svalbard places to visit

Top Things to Do in Svalbard

Things to do in svalbard.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Couples
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Kids
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Svalbard Museum

3. Svalbard Brewery

4. Pyramiden

5. Svalbard Kirke

6. North Pole Expedition Museum

7. Magdalena Bay

8. Svalbard Experts

9. Magdalenefjord Svalbard

10. ArtArctic Gallery

11. Galleri Svalbard

12. Magdalenefjorden

13. Art Hall Svalbard

14. Barentsburg Mine

15. svalbard museum.

16. Kongsfjordbutikken

17. Visit Svalbard

18. Nordover

19. die amundsenvilla in ny-ålesund.

20. Svalbard Buss og Taxi

21. Barentsburg Souvenir Shop

22. Karlsberger Pub

23. Longyearbyen Kunst og handverksenter

24. Barbara Foto & Ramme

25. Svalbard Busservice

26. Longyear 78 Outdoor & Expeditions

27. Golden Hands Wellness

28. Dirigibile Italia Arctic Station

29. Green Dog Svalbard

30. Poli Arctici

What travelers are saying

• Svalbard Museum
• Svalbard Brewery
• North Pole Expedition Museum
• Svalbard Kirke
• Spitzbergen Adventures
• Magdalena Bay
• Magdalenefjord Svalbard
• Husky Travellers
• Svalbard Husky
• Svalbard Busservice

Svalbard is the Arctic North as you always dreamed it existed. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snow-drowned peaks and glaciers, of vast ice fields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless Arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of summer carry a deeper kind of magic. One of Europe's last great wildernesses, this is also the domain of more polar bears than people, a terrain rich in epic legends of polar exploration.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Magdalenefjord

The lovely blue-green bay of Magdalenefjord in Nordvest Spitsbergen, flanked by towering peaks and intimidating tidewater glaciers, is the most popular…

Krossfjorden

This 30km-long fjord north of Ny Ålesund is a popular detour for cruise ships, partly for the scenic beauty of Lillehöökbreen (its grand tidewater glacier…

Wild Photo Gallery

Longyearbyen

This gallery of stunning Svalbard photos by Ole Jørgen Liodden and Roy Mangersnes is small but filled with utterly unforgettable images. A book that…

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Deep inside a mountain, down beneath the permafrost, a vast artificial cavern, already dubbed the Doomsday Vault or a vegetarian Noah's Ark, was opened in…

One of the most intriguing sites in northwest Spitsbergen is Virgohamna, on the bleak, gravelly island of Danskøya, where the remains of several broken…

Svalbard Bryggeri

Having opened for business in 2015, Svalbard's very own brewery makes the very quaffable Spitsbergen IPA, Spitsbergen Pilsener and Spitsbergen Pale Ale –…

Svalbard Museum

Museum is the wrong word for this impressive exhibition space. Themes on display include life on the edge formerly led by whalers, trappers, seal and…

Prins Karls Forlandet

On the west coast of Spitsbergen, the oddly shaped, 86km-long, 11km-wide island of Prins Karls Forlandet is a national park set aside to protect breeding…

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Sep 15, 2022 • 10 min read

Between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a land of extreme climate, glaciers and polar bears. Here's what you need to know for a first-time visit.

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Svalbard and beyond

Top Things to Do in Svalbard, Norway

Places to visit in svalbard.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Couples
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Kids
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Svalbard Museum

3. Svalbard Brewery

4. Pyramiden

5. Svalbard Kirke

6. North Pole Expedition Museum

7. Magdalena Bay

8. Svalbard Experts

9. Magdalenefjord Svalbard

10. ArtArctic Gallery

11. Galleri Svalbard

12. Magdalenefjorden

13. Art Hall Svalbard

14. Barentsburg Mine

15. svalbard museum.

16. Kongsfjordbutikken

17. Visit Svalbard

18. Nordover

19. die amundsenvilla in ny-ålesund.

