8 Best Sights in Northern Norway, Norway

Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum

Fodor's choice
The Northern Norway Art Museum is a visual and interactive art museum in the far north of Norway. It is one of the youngest museums in all of Norway and has exhibitions that cater to visitors and locals of all ages and interests. They also present a lot of local artwork from the last 100 years.

Tromsø Botaniske Hage

Fodor's choice
With plants from the Antarctic and Arctic as well as mountainous regions all over the world, the 4-acre Tromsø Botanical Garden has a natural landscape that includes terraces, a stream, and a pond. It is open all year and has no set hours, so you can visit it by the glow of the northern lights or while basking in the midnight sun. Guides are available with advance arrangement.

Tungeneset

Fodor's choice

Easily reachable from the road that runs along the coast, this scenic overlook offers the best views of the rugged and dramatic peaks that locals call the Devil's Teeth. It's accessible to everyone, with a boardwalk that accommodates strollers and wheelchairs. Nearby is a small beach where you can explore tidal pools and watch waves crash over the rocks. It can get crowded in summer but is worth a stop for the small picnic area and public toilets.

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Ånderdalen National Park

Open to the public in 1970 and expanded in 2004, this national park protects a wide swath of coastline in northern Norway. Thanks to preservation efforts, moose and other animals have returned to the area. You will find plenty of seabirds along the rocky coast, along with seals in the fjords and otters in the rivers. Transportation options are limited, so rent a car and then explore on foot. Bring a good pair of walking shoes.

Fjellheisen

To get a sense of Tromsø's immensity and solitude, take this cable car from the mainland, just across the bridge and behind the cathedral, up to the island's mountains. Storsteinen (Big Rock), rising 1,386 feet above sea level, has a great city view. In summer, a restaurant is open at the top of the lift.

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Polaria

Housed in a striking modern building by the harbor, the adventure center Polaria examines life in and around the polar and Barents regions. Explore the exhibits on polar travel and Arctic research, then check out two panoramic films, Svalbard—Arctic Wilderness and Northern Lights in Arctic Norway. The aquarium has sea mammals, including bearded seals.

Telegrafbukta Beach

South of Tromsø, this popular beach attracts locals and travelers when temperatures reach a tolerable level during the summer months. It's a family-friendly spot surrounded by beautiful nature.

Universitetsmuseet i Tromsø

Dating from 1872, northern Norway's oldest scientific institution is dedicated to the nature and culture of the region. Learn about the northern lights, wildlife, fossils and dinosaurs, minerals and rocks, and church art from 1300 to 1800. Outdoors you can visit a Sámi gamme (turf hut), and a replica of a Viking longhouse. The pretty Arctic-Alpine botanical garden is the northernmost in the world, at roughly the same latitude as Alaska's north coast.