Svalbard
When is the best time to visit? What are the seasons like? When can I see the northern lights?
Welcome to the captivating world of Svalbard, an island close to the North Pole, where each month unfolds its own unique wonders. From the dazzling radiance of the midnight sun to the tranquil stillness of the polar night, Svalbard's landscape is ever-changing and full of surprises. When to visit is best decided after looking at what each month offers in terms of weather, daylight and activities. Join us as we explore the beauty and diversity of each month, discovering the magic that makes this Arctic paradise so special.
a year on Svalbard
Polar Night
January
In January, Svalbard experiences the height of its polar night, a three-month period of continuous darkness. The only time it gets a bit brighter is during the full moon, when we can see some of the beautiful surroundings. This month is perfect for stargazing or catching a glimpse of the ever so elusive aurora. Snowfall is common during January in Svalbard, creating opportunities for thrilling adventures like snowmobiling and dog sledding. However, the weather can be unpredictable, so these activities are not always guaranteed due to varying conditions.
🌡️ -8°C (17.6°F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes
Pastel Winter
February
In a single phrase, February is known as the "blue hour." As the long dark season comes to an end, each day gets just a little bit brighter. In February, Svalbard remains blanketed in snow, with icy landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see. The polar night begins to recede, allowing for slightly longer periods of daylight. and the end of polar night light, coupled with the snowy mountain peaks, paints the landscape with a breathtaking blue hue for many hours each day. Magical!
🌡️ -10°C to -20°C (14°F to -4°F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes
Pastel Winter
March
March often claims the title of Svalbard's coldest month, and temperatures frequently drop below -20 degrees celsius. The sun has now made its first appearance over the horizon and continues to climb higher, until it, on the 8th of March, shines on the village again, for the first time since October the year before. It’s a month full of celebration, and it sometimes feels like a bit of a rebirth, or starting over fresh. As March frequently blesses us with favourable weather and the days stretch longer it is a great time to explore the island by snowmobile, there is so much to see and do here that is only reachable while there is snow cover.
🌡️ -10°C to -20°C (14°F to -4°F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes
Sunny Winter
April
There are so many different seasons here in the far North and, every month offers a unique experience. It is what keeps life here so exciting. April is the start of the midnight sun season, also known as Polar Day. It’s a month brimming with activity, and in a way it is the main sunny winter month. We have around the clock daylight by mid-april, so there is more than enough daylight to use to explore the beautiful snow-capped mountains and vast white plains. It's a great time to explore the island on snowmobile and it is not uncommon to come across a polar bear or two when out on these trips. It is also a great month for other activities like visiting an ice cave, cross country skiing or mountain hiking.
🌡️ -9°C to -12 °C (17.6°F to 10.3 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Sunny Winter/Midnight Sun Season
May
May is a bit of an in-between month as I like to call it. Neither summer, nor winter, nor spring. There is both snow and lots of sunshine, but the weather can be quite unpredictable. Spring is just around the corner so you never know if the snowmobile weather will last this long, or if the snow will have started to melt already in mid May. I feel like this month is kind of like a mix of all seasons possible. You will see Grim holding on to the last of the snow around our cabin, for dear life. Since the weather is quite impossible to predict for this month, it’s best to not plan too many snowmobile trips from mid-May. The birds have now started to return to our island, and we can hear them singing from the mountain tops again, on May 17th, Norway celebrates its national day, marking the official start of the polar summer.
🌡️ 3 to 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Midnight Sun Season
June
Even though the calendar marks the arrival of summer, Longyearbyen's average temperature in June barely reaches 6 degrees Celsius, but that is summer to us! The island transitions from polar spring to the brief polar summer and the sun now shines around the clock. Snow and ice begin to melt, revealing rugged landscapes and sparking new life, marking the onset of the boating season, opening up places that have been more or less inaccessible all winter just a short boat ride away. There are outdoor adventures such as fjord safaris to see glaciers and exhilarating mountain hikes, as Svalbard embraces the warmth and light of the Arctic summer.
As the midnight sun shines round the clock there is plenty of time to explore the beautiful arctic!
