Alta
UNESCO Rock Art & Northern Lights Cathedral
Excursion
Price from £142
Difficulty level
Easy
Booking code
HRS-ALF6
Duration
3h
Notes
Read the practical information below
Take in the exhibition at Alta Museum about nearby discoveries of prehistoric rock art – the largest collection in Northern Europe
Get to know more about the history of Alta and enjoy views of Altafjord
Visit the landmark new Alta Cathedral, also known as the Northern Lights Cathedral
Understand the history and science of the Northern Lights through a fun and immersive exhibition and a unique presentation
You’ll meet your local guide and bus and begin with a short tour of Alta city centre, covering day-to-day life in the city considered the northernmost in the world.
Your first stop is the Alta Museum, home to Northern Europe's largest concentration of prehistoric rock art, discovered at the head of nearby Altafjord and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exhibits include rock carvings found at the adjacent Hjemmeluft site – among them 'Pippi', the very first carving discovered in Alta – alongside displays on Sámi and Kven history, the local slate industry and the Alta River.
From there, you’ll continue to the remarkable Alta Cathedral – its titanium-clad spire spiralling skyward in a design inspired by the Northern Lights. During the long Arctic nights, the striking façade even reflects the aurora as it flickers overhead. Downstairs, the interactive Borealis Alta exhibition explores the science and Sámi mythology behind one of nature's most extraordinary phenomena.