Sight guide · Tromsø · Norway
Visiting Polar Museum
In an 1830s customs warehouse on the harbour at Skansen, the Polar Museum tells the story of Arctic trapping, sealing and hunting on Svalbard and of the polar expeditions that set out from Tromsø, including those of Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Municipality of Tromsø from Tromsø, Norway, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Polar Museum is a museum in Sentrum, Tromsø. Allow 1–1.5 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Sentrum
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- October and December–January
About Polar Museum
In an 1830s customs warehouse on the harbour at Skansen, the Polar Museum tells the story of Arctic trapping, sealing and hunting on Svalbard and of the polar expeditions that set out from Tromsø, including those of Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.
Tip: Combine it with a walk along the old harbour and the wooden houses around Skansen.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Sentrum, wooden houses, Storgata's bars and the harbour where tours depart.
Best time to visit Polar Museum
Polar Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- October: 5°C (41°F) highs, about 17 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- January: -1°C (30°F) highs, about 17 rainy days, busy crowds.
- December: 0°C (32°F) highs, about 17 rainy days, very busy crowds.
When to visit Tromsø has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Tromsø itinerary visits Polar Museum on day 2, together with Dog sledding, Polaria and Midnight sun.
- No. 7 of the 16 sights in our Tromsø things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
Near Polar Museum
Also in Sentrum, so you can walk between them:
- Polaria — 1.5–2 hours, mid-priced
- Tromsø Cathedral — 20–30 minutes, low cost
- Ølhallen — 1 hour, low cost
Staying near Polar Museum
Stay in Sentrum ($$$$) to walk here: wooden houses, Storgata's bars and the harbour where tours depart. All areas to stay in Tromsø.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Polar Museum?
Plan 1–1.5 hours. With Polaria nearby, it fits a half-day in Sentrum.
+Is Polar Museum free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Polar Museum?
October and December–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Combine it with a walk along the old harbour and the wooden houses around Skansen.
+Do I need to book Polar Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.