I spent a night in Honningsvåg and I loved all colourful and cute all the buildings. There’s also a beautiful harbour that overlooks a stunning mountain range.
To get there I recommend taking the bus which takes approximately 3 h 45 m.
→ Search hotels in Honningsvåg
Accommodation in Alta
There’s a wide variety of accommodation in Alta ranging from hostels to luxury hotels, and from cosy lodges to ice hotels.
As I mentioned earlier, if you’re looking for something completely different and something you won’t forget, spending a night at the Igloo hotel, will definitely provide that.
But since it’s not exactly the most comfortable sleep, so I recommend balancing it out with cosy nights at the Trasti & Trine Boutique Hotel. It’s located just outside of Alta, but provides a much more personal experience for exploring the Arctic Landscape. Plus the owners are somewhat of a power couple. While the husband is a well-known chef, the wife is a well-known dog-sledding champion in Norway. As a result, you can expect scrumptious cuisine and a wide variety of excursions on offer including dog-sledding.
If you’d prefer to be in the centre of town, Thon Hotel Alta offers a very comfortable stay with all the modern facilities you need to ensure a good nights’ sleep.
Are you planning a trip to Alta?
