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20 October, 2024
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The Best Time to Visit Svalbard

The Best Time to See Polar Bears in Svalbard

Incredible landscapes, wildlife, polar nights and the midnight sun – you can’t call yourself a real explorer if you haven’t been to Svalbard. If you plan to visit this archipelago (a part of Norway), choose the season wisely. While summers are great for wildlife watching, expedition cruising and outdoor activities, winter, spring and autumn are equally unique. Keep reading and find out which season to choose and what to expect when you go!

The Best Time to See Polar Bears in Svalbard

Many Svalbard travelers dream of seeing a polar bear during their trip, and we agree, it’s definitely a bucket list item when travelling the high Arctic. While you generally can see polar bears in Svalbard year-round, the best time to spot them is between May and September. After spring sets in, the sea ice melts on the coasts surrounding the archipelago, and as the season progresses, the waterways around the island open up. That’s the time to schedule a boat trip or cruise to explore the most remote spots of Svalbard with its unique fauna!

Polar bears follow the receding sea ice and a perfect way to observe them is discovering the islands with an expedition cruise. The north of Spitsbergen (largest island in the archipelago) is a famous spot for the best polar bear sightings. See the bears hunting on pack ice and the females attending to their little cubs. The summer season is perfect in general for wildlife sightings, not only for polar bear fans!

When to See the Midnight Sun

Looking for the perfect polar bear adventure? Check out our cruises to the high Arctic:

When to See the Northern Lights

Darkness is your best friend when it comes to seeing the northern lights! Here’s bad news for fans of warm temperatures: the prime time for aurora borealis is autumn and winter (from late September to mid-March). Svalbard winters feature the polar night, when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for days or weeks at a time. This nearly total darkness is the perfect canvas for this incredible phenomenon!

Still skeptical about visiting in the middle of winter? There is plenty to do during this season. Enjoy Svalbard’s pristine snowscapes, and, with plenty of snow and ice on the archipelago, you can sign up for seasonal activities such as snowmobiling, dog sledding and even specialized northern lights tours!

When to See the Midnight Sun

If you want to experience 24 hours of daylight under the midnight sun, visit Svalbard between April 20 and August 22. This is prime time for expedition cruises, tours and excursions. The warmer temperatures and the extended daylight hours give you ample time to plan days full of adventures in the high Arctic! Svalbard is one of the best places for spotting unique Arctic wildlife in the world, such as the Svalbard reindeer, walruses, whales, Arctic foxes and, of course, polar bears.

The best way to discover Svalbard’s wildlife is by boarding a cruise that takes you around the archipelago to the most remote spots. You’ll explore the flora and fauna during shore landings from the large deck of your modern expedition ship. Motorized boats (Zodiacs) will allow for close-up excursions. There’s even an option to sign up for kayaking, which brings you even closer to nature and wildlife.

 What to Expect Seasonally in Svalbard

What to Expect Seasonally in Svalbard

We’ll let you in on a little secret – there isn’t really a best time to visit Svalbard. In each season the archipelago has something unique to offer visitors and you just have to pick what tickles your adventurous fancy. Summer is perfect for enjoying warmer temperatures, experiencing the midnight sun, wildlife encounters with 24 hours of daylight, and, with the sea ice receding, cruises to remote islands become possible.

But don’t ditch the magical winter in Svalbard! While the prolonged darkness during the polar night and the colder temperatures may not be for everyone, it will give you the chance to see the northern lights and try local popular activities, such as dog sledding and snowmobiling. Read on and find out what to expect during each season!

Summer: Wildlife, Hiking and Cruises

Spring: Arctic Winter Wonderland and the Return of the Sun

March to May marks spring in Svalbard. Temperatures in March are still between -20C and -13C (-4F to 9F), but by May they slowly climb up to -2C (28F). As the archipelago emerges from the long winter, days start to get longer, which makes for picture-perfect sunrises and sunsets. With the beautiful frozen landscapes on the islands, this is the perfect stage for Arctic photography!

These months are also great for activities such as dog sledding and snowmobiling, and while early spring isn’t the best time for wildlife viewing, polar bears return to the pack ice in May to hunt seals. By the end of May, sea ice recedes toward the North Pole and the waterways around the archipelago open up for boat cruises.

Highlights of a spring in Svalbard:

  • Get the best picture with golden hour photography as the sun slowly returns
  • Admire frozen snowscapes and seascapes illuminated by incredible twilight, sunsets and sunrises
  • Watch as polar bear mating season brings mothers and cubs out of their dens for the first polar bear sightings of the season
  • Witness the midnight sun rising (it will stay on the horizon until around mid-August!)
  • See magnificent glaciers, ice and snow formations that sparkle in the spring sun
  • Experience the arrival of breeding birds to Svalbard in May with large gatherings on the mountains and fjords
  • Board a ship as expedition cruising season is starting

Summer: Wildlife, Hiking and Cruises

Summer is the prime season on the Svalbard archipelago. That’s when most visitors make their way to the high Arctic to explore, enjoying warmer temperatures and 24 hours of daylight. Consider a midnight walk around Longyearbyen and take in the quiet atmosphere during the bright night. By June, summer is officially starting and temperatures crawl slightly above 0C (32F). Celebrate the summer solstice on June 20 under the midnight sun and enjoy the beautiful, but short summer in Svalbard. With snow and ice melting by the end of June, you can venture out and discover the unique landscapes and wildlife. This is the time to see the tundra largely ice-free and in bloom, which makes for incredible photo ops!

