Northern Norway » Polaria

Polaria - an Arctic Experience!

Housed in a very distinctive building that represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough seas of the Arctic, you will discover Polaria, just five minutes walk from the centre of Tromsø. Polaria has an Arctic aquarium, interesting knowledge-based exhibits, a panoramic cinema, and a gift and souvenir shop.

In our panoramic cinema, you can look forward to the Ivo Caprino film "Svalbard - Arctic Wilderness". A little auk takes you on an airborne trip with you in a helicopter, along the west coast of Spitsbergen - the largest island in the group known as Svalbard. Along the way you can experience the unique animal and plant life, enjoy dramatic flights over massive icebergs and meet the King of the Arctic. Outside the summer season we also show the film "Antarctica", an entertaining film about the Antarctic continent, with penguins in the starring role.

After the film visitors are taken along the "Arctic Walk" where you can experience first hand some elements of Arctic nature - a snowstorm, a dozing polar bear, the tundra and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In the aquarium the main attraction are the bearded seals. The bearded seal is an arctic species, and they are very popular among children and adults alike, due to their quiet disposition and intelligent nature. The high points are the tunnel that goes under the aquarium itself and the training and feeding of the seals. The aquarium has interesting exhibits of the most common species of fish in the Barents Sea.

The exhibitions are under continuous development, and are an excellent place to gain useful knowledge on Arctic environmental issues and natural phenomena.

The Polaria shop is an original gift and souvenir shop with a wide variety of local crafts, seal products, books, toys and other souvenirs related to our theme.

Welcome to Polaria!