14 Things to Do in Svalbard ✔️ Summer & Winter Actions

I’ve been dwelling in Norway for a 12 months and a half now and at last obtained the possibility to go to the unbelievable land of Svalbard, means up on the prime of the arctic, near the north pole! This wondrous place filled with wildlife, glaciers, and dramatic landscapes is like nothing you’ve got ever seen, however a visit to Svalbard undoubtedly entails fairly a little bit of preplanning. 

The essential city and gateway to go to Svalbard is named Longyearbyen, that is the place the vast majority of folks base themselves, and from the place all of the excursions depart. Since you can not go away the settlement with no gun (and an applicable allow) to guard your self from polar bears, as a vacationer you’ll must take guided excursions and day journeys to expertise almost all of the issues to do in Svalbard. 

Since tour areas are restricted, if you’re touring through the summer season season (June – September), it is advisable to e book at the least 2 months prematurely because the locations do promote out, and with out excursions to depart the city, Longyearbyen may get fairly boring. Outside of summer season, I nonetheless advise you to e book at the least a number of weeks prematurely, in any other case, you’ll be left with few choices. 

I’m not going to lie, the excursions in Svalbard are fairly expensive however they’re 1000% price it! So let’s go discover out the most effective issues to do in your epic journey to the arctic! 

If you’re in a rush 

In case you don’t have time to learn your entire publish of issues to do in Svalbard and must e book your excursions proper now, here’s a abstract of crucial issues to know.

Here are the principle issues to e book prematurely:

And listed here are the most effective accommodations: Svalbard Hotell (Luxury), Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg (Mid-range), Gjestehuset 102 (Budget)

Seasons to go to Svalbard

Before you even begin planning your actions, the very first thing it is advisable to determine on is when you’re going to go to. Svalbard has 3 seasons for vacationers (yep, simply one of many many non-typical facets of Svalbard). 

• Polar Summer (mid-May – End of September): Busiest season with 24 hours of daylight, a number of boat journeys however no snow actions.
• Northern Lights Winter (October – finish of February): Quietest season with minimal daylight, a number of snow actions however no boat journeys as a result of frozen sea ice.
• Sunny Winter (March – mid-May): 24 hours of daylight, some snow actions are nonetheless obtainable and a few summer season boat journeys have began.

Different issues to do in Svalbard are solely obtainable at sure occasions of the 12 months because of snow and ice circumstances so in every of the next sights, I’ll point out the seasonal availability. 

1. Take a ship journey to see Svalbard’s wildlife (together with polar bears!)

The finest approach to see the wildlife in Svalbard’s arctic wilderness is to take boat day journeys. While you additionally see a number of wildlife on the boat journeys to the three settlements in Svalbard (which I’ll discuss in a while within the publish), if you wish to see a selected animal it’s higher to take smaller RIB boat excursions that may rise up a lot nearer to them! 

There are maaaany totally different animals that you would be able to spot from boats when visiting Svalbard together with polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, the arctic fox, arctic terns, and different birds, and there are boat journeys designed to search out every one. So in case you have a selected animal in thoughts that you just actually wish to see, your finest guess is to e book the suitable tour. 

NOTE: Since polar bears are protected in Svalbard, there are not any “polar bear expeditions” designed to trace them down, but when there was a sighting within the space, almost all of the excursions will try to see it from a distance. 

Here are a number of the journeys I like to recommend:

