How to Visit the Polar Museum in Tromsø (Tips, Info, & Map)
For its fairly small size, Tromsø has a lot of excellent museums. And, while I love them all, my favorite one will forever be the Polar Museum in Tromsø (Polarmuseet in Norwegian).
Quick Tromsø Travel Guide
If you’re traveling to Tromsø last minute, ensure you have lodging and tours booked ahead of time (as much as you can)! Below are some of my top picks:
🐋 Best tours and activities from Tromsø:
- Best northern lights tour from Tromsø (my favorite aurora tour in Tromsø!)
- Reindeer feeding and Sami culture tour (most popular Sami tour; great for kids!)
- Ethical whale-watching tour with orcas and humpbacks (a Nov-Jan must!)
🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Tromsø:
- Clarion ‘The Edge’ (Tromsø’s most beautiful hotel – on the sea!)
- Thon Hotel Tromsø (I’ve stayed here twice and recommend it!)
- Radisson Blu (many tours leave from here – by the harbor)
🍲 Popular places to eat in Tromsø: Fiskekompaniet, Bardus Bistro, RUDA, Smørtorget, Størhus, Full Steam
✈️ Want to get from the airport to Tromsø hassle-free? Find the best airport transfer option here!
The museum is compact and doesn’t need more than an hour or two to explore. But, I highly recommend it for every itinerary, regardless of the time of year you visit the Norwegian city.
In this guide, I will cover what to know before visiting the Polar Museum in Tromsø, including ticket information, the best time to visit (this is crucial), and what you’ll find inside that makes me love it so much!
Table of Contents
About the Polar Museum
Tromsø’s Polar Museum is one of the city’s top attractions. It’s dedicated to everything ‘Arctic’, including polar expeditions and cultural history, so there’s much to see!
The Polar Museum has been open since June 18, 1978, and is set in a historic warehouse along the harbor. This red building it is located in dates back to 1830 and is located along the waterfront in the Skansen area of Tromsø.
Since Tromsø is considered the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’, it’s only fitting that this museum tells the stories of famous explorers such as Amundsen, Nansen, and Willem Barentsz among others, as well as their polar expeditions.
The Polar Museum also offers exhibitions on everyday life in the Arctic dating back to the 17th century, where you can learn about Norwegian history. A big aspect of this is how Arctic animals were hunted back in the day.
In addition to temporary exhibitions, there are seven permanent exhibitions at this museum. These include ‘Pick Catch’ which details commercial sealing and ‘Wanny and Henry: Trapped Life in the Arctic’.
Although the museum is in Tromsø, there’s also a fantastic exhibit about Svalbard in the 17th and 18th centuries, which details the island’s early exploration and trapping life.
Visiting the Polar Museum: Practical Info
Opening Hours of the Polar Museum
During the winter season (from August 16th to May 31st), the Polar Museum is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm. In the summer (between June 1st and August 15th), it’s open every day from 9 am – 5 pm.
The Polar Museum is closed on May 1 and May 17.
Location of the Museum
You’ll find the museum at the northern end of Tromsø city center.
It’s located right next to the waterfront, just a short walk from the Perspektivet Museum, Full Steam Restaurant, and other popular Tromsø spots.
Here is an interactive map of its exact location, including a pin for where the cruise terminal is (in case your arrival point is there).
Polar Museum Ticket Prices (2025)
Adult tickets cost 120 NOK (about $11) while children under 18 are free. Students can also enter the Polar Museum for free. Senior citizen tickets are 100 NOK (about $10).
A combination ticket with the Arctic University Museum costs 165 NOK for adults (about $15), and 85 NOK (about $8) for senior citizens.
Alternatively, you can opt for a Tromsø Pass which includes entrance to various attractions. An adult half-day pass costs 662 NOK (about $62) while a full-day pass is 1090 NOK (about $103).
I once purchased the Tromsø Pass and thought it was of good value, but I visited all Tromsø museums, Fjellheisen, and the Magic Ice Bar with it.
If you’re only visiting the Polar Museum, it will not be of good value for you.
Polar Museum Layout and Exhibits
You will find several permanent and temporary exhibitions throughout the Polar Museum. Below is a quick overview of what you’ll find.
Temporary exhibits are in The Sea Warehouse on the ground floor (you will find it to the ticket counter’s right).
Ground Floor
- Trapping in the Arctic (Room 1)
- Svalbard in the 1600s and 1700s (Room 2)
- Hunting situation (Room 3)
- Seal hunting zoological exhibition (Room 4)
- Seal hunting (Room 5)
1st Floor (Upstairs)
- Aircrafts in the Arctic (Room 6)
- Henry Rudi and Wanna Woldstad (Room 7)
- Walrus hunting and polar bear hunting (Room 8)
- Roald Amundsen (Room 9)
- Fridtjof Nansen (Room 10)
How much time do you need at the Polar Museum?
I would plan to spend at least 1.5 hours at the Polar Museum as there are plenty of interesting exhibits to look at.
If you’re interested in the Arctic, you could easily spend longer here, especially as there’s a cool museum shop on-site too. The museum gift store has a book section dedicated to polar explorers that is worth checking out.
Best Time to Visit
The Polar Museum is a great attraction at any time of year. Of course, the temporary exhibitions may change but there’s a lot to see no matter when you visit.
Do note that winter is Tromsø’s high season for tourism, but cruise ships come through year-round, so the museum is almost always crowded when ships are at port there.
I would recommend visiting during the week instead of on a weekend and to ensure there is not a cruise ship around when you head there. It can make all the difference!
Tromsø Polar Museum FAQ
How accessible is the Polar Museum?
The majority of attractions and museums in Tromsø are well-tailored towards wheelchair users.
Unfortunately, the Polar Museum is only wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, as there’s a set of stairs up to the first floor (in Norway that means the 2nd level).
I will say that the ground floor halls and rooms are smaller and rather narrow, so it is not the easiest place to maneuver through if you visit during peak hours.
This is due to the unique layout of the building as it’s so old, so just keep that in mind.
Visually and Hearing Impaired
With video guides, hearing kits, audio guides, and braille descriptions, the Polar Museum caters to both visual and hearing impairments.
Service dogs are also allowed in the museum.
The Gift Shop
After exploring the museum, spend some time at the on-site gift shop. Here, you can pick up various items including Norwegian sweaters, books, and postcards, among other items.
Although the gift shop is only small it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs or gifts. It’s not too expensive either, compared to the other shops in Tromsø.
Additional Tips for Visiting the Polar Museum
A paper guidebook is available at the ticket counter in English and other languages, so you’ll have no issues learning about the exhibits as a tourist. Just remember to pick one up before you head into the museum!
During the summer (from June 1st to August 15th), guided tours run daily at 1 pm. If you’d like to book a tour, contact the museum in advance.
If you’re traveling by car, be aware that the museum doesn’t have its own parking lot. There are some parking spaces near the entrance, but make sure you pay and display.
Since the museum is small, there’s no cafe on site. However, there are some great spots nearby to grab a coffee or tasty treat, including Vervet Bakeri (one of my favorite cafes in Tromsø).
Is the Polar Museum worth visiting?
If you’re intrigued about the Arctic, the Polar Museum is certainly worth visiting. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Tromsø and you’ll learn so much about Norwegian polar expeditions here, as well as how the local people used to hunt for their food.
Due to the size of the museum, you won’t need long here either, so a visit won’t take up too much of your day!
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