Northern Lights in Svalbard

Next to the North Pole

Welcome to Svalbard, an island realm with ice-covered fjords, glaciers, soaring mountains, and rare wildlife that includes polar bears. A prime location for aurora hunts and other northern lights experiences.

Dynamic Variation:

With the world’s northernmost airport for scheduled flights, excellent accommodation, and a wide selection of adventures and activities, Svalbard is your gateway to the High Arctic and a premier destination for northern light trips. The most common way to travel to Svalbard is by plane.

Top things to do in Svalbard

Choose from a selection of northern light excursions.
Go dog sledding and snowmobiling.
Try glacial ice caving and snowshoeing.
Go aurora hunting in the Arctic wilderness.

Find more inspiration on Svalbard’s official website.

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visitsvalbard.com

Hunting the northern lights in Svalbard

Marcela Cardenas

Svalbard

Björn Klauer / www.nordnorge.com

A polar bear at Svalbard

Roy Mangersnes / wildphoto.no / www.nordnorge.com

Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Marcela Cardenas

Snowmobile safari at Svalbard

Marcela Cardenas / www.nordnorge.com / Longyearbyen

Dog sledding at Svalbard

Marcela Cardenas

Campaign: northern lights offers

Green sky – a four day northern lights package

Longyearbyen at Spitsbergen is a perfect getaway destination for the aurora season, with its location close to the North Pole and its Arctic silence. This 4-day package includes both accommodation and activities that will give you the best chances of seeing the northern lights.

Price from NOK 6,800 per person

Included: activities, accommodation and meals according to the program.

Book your Green sky adventure

Northern lights package with Hurtigruten Svalbard

Hurtigruten Svalbard offers an adventurous package for those who wish to explore the Arctic region and search for the aurora borealis. Experience the silence of the Arctic, striking landscapes and the amazing northern lights.

Price from NOK 4,990 per person

Included: round trip flight Oslo – Longyearbyen, three nights accommodation at Coal Miners' Cabins including breakfast, a northern lights activity with bus or snowmobile.

Ice cave trip – a frozen adventure

Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions offers an adventurous package for those who wish to explore Svalbard’s glaciers and ice caves. Experience the glacier underworld and its halls, tight passages, and thick layers of ice crystals.

Price from NOK 730 per person

Included: transport to and from the accommodation, snowshoes, helmet, head light, harness, crampons, warm drink, biscuits, and guide with all the necessary safety equipment.

Book your ice cave adventure

Other winter activities in Svalbard

Where to stay in Svalbard

Northern lights forecast

The NorwayLights app will give you the best prediction for when to see the northern lights in your area.

Getting here and around

Svalbard is not part of the Schengen area, so passports must be brought by all non-Norwegian visitors. Get in-depth travel information on Svalbard’s official website.

By boat

There is no regular boat transportation between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard.

Several companies offer Svalbard safaries 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.
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 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.