• Whale safari – If you need an opportunity to see the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale, reserving a whale safari is a no brainer! While there isn’t any assure to see them, the fjord is called a summer season feeding floor (June & July) for the blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, and beluga whales!
• Walrus safari – This tour takes you to a well known walrus colony the place many of those big creatures chill out on daily basis. Note a number of the different excursions just like the one to Ny-Ålesund go previous the colony on the best way, so when you’re planning on taking a number of boat journeys, test the opposite itineraries to see if it is advisable to make a separate journey for this one. 
• Bird jumping in Trygghamna – For one week in July, you’ll be able to watch because the child birds bounce from a cliff and fly for the primary time. Sometimes tons of of birds take off on the similar time!
• Frozen Svalbard Photo Tour – Photography lovers, that is the journey for you. It will go to the walrus colony in addition to get near the glaciers so you’ve got an opportunity of recognizing many various kinds of wildlife with knowledgeable photographer. 
• Catch of the day – This just isn’t a fishing journey like many assume from the title, however somewhat, the captain will take you to spots the place it’s recognized wildlife has been lingering within the earlier days. So when you don’t thoughts what you see however you wish to see one thing, I might select this one. In the 6 days that I used to be in Svalbard, the one particular person at my lodge who noticed a polar bear noticed it on this journey! 

Season: Polar Summer months (Mid May – End of September)

2. Go on a snowmobiling journey

I visited Svalbard on the very finish of the snow season (center of May) and was truly fortunate sufficient to e book the final snowmobile tour obtainable!

Snowmobile excursions are an effective way to go to Svalbard if you wish to enterprise all the best way inland into the valleys and glaciers. You even have the possibility to identify arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, many birds, and polar bears. 

We wished to do a full-day snowmobile trip to the east as that is the wildest a part of Svalbard that you would be able to go to in a day and can also be the place with the highest likelihood of seeing polar bears. 

Unfortunately, the journey was bought out so we opted for a 4-hour midnight sun tour as an alternative. This was nonetheless an important various as we obtained to drive via a valley close by to Longyearbyen, as much as a fantastic spot surrounded by mountains with an important vantage level to see the solar nonetheless excessive above us within the sky at midnight!

There are many operators who run snowmobile journeys to totally different areas nevertheless we selected to go along with Better Moments which was one of many few tour operators that had been nonetheless working snow journeys this late within the season. Our information Eli was actually nice at serving to everybody have a enjoyable evening on the snowmobiles and even gave us some useful native ideas to assist with the remainder of our journey!

You don’t want any prior snowmobile expertise nevertheless you do must deliver a legitimate driver’s license to drive. All the gear is supplied together with snowsuits, helmets, boots, and so on. 

Season: Full winter (October – mid-May)

Price: €200 – €360 per driver (passenger is barely much less)

3. Visit a soviet ghost city (Pyramiden)

In the previous, there was no singular nation that was in control of working Svalbard and any nation may come and arrange their very own colony right here. Russia determined to create probably the most good instance of communism they may and construct Pyramiden (named after the pyramid-shaped mountain on the backside of which it sits). 

They chosen the most effective communists in each area together with all the things from docs and nurses to shopkeepers and miners and despatched them to dwell in concord in Pyramiden on Svalbard. 

After 53 years of occupation, Pyramiden was closed down in 1998 because of falling coal costs and a aircraft crash that killed 141 of its occupants. Today, you’ll be able to take excursions of Pyramiden and see all of the empty communist-era buildings and previous mines nonetheless standing as they had been when the town was closed down. 

This is among the most fascinating issues to do in Svalbard and to get to this deserted Russian mining city within the winter you’ll be able to be part of a snowmobile tour, nevertheless, it takes 2 days to get there and again this manner, so it’s rather more in style to go to by boat tour in the summertime.

NOTE: Even although some corporations run this tour in May (and even earlier), usually you don’t truly get to dock and discover Pyramiden as a result of snow ice. We knew this was a chance after we booked in late May nevertheless, we weren’t conscious that there was nonetheless going to be kilometers of ice this late, that means we may barely even make out the buildings of Pyramiden within the distance.  

PRO TIP: Call the corporate earlier than reserving your dates to ask concerning the sea ice, they typically have a good suggestion of if it will likely be doable to dock or not. 

If there may be going to be an excessive amount of ice, I might advise reserving one of many different boat journeys to both Ny-Ålesund (#7 on my record) or Barentsburg (#10) as they don’t seem to be affected by the ice. I want we had recognized this earlier than visiting Svalbard as whereas we did see some walruses, seals, puffins, and polar bear footprints, it was a bit disappointing to not see the city itself. 

