Things To Do In Svalbard In The Polar Winter

For most people, winter tourism is usually based around ski resorts or winter sun destinations. Few people would consider traveling to the extreme northern latitudes where the sun doesn’t rise for months. Here’s why you should.

Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago halfway between the north of mainland Norway and the North Pole. The islands are home to the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited communities of humans—and plenty of polar bears.

From late October to mid-February the sun stays below the horizon. From mid-November to the end of January, the islands’ biggest community Longyearbyen is in complete darkness aside from moonlight. While this does limit the activities on offer, it’s a truly fascinating time to visit.

See the northern lights

Svalbard is so far north that the optimum place to see the northern lights is actually a little farther south! But because of the relatively low levels of artificial light and 24-hour darkness in November, December and January, the archipelago often has ideal conditions to see a display.

MORE FROM FORBESDisney Announces Luxury Arctic Cruises To Svalbard In 2023By David Nikel

As with anywhere, the unpredictable nature of solar weather (which causes the aurora) and cloud cover means a display can never be guaranteed.

Get to know the locals

Many tourists visiting Svalbard wonder out loud what kind of people choose to live in such a remote place in extreme conditions. While Norwegian is the dominant nationality in Longyearbyen, there is remarkable diversity among the town’s population including many Thai people, Russians and native Spanish speakers. The polar winter is the ideal time to meet some of them and find out their stories for yourself.

Svalbard church is open 24/7 and as such performs an important role as a community center just as much as its function as a place of worship. Aside from a Russian Orthodox church at an Arctic air base, it’s the world’s northernmost church.

Continuing the northernmost theme, Svalbard Bryggeri is the world’s northernmost brewery. The brewery welcomes visitors even during the darkest time when few tourists visit. Tours and tastings are held three times a week, while the brewery’s intimate tap room welcomes all on Friday nights.

The culture center is another top choice to get to know the locals. The local library is much more spacious than you would expect for a community of just a few thousand, while the cozy cafe offers filling lunchtime sandwiches at reasonable prices.

Discover Arctic history at first-hand

The excellent Svalbard museum chronicles the fascinating history of this against-the-odds settlement. From the early days of whaling to the peak of coal mining, the museum does an excellent job of telling the story of how Svalbard has developed.

While you may well see the unique Svalbard reindeer wandering around town, other winter wildlife are harder to spot. The museum profiles the likes of the polar bear, ringed seal, Arctic fox and Svalbard rock ptarmigan so you don’t miss out.

Ride Arctic transport

While Longyearbyen’s compact size encourages walking, the low temperatures and icy ground of the polar winter does not. Visit Svalbard offers several options to see the sights by methods of transport perfectly suited to the Arctic environment.

Do as the locals do and try out a snowmobile. It’s the transport of choice for many locals, while tourists can book themselves on to a variety of tours year-round. During the polar winter, a snowmobile tour in search of the northern lights is a popular choice. Because of the 24/7 darkness, Longyearbyen is one of the few places in the world you can search for the northern lights in the middle of the day, so tours often leave in the late morning.

Husky-pulled sled rides are a perennial favourite whether you want to learn to drive the sled or just enjoy the ride as a passenger. If you don’t like the idea of speed, try out the unique snowcat experience for a guided tour of the town and its surroundings in a truly unique mode of transport.