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  4. Svalbard Travel Guide
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  • Majestic Polarbear on ice floe
    1/7 Photo: La Nau de Fotografia / Shutterstock Photo
  • See and hear glaciers calving icebergs into to the sea
    2/7 Photo: Spitbergen Travel Photo
  • A small graveyard in the Magdalenefjord
    3/7 Photo: Karsten Bidstrup Photo
  • Spitsbergen is the realm of the polar bears, and we hope to see the King of the Arctic
    4/7 Photo: Andrea Hermle - Guest image Photo
  • We use our PolarCirkel boats to cruise in fjords and get close to the wildlife
    5/7 Photo: Gian-Rico Willy Photo
  • The steep mountains, long fjords and Arctic nature make Spitsbergen an exotic adventure
    6/7 Photo: Jørn Henriksen Photo
  • Explore the Arctic waters from a kayak
    7/7 Photo: Dominic Barrington Photo

Svalbard Travel Guide

How to get to Svalbard and what to do there

Svalbard population and settlement

The population of Svalbard is approximately 2500. Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in the islands and is also the seat of the governor. It's a colourful modern town with first-class facilities, like excellent hotels and restaurants, regular flight connections to mainland Norway, as well as an impressive range of activities to suit every traveller.

How to get to Svalbard?

Svalbard is situated between Norway and the North pole, but the archipelago is quite easy to travel to. With Hurtigruten you can choose among a variety of expedition cruise to Svalbard. Typically, you would make your way to Longyearbyen before embarking on a 6-10 day voyage. If you only want to experience Svalbard mainland, you can choose between multiple land based adventures on Hurtigruten Svalbard. On our cruises, the expedition-style landings will take you close to the Arctic wildlife, the ghost towns of the early whaling stations and remote mining towns, research communities, spectacular fjords and icebergs.

  • A small boat in a body of water
  • A rocky beach next to a body of water
  • A small boat in a body of water with a mountain in the snow
  • MS Fram in Svalbard
  • A small boat in a body of water
  • Photo: Dierk Henkel, Arnau Ferrer, Renate Schmidt-Vogt, Xuefei Yuan and Brigitte Schmidt

Things to do in Svalbard

Located on the southern fringe of the frozen Arctic Ocean, we offers expedition landings, hikes, kayaking and other excursions on Svalbard – there are lots of things to do in Svalbard. Part of the Svalbard experience is visiting the different and fascinating settlements like Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, or Ny-Ålesund – all with a different scent and atmosphere. However, they share a certain pioneer feeling, a “Klondike-like” atmosphere – displaying self-confidence in their isolation from the mainland. This Archipelago holds fascinating histories of the polar heroes of the north, and cultural heritage from the coal mining era as well as the history of exploration, hunting and whaling.

Svalbard wildlife

The Svalbard wildlife is unique and fascinating. In the Artic wilderness you’ll find the majestic polar bear, witch outnumber humans on Svalbard. Did you know that polar bears are good swimmers and can swim for several miles and days in row? Read more and get to know the polar bear better. You can also find artic foxes, reindeers, seals and whales. During summertime large numbers of sea birds flock to the archipelago. Svalbard has long been a tourist destination, ever since the coal industry began. You will find old mining villages, abandoned whaling stations and hunting lodges dating back several centuries. A cruise to Svalbard will give you best of both worlds, exotic wildlife and majestic nature, but also history and culture.

  • A bird flying over a body of water
  • A seal lying on the beach with a mountain in the background
  • A group of people standing next to a dog
  • A goat standing on a rocky hill
  • Seal
  • Photo: Andrea Hermle, Arnau Ferrer, Dr. Henry Bauer and Linda Drake

Weather climate and best time to visit Svalbard

Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, one might expect it to be unbearably cold. However, thanks to the Gulf Stream, Spitsbergen and the other islands in the Svalbard archipelago boast a surprisingly mild climate with distinctive seasons. The arctic summer, blessed with long days and buzz of wildlife and human activity, is favoured by travellers seeking the classic arctic experience. But delve deeper and you'll find each season has its own distinct character, from winter's crisp northern lights to spring's welcoming of new beginnings.

Related cruises

  • Book with confidence
    MS Nordstjernen
    6 days 16 May 2021 - 29 Aug 2021

    Spitsbergen and Polar Bears – an Arctic Adventure (Sunday to Friday)

    • Chance of seeing polar bears
    • Cross 80° N and come ashore to explore the Arctic wilderness
    • Experience the Midnight Sun (until 23. August), giving you 24 hours of daylight to discover Svalbard
    • Explore magnificent Arctic scenery and fjords with the nostalgic MS Nordstjernen
    Price from
    $ 2160
  • Book with confidence
    MS Nordstjernen
    6 days 19 May 2021 - 1 Sep 2021

    Spitsbergen and Polar Bears – an Arctic Adventure (Wednesday to Monday)

    • Chance of seeing polar bears
    • Cross 80° N and come ashore to explore the Arctic wilderness
    • Experience the Midnight Sun (until 23. August), giving you 24 hours of daylight to discover Svalbard
    • Explore magnificent Arctic scenery and fjords with the nostalgic MS Nordstjernen
    Price from
    $ 2310
  • Book with confidence
    MS Spitsbergen
    10 days 4 Jun 2021 - 6 Jul 2021

    Circumnavigating Spitsbergen - In the Realm of the Polar Bear

    • Comfortable and intimate expedition experience aboard refurbished MS Spitsbergen
    • Attempt to sail above 80°N and fully circumnavigate the island of Spitsbergen
    • Summertime offers good chances of sighting polar bears hunting on the sea ice
    • See beautiful fjords, glaciers, and icebergs in the pristine Arctic wilderness
    Price from
    $ 9537

Further reading

  • Svalbard wildlife
  • 10 things to know about your environmental commitment in Svalbard

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What's better than a warm embrace from someone you love? We hope we can all hug each other soon again. For now, we're sending you a virtual hug for National Hug Day. 📷: Chelsea Claus / Hurtigruten 
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#hurtigruten #weexplore #nationalhugday #hug #penguin #antarctica #travel #adventuretravel #wildlife For Penguin Awareness Day, here are some facts you might not know about everyone's favorite flightless bird: 
- Their black and white "tuxedo" is a smart camouflage called countershading
- You'll never actually see them with polar bears (despite what you've seen in classic cartoons)
- Penguins huddle together to protect themselves—or to stay warm
- You can see this fascinating creature if you go with Hurtigruten to Antarctica (but this we bet you knew already!)
 📸: Ingemund Skålnes / Hurtigruten The Lemaire Channel is a narrow strait surrounded by cliffs and glaciers that runs seven miles in length and just under a mile wide. This scenic route is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Antarctica, and has even been dubbed the 'Kodak Gap.' Grab your camera and get ready for some amazing photos and breathtaking landscapes. 
📷: @glr.photo / Hurtigruten 
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#hurtigruten #weexplore #antarctica #lemairechannel #naturephotography #sunset #travel

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