Most people flock to Tromso to partake in one-in-a-lifetime activities. But, these Tromso museums are worth adding to your itinerary, too!
Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and more! Donʻt forget to plan ahead when visiting Tromso and nearby!
🇳🇴 Top Activities and Tours in Tromso:
- Best Northern lights tour from Tromso (most popular Tromso tour!)
- Dog sledding through Arctic Norway (the ultimate winter tour!)
- Snowmobiling, Ice Domes, Reindeer farm trip
- Ethical Whale Watching tour with orcas and humpbacks (my favorite!)
🛌 Top Hotels in Tromso:
- Radisson Blu (luxury)
- Thon Hotel Tromso (mid-range – I have stayed here!)
- Smarthotel Tromso (budget option – I have stayed here too!)
🚗 Visiting Tromso independently? Be sure to book your Norway rental car ahead of time to ensure availability!
You never know when you end up with a rainy day, a canceled tour (let’s hope not!), or a storm that makes you want to head indoors! The museums in town have your back!
Booking for the 2024-2025 season? BOOK ASAP. An increased Airbnb presence has created an imbalance between accommodation and tours, leaving travelers with a place to stay but no excursions available. Send me a message if you would like to chat further.
This guide takes you through the best Tromso museums that are worth a visit when you’re in the city.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know the best museums in Tromso in the comments!
Best Tromso Museums
1. Perspektivet (Perspectives Museum)
Address: Storgata 95
Website: https://www.perspektivet.no/en/
The Perspectives Museum (Perspektivet) is one that is unique to the city and it was founded in 2004 at its current location.
The museum’s primary objective is to encourage humans to understand life connections and to create societies that appreciate and tolerate cultural diversity as well as embrace new perspectives.
It is part of Norway’s national museum network and is located in a building that dates back to 1838.
One of the cool things about the Tromso museum is that it runs project-based activities for the community and it displays photographs documenting each character in them and their stories, etc.
It truly is a one-of-a-kind museum and is one of my favorites to add to your Tromso itinerary!
There are a few parts of the museum that are in different places – one is the Straumen Gård located on Kvaløya (Straumsvegen 1874) and Folkeparken in Tromso (Kvaløyvegen 38).
The museum is open on Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm and on weekends from 11am-5pm. It is closed on Mondays.
Adult ticket prices are 80 NOK, seniors are 50 NOK, and it is free for kids and students.
2. Polar Museum
Address: Søndre Tollbodgate 11
Website: https://en.uit.no/tmu/polarmuseet/
The Polar Museum (Polarmuseet) is one of the most visited Tromso museums and it is one that Aram checked out on our last trip while I was doing something different!
The museum is run by the University of Tromso as part of a network of a few museums on this list (MS Polstjerna and the Botanical Garden).
One reason this museum is worth visiting is that it is centrally located and easy to find! It is literally right on the harbor!
The Polar Museum has an insightful permanent exhibition that focuses on Svalbard in the 17th and 18th centuries.
You can learn about the early fur trappers and the well-known exhibition by Willem Barentsz in the late 1500s.
It focuses a lot on the trade and hunting up there as well as the protection of species in the 20th century (until today).
It is truly an interesting museum where you’re guaranteed to learn a lot about the Arctic. The exhibition opened in 2015.
Polarmuseet is open daily from 11am-5pm. Times may vary with the season. Tickets are 110 NOK for adults, 60 NOK for senior citizens, and children under 18 are free.
3. Tromso Center for Contemporary Art
Address: Muségata 2
Website: https://www.tromsokunstforening.no/en
If you love art, you have to check out the Tromso Museum of Contemporary Art (Tromso Kunstforening) while you’re on your trip!
It is one of the best places to visit in Tromso in winter or in summer for those interested!
The museum has rotating exhibitions and is the oldest art institution in Northern Norway and has become the creative hub for such in the entire region.
They focus on a mix of artists that have various recognitions throughout the world – some famous, some not so famous.
They really take pride in artists and projects with roots in the region and this Tromso museum is a fantastic place to learn more about it.
Check their website for upcoming exhibitions and artists, as well as opening hours for each exhibition.
4. MS Polstjerna
Address: Hjalmar Johansens gate 10
Website: https://en.uit.no/tmu/polstjerna
** This museum is temporarily closed. We will update this guide once it reopens.
A popular Tromso museum is the MS Polstjerna, an educational center that details the famous ship of the same name that was built in Risør in the south and launched its first expedition in 1949.
This ship was a seal-hunting ship and it hunted for 33 seasons before ceasing operations in 1981. You can hear stories about the vessel and even tour it.
There are various exhibitions and you will have a chance to learn more about the Indigenous people of the Arctic, as well.
The stairs inside are steep and this is not a wheelchair-accessible museum. The museum is located right on the harbor by Polaria.
