Alta has the second highest rating of all Norwegian sites. For me, it's a nice site, but not a truly great one. The great thing is to see how far early humans went and in what remote corners of the world we settled. But that doesn't really relate to the quality of the rock art. Personally, I enjoyed the rock art in Tanum or in Valcamonica better.

Speaking of Tanum, the use of paint to highlight the rock carvings has come under scrutiny. At least, in Alta they have decided to reduce paint, so only a limited set of rock art is painted nowadays.

Getting There

Alta itself is easiest reached by plane. There are several international connections, especially in winter to see the northern lights. I flew in from Tromso and flew out the same day to Oslo. Unfortunately, there are no left luggage facilities at the airport, so I ended up carrying it all day.

Alternatively, there is a almost daily 6h bus ride to Tromso. Under normal (pre Corona circumstances) I would assume you can also continue to Sweden and Finland.

From Alta airport, you can catch an hourly bus to the Alta Museum. Near Alta airport is also another location, but you would be well served to contact our resident rock art aficionado Samuel for details.

While You Are There

If you have some time to kill, you can hike Lille Raipas, a Struve site. Key problem is that it's quite a lengthy walk to get to the start of the trail (10km each way, no bus connection).

There is also a bus to the North Cape from Alta (4.5h). And in winter you should be able to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Alta itself, is rather uneventful, more of a logistical hub for the area than a true town. Unlinke Tromso.