Alta Attractions
Alta, the largest town in the thinly populated county of Finnmark, lies at the head of the Altafjord on the banks of the Alta, the best known salmon river in Norway. It has direct air connections with Oslo and is on the main coast road (E 6). Its economic importance lies in the educational field, with two technical colleges (fishing and fish-processing; mining).
Although the town lies in latitude 70° north it has a mild inland climate which offers excellent conditions for agriculture and forestry. The midnight sun can be seen here from May 16 to July 26, and between November 24 and January 18 the sun is not visible at all. The clear skies around Alta make it an ideal location for studying the aurora borealis.
Alta is served by the coastal ships of the Hurtigrute. There are bus services from here to the North Cape and Hammerfest and to the Lapp towns of Karasjok and Kautokeino.
Alta is also the site of rock carvings circa 4200 BC to 500 BC that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Although the town lies in latitude 70° north it has a mild inland climate which offers excellent conditions for agriculture and forestry. The midnight sun can be seen here from May 16 to July 26, and between November 24 and January 18 the sun is not visible at all. The clear skies around Alta make it an ideal location for studying the aurora borealis.
Alta is served by the coastal ships of the Hurtigrute. There are bus services from here to the North Cape and Hammerfest and to the Lapp towns of Karasjok and Kautokeino.
Alta is also the site of rock carvings circa 4200 BC to 500 BC that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Prehistoric Rock Carvings
The Prehistoric Rock Carvings near Alta show human settlement in this area as far back as 9,000 years ago. Some 3,000 rock carvings were discovered here in the 1970s.
Alta Museum
The Alta Museum is responsible for the Hjemmeluft excavations and has an interesting collection of material on the local slate-mining industry, the river and fjord fisheries as well as the domestic art of the Lapps. At Peska (15km/9mi south of the town center) visitors can get a first-hand view of slate-mining methods and the life and work of the local population.
All values are in Norway Kroner
Hours
May 2 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
October 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Norwegian National Day (May 17)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Norwegian National Day (May 17)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
| Annual pass or membership | kr 250.00 |
| Adult | kr 85.00 |
| Group discounts | kr 65.00 |
| Pensioners (OAP) | kr 65.00 |
| Child 16 & under | kr 20.00 |
| Child 6 & under | FREE |
Alte - Kåfjord
Near Alta on the road to Haldde, in the commune of Kåfjord, is an old copper mine, now closed down. In the middle of the 19th century Kåfjord was the largest commune in the province of Finnmark. The village church, built in 1837 by a British mining company, was completely restored in 1969. During the Second World War the German battleship "Tirpitz" hid in the Kåfjord, where it was attacked by British mini-submarines in 1943.
Haldde - Observatory, Norway
(Near Alta)
At Haldde (alt 1,000m/3,300ft), west of Alta, is the oldest observatory for watching the aurora borealis. It was in operation from 1899 to 1927, and restored during the 1980's.
Sausto Canyon
The main attraction of Alta is the river Alta with its varied facilities for recreation and excursions. The Sausto Canyon offers a fascinating view of the forces of nature; it can be traversed either on foot or by boat (with guide).
