Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo (OSL) | Direct flight to Alta | About 2 hours | Several a day, year-round |
| Tromsø | Flight to Alta or Hammerfest | 35–45 minutes | Frequent short hops |
| Tromsø | Car or bus to Alta | About 6 hours | E8 and E6 along Lyngenfjord |
| Tromsø | Coastal ship to Hammerfest | About 11 hours | Daily, overnight northbound |
| Alta | Car or bus to Hammerfest | About 2 h 15 min | 140 km across the Sennalandet plateau |
| Alta | Car or bus to Honningsvåg | 3–3.5 hours | For North Cape |
Flying in
Alta Airport is only about 4 km from the centre, with direct flights from Oslo taking around two hours and connections from Tromsø. Hammerfest’s short runway is served by small propeller aircraft from Tromsø and other Finnmark towns. A taxi or the airport bus covers the short ride into Alta.
By road and bus
The E6 runs through Alta on its way from the south to Kirkenes. The side road to Hammerfest crosses Sennalandet, an exposed plateau that can close in winter storms. Long-distance buses link Alta with Tromsø, Hammerfest, Honningsvåg and Karasjok once or a few times a day; check timetables, as services thin out at weekends.
Getting around locally
- Alta is spread over three centres — Bossekop, Alta sentrum and Elvebakken — several kilometres apart. Buses are infrequent, so a rental car or taxis are useful.
- Most winter tours include pick-up from Alta hotels.
- Hammerfest’s centre is walkable; the Meridian Column is about 2 km round the harbour.
- Winter driving on the plateau roads calls for experience; check road reports before setting out.
- Express boats run from Hammerfest to villages on the islands of Sørøya and Seiland.
