Visiting Polaria

About Polaria

The Arctic experience centre's building looks like ice floes toppled against each other. Inside are aquariums of Arctic fish, a panoramic film about the Arctic and Svalbard, exhibits on climate and sea ice, and bearded and harbour seals with daily feeding and training sessions.

Tip: Time your visit for a seal feeding session, which children love.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
• Cost: Mid-priced.
• 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 Polaria

Polaria is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:

• July: 15°C (59°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
• June: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
• September: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, moderate crowds.

When to visit Tromsø has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day Tromsø itinerary visits Polaria on day 2, together with Dog sledding, Polar Museum and Midnight sun.

• No. 6 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.
• One of the picks in outdoors in Tromsø.
• A family favourite in Tromsø with kids.

Near Polaria

Also in Sentrum, so you can walk between them:

• Polar Museum — 1–1.5 hours, low cost
• Tromsø Cathedral — 20–30 minutes, low cost
• Ølhallen — 1 hour, low cost

If you like Polaria

• Dog sledding — Kvaløya and Tamokdalen, 4–6 hours including transfers
• Reindeer and Sami culture visits — Tromsø region, 3–5 hours
• Whale-watching trips — Fjords north of Tromsø, 6–9 hours
• Fjord and wildlife boat trips — Harbour, 3–5 hours

Staying near Polaria

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