Useful to know

Booking in advance

At times, the volume of tourists can be large, and we recommend that you book your lodgings and activities a long time in advance prior to your arrival on Svalbard.

Equipment
If you would like to participate in an organised tour, you should ask the activity provider about what type of clothing and equipment you will need to bring.

Clothing
During the winter, use the warmest and best you have. Several layers of wool, as well as windproof outer garments, are important. If you are going snowmobiling, however, this will still not be enough. On organised snowmobile excursions, the necessary clothing and equipment is usually included. Snowmobile equipment can also be purchased or rented locally. During the summer, we recommend clothes appropriate for a typical autumn tour in the Norwegian mountains. Windproof outerwear and mittens/warm hats are recommended throughout the year. You should always bring extra warm clothes to be prepared for extreme weather conditions.

Footwear
There is plenty of uneven terrain on Svalbard, and solid shoes and mountain boots are highly recommended. The large amounts of snow and ice melting during the summer cause rivers and streams to swell and large areas to become wetlands. Rubber boots are very useful during this period. During winter it is important to wear footwear as warm as possible.

Indoor footwear
On Svalbard it is tradition to take off your shoes when visiting someone’s home, entering accommodation sites or shops and offices. This tradition goes back to the days when the coal mines were located in the middle of the settlement. To avoid dragging coal dust into the houses, the locals would always take off their shoes. Please bring a pair of indoor shoes or warm socks when travelling to Svalbard.

Going on a tour alone?
Familiarise yourself with the regulations for hiking and camping. The nature of Svalbard is powerful, and the weather conditions can change extremely fast. Wind, fog and drifting snow can cause you to suddenly lose your sense of direction. Always let someone know where you are going. Remember a map and compass, and bring an emergency beacon if you are going away on a long trip.

Internal transport
There are no roads connecting the settlements on Svalbard. There are 50 km of road in and around Longyearbyen. During the summer, boats go to Barentsburg several times a week. The light-aircraft flights to Ny-Ålesund are primarily reserved for the researchers and employees working there. During the summer, you can travel to Ny-Ålesund by boat. There is a airport shuttle from Longyearbyen in connection with flight departures/arrivals, and several taxis are available in Longyearbyen.

Passport
All of Svalbard is Norwegian territory, so there is no need for a passport/visa to visit the island or to visit the Russian settlements. Please note, however, that all non-Norwegian citizens must show their passport when returning to the Norwegian mainland.

Travel
The easiest way of getting to Svalbard is by airplane from Oslo or Tromsø. The flight from Oslo is approx. 3 hours – from Tromsø the flight is approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes. The number of weekly flights vary on a seasonal basis.

Services
The number of services available in Longyearbyen is wide-ranging: pharmacy, bakery, bank, bars, library, car- rental, camping, shops, hair- stylists, art-galleries, sports-hall, accommodation facilities, cafes, cinema, church, museum, post-office, travel- agencies, restaurants, snowmobile rentals, swimming hall, hospital, bicycle-rental, dentist, taxi-service, telephone-services, tourist- information centre, a store selling wine and spirits and weapon- rental.

Shopping
Svalbard is not subject to customs and VAT regulations. This means that many goods are cheaper than on the mainland of Norway. Other goods, for example, fruit, vegetables and fresh goods may be more expensive as a result of the higher freight costs. In Longyearbyen, there are small and large shops selling everything from groceries and fresh foods to sports and leisure equipment, gifts and souvenirs. Prices on tours and activities may seem relatively high for some, but in return you are assured a safe and secure high-quality experience.

Telephone/mobile
Since March 2004, Svalbard has been connected with the telephone network on the mainland via a fibre-optic cable. This guarantees high quality telephone coverage in Longyearbyen. There are also pay phones that accept phone-cards at the settlement sites. The country code on Svalbard is the same as that for Norway, +47. The GMS mobile phone network has been built in Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Svea, which are the only areas providing GSM coverage.

Foreign Exchange
Norwegian kroner may be used all over Svalbard, also at the Russian settlement. All major credit cards can be used for payment at most accommodation facilities, activity providers and shops. Many also have payment terminals. There is a cash machine (ATM) in Longyearbyen.

Opening hours
Opening hours may vary from shop to shop and from season to season. We therefore recommend that you obtain a guide over opening hours when you arrive in Longyearbyen.