Visiting the Arctic University Museum of Norway, Tromsø: ticket prices, opening hours and tips

The Arctic University Museum of Norway (Norges arktiske universitetsmuseum) is a natural history and cultural museum covering Arctic geology, wildlife, Sámi culture and Northern Lights research, located at Lars Thøringsveg 10 on the southern edge of Tromsø island, approximately 2.5 km from the city centre. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, how to get there, parking, accessibility and practical tips to help you plan your visit.

Last updated: April 2026. The adult admission is 130 NOK, up from 120 NOK in previous years. The museum also runs two recurring guided tours during spring 2026: a Northern Lights tour every Tuesday at 14:00 and a Sámi culture tour every Thursday at 14:00. Guides published before early 2025 will not include these tours, and guides referencing an adult ticket price below 130 NOK are out of date.

Quick facts

The Arctic University Museum of Norway opening hours

Opening hours vary by season. During the winter season (16 August to 14 June), the museum is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:30, and Saturday to Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00. During the summer season (15 June to 15 August), weekday hours extend to 18:00 and weekend closing time moves to 17:00.

The museum is open every day of the year except 1 January, 1 May, 17 May, 24 December and 25 December. It is open throughout Easter, including Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, though specific Easter hours may differ slightly from standard times — check the official website before visiting during the Easter period.

Note for bus travellers: When using journey planners or asking locally for directions, search for Tromsø Museum rather than the museum’s official English name. The nearest bus stop is also called Tromsø Museum. Searching for the full official name may cause confusion with the UiT university campus, which is at the opposite end of the island.

The Arctic University Museum of Norway ticket prices

A single admission ticket covers all permanent exhibitions on both floors of the museum. Guided tours (see below) require a separate booking and may carry an additional fee.

The annual pass provides free admission for the passholder and one additional guest at all UiT museum venues (including the Polar Museum and MS Polstjerna) for one year from the date of purchase. Some guided tours and special events may require an additional ticket even with an annual pass.

Free admission is also available for companions presenting a valid companion card, holders of the Tromsø municipality Opplevelseskortet (and one accompanying adult), and tourism industry staff with valid workplace identification.

The Arctic University Museum of Norway is included in multiple Tromsø Pass options, available from the Tourist Information Centre at Storgata 83 and Tromsø Harbour Prostneset. The Tromsø Pass Classic (1,306 NOK adult, 2026 price) covers this museum alongside the Polar Museum, Polaria, the Cable Car (Fjellheisen), the Science Centre of Northern Norway and the Arctic Cathedral. The Tromsø Pass Culture (1,964 NOK adult) and Tromsø Pass Family (1,405 NOK adult) also include this museum. Note that Fjellheisen is closed for maintenance until at least 31 May 2026, and passes are sold at a reduced price during this period.

Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official museum website and last updated in April 2026.

How to get to the Arctic University Museum of Norway

The museum is located approximately 2.5 km south of Tromsø city centre on the southern tip of the island. It is not within easy walking distance for most visitors, though the route along the waterfront is flat and well-maintained.

By bus — Bus 40 from the city centre stops directly at the museum (stop name: Tromsø Museum). Bus 33 stops at Telegrafbukta, approximately 300 metres from the entrance. Bus tickets cannot be purchased at the museum. Buy tickets in advance via the Troms Billett app, at kiosks in the city centre or at the Tromsø Passenger Terminal ticket counter. The journey planner Svipper can help identify the best route from your starting point.

On foot or by bike — A pedestrian and cycle path connects the museum to the city centre. Several marked trails run near the museum. If arriving by bike, a rack is available at the main entrance. Visitors arriving on skis can store skis in the cloakroom during their visit.

Parking at the Arctic University Museum of Norway

A paid guest car park is located to the right of the museum entrance. The car park includes two accessible parking spaces, and the surface from the car park to the entrance is step-free throughout. Parking fees are shown on site; payment is accepted via the EasyPark mobile app or at the ticket machine located approximately 50 metres away across the street (card or cash). An alternative option is to park at Telegrafbukta and walk approximately 300 metres to the museum along a pedestrian and cycle path.

How long to spend at the Arctic University Museum of Norway

Most visitors spend two to three hours at the museum. The building contains exhibitions on two floors, covering multiple subject areas including geology, Arctic wildlife, Sámi history and the Northern Lights. Visitors who attend a guided tour should allow an additional hour.

The museum is generally quieter on weekday mornings. Summer afternoons and days when cruise ships are in port tend to be the busiest periods. Café Rotunden is a practical stop mid-visit; it is self-service Monday to Saturday, and staffed on Sundays from 12:00 to 15:30.

