The Svalbard archipelago, located just an hour and a half flight from the North Pole, represents the northernmost reaches of Europe. This permafrost region boasts endless snowy landscapes and frequent encounters with polar bears.
Despite the harsh climate, tourism is highly developed here: during peak season, hotels in the archipelago’s capital are fully booked, despite the high cost of accommodation. Everything on Svalbard is expensive, but this doesn’t deter tourists. Many come here to prepare for their expedition to the North Pole, while others enjoy an exotic vacation: kayaking among icebergs, observing polar bears, and exploring abandoned coal mines.
Svalbard Attractions and Activities
On Svalbard, excursions and activities are closely linked to snow and ice. Tourists can enjoy cross-country skiing trips, which can last from an hour to a full day, as well as dog sledding and snowmobile rides. For more physically fit travelers, there are extended expeditions into the island’s interior, lasting from 5 to 14 days, using skis, dog sleds, and snowmobiles.
During a nighttime snowmobile excursion, you can admire the northern lights and the desolate snow-covered landscapes far from Longyearbyen. It’s also worth hiking through ice caves located right inside glaciers or conquering one of Svalbard’s peaks, such as the 850-meter Trollstein, known as the “Troll Stone.”
In summer, these activities are complemented by cruises around the archipelago, kayaking, horseback riding, ATV safaris, and hiking. Paleontology enthusiasts can enjoy excursions where they can discover numerous fossils containing plant and animal imprints dating back 40 to 60 million years. These finds are free to leave Svalbard.
Be sure to visit the Svalbard Museum, which offers information on the region’s geology and history, its unique flora and fauna, and human activity. Longyearbyen is home to the world’s northernmost church. At the Svalbard Aeronautical Museum, you can learn about the heroic attempts of the first aviators to reach the North Pole, and at the Store Gallery, you can see the works of local artists.