20. Svalbard Buss og Taxi

21. Barentsburg Souvenir Shop

22. Karlsberger Pub

23. Longyearbyen Kunst og handverksenter

24. Barbara Foto & Ramme

25. Svalbard Busservice

26. Longyear 78 Outdoor & Expeditions

27. Golden Hands Wellness

28. Dirigibile Italia Arctic Station

29. Green Dog Svalbard

30. Poli Arctici

What travellers are saying

• Svalbard Museum
• Svalbard Brewery
• North Pole Expedition Museum
• Svalbard Kirke
• Spitzbergen Adventures
• Magdalena Bay
• Magdalenefjord Svalbard
• Husky Travellers
• Svalbard Husky
• Svalbard Busservice

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Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Svalbard in Winter

January 22, 2023 by Silvia 7 Comments

Even though I’ve been living in Northern Norway for years, it took me quite a long time to visit Svalbard. I finally visited Spitsbergen, the main island of Svalbard, and it turns out Spitsbergen travel is actually easier than I thought, especially if you’re already in Norway. I definitely want to go back again (and again and again) soon.

I chose to visit Svalbard in winter, and I’m so glad I did. While a lot of tourists visit Svalbard in spring and summer to see the polar bears, visiting Svalbard in winter was such a unique experience. I visited in December, when the skies were dark all day and the northern lights were dancing almost every night. 

It was also fun to visit Svalbard, right after visiting the Falkland Islands – both remote island archipelagos on opposite ends of the earth. But while I’d say both make equally exciting destinations, planning a trip to Svalbard is a whole lot easier than planning a trip to the Falklands.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Svalbard, the main thing to keep in mind is the sunlight, or lack thereof. A lot of people want to visit Svalbard to see the polar bears, and you’ll definitely have the best chance of seeing them when there is daylight, from March to September. However Svalbard in winter is also incredible. If you’re on the fence, here are some reasons to consider visiting Svalbard in winter . 

Several years ago LC wrote a guest post about her trip to Svalbard in October , which sounded remarkably different from my trip in December. Now I’ll just have to return in the spring and summer to give you the full picture of the best time to visit Spitsbergen. For now I can at least say that winter in Svalbard is magical.

And if you want more in depth Norway advice, I’ve also gathered all my best tips for planning an incredible trip through both Southern and Northern Norway in two 95-page ebooks that cover everything you’ll need to know to plan a Norway trip that you will love. You can purchase my Norway travel guides here .  

And here are my tips for making your winter trip to Svalbard amazing:

Quick Svalbard Travel Guide

Svalbard Accommodation: Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg  for most unique accommodation, Radisson Blu Polar or Funken Lodge for luxury accommodation, Coal Miner’s Cabins for budget Svalbard accommodation

• Northern Lights Snowmobile Trip
• Northern Lights Hunt By SnowCat   great for families and those with limited mobility
• Svalbard Coal Mine Tour
• Camp Barentz Northern Lights Evening my personal favorite!
• Husky Sledding 

Packing for Svalbard:  You can find my winter packing guide for Norway here , but on Svalbard be sure to bring extra woolen layers, reflectors , snow pants, and some good quality insulated winter boots .

Travel Insurance:  It’s always a good idea to get travel insurance, but especially so when you’ll be traveling to places with lots of snow and ice. I always use World Nomads Travel Insurance , as I’ve had good experiences filing claims with them in the past (which I unfortunately can’t say about some other insurance companies I used before them).

Things to do in Svalbard during polar night

Svalbard is quite the tourist destination these days, plus a lot of arctic tour guides come here to train, so you’ll find lots of tours and guided activities on offer. But don’t worry, due to limited flights and accommodation, even though Spitsbergen has become a tourist destination you won’t find yourself amongst huge crowds of tourists. Not that many people know much about travel to Spitsbergen, so it still feels like an adventure off the beaten path.

And if you want to venture outside of Longyearbyen, you’ll need an armed guide, in case you encounter a polar bear. What’s more adventurous than that?

You can find a huge range of tours on the Visit Svalbard website , but here are the ones I can personally recommend. Oh and if you’re visiting on your own, just be aware that most tours have a minimum of two participants. Three of my tours were actually cancelled because I was the only person signed up. But hopefully if that happens you can just join a different tour.