🌡️ 3 to 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Midnight Sun Season
July
In July, Svalbard experiences the peak of its polar summer, characterised by perpetual daylight under the midnight sun. The archipelago's landscapes, adorned with vibrant flora and melting glaciers, come alive with activity. Wildlife abounds as polar bears roam, Arctic foxes scurry, and numerous bird species fill the air with their calls. July offers a plethora of outdoor adventures, including boat trips to witness majestic glaciers, exhilarating hikes amidst breathtaking scenery, and wildlife safaris to encounter the Arctic's iconic creatures.
🌡️ 3 to 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Golden Autumn
August
In August, our world becomes golden. In the glow of the sun, which steadily descends closer to the horizon, everything turns a burnt orange tone. While the whales may have arrived earlier, this is the time when we often see them from our deck, feeding in the shallow waters just outside our cabin. It’s common to hear them before we see them, and spotting one feels like finding a hidden treasure. There is just something so special about whales. As the sun dips lower, golden hour returns, a photographers dream lighting. Toward the end of the month, the sun sets for the first time since April and the dark nights soon return to us as well. We get very little rain here on Svalbard, but in August, there might be a rainy day or two.
🌡️ 3 to 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Golden Autumn
September
September tends to wake us up to the season's first dusting of snow on the mountain peaks and it is not uncommon to see a couple of days of rain during this time of year. The days are now quickly getting shorter, and a moody light takes over the early evenings. After all the endless sunshine, I quite like this period. It is that last bit of late summer, with breathtaking sunsets and cosy evenings. The animals start to prepare to leave for the winter, but we still get quite a lot of whale views from our cabin. It’s not uncommon to look out the window and see a huge pod of belugas swim right by the cabin.The boat season isn’t over yet, so there is still lots of exploring to do, for anyone wanting to make the most of the last daylight.
🌡️ 3 to 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: No
Autumn/Polar Night
October
Although the sun sets toward the end of the month, you quickly sense the dwindling daylight in October. It's once again time for the fantastic "blue hour," just a bit of a slightly different kind since there's usually not much snow on the mountains yet. It’s a month mixed with grey snowy days, blue dreamy days, and northern lights. As the days go by, the daylight hours get shorter and the light more beautiful. We all start to prepare for the months of pitch black darkness that lay ahead and by the end of October, the sun sets for the last time this year and the dark season begins.
When it comes to adventures, this month is an in between one offering neither fjord safaris nor snowmobile excursions. It's a month that is great for hiking, village life and hopefully some aurora sightings if you are lucky!
🌡️ -2 to -6 °C (28 - 21 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes
Polar Night
November
The pitch black darkness arrives by mid November and up until then we have blue mornings and dusky afternoons. The tilt of the earth hides us from the sun for 4 months and 2.5 of those are spent in complete darkness. While this seems to be many people idea of a nightmare, I love it so much. With all the beautiful views hiding in the dark, we get to focus on other things for a while, like enjoying a good book or a meal at a restaurant in town. It is a great time to visit Longyearbyen and get a taste of the calm and cosy village life. Thanks to the endless darkness, the aurora can now also be visible at all times of the day, if you are lucky.
November is about coziness, good food, and lots of coffee!
🌡️ -8 to -14 °C (17.6 - 6.8 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes
Polar Night
December
As you can imagine, the holiday season is extra magical here on Svalbard. Darkness, northern lights, magical mornings underneath a sky full of stars. Seeing as we are so close to the North Pole, we also have a very close relationship with Santa claus. According to longyearbyen legend he lives in a mine in the mountain, and we welcome him back home each year on the first of advent. This truly is the start of a very fairytale like month, the mainstreet adorned in Christmas lights and the sense of community is strong. Our permanent darkness now feels like a natural part of our everyday life, and life just continues like normal. We lean in to the holiday season a little bit extra, and even get Christmas trees imported from the mainland. As you might have noticed throughout the months, there are no trees here on Svalbard. We are so far north, that nothing grows here, and the ground is permanently frozen.
🌡️ -8 to -14 °C (17.6 - 6.8 °F)
✨ Aurora Possibility: Yes