Seasons: when to go

Facts last verified 2026-10-02

There is no bad time to visit Svalbard, but there are very different ones. The light decides almost everything: months without the sun in winter, months when it never sets in summer, and fast changes in between. Spring and autumn barely exist this far north, so the year is usually described as three seasons.

Northern Lights Winter (October to February)

The dark season in Longyearbyen runs from late October to mid-February: 113 days without the sun. At its heart is the polar night, from mid-November to the end of January, when the sun stays more than six degrees below the horizon and there is no daylight at all. Either side of it, in October and February, long twilight colours the sky blue, pink and purple.

• Northern lights are best from 26 October to 16 February. In the polar night you can even see them in the middle of the day. See Northern lights and the polar night.
• Before the snow, from mid-November into December, activities include hiking, ATV safaris and dog sledding on wheeled carts.
• Once the snow arrives, usually in December, you can go dog sledding, snowmobiling, out by snowcat, ski touring by headlamp, or into ice caves.
• Boat trips still run into late November or early December, including evening trips to look for the northern lights.
• Winter is social. The polar night is the cosiest time of year in town, with Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Dark Season Blues festival in late October and Polarjazz in early February.

Expect it to be cold: normal winter temperatures run from −11 °C down to −30 °C, and wind makes it feel much colder. Avalanche forecasts for the area around Longyearbyen start on 1 December.

Sunny Winter (March to mid-May)

The sun returns at the end of February. On 8 March the whole town gathers on the old hospital steps in Longyearbyen to welcome it back, during Solfestuka, the sun festival week. From then on the days lengthen fast. Until about 19 April the light is soft and pastel. From about 20 April the midnight sun takes over, while the ground is still deep in snow.

With snow on the ground and long days, this is a good time for snowmobile trips and dog sledding. To drive a snowmobile you need a valid driving licence; an ordinary car licence (category B) is accepted. The Svalbard Ski Marathon is held in April.

A few rules are specific to this season:

• Polar bears: from 1 March to 30 June, the minimum distance to a polar bear is 500 metres instead of the usual 300.
• Sea ice: after 1 March, motorised traffic is banned on the sea ice in selected fjords.
• Avalanches: the avalanche forecast runs until 31 May. Snow, wind and temperature swings can make popular routes dangerous.

Polar Summer (mid-May to September)

The midnight sun shines over Longyearbyen from about 20 April to 23 August, so for most of the summer it is light around the clock. Summer is the season for boat trips, hiking and kayaking; see Midnight sun and summer activities. Summer temperatures average 3 to 7 °C, so you’ll still want wool and a windproof jacket.

• Boat trips run to glaciers, bird cliffs and Ny-Ålesund, and summer is the season for walrus and whale safaris.
• Expedition cruises sail in summer. Hurtigruten Svalbard’s mini-cruise, for example, runs from 14 May to 7 September in 2026.
• Bird sanctuaries are closed to all traffic from 15 May to 15 August, on land and within 300 metres of the shore.

Golden autumn

After the midnight sun ends on 23 August, the last weeks of the polar summer, to 30 September, are known as the golden autumn. The tundra turns red and gold, and evenings get dark again for the first time in months.

Which season suits you?

• Northern lights and the polar night: late October to mid-February.
• Snowmobiles, dog sleds and winter landscapes in daylight: March to May.
• Midnight sun: late April to late August.
• Boat trips, hiking and expedition cruises: late May to September.
• Fewer visitors: outside March to August, which is the peak season, when SAS and Norwegian add flights.

Whatever the season, dress in layers. Wool and windproof clothing are essential even in summer, because the weather changes quickly.