The Best Time to Visit Svalbard and Spitsbergen

When to Go?

The best time to visit Svalbard is between June and September, as it is the high season for Arctic cruises.

During these summer months wildlife is active, the ice flows have melted, and there’s plenty of daylight. The long days of summer mean that the sun shines for most of the day and night, making spotting polar bears and other animals a full-time activity during the season.
 
An expedition cruise in Svalbard is only possible during summer, as the sea ice makes waters unnavigable in colder months. That said, those months may be more suited for certain outdoor activities. Wintertime from March to May is fantastic for snow sports like dog sledding and snowmobiling, while the polar night from October to February is the best time to see the northern lights in Svalbard.
 
At a Glance
Peak Tourist Season: April to August
Midnight Sun: late April to mid-August
Polar Night: November to February

 
Svalbard, Spitsbergen, and Jan Mayen
Svalbard is right above the Arctic Circle between Norway and the North Pole. The archipelago experiences 24 hours of sunlight or darkness in certain months. Glaciers cover over half of the region. Spitsbergen is the largest of Svalbard’s nine main islands, and the most populated. The uninhabited volcanic island Jan Mayen is also a popular destination among travelers.

Svalbard Seasons

Winter (March-May) – Best for Snow Sports

Sunlight returns after around two months of darkness in Svalbard, kicking off the “sunny winter” months when there’s still ice on the ground but the sun is shining in the sky. Temperatures rise, and days get longer. It’s the best season for winter sports, with light snow offering superb conditions for dog sledding, snowmobiling, and glacier hiking.
 
March is the first of the sunnier months in Svalbard, with only a few hours of sunlight and the ice still pretty solid. While polar bear breeding season is from March to April, it can be hard to find them with some routes being still impenetrable. The midnight sun can start as early as late April, followed by the breaking of the sea ice and the arrival of the first expedition ships in Svalbard.  
Summer (June-September) – Best for Wildlife Viewing

Although snow starts disappearing around May, summer does not truly begin until June when the landscape becomes greener and flowers bloom across the tundra. Temperatures hover around 40℉ (4.4℃), with cool sunshine throughout the summer days in Svalbard. The midnight sun, when the sun is shining in the sky for 24 hours, can be experienced from as early as mid-to-late April until August.  
 
Summer is the only time to enjoy different warm-weather activities in Svalbard, such as hiking, kayaking in the fjords, and wheeled dog sledding. Additionally, the winter snow and arctic glaciers have melted, and small ship cruises can navigate easily along the coast.
 
This season is also the best time to see polar bears in Svalbard, with expedition cruises passing by the hefty carnivores hunting on the ice. Wildlife viewing is the main attraction of traveling here in the summer. Besides the bears, visitors can spot whales, migratory birds, and seals. In the eastern region of Svalbard, cruise travelers can also spot walruses, Arctic foxes, and Svalbard reindeer.  
Polar Night (October-February) – Best for Aurora Borealis

In the Svalbard archipelago, the sun sinks below the horizon at the end of October and stays hidden for two-to-three months. The islands are cloaked in darkness from mid-November to the end of January. While these dark months aren’t typically recommended, it is the best time for travelers who want to experience the northern lights. Winter sports like dog sledding and skiing are available, but there are few Svalbard tours during this season. With the unnavigable pack ice and frozen landscape, boat trips aren’t possible at this time.
 

Wildlife

Known as “the wildlife capital of the Arctic,” the archipelago is one of the premier places in Northern Norway for animal encounters. This is the main attraction on the islands and a highlight of any Svalbard cruise.  
Polar Bears
Polar bear sightings are more common from May to August, when the water isn’t too frozen and it’s easier to sail to the coastal regions where the bears frequent the sea ice to hunt. March and April is breeding season for polar bears, but it’s still a challenge to track them down due to the pack ice.
 
Whales
Summer is also the Svalbard whale watching season. During this time, the pack ice has melted and broken up enough for travelers to spot the massive mammals in the water during Arctic expedition cruises. Some species spotted around the islands include humpback, fin, white, minke, sperm, bowhead, beluga, and blue whales.

Narwhals
May and June are the best time to witness narwhals up close. The so-called “unicorns of the sea” can be found where the ice and ocean water meet. 
 
Arctic Foxes
Found all around the archipelago from the mountains to the coast, the Arctic fox is one of the main residents of Svalbard. It is easiest to spot Arctic foxes in the summer, but keep in mind that their fur is dark and brown in the warm season. During the winter months, their fur turns snow white, and it can be a novel sight to see them hunting lemmings.
 
Walruses
Travelers visiting Svalbard in the summer are almost guaranteed sightings of walruses  between June and September. Along with seals, groups of walruses lounge and sunbathe on the banks of the cool sea.
 
Birds
Millions of migratory birds flock to the archipelago to breed during the summer months. Spitsbergen Island attracts colonies of tens of thousands, including species like the Arctic tern, the Brünnich's guillemot, auks, and gulls.

 
For more information about where and when to visit Svalbard islands like Spitsbergen and Jan Mayen, please contact our team of Adventure Life Arctic experts.