Atlanterhavsparken in Ålesund – aquarium and science centre

Atlanterhavsparken (the Atlantic Sea Park) is located on Tueneset, a headland three kilometres from Ålesund town centre, with sea air and the open ocean on one side and the fjords on the other. Whatever the season or weather, Atlanterhavsparken is a good choice of activity. Many of the attractions are indoors, and Atlanterhavsparken is open all year round.

Since 1998, Atlanterhavsparken has been one of Northern Europe's most distinctive saltwater aquariums. In 2021, Norway's first marine-focused science centre opened in the same building. Forbes Magazine has ranked Atlanterhavsparken among the world's top ten aquariums. The water in the tanks is pumped straight from the Breisundet strait, unfiltered and full of life. The same water fills the outdoor areas for the seals, penguins and otters.

Dive show in Atlanterhavstanken

One of the park's main attractions is Atlanterhavstanken, the main tank: one of Europe's largest saltwater tanks, 36 metres long and filled with four million litres of unfiltered seawater. This is home to the large coldwater fish found in the sea outside. Every day, around 1pm, a diver feeds the fish inside the tank, and now you can talk directly to the diver while they are underwater. Ask questions, get answers, and watch the fish swim right past you.

The animals: seals, penguins and otters

Seals, penguins and otters are the real stars for many visitors, and make Atlanterhavsparken about as close as Ålesund gets to a zoo. Watch the otters get their lunch, the penguins being fed in the pond, and the seals collecting food in the seal bay. In the activity room, you can hold a starfish or a sea cucumber in the touch pool, or try your hand at crab fishing.

Science centre and exhibitions

In the activity room "Life in the Ocean", children and young people learn about fish senses and anatomy through play. The Ocean Research exhibition shows just how little we actually know about the sea, with only five percent of life there mapped so far. In The Seafaring Nation, you walk through a kelp forest, catch herring on the fishing grounds, and learn how fishing, transport and export have shaped Norway as a seafaring nation.

Jellyfish aquarium (new in 2026)

In autumn 2026, Atlanterhavsparken opens a new jellyfish aquarium. Here, you get close to jellyfish that live along the Norwegian coast. Learn about the jellyfish life cycle too, and follow them from tiny polyps to fully grown adults.

Daily programme

See atlanterhavsparken.no for the full, up-to-date programme.

Café

Take a break in the café, with food made from local ingredients, and look straight out to sea while you eat.

Practical information

Atlanterhavsparken is on Tueneset, three kilometres from Ålesund town centre, a short trip from town, including for cruise passengers. The whole building is wheelchair accessible, with its own car park and wheelchairs available to borrow. See current prices and buy tickets at atlanterhavsparken.no. For many visitors, Atlanterhavsparken is the whole reason they travel to Ålesund.