Cheap flights to Alta
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Quick summary
Country
Norway
Continent
Europe
Airport
ALF
Currency
Norwegian krone (NOK)
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 during daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Alta
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Why track Alta with SniperAir
The northern lights town on the Altafjord
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Alta is the largest town in Finnmark, Norway's northernmost region: about 16,000 inhabitants in the town and 22,000 in the municipality, according to Wikipedia (EN, DE). It lies at the head of the Altafjord, at the mouth of the Alta river, at about 70 degrees north. It is known as 'the northern lights city' and is also the gateway to the Finnmarksvidda plateau. Its prehistoric rock carvings have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1985. Flights to the far north vary a lot with the season and the departure airport, and a SniperAir alert saves you from comparing every day. You set your budget, we compare new prices with the real price history of the route and we notify you.
Airport and getting into town
Alta Airport, 4 km from the centre
Alta (ALF)
Alta Airport (ALF) is at Elvebakken, about 4 km east of the centre according to Wikipedia (EN); Wikivoyage (EN) says it is virtually in the town. It is the busiest airport in Finnmark according to Wikivoyage (EN). There are direct flights to Oslo and Tromsø and to regional airports such as Kirkenes and Hammerfest; the list varies from year to year and should be checked when booking. A bus connects the airport to the centre in about ten minutes according to Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN); taxis and car rental are also available.
Distance ALF to centre: about 4 km (Wikipedia EN). Bus journey: about 10 minutes (Wikipedia EN, Wikivoyage EN). No transfer fares are published here.
Alta is on the E6, Norway's main north-south road, which is also the only road option from Tromsø according to Wikivoyage (EN). The E45 comes from Finland and ends in the centre of Alta. For a trip to the far north you can also watch Tromsø (TOS), Svalbard (LYR) or Lofoten (LKN).
Landmarks
Rock carvings, cathedral and canyon
Alta spreads over a fairly wide area, so distances are longer than you might expect. The six places below are illustrated with photos; other sites are described later in text only.
The rock carvings of Alta
Since the first carvings were discovered in autumn 1973, more than 6,000 have been recorded around Alta, according to Wikipedia (EN). The largest site, at Jiepmaluokta (Hjemmeluft), is an open-air museum with about 3 km of wooden walkways. The Alta sites have been on the UNESCO list since 3 December 1985, and it is Norway's only prehistoric World Heritage site, according to Wikipedia (EN).
Reindeer, boats and hunting scenes
The carvings mostly show reindeer, but also elk, birds, fish, bears, hunters and boats, according to Wikipedia (EN). In the photos they have been highlighted in red to make them visible. Wikivoyage (EN) notes that they can be seen on guided tours in summer and are covered with snow in winter.
The Northern Lights Cathedral
Completed in 2013 according to Wikipedia (EN, ES), the Northern Lights Cathedral (Nordlyskatedralen) is the municipality's main church. Its contemporary architecture, with a slender tower, makes it one of the most striking buildings in a town that was rebuilt after the war.
The Altafjord and the town
Alta lies at the southern end of the Altafjord, at the mouth of the Alta river, and the harbour stays ice-free all year thanks to the Gulf Stream, according to Wikipedia (DE). The modern centre grew between Elvebakken and Bossekop, on a previously undeveloped area.
The Sautso canyon
The Alta river has carved the Sautso canyon, one of the largest in Europe according to Wikipedia (EN). It begins about 30 km from the town according to Wikivoyage (EN). A dam was built in the canyon in the early 1980s after an environmental and Sami conflict that remains well known in Norway.
The fjords around Alta
The municipality has many fjord arms, including the Langfjord and the Kåfjord, according to Wikipedia (DE). The Kåfjord sheltered the German battleship Tirpitz during the war. The landscapes of fjords, forests and plateaus make the region pleasant to explore by car, off the most beaten tracks.
Alta was almost entirely destroyed at the end of the Second World War during the German retreat of 1944, and only Alta Church partly survived according to Wikipedia (DE). The town today is therefore marked mostly by post-war architecture. At Kåfjord, the old copper mine (opened in 1826) and the church, which survived the war, are worth a visit according to Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN). The Alta river is regarded as the best salmon river in Norway according to Wikivoyage (EN). At Raipas, a point of the UNESCO-listed Struve Geodetic Arc can be reached on foot according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Museums and culture
Museums and Sami culture
Alta Museum, the rock art centre
Alta Museum, at Jiepmaluokta, is the World Heritage rock art museum. It shows objects from the culture that made the carvings, photographic documentation, Sami culture, the aurora phenomenon and the history of slate mining; it won the European Museum of the Year Award in 1993, according to Wikipedia (EN). Check opening hours before you go.