Season: Summer (Mid May – End of September)

Price: €280

4. Learn concerning the island on the Svalbard Museum

As somebody who doesn’t often go to many museums, I actually assume that my go to to Svalbard wouldn’t be the identical if I hadn’t discovered all concerning the island’s historical past on the Svalbard Museum. 

The museum goes via your entire historical past of Svalbard, explaining the totally different phases of exploration from whale and walrus searching, to trapping, the invention of coal, polar exploration, the creation of the Svalbard treaty, and even as much as the current day of tourism and scientific analysis. 

In the middle, additionally showcases all of the various kinds of animals that may be discovered right here with a lot of them on show. 

There is kind of a little bit of studying concerned right here so it would take round 1-2 hours to undergo the entire exhibit however total, the timeline was laid out completely to get an excellent overview of how Svalbard got here to be! 

Season: All Year

Price: €10

5. Try canine sledding – top-of-the-line issues to do in Svalbard with youngsters

If you come to Svalbard within the winter, there’s no higher approach to mimic the joys of the unique arctic explorers than to go canine sledding amongst the mountains and glaciers! 

You will even be taught drive the sled your self and get your personal canine group to steer on an journey!

There are so many various tour lengths, locations, and different choices so that you can select from in Svalbard with all the things from only a few hours as much as week-long journeys into the wilderness. 

While I didn’t have the possibility to go canine sledding myself, the tour which caught my curiosity probably the most was this Dog Sledding trip to an Ice Cave. In this full-day journey, you’ll not solely be taught mushing (driving the canines), however additionally, you will get to discover inside an ice cave on foot!

Season: Winter (Jan – mid-May)

Price: €300

6. Tour the northernmost brewery on the earth 

If you’ve got been to Tromso, you’ll have observed that the Mack Brewery slogan claims to be the northernmost brewery on the earth. In truth, that is solely partly true! 

Up till 2014, it was prohibited to make alcohol on Svalbard, that means Mack may safely declare the title. However, one very decided man managed to change the legislation so as to open the Svalbard Brewery. 

The craft brewery is situated on the sting of Longyearbyen and the tour and tasting happen in a small bar wanting down on the manufacturing space. While you pattern very beneficiant portions of 5 totally different beers, your information will speak you thru their course of of constructing beer whereas weaving in tales of how the brewery got here to be. 

I’ve been on fairly a number of brewery excursions throughout my travels however this one was presumably probably the most entertaining to this point, because of the fascinating (and humorous) story of how they obtained to be right here!

I gained’t spoil an excessive amount of however you’ll be able to think about that it takes fairly a decided particular person to alter a legislation, simply to make beer in such an unforgiving place!  

Season: All Year

Price: €42

7. Send a letter from the northernmost city on the earth 

While Longyearbyen is the northernmost everlasting settlement on the earth, there may be one other city proper on the prime of Svalbard referred to as Ny-Ålesund that you would be able to visit via boat. 

Formerly a mining settlement and the place to begin for a lot of Arctic expeditions to the north pole, these days Ny-Ålesund is predominantly a scientific base the place researchers from all around the globe come to review the arctic. But additionally it is a completely functioning city with its personal publish workplace, so why not take this once-in-a-lifetime alternative to ship a postcard from the highest of the world! 

Here you too can acquire a particular stamp in your passport, one of the distinctive issues to do in Svalbard and such a cool memento!

If it’s the appropriate time of 12 months, the boat can even cease at Poolepynten, a walrus colony on the best way to Ny-Ålesund!

Season: Sunny winter & Polar summer season months (May-August)

Price: €400

8. Check out the Polar Expedition Museum 

As I discussed earlier, I’m not often one to hurry to a museum, nevertheless, I used to be actually excited to go to the Polar Expedition Museum as it’s one thing I’m fairly taken with. 

Located behind the Svalbard Museum, the Polar Expedition museum is housed in a two-floor constructing. The museum goes via the historical past of the race to the north pole overlaying many makes an attempt from Greenland and Alaska by boat, with canines, and on foot, however primarily focuses on the airship makes an attempt from Svalbard. 