Hike to an ice cave

This was my favorite thing I did on Spitsbergen!

Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions  organize a hike to an ice cave, which takes about two hours up the mountain and an hour down. It’s the only mountain hike I’ve done through snow in the dark and it was surprisingly really fun! And it’s definitely a unique experience to have on Svalbard. Plus our guide said that every time he leaves the ice cave the daytime northern lights appear – and sure enough there they were when we emerged from the cave.

I will say this hike is a bit challenging so you’ll need to be quite fit – but I managed just fine and don’t have a gym membership. They also provide all the necessary gear for the hike like helmets, ice grips for your boots, and hiking poles.

Husky Sledding

I mean, you know I love husky sledding, and I’d say there’s no better way to feel like a true Arctic explorer than zooming through the frozen wilderness behind your team of huskies.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I always try to choose small, family-run husky experiences where I know the huskies will be loved and cared for like a member of the family. And Arctic Husky Travellers in Svalbard is one of the loveliest husky experiences I’ve had in Norway – and by now I’ve had quite a few!

They also use wheeled carts instead of sleds when there isn’t enough snow, which can often be the case as Svalbard is technically an Arctic desert. We used wheeled carts when I was there and it’s a lot easier to steer them than sleds! I also appreciated that this is an option instead of just canceling the excursion.

Northern lights snowmobile or snowcat tour

I was meant to take this electric snowmobile tour , but since I was the only one signed up I ended up taking this snowcat northern lights hunting tour instead.

While I was definitely a bit bummed to miss out on snowmobiling in the Svalbard wilderness, the snowcat also took us out in the wilderness, while staying a bit warmer than I would have on a snowmobile. The snowcat is a great option for people wanting to get off road into nature without having to drive their own snowmobile (or ride on the back of one).

We didn’t see the northern lights that evening, but it still made for a fun introduction to Svalbard.

Oh and I’ve now updated my northern lights ebook to include more information from my trip to Svalbard! You can purchase the ebook here . 

Camp Barentz northern lights evening

I’ve been on a lot of northern lights tours and they all tend to be fairly similar. Either you drive around in a minivan or bus and maybe drink some hot black currant juice by a camp fire, or you spend the evening in a lavvu tent sitting around a fire, waiting for the lights to come out.

But the Camp Barentz northern lights evening was something different!

Camp Barentz is a short drive out of Longyearbyen, away from the town’s lights, and then they have a few cabins set up where we gathered for a dinner of reindeer stew. I’d say the best thing about the excursion is that it would be a really fun evening even if the northern lights didn’t come out. The stew was delicious, and there were lots and lots of drinks being sent around – including plenty of aquavit, because Norway.

Though it’s kind of funny that that’s my favorite thing about this evening, as it turned out the northern lights were so active that I spent most of the evening outside and missed most of the dinner and the presentation on Svalbard and the northern lights. In fact the northern lights were out during our entire stay there.

I mean, I’m definitely not complaining, but I also feel like I have to go back again to have the full Camp Barentz experience.

Visit a coal mine and the Global Seed Vault

Okay so I didn’t actually get to do either of these. My coal mine tour was rescheduled since I was the only person who signed up, but then on the day it was rescheduled for there was a huge storm and we couldn’t get up to the mine.

But I would have loved to visit a mine on Svalbard, as mining has played such an important role in Svalbard’s history. The mine is also right by the airport, so if you have an afternoon flight you could do the tour in the morning and asked to be dropped off at the airport.

I also would have loved to visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault . I guess I will have to return to Svalbard for that!

Where to eat and drink in Svalbard

Huset restaurant.

I had the most incredible 7-course dinner at Huset Restaurant . You’re probably visiting Svalbard for the nature and wildlife, but getting to know a bit of the foodie culture here made me feel like I was getting to know life on Svalbard a bit better. And this best place for this was definitely Huset!

Kroa is a really cosy pub type restaurant and it was nice and lively when I was there. And again the food here was really tasty.