The Alta conflict and Sami culture
Between 1968 and 1982, the plan for a dam on the Alta river led to a major conflict led by Sami people and environmentalists; it is seen as a turning point for Sami politics in Norway, according to Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN). The region is a meeting place of Norwegian, Sami and Kven (Finnish-origin) cultures.
The Tirpitz museum and wartime history
Wikipedia (DE) mentions a museum devoted to the battleship Tirpitz, which lay in the Kåfjord during the war. Wikivoyage (EN) recalls that the German navy used Alta as a base and that the ship was attacked several times by the Allies.
Food and drink
Salmon, fish and northern flavours
Salmon from the Alta river
The Alta river is regarded as the best salmon river in Norway according to Wikivoyage (EN). Fishing requires a licence; check with the local authorities before you go.
Finnmark cooking
The sources we consulted do not detail local dining. Fish and reindeer meat are common products in Finnmark, and the Alta Museum shop sells Sami handicrafts according to Wikivoyage (EN). We do not name addresses, as they change.
Cooking for yourself
To limit your budget, supermarkets and your accommodation kitchen help, as everywhere in Norway. Distances in town are long, so plan to get around by bus or car.
Getting around
Getting around: bus, car and distances
On foot
Alta is not a big town, but distances are longer than expected: the E6 alone runs 12 km through the built-up area according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Local and regional buses
A local public transport network exists, according to Wikivoyage (EN). For the carvings at Jiepmaluokta, check bus timetables and the summer guided tours. Check timetables, which change.
Car and excursions
A rental car is useful for the fjords, the Sautso canyon and the Finnmarksvidda. From Alta, Hammerfest is about two hours away by coach or fast ferry according to Wikipedia (EN). There is no passenger railway station.
Budget and precautions
Budget: northern Norway is expensive
Price level
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, and the far north is no exception. Accommodation, meals and excursions weigh heavily, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Flight prices also vary a lot by season.
Excursions and activities
Aurora outings, dog sledding and guided visits to the carvings vary by season; we do not publish prices. Check official sites before booking.
Precautions
Alta is a safe town, but winter is harsh: very warm clothing, suitable footwear and care on icy roads. Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere.
When to go
A sheltered boreal climate, a little less cold than you might think
Spring
Days lengthen very fast and the snow melts gradually. The rock carvings become visible again once the snow has gone.
Summer
Cool but bright summers, with the midnight sun. Guided tours of the rock carvings take place in summer according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Autumn
Autumn colours, the first northern lights on clear nights, and flight prices often lower after summer.
Winter
Long, cold and dark winters, but less cold than the latitude suggests. Aurora season, but the carvings are covered with snow.
Alta has a sheltered boreal climate (Dfc according to Wikipedia EN), with long, cold and dark winters that are less cold than the latitude suggests, and cool summers. Annual precipitation is low, about 420 mm according to Wikipedia (DE). For the rock carvings aim for summer; for the northern lights, from late autumn to early spring.
By length of stay
How many days to spend in Alta
Carvings, cathedral and town
Two days are enough for Alta Museum and the Jiepmaluokta carvings, the Northern Lights Cathedral and a walk by the fjord.
Sautso canyon and fjords
With three days, add an excursion to the Sautso canyon and nearby fjords, or an aurora outing in winter.
Kåfjord, Finnmarksvidda and beyond
For five days, add Kåfjord and its old copper mines, excursions on the Finnmarksvidda or the trip to Hammerfest.
In pictures
Alta in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Alta
Where is Alta Airport?
Alta Airport (ALF) is at Elvebakken, about 4 km east of the centre according to Wikipedia (EN), with a bus of about 10 minutes to the centre.
Which cities have direct flights to Alta?
There are direct flights to Oslo, Tromsø and several regional airports in Finnmark. The list changes with the season and the airlines.
What is there to see in Alta?
The Jiepmaluokta rock carvings, listed by UNESCO, Alta Museum, the Northern Lights Cathedral, the Sautso canyon and the fjords.
When can I see the northern lights in Alta?
Mostly on clear nights from late autumn to early spring, away from the town lights. Alta is nicknamed 'the northern lights city'.
Can I see the rock carvings in winter?
No: according to Wikivoyage (EN) they are covered with snow in winter and guided tours take place in summer.
How many days should I plan for Alta?
Two days for the carvings, the cathedral and the town, three with the Sautso canyon and the fjords, five with Kåfjord and the Finnmarksvidda.
How much does a flight to Alta usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Alta drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Alta (ALF) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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