My favourite try was concerning the man who tried to freeze his boat into an ice sheet and float his approach to the north pole! 

I actually loved the variance of data right here as every part was summarised in a single paragraph, good if you would like only a transient overview. But if you wish to be taught extra, you’ll be able to learn newspaper articles, journal entries, and detailed textual content blocks displayed on television screens alongside documentaries and photographs of the unique expeditions. 

PRO TIP: There is loads of content material on this museum together with many full-length unique expedition films. Your entry ticket is legitimate for 3 days so I counsel coming right here early on in your journey and returning at your leisure so that you don’t want to suit all this materials into one go to. 

Season: All Year

Price: €10

9. Go underground in an actual coal mine 

One of the primary issues you will notice if you arrive in Svalbard is all of the seen stays of previous coal mines. I can virtually assure that seeing the aerial trolleys and base stations within the mountains surrounding Longyearbyen will immediately make you interested by one among Svalbard’s greatest industries!

While there have been many mines round Svalbard over time, in the present day there is just one functioning mine remaining and even that is because of be closed down quickly in favor of extra renewable power sources.

But to essentially perceive what it was like for the miners who’ve the backbreaking job of extracting the coal, you need to take a tour of Mine 3. Here you’re going to get to see the previous machines and tools used to extract the coal and even have the possibility to crawl into a duplicate mine shaft to expertise the confined areas the place the boys labored. Afterward, you’ll be guided 300m into the actual mine to see what it’s like underground! 

Season: All Year

Price: €78

10. Visit Barentsburg, a Russian mining city in Norway

Now that you’ve got gotten used to listening to the Norwegian language and spending krone, let’s flip that on its head and go to Russia in Norway!

As I discussed earlier, when coal was found, Russia determined to arrange some mining cities in Svalbard, and a kind of settlements remains to be a functioning city in the present day! 

Barentsburg is absolutely owned and operated by the Russian state, the folks dwelling listed here are both Russian or Ukrainian residents, they’re paid within the Russian ruble, and Russian is spoken as the first language. 

In winter you’ll be able to attain Barentsburg on a protracted snowmobile tour nevertheless the commonest approach to go to this mining city is on a boat trip. Once you’ve got reached Barentsburg you’ll be guided by a neighborhood Russian across the city and proven the eclectic vary of structure kinds earlier than being given some free time to discover. 

Some buddies took this journey and mentioned that even simply visiting the grocery retailer was a cool expertise to see all of the Russian merchandise on the cabinets marked with two costs (ruble and krone). 

PRO TIP: “Polargirl”, the boat I went on to Pyramiden, additionally does journeys to Barentsburg. When onboard, I heard them give substantial reductions to a few individuals who wished to affix the journey to Barentsburg the following day. While I can’t assure this can give you the results you want, it’s price attempting if you’re visiting within the off-season (in the summertime months all the things will already be booked out).

Season: Polar Summer months (May – October) 

Price: €195

One of the most effective issues to do in Svalbard for shopaholics is to go to all of the boutique retailers in Longyearbyen. Svalbard is a tax haven that means you gained’t must pay any taxes in your purchases right here and costs are a lot decrease than in mainland Norway (very thrilling for somebody who has spent any time in Norway just lately)!

You can get all the things from meals to alcohol, fragrance, sporting tools, souvenirs, and luxurious objects at decrease costs than in mainland Norway. But bear in mind that you’re nonetheless on an island within the arctic archipelago, so whereas they do have loads of out of doors clothes and tools, you’ll be able to’t actually purchase issues like telephones and laptops. 

12. Take an image with the Polar Bear signal

This one is just about necessary for everybody visiting Svalbard! As I discussed earlier, you can’t go away the city with out safety towards polar bears. To mark the sting of the “safe zone” you’ll find one of many well-known polar bear indicators. 

There is definitely one proper on the exit of the airport with a bunch of indicators pointing to totally different far-off areas, however since this one is simply in entrance of a parking lot, it doesn’t make for the most effective photographs.

