Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Region: Plateauberget hill
Modern facility
"Earth's last insurance" storing crop seeds from around the world in permafrost tunnels.
Tourism in Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Explore notable sights and destinations in this country
Tourist attractions
Svalbard Museum
Region: Longyearbyen
Cultural heritage
Exhibits history, nature, and culture from the whaling era to the present.
Pyramiden Abandoned Mining Settlement
Region: Billefjorden
Cultural heritage
Ghost town built as a Soviet ideal city.
Barentsburg
Region: Grønfjorden
Cultural heritage
Mining town where Russian community lives, experiencing Russian culture.
Ny-Ålesund Research Base
Region: Kings Bay
Scientific research facility
World's northernmost permanent scientific base. Summer tour visits available.
Isfjorden
Region: West coast of Svalbard
Nature
World Heritage-class giant fjord system where glaciers pour into the sea.
Monaco Glacier
Region: Northern Spitsbergen
Nature
Glacier with spectacularly blue glowing front edge.
Alkhornet Bird Cliff
Region: Kapp Ekholm
Nature
Limestone cliffs where tens of thousands of seabirds nest.
Hinlopen Strait Cruise
Region: Around Nordenskiöld Archipelago
Nature
Scenic route with approaching drift ice and vertical glaciers.
Mount Beerenberg
Region: Jan Mayen Island
Nature
2,277m stratovolcano covered in snow and ice. Climbing available with permits.
Aurora Observation Tour
Region: Around Longyearbyen
Experience
View aurora appearing during polar night from heated tents or snow vehicles.
Dog Sledding Experience
Region: Adventdalen
Experience
Traditional means of transport racing across snowfields with husky dog teams.
Snowmobile East Coast Safari
Region: Central Svalbard
Experience
Adventure searching for polar bears on the Barents Sea side where drift ice presses.
Suggested itineraries
3-Day Short Stay Enjoying Midnight Sun
Duration (days): 3
Highlights: Fjord cruise, Seed Vault exterior, Dog sledding on wheels
Efficiently tour main spots under 24-hour sun in summer, departing from Longyearbyen.
5-Day Polar Night & Aurora Adventure
Duration (days): 5
Highlights: Aurora observation, Ice cave exploration, Snowmobile safari
Enjoy glacier caves and aurora in the dark world, tasting the silence unique to polar night.
10-Day Research Base and Volcano Summit Cruise
Duration (days): 10
Highlights: Ny-Ålesund visit, Monaco Glacier landing, Beerenberg climb
Tour ship circumnavigates main Svalbard fjords and also calls at Jan Mayen Island.
Travel tips
- Rifle carrying and bear warning flares are mandatory when leaving residential areas
- Temperatures even in summer are 0-10°C; waterproof windproof wear essential
- Alcohol is duty-free but has purchase limits requiring passport presentation
- Winter road closures are common; using tours for transportation is safe
- Medical facilities are limited; travel insurance is mandatory
- No mobile phone signal in uninhabited areas. Satellite phone rental is convenient
- Vitamin D supplements and daylight lamps are helpful for extended stays
- Drone use requires government permission from an environmental protection perspective
- Card use is more common than currency exchange. Small amounts of cash are sufficient
- Souvenir shops and restaurants are often closed on Sundays
- Sleep masks are useful during midnight sun period
- Postal stamps are popular souvenirs. Note post office business hours