Making the most of Alta
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Alta Harbour lies next to the airport and roughly 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the town centre. The walk takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on your pace, while taxis offer a faster alternative.
People have been drawn to this community at the head of Alta Fjord for thousands of years. Green, fertile and welcoming, Alta forms a sheltered oasis amid Finnmark's otherwise cold, windswept landscape.
Set between a bleak, barren mountain plateau and the wet, stormy coast, Alta has wooded valleys, comfortable temperatures and no more rainfall than parts of the Sahara desert. Scenery can be enjoyed throughout the year, while strong public services and the surrounding countryside help make Alta attractive both to visitors and residents.
The Northern Lights Cathedral (Nordlyskatedralen) is a striking piece of modern architecture, serving as both a parish church and a cultural centre. Its design and lighting create an impressive sight inside and out.
Walking paths cross the outdoor area above magnificent Alta Fjord, allowing summer and autumn visitors to explore the rock-carving site at their own pace.
Getting around
Each year, visitors can experience the World's Northernmost Igloo Hotel from the 20th of December to the 7th of April, while the structure remains standing.
Food and shopping
Alta Centrum is 4 km away. Shopping centre hours are 10:00 - 20:00 (17:00), while grocery shops trade 9:00 - 22:00 (20:00).
Money
Norway uses the Norwegian crown (Norske krone), shortened to kr; an øre is 1/100th of a krone. 1.00 EUR is about 9 NOK, and Norway ranks among the world's most expensive countries.
Norwegian cash machines are known as Minibank.
Mastercard and Visa are accepted by nearly every shop. Carry your passport or driver's licence, because identification is required when paying by credit card.
Staying connected
Norwegian is Norway's official language and is close enough to the other two Scandinavian languages to be mutually intelligible. English is spoken widely.
Because most Norwegian homes have internet access, often through broadband, the limited market makes cybercafés difficult to find beyond the major cities. Public libraries generally provide free internet access, and Wi-Fi is available in many locations, although it is not free.
Opening Hours and
Norwegian trading hours have improved, although smaller shops often shut early on Saturdays, typically at 1 PM or 3 PM, and almost everything closes on Sundays. A door displaying "9-21 (9-18)" indicates weekday opening from 9 AM to 9 PM and Saturday hours from 9 AM to 6 PM.