How to get to Svalbard
Svalbard is one of the most special places on earth. This remote archipelago between Norway and the North Pole has for centuries been a notoriously challenging place to get to – many ships have wrecked off the coast of Svalbard and many early forms of flight have crashed or gone missing. Even the famous explorers like Roald Amundsen were not immune to Svalbard’s harsh location.
Thankfully, technology has arrived at a place where we can travel to Svalbard relatively comfortable. Just fifty years ago, flights in and out of Svalbard were infrequent and challenge. Today, it is pretty easy!
Here is my guide on how to get to Svalbard.
Flying into Svalbard
Where do flights leave from?
The only flights allowed into Svalbard depart from either Oslo or Tromsø. Some tour companies that have a ship in Longyearbyen will charter special flights from other destinations, but it is not possible to book a seat on those planes.
Which airlines fly to Longyearbyen?
In Norway, both Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Norwegian offer flights to Longyearbyen. SAS offers a daily service, while Norwegian operates both days.
Tip: If you are planning to fly to Longyearbyen and are flexible on when you can go, I recommend signing up to the newsletters of SAS and Norwegian and wait for them to email you about a sale. Flights to Longyearbyen can be up to 50% cheaper if you wait for the right sale! I did just that and got round-trip flights for 3000 NOK (it’s normally at least twice that).
Delays and Cancellations
While it feels easy enough to get to Svalbard these days, keep in mind that the region is still exposed to bad weather and strong winds. Since Longyearbyen Airport has a short runway, conditions have to be good for planes to land there. There is a chance (especially in the stormier seasons) that flights will be delayed or cancelled.
If you are joining a cruise in Svalbard, aim to be there 24 hours in advance. If booking excursions, don’t book them for the same day you land!
Direct from Oslo to Longyearbyen
If you are flying direct to Longyearbyen from Oslo, your gate will be in the non-Schengen zone. That means that you will have to clear passport control before heading to the gate. This is because Svalbard isn’t in the Schengen region (see below about vias).
Oslo to Longyearbyen via Tromsø
Some flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo stop in Tromsø. When this happens, you have to get off the plane in Tromsø, go through passport control, and then get back on the plane. I did this when I went to Longyearbyen in March and it was a rushed but easy process.
Tip: Which side of the plane to sit on? Most of the time, the plane comes into Longyearbyen from the north, meaning you get spectacular views of the town from the A seats (left side of the plane).
When leaving, most planes fly south out of Longyearbyen, and I’ve found the best side to be the F seats (right side of the plane).
Longyearbyen to Oslo via Tromsø
I just want to quickly mention the journey back to Oslo via Tromsø. We got off the plane in Tromsø and had to clear passport control, collect our luggage from the luggage belt, head upstairs and re-check our bags in, and then go through security. This was a very stressful process!
Since Tromsø gets many international flights, there was a bit of a wait at the passport control. It then took time for our bags to come out, and the queues upstairs to drop off the bags were crazy. Thankfully staff opened up a line just for those coming from Longyearbyen and going to Tromsø, so that sped things up again. At security (another 10-15 min wait) we had to throw out water and so on, so keep that in mind.
At the moment Tromsø Airport is undergoing a huge renovation so things there are a little messy.
Why am I telling you all this? I wasn’t quite prepared for this hectic 40 minute process, so it caught me off guard. If you can get a direct flight to Oslo, or want to spent a few days in Tromsø, prioritise that instead!
Cruising into Svalbard
Svalbard Express
The main ‘public ferry’ going between the Norwegian coast and Svalbard is Hurtigruten’s Svalbard Express. However, it doesn’t work like a ferry like how the coastal route does. You board the ship in Bergen and spend a few days docking along the coast before making your way to Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund. The ship then heads back south to Bergen, stopping off in some ports along the way.
Cruise Ships
Some cruise ship companies go from the Norwegian mainland to Svalbard. These include:
Some cruise companies combine Svalbard with Greenland or other Arctic regions. These include:
However, if you are serious about seeing wildlife in Svalbard, prioritise booking a cruise that circumnavigates the island.
Visa Requirements
There is no visa required for Svalbard, but you must transit through Norway to get here, and therefore you need to follow the entry rules for Norway.
When leaving Norway to Svalbard, you will have your passport stamped. Svalbard is not part of the Schengen zone.
How to Get to Svalbard
Hopefully this guide has cleared up exactly how to get to Svalbard from other places. Please use the comment section to ask any questions you may have!
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Svalbard, including all the settlements and itineraries for different times of the year.
