Nordlysbadet — “The Northern Lights Bath” — is Alta’s premier aquatic and wellness centre, located right in the heart of the city on Markedsgata. The facility is the social and recreational hub of Finnmark, drawing families, competitive swimmers, and wellness seekers year-round. Its name is well chosen: the outdoor hot tub, maintained at a toasty 37 °C, offers an extraordinary vantage point for watching the aurora borealis dance across the Arctic sky on clear winter nights — an experience that perfectly encapsulates what makes a sauna visit in far northern Norway so special.
Pools and Water Features
The centre features four pools at different temperatures, including a 25-metre competition pool with a diving tower (1, 3, and 5 metres), a warm activity pool, a children’s splash pool, and a current-channel leisure pool. Wet-side highlights include a 48-metre water slide with an electronic timing system, a grotto with water curtains, an indoor hot tub at 38 °C, and the outdoor jacuzzi where aurora views are possible in winter.
Wellness Area
The dedicated wellness area — restricted to guests aged 18 and over — contains Finnish saunas in both the male and female changing rooms, a steam sauna, and an ice bath for the full Nordic contrast experience. The combination of intense sauna heat and ice-cold plunge pool is deeply restorative, and the saunas are well maintained and reliably hot.
Practical Information
A full-service café operates on both the dry and wet sides of the building, serving hot meals, snacks, and beverages. The venue also houses a retail shop, lockable changing facilities, and family-friendly rooms. Swimming lessons, a diving club, and a kayak club all operate out of Nordlysbadet, making it a genuine community anchor for Alta. Admission to the wellness area is included in the regular entry price.
