Flights and hotels
How to get to Svalbard: flights, rules and hotels
Longyearbyen is just a few hours from Oslo. How to get to Svalbard from the UK, what to know before you go, and four hotels in the world’s northernmost town.
The plane drops over a landscape without trees, just white mountains, glaciers and a fjord glinting in the light. Svalbard feels like another planet, yet Longyearbyen is only a few hours from Oslo.
Here is how to get to Svalbard from the UK, what to know before you go, when a package makes sense, and four hotels in town.
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Flights to Svalbard
There are no direct flights from the UK. You fly to Oslo and take a direct flight to Longyearbyen, which takes around three hours, or change in Tromsø. There is no ferry or road to Svalbard, so flying is the only regular way to get there, apart from cruise ships in summer.
Svalbard Airport is a few kilometres outside Longyearbyen. The airport bus takes you to the hotels in town after every arrival.
Book flight and hotel together: See Svalbard holiday packages
Flights only: Search flights to Longyearbyen
What to know before you go
Passport: Svalbard is outside the Schengen area, and there is passport control when you leave mainland Norway. Bring your passport and check the current rules before you travel.
Polar bears: you cannot leave the settlement in Longyearbyen without being prepared for polar bears. Most visitors join guided tours.
Clothing: winter is cold and windy. Pack wool layers, good mittens and a hat, and rent extra gear from the tour operators.
Experiences: See snowmobile, husky and boat trips in Svalbard
Where to stay in Svalbard
Almost all the hotels are in Longyearbyen, and the town is small enough to walk between them. Choose by mood: a fireplace and views, a central location or a trapper’s cabin feel.
Funken Lodge
The fireside lounge at Funken Lodge.
Funken Lodge: a fireplace and views over the valley
Funken Lodge sits a little way up the slope above Longyearbyen, with big windows facing the mountains and a fireside lounge for thawing out after a day on a snowmobile. Breakfast is included.
This is the hotel for comfort after days in the cold, and Svalbard Church is close by.
Book your stay: See rooms at Funken Lodge
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen
The lounge at Radisson Blu Polar Hotel.
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen: in the middle of town
Radisson Blu Polar is central in Longyearbyen, close to the Svalbard Museum, and a safe choice for a first visit. Many tour operators collect guests from the hotels in town.
From the lounge windows you watch the mountainsides change colour in the blue light of the polar night.
Book your stay: See rooms at Radisson Blu Polar Hotel
Svalbard Hotell The Vault
The Vault in Longyearbyen.
Svalbard Hotell The Vault: named after the seed vault
The Vault takes its name from the seed vault in the mountain outside town, and sits close to the University Centre in Svalbard. Breakfast is included, and it makes a quiet, practical base.
A good pick for a modern room without paying for big shared spaces.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Vault
Basecamp Spitsbergen
Trapper style at Basecamp Spitsbergen.
Basecamp Spitsbergen: a trapper’s cabin in town
Basecamp Spitsbergen is fitted out like a trapper’s cabin, with driftwood, furs and old maps. You stay centrally, near the Svalbard Museum, and breakfast is included.
Choose it when you want the hotel itself to tell a bit of Svalbard’s story, not just be a place to sleep.
Book your stay: See rooms at Basecamp Spitsbergen
When should you visit Svalbard?
The polar night (November to January): the sun is gone, and the northern lights can appear in the middle of the day. Book two to three months ahead.
The sunny winter (March and April): snow, daylight and the best time for snowmobiles and husky sledding. Book early, this is peak season.
Summer: midnight sun, boat trips along the glaciers and birdlife. Book three months ahead.
Frequently asked questions about getting to Svalbard
How do I get to Svalbard from the UK?
Fly to Oslo and take a direct flight to Longyearbyen, which takes around three hours, or change in Tromsø. There are no direct flights from the UK and no ferry or road to Svalbard.
Do I need a passport for Svalbard?
Yes. Svalbard is outside the Schengen area, so there is passport control when you travel from mainland Norway. Check the current rules before you go.
When is the best time to visit Svalbard?
March and April are popular, with snow, sunlight and good conditions for snowmobiles and husky sledding. The polar night from November to January brings the northern lights, and summer brings the midnight sun.
Can I hike alone in Svalbard?
Outside the settlement in Longyearbyen you must be prepared for polar bears. Most visitors join guided tours, where the guide is responsible for safety.
Where should I stay in Svalbard?
Stay in Longyearbyen. Almost all the hotels, restaurants and tour operators are there, and the town is small enough to walk everywhere.