Accessibility at the Arctic University Museum of Norway

The Arctic University Museum of Norway is fully accessible to wheelchair users. The museum shop, ticket counter, one permanent exhibition and an accessible toilet are on the ground floor. The remaining exhibitions on the upper floor are reached via a lift. The car park includes two designated accessible spaces, and the path from the car park to the entrance is step-free throughout.

Prams are welcome throughout the building. The museum also has audio guides available via the Hidden Treasures smartphone app, which works across all UiT museum venues and provides additional interpretation for visitors with hearing or visual impairments.

Inside the Arctic University Museum of Norway: what to see

TellUs — from stardust to modern technology — The geology exhibition covers the formation of the Earth and the Arctic region through fossils, rock samples and minerals. Key objects include a large ichthyosaur fossil, a whale skeleton and a nugget of solid gold. The exhibition covers billions of years of Earth history in a format accessible to general visitors.

UNnaturally — The museum’s largest indoor exhibition focuses on Arctic wildlife and the effects of human activity on the natural environment. It covers the evolution and adaptation of animals and birds in northern regions, presented alongside current research on environmental change.

Under the Lights — An interactive Northern Lights exhibition that covers both the science of auroras and the mythology surrounding them. Visitors can engage with displays that demonstrate the physics of the phenomenon and learn about ongoing aurora research at the university. A recurring guided tour of this exhibition runs every Tuesday at 14:00 (see below).

Sámi culture and Sápmi — becoming a nation — Two related permanent exhibitions covering traditional Sámi life and the modern political history of the Sámi people in Norway, from historical suppression to legal recognition as an indigenous nation.

RÁVDNJI — The Strong Current — A permanent exhibition on Sámi cultural heritage specific to the Tromsø region, including material on the Kven and Norwegian coastal populations who have shaped the area’s identity.

Dig a grave, bury a boat and Ecclesiastical Art — Further permanent exhibitions cover Viking-age boat burials excavated in Northern Norway and a collection of medieval church art from the region. These are among the less prominently featured but substantive sections of the museum.

Guided tours (spring 2026) — Two regular guided tours are currently running. Discover the Aurora takes place every Tuesday at 14:00 and focuses on the Northern Lights exhibition. Sámi Culture — Past and Present runs every Thursday at 14:00. Both tours are conducted in English. Advance booking is recommended but same-day places are available if not sold out. Book at uit.no or by emailing [email protected].

Practical visitor tips

Frequently asked questions about the Arctic University Museum of Norway

Things to do near the Arctic University Museum of Norway

Telegrafbukta beach — Tromsø’s most popular city beach is approximately 300 metres from the museum entrance, connected by a pedestrian path. It is a flat, accessible walk and provides views across the strait to the mainland mountains.

UiT Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden — Located on the same side of the island as the museum, this is one of the world’s northernmost botanical gardens. Entry is free and the garden is open year-round, though peak flowering season runs from late May to August.

The Science Centre of Northern Norway (Nordnorsk vitensenter) — An interactive science centre on the UiT campus, approximately 15 minutes by bus from the Arctic University Museum. It features close to 100 exhibits on climate, weather and energy, as well as Norway’s largest planetarium with a daily Northern Lights show.

The Polar Museum — The museum’s sister institution, located on the city waterfront approximately 15 minutes by bus or 35–40 minutes on foot. It focuses on Arctic polar expeditions and trapping history. A combined ticket may be available; check at the ticket desk.

MS Polstjerna — A historic sealing vessel moored at Hjalmar Johansens gate 10, part of the same museum group. The ship’s on-board exhibition covers life on an early 20th-century Arctic sealing vessel. A short bus ride or walk from the city waterfront.

What to visit next: similar museums within the region

Finding a direct equivalent to the Arctic University Museum within a short drive of Tromsø is difficult given the region’s geography. The following are the most practical options for visitors seeking a similar science or natural history experience.

Tromsø Zoo and Arctic Wildlife Park, Balsfjord — Approximately 40 minutes south of Tromsø by car. This wildlife park houses Arctic and Nordic species including wolverines, lynx, wolves, reindeer and musk oxen in an outdoor natural setting. It complements the indoor wildlife exhibitions at the Arctic University Museum with live animals.

Alta Museum, Alta — Around two and a half hours east of Tromsø by car, or a short domestic flight. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the world’s largest collections of prehistoric rock carvings, alongside exhibitions on the cultural history of Finnmark and the northern Sámi.

Svalbard Museum, Longyearbyen, Svalbard — Reachable by a 45-minute domestic flight from Tromsø. Covers the full history of human activity on Svalbard including hunters, miners and scientists. Its natural history and wildlife collections directly complement the Arctic University Museum’s geology and wildlife exhibitions.

Narvik War Museum (Krigsminnemuseet), Narvik — Approximately two and a half hours south of Tromsø by road. While more specifically a military history museum, it covers a defining chapter of Norwegian Arctic history and suits visitors with a broad interest in northern Norway.