WALKING AROUND ALTA, NORWAY?

[Boiler Cruiser]

Has anyone had experience visiting Alta, Norway on their own, rather than take a shore excursion? 

 

Is it worthwhile to get off the ship and walk around on your own and explore the town rather than take an excursion?  Are there good places for shopping or getting lunch?

 

BTW - I will be there in late summer.

 

Thanks.

[John Bull]

Hi,

We've never cruised that far north in Norway.

But you'll get a good response if you post on 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/116-northern-europe-baltic-sea/

 

JB 🙂

[onyx007]

If it's the same as us, you will have to tender and the landing place is at least 40 minutes walk from the towncenter of Alta, but there is a public bus getting you there and also either the same bus or another one to the amazing "Alta Museum". In the town center there are some shops but I didn't checked them out, but there is the nice modern "Northern Lights Cathedrale".

 

Highly recommend (if times allowes it) to go out to the "Alta Museum" to see the Stone Carvings"

[Simon-t]

We have visited twice - once in winter with P&O and once in summer with Princess.

 

We didn't have to tender on either occasion. The ship docked alongside the small airport at the end of the fjord. There was then a shuttle transfer into town which from memory was 15 minutes or so.

 

Alta is an excellent winter stop. We were there early March and the fjord and town were very pretty with lots of snow. The main reason for visiting Alta in winter is the northern lights - this is one of the best places for seeing them. We were there over night and saw spectacular displays from both the ship and ashore after dark.

 

To be honest, visiting in summer was a bit underwhelming. The town is small. you can visit the Northern Lights cathedral which is interesting and there is an old church and graveyard which are picturesque, and the Alta museum is also interesting (although a little way out of town). Otherwise it is a pretty mundane small town with modern buildings. There are places to eat and drink, but in truth this is not  really a tourist town, northern lights aside.

Edited July 23 by Simon-t