Svalbard
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Northern lights at lunch? That's possible in Svalbard, one of the most unique places to hunt aurora and some truly unique northern lights experiences. Expect ice-covered fjords, glaciers, ice caves, happy huskies and rare wildlife. And one of the best wine cellars in Northern Europe (at Husets Restaurant)!
The archipelago of Svalbard lies halfway between Norway and the North Pole, in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. Here, you can explore pristine arctic wilderness and distinctive wildlife in a landscape that is both rugged and fragile.
Exceptional conditions
Located 900 kilometres north of the Norwegian mainland and 1,300 kilometres from the North Pole, Longyearbyen offers excellent conditions for northern lights. From early spring until autumn, the midnight sun makes never-ending days. While the polar night from November until the end of January means that there is no daylight in Svalbard in winter. This attracts people from all over the world who come to experience the northern lights dance across the sky (with some luck!), as well as the beauty of the limitless, starry sky... In October and February you can enjoy the amazing and unique blue arctic light during the day and the northern lights at night.
Top things to do in Svalbard
- Go aurora hunting in the arctic wilderness
- Choose from a wide selection of northern lights excursions
- Go dog sledding and snowmobiling
- Try glacial ice caving and snowshoeing
- Warm up in a sauna
Note that you should never venture out of town on your own without a local guide. This is polar bear country!
Arctic metropolis
A quirky and somewhat unlikely cosmopolitan Norwegian city with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries, Longyearbyen is well worth the trip in itself. Here, you will find a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars, breweries, and concert venues. There are separate lanes in the town centre for snowmobiles, and you have to watch out for reindeer in the streets!
With the world’s northernmost airport for scheduled flights and offering excellent accommodation, Svalbard is a perfect gateway to the High Arctic and a premier destination for northern lights trips. The most common way to travel to Svalbard is by plane.
The best places to see the lights
- Høydebassenget
- Nybyen6713
- Guided tours in Adventdalen
By plane
There are daily flights to and from Svalbard throughout the year, and frequency increases in the summer.
Flight time is around 3 hours from Oslo and 1,5–2 hours from Tromsø.
An airport shuttle service is available for all scheduled flights and takes you to most hotels and guest houses for a fee.
By snowmobile
There are only about 46 kilometres of road on the Svalbard Islands. Driving off-road is strictly prohibited.
There are no roads between the various settlements. Instead, locals use boats in summer and snowmobiles in winter. Snowmobiles can be rented in Longyearbyen.
By boat
There is no regular boat transportation between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard.
Several companies offer Svalbard safaris and round trips, but these do not offer passage to and from the mainland. You have to make your way to Svalbard through other means.
Check out ferry and cruise companies in Svalbard.