Please check the website for opening times as it has recently been undergoing maintenance and has been temporarily closed.
5. Troll Museum
Address: Kaigata 3
Website: https://trollmuseum.no/
Norway and trolls go together like peanut butter and jelly and this museum is the first Troll Museum with Augmented Reality (who knew?!).
It is also Norway’s only troll museum and you can learn more about Norwegian fairy tales and legends while enjoying the interactive museum. It is the perfect thing to do with kids in Tromso!
Inside the place, you will find two halls – they are for the sea troll and the road of trolls.
There is a game room and library on-site too. Be sure to scoop up a souvenir before leaving!
Adult tickets are 189 NOK with reduced prices for kids, senior citizens, and students, as well as family pass bundles. The museum is open daily from 9am-5pm.
6. Tromso Museum (Arctic University Museum of Norway)
Address: Lars Thørings veg 10
Website: https://en.uit.no/tmu
So, the Arctic University museum of Norway is an essential one to visit in the city (if you ask me). It is actually a wonderful place to learn about Sami culture and life in the north of Norway.
They have a rotation of temporary exhibits that pass through as well as permanent ones that stick around. There is a permanent Sami Culture exhibit at the museum where you can learn about the Indigenous people of the north.
The exhibit showcases their hunting community from around 200 AD and goes into reindeer herding and more. You will also have a chance to listen to their music (joik).
I would note that I am not sure who has put together these exhibits and I have not heard a Sami person comment on how they view it or perceive its accuracy and portrayal.
But, I think it is important to learn more about Sami life and culture when you’re visiting Tromso. This exhibit opened in 2014.
Another permanent exhibit focuses on Sapmi- Becoming a Nation – where it looks at Samis of the last 100 years.
It showcases how they were an ignored minority in Norway and how they have been striving to overcome the oppression by gaining representation in Parliament or opening up their own cultural institutions.
Again, I am not sure who has opened this or which POV it has come from, but given the nature of the exhibit, I believe there was a fair amount of Indigenous input.
7. Northern Norwegian Science Center
Address: Hansine Hansensveg 17
Website: https://nordnorsk.vitensenter.no/
Another can’t-miss museum in Tromso is the Nordnorsk Vitensenter Tromso, or the Northern Norwegian Science Center.
The purpose of the center is that it is part of a larger network of science centers throughout Norway and Svalbard and it is there to make science fun but to be taken seriously.
This is one of the best museums in Tromso for kids and they offer a Nordic touch to what is taught and learned inside.
There are exhibitions as well as a planetarium and kids can learn more about the northern lights that visit Tromso throughout the winters!
The Northern Norwegian Science Center is open daily from 11am-4pm. There are extended hours during the summer and the center is closed on a few holiday during the year.
An adult ticket is 130 NOK, a Family ticket is 330 NOK, and kids are 70 NOK. If you’re a student, you also get a discount and your ticket is 85 NOK.
8. Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden
Address: Stakkevollvegen 200
Website: https://en.uit.no/tmu/botanisk
Is it a museum? Well, no. Is it great to visit when the weather is crappy? No, again. But, I feel bad not listing this here as it is part of the UiT’s museums and I absolutely love this garden.
The Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden is located a little bit outside of the town’s main drag and is fairly easy to reach by bus.
This is the world’s northernmost botanical garden and you can find an array of plants from all over the north (and south!) there!
It opened in 1994 and is actually open year round – although the plants may not be great to check out underneath the snow-covered ground much of the year.
It is free to visit and there are no fences or gates – you can just head there and stroll around at your leisure.
9. Northern Norway Art Museum
Address: Sjøgata 1
Website: https://www.nnkm.no/en/
If you’re an art enthusiast, another museum worth visiting in Tromso is the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, or the Northern Norway Art Museum.
There are exhibitions and events year-round and on Sundays, you will find guided tours. The tours are advertised on their website and this is where you’ll also find info about events, concerts, workshops, and more!
They also offer guided tours for free during the weekdays during their hours of operation (and they can be bespoke).
The museum’s mantra is that ‘art moves’ and they have been operating at its current location since 2001 (it had been in another location since 1985).
This is one of the best museums to visit in Tromso if you’re interested in events!
The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm except on Thursdays when the hours are extended until 8pm. Tickets are 80 NOK for adults, 50 NOK for seniors, and free for kids and students.
Did we miss any of the best museums in Tromso on this list? Let us know your favorite Tromso museums in the comments. Thanks!
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- Best Tromso northern lights tours
- How to book a husky safari in Tromso
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- What to do in Tromso in winter
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- Ethical whale watching tours in Tromso
- What to pack for winter in Norway
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now splits her time between Frankfurt, Germany and Arctic Finland after also living in Norway, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.