Here is the google maps location for probably the most scenic polar bear register Longyearbyen for the most effective picture! Just be sure you don’t go additional with no mountain climbing information. 

13. See the Global Seed Vault

The Global Seed Vault was constructed over 100m into the aspect of a mountain, 130 m above sea degree in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and is designed to guard the world’s future relating to farming. 

What is so distinctive about this so-called “doomsday seed vault” is that it’s constructed into the permafrost, a layer of earth that is still frozen year-round, sustaining a cool -3 to -4 levels celsius temperature, even when the electrical energy had been to be minimize. 

It’s large enough to carry 1.5 million seed samples which may save humanity if wanted! 

You can’t truly go to contained in the Global Seed Vault, though many excursions deliver you outdoors the doorway the place you’ll be able to take a photograph of this cool attraction. 

In my opinion, except visiting the Global Seed Vault is just a cease on the best way to a different attraction, I don’t assume it’s price taking a tour simply to face outdoors, as you’ll be able to truly see the Global Seed Vault from the airport (simply search for the hill)! 

14. Experience the midnight solar or the northern lights

Since Svalbard is so near the north pole, it has big seasonal modifications, swinging from 24 dead nights between 1 of October – 28 of February, to 24 hours of daylight between 20 April to 22 August.

This means you’ll hardly ever see the sundown in Svalbard! 

Both seasons provide unbelievable experiences, in contrast to something you’ve got seen earlier than. We visited through the midnight solar the place the solar did circles above us all day and all evening, with out even dipping barely. During this season you’ll be able to take many evening excursions to take full benefit of all this daylight just like the midnight sun snowmobile tour we took.

During the winter, whereas there may be 24 dead nights you do have the possibility to see the northern lights in the midst of the day! There are a number of excursions with totally different modes of transport you’ll be able to take to see the northern lights nevertheless I like to recommend selecting a snowcat tour. Since you’ll be visiting in winter, it will be extraordinarily chilly, and as you might be ready round for fairly a while, it’s finest to have someplace heat to take a seat. 

NOTE: I don’t suggest coming to Svalbard solely to see the northern lights. Some of the locals informed us that due to the frequent unhealthy climate circumstances and the situation so near the pole, the northern lights usually skip Svalbard and statistically talking, you even have a significantly better likelihood to see them within the north of mainland Norway. 

Midnight Sun Season: 20 April to 22 August
Northern Lights Season: 1 of October – 28 of February

Where to remain in Longyearbyen, Svalbard 

Longyearbyen is the place virtually everybody stays when visiting Svalbard as that is the principle settlement and the place all of the excursions depart from. There aren’t as many accommodations right here as there are in different vacationer cities so you actually must be sure you e book your lodge rooms nicely prematurely (particularly when you’re coming through the summer season months). 

I visited Svalbard in the midst of May (not excessive season) and managed to get the final lodge room obtainable in the entire of Svalbard and it was greater than every week earlier than my flight! 

Luxury (€350 and up)

• Svalbard Hotell – Polfareren – This 4-star lodge is among the most luxurious locations to remain on Svalbard and is situated proper within the coronary heart of city. The snug trendy rooms characteristic Arctic images and the onsite restaurant is among the finest in Longyearbyen. 
• Radisson Blu Polar Lodge – Just a really brief stroll from the middle of Longyearbyen, Radisson Blu is an incredible 4-star, full-service lodge with unbelievable views of the beautiful mountains and an important buffet breakfast. 

Mid Range (€170 – €350)

• Svalbard Hotell – The Vault – The vault is a mid-range, boutique lodge for many who desire one thing a little bit extra intimate, nonetheless with an important location within the heart of Longyearbyen. 
• Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg – Built from previous rigs, this quirky lodge actually has probably the most character in all of Longyearbyen and is situated simply outdoors the principle heart of city (nonetheless inside straightforward strolling distance) with an onside bar and restaurant in addition to a video games room!

