10 Thoughts On Visiting Svalbard In Summer

Hi Ben,

Would you say one would need to rent a car? Is everything within walking distance? What's the car rental company that's there (Hertz, AVIS, National, etc.)?

Thank you!

And this is why you shouldn't fly all the way to somewhere just for an airport hotel stop. Appreciate the destinations while you're young and have energy and money

Brandon,

There's about 11km of total roads on the island. Most things are easily accessible by taxi and for the best stuff you need to take a tour (boat or atv with trained guide) to anyway (tours pick up at the hotels usually). I'm sure there might be rental cars but you'd probably not get much use of it other than airport to hotel and back. Longyearbyen itself is quite walkable, but it's about a 10 min ride to the airport.

I went in February this year and it was wonderful. There was about 2 hours of daylight (but more like dawn daylight, not full sun). I'd like to go back next summer and do Pyramiden.

My wife is Norwegian, and we are currently planning a trip in a few years to celebrate our tenth anniversary.. Probably BOS to DUB, then to LHR, rent a car and drive to EDI (to see my grandfathers house) with a few days here and there.. Then to OSL, and a week exploring Norway.. Thanks for the report.. Trying to figure out the season we want to go..

Camped outside by the airport last year. Pretty darn awesome place, and would love to visit in winter!

Also, I don't see how a nicer charmed hotel could work in Spitsbergen. People just work and such, and as there is really a season 3 months of the year, that's all you need.

If you liked Svalbard, then the Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland is an absolute must-go. It's quite expensive (something like $750 USD/night) but it is a true, culturally-appropriate, luxury hotel in a location where icebergs literally float by.

And it goes without saying, but you must get a car and drive around Iceland's ring road...

I've wanted to visit Svalbard for a while but mostly to see polar bears and walruses.

Great post, thanks. I'd love to go for Xmas just to say I was near the North Pole but then I realise it's got to be so harsh at that time of year.

Thank you for the reply Phil!!

Just got back from Svalbard myself about a week ago after a four day stay. Sorry I missed you, Lucky! I too stayed at the Radisson and agree that the place is perfectly suitable, but lacks any charm whatsoever. On the plus side, the fish and chips and the hamburger in the hotel's "Barents Bar" were both delicious; the food in the main restaurant, not so much. The Radisson started life as the dormitory for the U.S. Olympic Team during the Lillehammer Olympics. After the games were over, the building was disassembled and moved to Longyearbyen to become a hotel. Reportedly the Spitsbergen Hotel is nicer, but not as convenient to the town center as the Radisson.

Every local I spoke to suggested that the best time to visit is in March and April as the winter temperatures are not as brutal, there's still plenty of snow, and there are more things to see and do. If I were to ever return, it would be in March or April. If you're looking for a place off the beaten path, Svalbard is the place to go. When checking air fares, compare rates from both Oslo and from Stockholm. Fares from Stockholm are often cheaper!

This series has been great to read and see the photos. Thanks--it is much appreciated. I had never heard of this place. Could be an interesting plan to visit.

The winter/spring time period is an excellent time to travel for the adventurous minded. Peaceful isolation combined with excellent views of the heavens, outdoor expeditions and with luck, views of the Northern Lights. The transition from winter to spring is more preferred sincere there are a few hours of daylight during that time, which can be important to maintain mental stability. Our four month expedition for some filming included camping for every night except the first and the last. Only warning is that some of the crew suffered from psychological/behavioral issues over the extended stay, not too different from expeditions to Antarctica.

As a native Norwegian I have had the opportunity to visit Svalbard, in all four seasons,
I do admire the Mid-Night sun whom I experience best in late June, however the February visits is probably best nature wise if you can stand the cold climate.
Looking forward to your full report,

My daughter and I "jumped off" on a cruise around the archipelago to see polar bears, walrus, etc. We stopped at what must have been a different Russian mining camp because there were residents and miners. We also stayed at a hotel housed in the former mining camp lodgings. Very nice!! We stayed up late singing along. Loved it loved it!! When you go back try to visit some of the fjords around the archipelago .

Lucky, I found your comment about charming hotels quite rich. You pretty much exclusively stay at sterile chain hotels. I can think of many adjectives to describe a Park Hyatt or St. Regis...but charming isn't one of them.

The reason why so many non Norwegian live and work in the Spitzbergen is because there is no need to have a working permit I think. It is an international agreement. Therefore there are also Russian mines there.

Lucky, for a charming hotel in Longyearbyen, check out the Basecamp Hotel. I stayed there a few years ago. It's a modern building made over to resemble an old hunting lodge. It's got great atmosphere.