Polaria

Tromsø

LoginSave

This Arctic-themed attraction provides a multimedia introduction to northern Norway and Svalbard. Kick things off by watching the two panoramic films: Northern Lights in Arctic Norway and Svalbard – Arctic Wilderness, then follow the 'Arctic Walkway' past exhibits on shrinking sea ice, the aurora borealis, aquariums of cold-water fish and – the big draw, though they're housed in a rather bleak enclosure – a small group of harbour and bearded seals.

Knowledgeable keepers answer questions in both Norwegian and English at feeding times (12.30pm year-round, plus 3pm in winter and 3.30pm in summer).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Arctic Cathedral

    Arctic Cathedral

    0.95 MILES

    The 11 triangles of the Arctic Cathedral (1965) suggest glacial crevasses and auroral curtains. The glowing stained-glass window that occupies the east…

  • Fjellheisen

    Fjellheisen

    0.91 MILES

    For a fine view of the city and the midnight sun, take the cable car to the top of Mt Storsteinen (421m). There's a terrace and (pricey) restaurant at the…

  • Tromsø University Museum

    Tromsø University Museum

    1.13 MILES

    Near the southern end of Tromsøya, this museum has well-presented and documented displays on traditional and modern Sami life, ecclesiastical art and…

  • Polar Museum

    Polar Museum

    0.62 MILES

    Fittingly for a town that was the launch pad for many pioneering expeditions to the North Pole, Tromsø's Polar Museum is an old-fashioned romp through…

  • Tromsø Kunstforening

    Tromsø Kunstforening

    0.08 MILES

    The Tromsø branch of this national contemporary art foundation makes the most of its late-19th-century premises and promotes rotating exhibitions of…

  • Perspektivet

    Perspektivet

    0.59 MILES

    Dating from 1838, Perspektivet houses a permanent photo exhibition illustrating Tromsø's history and mounts quality temporary displays too.

  • Blåst

    Blåst

    0.1 MILES

    Pass by the world's most northerly glass-blowing workshop to see the young team puffing their cheeks and perhaps to pick up an item or two.

  • Tromsø War Museum

    Tromsø War Museum

    1.79 MILES

    The cannons of a Nazi coastal artillery battery and a restored command bunker form the basis of the Tromsø Forsvarsmuseum. It also tells of the giant…

View more attractions

Nearby Tromsø attractions

1. M/S Polstjerna

0.07 MILES

Between 1949 and 1981, this historic seal-hunting ship killed (or 'brought home', as the literature euphemistically expresses it) nearly 100,000 seals. It…

2. Tromsø Kunstforening

0.08 MILES

The Tromsø branch of this national contemporary art foundation makes the most of its late-19th-century premises and promotes rotating exhibitions of…

3. Blåst

0.1 MILES

Pass by the world's most northerly glass-blowing workshop to see the young team puffing their cheeks and perhaps to pick up an item or two.

4. Roald Amundsen Statue

0.33 MILES

This statue to Norway's most famous polar explorer sits just uphill from the tourist office.

5. Domkirke

0.33 MILES

Domkirke, the Lutheran Church of Norway's cathedral, is one of Norway's largest wooden churches. Its opening hours are erratic, but you can take a photo…

6. Art Museum of Northern Norway

0.35 MILES

The Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum displays mainly 19th-century to present-day sculpture, photography, painting and handicrafts by artists from northern Norway.

7. Bibliotek

0.45 MILES

Tromsø's library is a wonderful example of contemporary Norwegian architecture, airy and streaming with light. There's also free internet access here.

8. Tromsø Catholic Church

0.54 MILES

The Tromsø Catholic Church was built in 1861 and is the world's northernmost Catholic bishopric.