Budget (as much as €170)

• Coal Minders Cabins – This finances lodging choice has all the things you want together with non-public rooms and shared kitchen and loos. It’s a little bit bit farther from the middle than the costlier accommodations however nonetheless, only a ~15 min stroll!
• Gjestehuset 102 – The most cost-effective place to remain on Svalbard with each non-public and dorm rooms obtainable for cheap costs. Just a little far-off from the middle of Longyearbyen however nonetheless inside strolling distance (~20 minutes strolling to the middle). 

Practical Information 

Now that you’ve got chosen all of your favourite issues to do in Svalbard and booked a lodge, it’s time to offer you some extra sensible info that you will want for visiting this unbelievable arctic island. 

How to get to Svalbard

To get to Svalbard you’ll be able to both take a (lengthy) cruise ship or fly from Norway to Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Since flying is by far the commonest methodology, that’s what I’ll discuss right here. 

There are direct flights to Longyearbyen from each Oslo (3hs) and Tromso (1.5 hrs) nevertheless there are additionally routes that can take you from Oslo to Tromso after which onwards to Longyearbyen. 

PRO TIP 1: The flight costs fluctuate wildly between days of the week, if you’re versatile together with your dates you’ll be able to rating tickets for lower than half the worth of extra in style occasions. Check Skyscanner for the most effective costs. 

NOTE: Before you depart from the Norwegian mainland, you’ll have to undergo safety and passport management since you’ll be leaving the EU. If you’re flying straight from Oslo or Tromso that is no downside nevertheless when you select connecting flights from Oslo – Tromso – to Svalbard, you’ll have to get off the aircraft in Tromso with all of your belongings, stroll across the constructing and undergo safety & passport management once more with all the opposite passengers – it’s a bit hectic.

PRO TIP 2: If you e book your flights from Oslo, via Tromso, spend a few nights exploring the town and its environment to keep away from the hassles of getting on and off the aircraft for customs and safety.

Getting from the Svalbard airport to your lodge

The Longyearbyen airport is situated 5km from the city (with all of the accommodations) and though there’s a strolling path, it’s not within the “polar bear safe zone” so let’s neglect that concept immediately. 

You have two choices to get to your lodge from the airport. By lodge bus or taxi. 

Hotel shuttle bus

For each aircraft that arrives there’s a bus that might be ready straight outdoors the terminal. (They name it a shuttle bus however it’s truly only a regular-sized bus). This bus stops at each single lodge and prices €10 per particular person. You can merely hop on board and await the motive force to return round to gather your cost (card solely).

Although it is a easy choice, I don’t truly suggest it if you’re touring with two or extra folks. This is as a result of the bus gained’t go away till it’s full. 

We had been the primary ones onto the bus (hand baggage ftw!) however we needed to await 1.5 hours for the bus to depart. 

Taxi

Although we didn’t take any taxis whereas we had been in Svalbard, the receptionist at our lodge informed us {that a} taxi to the airport usually prices between €17-25. Which is mainly equal to 2 folks on the bus. 

There are two taxi corporations in Svalbard, you would possibly see a pair hanging across the airport after dropping folks off but when not, you have to to call them to rearrange a pickup. 

Frequently requested questions on Things to Do in Svalbard

Conclusion

Now you need to have a transparent concept about all of the various things to do in Svalbard so that you can select from and even have all the sensible information you want about the place to remain and get to this arctic tundra. 

I bear in mind how overwhelming it was after I first began researching for this Svalbard journey so I hope I’ve helped you perceive Svalbard a little bit bit higher and plan your Svalbard itinerary. 

As I discussed earlier than, whether or not you’re visiting to see the northern lights on a polar evening, or to take a ship journey across the Svalbard archipelago, you really want to e book all the things months prematurely for a visit to Svalbard. I’m under no circumstances exaggerating this because you mainly can’t do something adventurous with out becoming a member of a tour (and so they promote out shortly)!

If you’ve got any questions or wish to hear my opinion on anything, let me know within the feedback and I’ll reply you as quickly as doable. 

Happy arctic journey!
Kate