Planning a Trip

Getting There -- If you don't take the coastal steamer, you can drive, although it's a long trek. From Oslo, take E6 north until you reach the junction with Rte. 94 west. Hammerfest is at the end of Rte. 94. During the summer there are three buses a week from Oslo. Travel time is 29 hours. SAS has daily flights from Oslo and Bergen to Alta, where you can catch a bus to Hammerfest (Apr-Sept only). For bus information, call Veolia Transport (tel. 78-40-70-00).

Visitor Information -- The Hammerfest Tourist Office, Havnegate 3 (tel. 78-41-21-85; www.hammerfest-turist.no), in the town center, is open in summer daily from 9am to 5pm, in winter daily 10am to 2pm. The tourist office also organizes boat trips in the area for those who want to go deep-sea fishing and bird-watching. Offerings can change from week to week, but these 3-hour outings require a minimum of eight people, costing NOK490 ($98/£49) per person.