Polaria
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Polaria is an Arctic Experience Centre and Aquarium located in the heart of Tromsø. Learn about Climate Change through our brand-new interactive exhibitions, reflect over how all life in the Arctic is connected, and discover how you can make a difference. In our aquarium you will find unique species of fish and crustations from the northern regions, as well as our five seals. Join in on the daily feeding and training sessions of the seals at 10:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Sit down and enjoy our three Panoramic films about the nature and wildlife at Svalbard, the magical Northern Lights, and a behind the scenes documentary showing how we work with our animals. Polaria is suitable for all ages, and the perfect place for those who are interested in diving beneath the surface to explore the Arctic in a unique way.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Something Tookish
    Cheyenne, Wyoming3,114 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Small but interesting aquarium
    Actually looks like white, tipped over dominos. It is a relatively small aquarium though the displays are well done and interesting. They have a pool with trained seals which perform regularly. There is a theater which plays several videos.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 September 2023
  • Deepali
    15 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit place for kids or in rainy day
    We went to Polaria on a rainy day to ensure that we use the time well. Our daughter liked seal feeding session and Aquarium but the highlight was the interactive Arctic ice AR gallery. It is a small Aquarium but the Seals were the major plus point for this place. It is a must visit place for a rainy day and/or for families with small kids.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 September 2023
  • Nick14541
    137 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very good sea life centre
    Polaria is fairly small but an enjoyable visit. We started in the panoramic cinema with a short film about the northern lights before progressing to the various fish tanks and best of all the seals. They were most entertaining as they were fed and cavorted in the water, playing games etc. Worth coming to see it all.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 November 2023
  • Christin C
    Atlanta, Georgia480 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    SEALS
    Small aquarium with seals. These are the main attraction and worth every penny. There are some other interesting fish - wolffish, a halibut and an arctic angler. Three short videos that are worth watching and many displays on arctic life. Two hours would be a long time for adults here. The gift shop is also very cute.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 17 December 2023
  • PWStaffordshire
    Staffordshire, United Kingdom109 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely polar aquarium
    Polaria is fairly small but makes for an enjoyable visit. Cost 220 NOK pp You can start the experience with an optional short film about the northern lights & local wildlife. Then you can wander round viewing the various fish tanks, and watch the seals playing and being fed. It was nice to hear that a larger pool is being built as I was worried that this one does appear a little small the group. The keepers do stress how much they do to keep the seals mentally stimulated. The gift shop is good, and sells a wide variety of items from jumpers, coats, socks, & toys.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 21 December 2023
  • paul
    Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom25 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A place to smile on a cold, snowy day
    It was a cold, windy and snowy January day and Polaria is just a 5 minute walk from the main Tromso hotels. It was well worth taking a look: well-run and friendly with a good mix of aquatic life, educational information and audio-visual presentations. A highlight was the massive, high resolution audiovisual theatre, running a range of nature titles through the day - worth the entrance fee alone. The aquariums were diverse and captivating. The resident seals seemed healthy and happy and are to benefit from a much enlarged enclosure in the next 2 years. We will return in the future, when a 5 star review will be very likely.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 February 2024
  • danielle g
    Penfield, New York15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The seals!
    The seals were amazing to watch. We stayed for two feeding/training exercises and talked to the trainers and this was a real highlight of our more affordable daytime experiences in Trømso. In 2025 when they expand I’m sure it will be even cooler as they say the current seal room will become a giant fish aquarium and the seals will get a larger pool that includes outdoor space.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles3 168 reviews
Excellent
709
Very good
1 146
Average
921
Poor
276
Terrible
116

Violaine A
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
The first part of the center is really interesting, modern and interactive visit, plenty of interesting facts and photos, great start...but the aquarium left us very perplexed. The whole introduction video argues that this is not a circus...but seals are kept in a small indoor pool and trained to do tricks to entertain the public...isn't this precisely a circus !? In our opinion, the seals are easy to see in the wild, there is no need to keep them in such an artificial setting - except if for rehabilitation or short term research - this didn't feel humane -disappointing.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

danielle g
Penfield, NY15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
The seals were amazing to watch. We stayed for two feeding/training exercises and talked to the trainers and this was a real highlight of our more affordable daytime experiences in Trømso. In 2025 when they expand I’m sure it will be even cooler as they say the current seal room will become a giant fish aquarium and the seals will get a larger pool that includes outdoor space.
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

paul
Cambridgeshire, UK25 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
It was a cold, windy and snowy January day and Polaria is just a 5 minute walk from the main Tromso hotels. It was well worth taking a look: well-run and friendly with a good mix of aquatic life, educational information and audio-visual presentations. A highlight was the massive, high resolution audiovisual theatre, running a range of nature titles through the day - worth the entrance fee alone. The aquariums were diverse and captivating. The resident seals seemed healthy and happy and are to benefit from a much enlarged enclosure in the next 2 years. We will return in the future, when a 5 star review will be very likely.
Written 4 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

monika
Aachen, Germany8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
If you're into maritime life, it's a good place to start your Tromso adventures. It's a bit overpriced for what you get, but I don't think anything is "cheap" here. We had fun watching the seals.
Written 23 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PWStaffordshire
Staffordshire, UK109 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
Polaria is fairly small but makes for an enjoyable visit. Cost 220 NOK pp

You can start the experience with an optional short film about the northern lights & local wildlife. Then you can wander round viewing the various fish tanks, and watch the seals playing and being fed. It was nice to hear that a larger pool is being built as I was worried that this one does appear a little small the group. The keepers do stress how much they do to keep the seals mentally stimulated.

The gift shop is good, and sells a wide variety of items from jumpers, coats, socks, & toys.
Written 21 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christin C
Atlanta, GA480 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
Small aquarium with seals. These are the main attraction and worth every penny. There are some other interesting fish - wolffish, a halibut and an arctic angler. Three short videos that are worth watching and many displays on arctic life. Two hours would be a long time for adults here. The gift shop is also very cute.
Written 18 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nick14541
137 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Polaria is fairly small but an enjoyable visit. We started in the panoramic cinema with a short film about the northern lights before progressing to the various fish tanks and best of all the seals. They were most entertaining as they were fed and cavorted in the water, playing games etc. Worth coming to see it all.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Willem D
11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Very informative and good idea to learn how they manage to make such trips
Will go there again if we visit Tromso. Also the extra information about the sami population was very good
Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dan T
London, UK64 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
We visited here on a fairly overcast afternoon, as a bit of respite from the rain showers.

We firstly entered the “panoramic cinema” and watched two videos, one on the northern lights and one on the wildlife of Svalbard. Neither of these were particularly scintillating, they reminded me of school, the science teacher wheeling in a tv to watch an old documentary rather than working.

Once we left the cinema we moved on to look at the rest of the place and found precious little- a few habitats with a few species of fish and other sea life but nothing really worth seeing. Most of the space seemed to be under construction or development so maybe in a few years this place will be with visiting but at the moment it is sadly quite lacking.

The highlight was seeing the seals, 4 adults and a newborn at the time of visiting. They are fed and given enrichment activities at certain points in the day, so if you do want to go definitely look up these times since it was the most engaging part of our visit.
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deepali
15 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We went to Polaria on a rainy day to ensure that we use the time well. Our daughter liked seal feeding session and Aquarium but the highlight was the interactive Arctic ice AR gallery.
It is a small Aquarium but the Seals were the major plus point for this place.
It is a must visit place for a rainy day and/or for families with small kids.
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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POLARIA: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Polaria