The international airport at Alta stands on the shore of the Altafjord in the far north of Norway, deep inside the Arctic Circle. This single-runway airfield has a modern terminal building and is right alongside the Elvebakken district of Alta. The rest of the city spreads along the shoreline. Visitors who pick up a hire car at Alta Airport find the road links are very good. The key E6 trunk road, Norway's main north-south route, leads right past the airport entrance. Or take the Rv93 road and head to Sweden.
Alta stands at the mouth of the River Altaelva, which runs through gorges and forests containing some of Norway's most popular salmon fishing spots. That's the sort of activity that attracts visitors to the largest settlement in the scenic but sparsely-populated Finnmark district. Alta is one of the world's most northern cities; it's main visitor attraction is the ancient rock carvings of hunting scenes at Hjemmelavet World Heritage Site. Tourists visiting Alta usually embark on outdoor activities available there – snowmobile safaris have become hugely popular, as have dog sledding and riding on reindeer sleighs.
