Polaria opened in 1998 as an Arctic experience centre and aquarium. The five-screen panoramic cinema shows films about northern Norway and the Arctic, and the main hall covers Arctic exploration history. The highlight for most visitors is the bearded seal pool, where seals are fed twice a day and can be observed through underwater viewing tunnels.
The building sits on the waterfront near the city centre, a short walk from the harbour. It houses the world's northernmost aquarium, though the collection focuses on local northern Norwegian species rather than exotic tropical fish. The adjacent building contains the Polstjerna, a historic Norwegian seal-hunting vessel from the 1930s, which can be visited with the same ticket.