⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
Between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard archipelago is one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth. Its main town, Longyearbyen, grew from a coal mine opened in 1906. Visitors come for glaciers, dog sledding, the midnight sun or the polar night, keeping one rule in mind: outside town, the polar bear is at home.
Longyearbyen, a town built on coal
American John Munro Longyear opened the first mine in 1906 and gave the town its name. The Svalbard Treaty, signed in 1920, placed the archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty while granting signatory countries the right to exploit its resources. The trestles and pylons of the old coal cableway still recall that era.
Mine No. 3, worked from 1971 to 1996, can now be visited with a guide. The Svalbard Museum covers four centuries of whaling, trapping and exploration. Further afield, Barentsburg is still a Russian mining settlement, and Pyramiden, an abandoned Soviet town, is reached on organised trips, by boat in summer or by snowmobile in winter.
Polar bears and the Governor's rules
Polar bears can appear anywhere in Svalbard, including near houses. Leaving Longyearbyen requires a means of scaring bears away, and the Sysselmesteren, the Governor, also recommends a firearm. For visitors the rule is simple: only leave town with a trained, armed guide, booked through a local operator.
New rules have applied since 1 January 2025: a minimum distance of 300 m from bears, 500 m from 1 March to 30 June, tourist landings limited to designated sites in most protected areas, and camping subject to a permit. Guide certification is announced for 2027. Check sysselmesteren.no before you travel.
Polar night, bright winter, midnight sun
From late October to mid-February the sun does not rise: this is the season of northern lights and headlamp outings. From March to May the light returns over the snow, ideal for dog sledding and snowmobiling. The cold is dry, often around -15 °C, and the wind makes it feel colder.
From late April to late August the sun never sets. Summer, from June to August, is the season for boat trips to glacier fronts, bird colonies and walruses. Temperatures rarely exceed 10 °C, so bring warm and waterproof layers whatever the time of year.
Essentials & your questions
| Getting there | SAS and Norwegian flights from Oslo (about 3 h) or Tromsø (about 1 h 30) to Longyearbyen (LYR). No scheduled ferry. |
|---|---|
| Best time to go | March to May for snow and light, June to August for the midnight sun and the sea, November to January for the polar night. |
| Currency | Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards are accepted almost everywhere. |
| Language | Norwegian. English is widely spoken in tourism. |
| Entry requirements | Outside the Schengen area: ID card or passport checked in Oslo or Tromsø, both ways. |
Do I need a passport for Svalbard?
EU citizens can travel with an ID card or a passport. As Svalbard is outside the Schengen area, documents are checked in Oslo or Tromsø.
Can I hike alone outside Longyearbyen?
It is not advised: you need protection against polar bears. The safest option is to go with a trained, armed guide booked through a local operator.
Can I rent a car in Svalbard?
Yes, one rental company is based at the airport, but no roads link the settlements. In Longyearbyen, shuttles and taxis are usually enough.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons