- Svalbard sits about halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole
- Expedition cruises run roughly June to August, mostly from Longyearbyen
- There are no direct UK flights; connect in Oslo or Tromsø
- Polar bear rules mean you must not leave town without an armed guide
- Airports
- Svalbard Airport, Longyearbyen (LYR), via Oslo (OSL) or Tromsø (TOS)
- Best time to go
- June-August for expedition cruises, March-April for snowmobiles and huskies
- Type
- Region
Svalbard is the most accessible slice of the High Arctic. This Norwegian archipelago, roughly 78 degrees north, is a land of glaciers, tundra and pack ice, where polar bears outnumber the roads and the sun either never sets or never rises, depending on the season.
Most visitors come for an expedition cruise around Spitsbergen, the largest island, in search of polar bears, walrus and calving glaciers. Others base themselves in Longyearbyen, the small capital, for husky sledding, snowmobile safaris and the Northern Lights.
Why go to Svalbard
- Polar bears in the wild: your best chance in Europe, usually seen from the ship on sea ice or along the coast.
- Wildlife: walrus, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seabird cliffs and, in summer, whales.
- Extreme light: the midnight sun from about late April to late August; the polar night in the depths of winter.
- Pure wilderness: around two-thirds of the archipelago is protected as national parks and nature reserves.
Where to stay
Almost all land-based accommodation is in Longyearbyen, a former mining town of about 2,500 people. You will find hotels, guesthouses and a few lodges, plus restaurants and the Svalbard Museum. Beds are limited, so book early for March, April and summer.
On an expedition cruise, your ship is your hotel. Most Svalbard voyages start and finish in Longyearbyen, and many travellers add a night or two in town before or after sailing.
Polar bears can appear anywhere outside the settlements. Leaving Longyearbyen on foot without a guide carrying the right protection is not allowed in practice, so join organised trips.
Top things to do
- Sail around Spitsbergen: voyages of about 7 to 12 days explore fjords, glaciers and the ice edge, with Zodiac landings and cruising.
- Explore Longyearbyen: the Svalbard Museum, the Svalbard church and the town's mining heritage.
- Visit Pyramiden: an abandoned Soviet mining town, reached by boat in summer or snowmobile in late winter.
- Go dog-sledding: husky trips run in winter and on wheeled carts in summer.
- Snowmobile safari: in late winter and spring, day trips cross valleys and frozen fjords, sometimes as far as the east coast.
- See the Northern Lights: the polar night means aurora can be seen even around midday in deep winter.
- Glacier and ice-cave trips: guided hikes onto the glaciers near town.
See our Norway guide for the mainland, and read about the other end of the world in our Antarctic Peninsula guide.
Getting there from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK. Fly to Oslo (about 2 hours from London), then on to Longyearbyen with SAS or Norwegian, roughly 3 hours. Some routes stop in Tromsø. Svalbard is outside the Schengen area, so you pass passport control in Norway on the way.
Many expedition cruise packages include a charter or scheduled flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen. Check whether yours does before booking separate flights, and leave a buffer in case of weather delays.
There are no roads between settlements. Travel beyond Longyearbyen is by boat, snowmobile or small plane, always with a guide.
Best time to go
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Polar night | November-January | Darkness all day, Northern Lights, very cold |
| Light winter | February-May | Returning sun, snowmobiles and huskies; March-April most popular |
| Summer | June-August | Midnight sun, expedition cruises, wildlife, around 5°C |
| Autumn | September-October | Fewer visitors, early aurora, short cruise season ends |
For polar bears and the ice edge, June to August cruises are best; ships can usually sail furthest north in July and August.
Budget tips
- Book early: the best-value cabins on small expedition ships sell out a year or more ahead.
- Watch for late deals: unsold cabins are sometimes discounted close to departure. Compare our Arctic expedition deals.
- Choose a shorter voyage: a week around Spitsbergen costs much less than a longer Arctic itinerary that adds Greenland.
- Share a cabin: triple and quad cabins bring the per-person price down.
- Eat at the supermarket: Longyearbyen's Svalbardbutikken is the cheapest food option in town.
Svalbard trips are expensive, so check current prices and what is included, such as flights from Oslo, Zodiac excursions and polar gear.
Live Arctic expedition deals
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Top attractions in Svalbard
Svalbard on the map
Frequently asked questions
Will I see polar bears on a Svalbard cruise?
Sightings are likely but never guaranteed. Bears are most often seen from the ship near sea ice or along remote coastlines in summer, and expedition teams keep their distance under strict Svalbard rules.
How do you get to Svalbard from the UK?
Fly to Oslo, then take a connecting flight to Longyearbyen, which takes around 3 hours and sometimes stops in Tromsø. There are no direct flights from the UK.
Is Svalbard or Antarctica better for a first polar trip?
Svalbard is closer, cheaper and quicker to reach, with no long sea crossing, and it is the place for polar bears. Antarctica is for penguins and vast ice landscapes, at a higher price.
When can you see the midnight sun in Svalbard?
In Longyearbyen the sun stays above the horizon from about 20 April to 23 August. The polar night, when the sun does not rise, runs from late October to mid February.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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