Midnight sun city of Alta

In the heart of Northen Norway, between the majestic mountains, the beautiful Altafjord, and the legendary Finnmarksvidda lies Alta, the city of Midnight Sun. An unspoiled, lush arctic environment within a short distance from the bustle of the city, just waiting to be discovered.
 

Locals in Alta do not sleep away the arctic summer nights. From May 17th to July 25th, it’s as bright at night as it is during the day, and for us, it simply means less sleep. We get a boost of energy and the liberty to do what we please, whenever we choose, on days when the light never ends. Do we want to go hiking at 1 a.m.? Yes, the midnight sun allows us to do so.

One of the best ways to enjoy the midnight sun is on a mountain hike. The sun is at its lowest between 00 and 01 am, when the sun is at the far end of Altafjord in the north. Therefore, we recommend to hike to one of the mountain peaks close to the city center.

Read more about hikes in Alta here.

Who are you travelling with?

Alta, as a destination, has a lot to offer in summer and winter. Outdoor life is busy in Alta. Many people use the long summer nights that the midnight sun is providing to go biking, swimming in the sea, hiking in the mountains or forests, or climbing in the climbing park. Nevertheless, we also love days with a calmer pace, be it going for a fine dine in one of the amazing local restaurants, exploring Sami culture, making a trip to the museum, or simply enjoying the tranquil view of a majestic northern Norway’s landscape that is always on display wherever you go in a comfortable, urban city of Alta.

lovgrenerik halddetoppen sommer
Halddetoppen is a well-known hiking destination for locals in Alta and the peak can be seen almost from all over the city. This is where Kristian Birkeland climbed to the top and established the world’s first permanent aurora borealis observatory. Today there is a DNT cabin on top of the sacred mountain. Photo: @lovgrenerik

Alta is a good starting point for other destinations in Finnmark and northen Norway as a whole. Here are experiences for the entire travel party, like pearls on a string, whether you are looking for the urban coastal life in Hammerfest, the bucket list experience on the North Cape, or the Sami life on the plateau.