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
From Alta Harbor to the downtown area, it's approximately 1 to 1.5 kilometers. This is a walking distance of about 15-20 minutes, depending on your pace. Alternatively, taxis are readily available if you prefer a quicker ride. The port is next to the Airport.
For thousand of years people have been attracted to this community at the head of the Alta Fjord. Lush, green and hospitable – Alta is a sheltered oasis in the otherwise cold and windswept Finnmark landscape.
Halfway between the grim, barren mountain plateau and the wet, stormy coast, Alta offers tree-clad valleys, pleasant temperatures and no more rain than parts of the Sahara desert. Alta offers marvelous scenic experiences all year round. Its well-developed public services and the countryside and landscape around Alta make it a good place to visit and live.
Northern Lights Cathedral (Nordlyskatedralen): Visit this modern architectural marvel, which serves both as a parish church and a cultural center. The cathedral's design and lighting make it a striking sight, both inside and out.
The outdoor area, overlooking the magnificent Alta Fjord, is furnished with walking paths enabling visitors to explore the rock carvings site at leisure in the summer and autumn seasons.
Getting around
Experience The World's Northernmost Igloo Hotel. The Igloo Hotel stands strong from the 20th of December to the 7th of April each year.
Food and shopping
4 km to Alta Centrum. Shopping center open 10:00 - 20:00 (17:00). Grocery stores 9:00 - 22:00 (20:00).
Money
The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian crown (Norske krone), abbreviated kr. A 1/100th krone is called øre. 1.00 EUR = about 9 NOK. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world!
ATMs in Norway are called Minibank.
Nearly all stores accept major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa (Bring your passport/driver's license, as you are required to identify yourself when using a credit card).
Staying connected
Norwegian is the official language of Norway. The language is very close and mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, English widely spoken.
Most Norwegian households are connected to the internet in some way (often broadband), making Cybercafés hard to find outside major cities, due to a relatively small market. Most public libraries have free public access to the internet. WiFi is in many spots (not free).
Opening Hours and
Opening hours in Norway are better than they used to be but many smaller stores still close early on Saturday (1 PM or 3 PM is typical) and nearly everything is closed on Sundays. You'll often see opening hours written as "9-21 (9-18)" on doors, meaning 9 AM to 9 PM weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM Saturday.