Discover Alta

If you’re planning a stay in Alta, you can choose where to go based on the activities you’d like to enjoy. The town combines numerous cross-country ski trails with cultural attractions and Northern Lights experiences. To help you plan, consider the specific differences between the routes: their length, difficulty, lighting and layout can help you plan your days.

Cross-country ski trails and winter routes in Alta

Arctic Alta is a 42-kilometre cross-country ski trail. It starts at BUL-Banen in Bossekop and runs through the town, farmland, forest and mountain scenery to the Kaiskuru Ski Stadium. Byløypa is a 21-kilometre route that runs from east to west, or vice versa, through the Alta settlement. It is considered easy and also connects all the other cross-country ski trails in Alta.

The Kaiskuru ski area has a 5.5-kilometre training loop and 12 kilometres of challenging competition trails. The trails are groomed daily; as grooming plans may change, it’s worth checking the latest information before setting out. Several other routes differ considerably: the 11-kilometre BUL-Løypa is an easy, floodlit trail from Bossekop to Eiby. There are rest areas and opportunities to practise skiing along the route. The floodlit Saga trail is five kilometres long, lies in the eastern part of town and connects to the Kaiskuru ski area.

For a more challenging loop, try the five-kilometre Komsa trail, which is gently undulating and floodlit. The flat Sandfallet route is an easy, four-kilometre out-and-back trail. Tverrelvdalen has both a challenging 12-kilometre training route and a five-kilometre trail for fit skiers. If you’d rather ride a fat bike than cross-country ski, Gruvevannsrunden is an approximately 5.5-kilometre loop of moderate difficulty, with varied singletrack sections.

Northern Lights, culture and attractions in the town centre

The Northern Lights Cathedral is in the centre of Alta, at the end of the pedestrian street. Bishop Per Oskar Kjølsaas consecrated the cathedral on 10 February 2013. The library is also near the pedestrian street. It often hosts cultural events such as music, talks and exhibitions; the programme changes.

A guided Northern Lights tour starts in central Alta at 8 pm and usually returns there shortly after midnight. The tour covers topics including the Norwegian way of life, Stone Age history, Sami culture, reindeer herding, wildlife, the Second World War, and modern society in Alta and Finnmark. As tour times are operational details, check the current schedule when planning. For the Hunting Northern Lights by car tour, the meeting point is at the Explorer Store, Markedsgata 6, 9510 Alta.

Nordlysbadet is also in the town centre. Its facilities include a swimming pool, leisure pool, water slide, paddling pool and hot tub. Opening hours may change, so check the current hours before your visit.

More experiences in the wider Alta destination

The wider Alta destination offers additional cultural and landscape experiences. In summer, the Alta Museum offers Stone Age activities for all ages, including archery, stone polishing and making rubbings of rock carvings. Its permanent exhibitions cover the rock art of Alta, pre-Christian Sami religion, the Northern Lights and sport fishing in the Alta River.

In Hjemmeluft, more than 3,000 rock carvings are found on the rock surfaces on both sides of the bay. A three-kilometre network of paths connects the various sites; Hjemmeluft is the largest of Alta’s World Heritage sites. These excursions complement the town’s attractions with a closer look at the rock art and the places where it is found.

You can plan your trip around different interests: the trails offer specific options by length and difficulty, while the cathedral, library and Nordlysbadet add to the attractions in the town centre. In the wider destination, the museum and rock art extend the cultural experience beyond the town.

Discover more destinations: Kongshus, Korsfjorden, Alta, Talvik, Kviby, Komagfjord, Hakkstabben.

Go to the main travel overview: Alta.