If you plan to cruise the archipelago, summer is the time to do it! By June, the pack ice recedes further and with August circumnavigations of Spitsbergen and trips to the remote northern parts become possible. July is the warmest month of the year with average temperatures between 3 and 7C (37-44F). If you’re an avid hiker, this is the season to grab your backpack and discover the wilderness. And you don’t even have to venture too far from Longyearbyen. There are many hikes with spectacular views just outside the capital, but don’t just walk on your own. Svalbard is polar bear country and once you leave the city, you’ll need a guide carrying a firearm, just in case you cross paths with a hungry polar bear.

Autumn: The Return of the Sunsets

What to expect from a magical summer in Svalbard:

  • Some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world (featuring animals such as whales, seals, walruses and polar bears)
  • Arctic foxes are changing their fur color and are out and about hunting
  • Svalbard reindeer are grazing in the blooming tundra
  • A paradise for birders: millions of migratory birds swarm the island
  • Polar bears in action, with cubs learning how to hunt on the pack ice
  • Glaciers calving into the ocean and incredible fjord excursions
  • Beautiful hikes in the wilderness and on the now ice-free shores
  • Flights from Norway (Oslo) depart daily, but you may want to book in advance to beat the crowds
  • Expedition cruising, Arctic wildlife safaris, circumnavigation of the archipelago and trips to even the most remote island in the north

How many days do you need in Svalbard?

Autumn: The Return of the Sunsets

Come autumn, the midnight sun has set and sunrises and sunsets return to the archipelago. Travel from September to around mid-October if you are keen on incredible landscape photography. While temperatures are back below 0C (32F), you can still enjoy the outdoors with the proper clothing. In October the average temperatures range around -4C (25F) and the nights are now dark enough to see the northern lights.

With snow returning, this season is not the best for wildlife lovers. Whales and migratory birds leave the archipelago, migrating south, though walrus and Polar bear sightings are still possible. The majority of tourists have left by now and you can enjoy Svalbard at a calmer speed.

If you want to experience the magical golden autumn on the archipelago, timing is key, as the real autumn lasts barely a month. Then you’ll witness a rapid change of the landscape with snow and ice returning, preparing Svalbard for its iconic winter.

Why to travel in autumn:

  • Experience the tundra in beautiful autumn colors with various shades of orange and red
  • Catch the last opportunities to hike before the snow sets in
  • Collect mushrooms (this is allowed for personal use)
  • Visit the Longyearbyen Literature Festival in early September or enjoy culinary highlights at the Taste Svalbard Festival in October
  • Get lucky and enjoy the first sightings of the aurora borealis

Winter: A Long Cozy Winter Night and the Northern Lights

It’s usually not the most popular season to visit Svalbard, but for those who want to experience the polar night, winter is the only way. Mid-November to the end of January marks the darkest time in Svalbard and polar nights are perfect to see the northern lights (if you’re lucky). In February, you can witness the incredible atmosphere of the blue hour, when the polar night breaks up for a few hours a day, tinting the landscapes in incredible hues of blue. While winter is not the best time to visit Svalbard for active adventures, you can still engage in various outdoor activities.

What to do in winter in Svalbard:

  • Celebrate Christmas and New Years in Svalbard
  • Relax in one of the comfortable hotels, look out for the northern lights while soaking in outdoor hot tubs (certain hotels such as the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel offer outdoor jacuzzis for their guests).
  • Sign up for snowmobile or dog sledding tours or visit ice caves under the glaciers

What time of year is best to see the northern lights in Svalbard?

FAQs

What’s the best month to see polar bears in Svalbard?

The best time to visit Svalbard for seeing polar bears is during the summer months. Between mid-May and early September, you have the best chance to observe them in their natural habitat.

How many days do you need in Svalbard?

That depends on your plans. If you travel during winter and want to try snowmobiling, dog sledding or seeing the northern lights, plan at least five days for your adventure in case weather conditions are not favorable for these activities (changing weather may postpone your planned activities). During the summer months, there are a lot of different things to do. Visit Svalbard for a short trip to explore Longyearbyen and you may need just up to five days to see the town. If you consider expedition cruises around the archipelago, you may want to consider a longer trip. Budget around two weeks in this case.

What time of year is best to see the northern lights in Svalbard?

The best time to see the northern lights is between late September and mid-March, before the sun returns to the horizon. During the polar night, the skies are dark enough to see them.

What’s the best season in Svalbard?

Svalbard has three main seasons: sunny winter (start of March – mid-May), polar summer (mid-May – end of September) and the northern lights winter (start of October – end of February). Different seasons offer different activities and it all depends on what you are looking for when visiting Svalbard. The best time to visit Svalbard without crowds is during the winter, as many tourists prefer the warm summer months.