Arctic Tapas on the Polar Permaculture Bus

Polar Permaculture is a really interesting project run by an American guy and his son in Svalbard where they grow microgreens for restaurants and then collect back the leftovers to compost, in an attempt to reduce waste and better use resources in Svalbard. I visited their greenhouse, but you can also take their Arctic Tapas bus tour and see more of the island or hunt for northern lights while dining on board.

Restaurant Nansen

Nansen is in the Radisson hotel so I largely ate lunch here out of convenience, but the food was actually really delicious! Plus the restaurant is beautiful.

Barentz Gastropub

The Radisson is also home to Barentz Gastropub, which seemed to be one of the happening places in the evenings in Longyearbyen. I ordered a very tasty pizza from here during a blizzard on my last night – though admittedly I didn’t actually eat it in the restaurant. I took it back to my hotel room so that I could watch a movie with my dinner.

Svalbard Bryggeri

And then if you like beer then you have to visit Svalbard Bryggeri for a tasting! Yes, Svablard has its own beer. The story behind this brewery is super interesting, and again I felt like this was a great way to get a closer feel for Svalbard life.

How to get to Svalbard

There are some cruises that go to Svalbard, but the easiest way to get there is to fly into Longyearbyen.

SAS and Norwegian both run flights to Svalbard. You’ll need to connect through Oslo or Tromsø in Norway, and be aware that while Svalbard is part of Norway, it has a separate border so you’ll need to go through immigration to get there. I nearly forgot to bring my passport because I was just thinking that I was traveling within Norway, but thankfully I remembered in time!

Speaking of immigration, thanks to the Svalbard Treaty, Svalbard is in the unique position of being visa-free for any citizen. That’s right, nobody needs a visa to live and work in Svalbard!

However mainland Norway is not visa-free, and it’s part of the Schengen area. This is important to remember if you have a stopover in Tromsø from Oslo, as then you will have to pass through immigration in Oslo before getting your domestic flight to Tromsø, and you may need need a Schengen visa , depending on your country of citizenship.

And then from the airport you can take the Svalbard Airport Bus to your accommodation. Tickets cost 75 NOK for adults, 50 NOK for students, and 25 NOK for children. Alternatively, you can take a taxi into town – it may cost less, depending on the size of your group.

The best Svalbard hotel

I stayed at two different hotels while in Svalbard – and they really were different.

Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg

The first was Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg , which has so much personality and quirky touches that it had to be my favorite. Plus on my first night there I saw a beautiful display of northern lights from the parking lot, so now I’ll always have fond memories of my stay here.

Mary-Ann’s is in a former miners barracks which has now been transformed into a hotel filled with quirky items, including a red miners bus which now offers a smoking shelter and a polar bear sporting boxing gloves.

Check current rates and availability at Mary-Ann’s here

Radisson Blu Polar Hotel

And then I spent my last two nights at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel , which is definitely the best location, right at the end of the main street downtown. It’s similar to other Radisson Blu hotels I’ve stayed at in Norway, with spacious rooms and an incredible breakfast buffet. And they have a sauna and jacuzzi as well.

My one critique would be that the rooms are oddly dark. I don’t know if there’s some sort of reasoning behind that, like how you’re supposed to drink hot drinks in hot weather. Maybe having a dark room makes the darkness outside during polar night feel less intense? Or maybe the lighting was totally normal and I was just craving the brightness of light that only the sun can offer.

Check current rates and availability at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel here

If you’re trying to choose between Mary-Ann’s and the Radisson I would choose Mary-Ann’s for quirkiness and the best cultural experience – every inch of the places was just so very  Svalbard . Whereas I would choose the Radisson for the highest room standard as well as convenience – the location is really perfect, right downtown and with two restaurants on site.

And if you’re on a tight budget, these Coal Miner’s Cabins are a great budget accommodation option for Svalbard!

Packing for Svalbard in winter

I have a winter packing list for Norway here , but packing for Svalbard is a bit different.

I mean yes, Svalbard is surprisingly warm for its latitude thanks to the Gulf Stream, but it’s still a  lot colder than many other parts of Norway. I just checked the weather and while it’s currently 4 degrees C where I am on the island of Vega in the Helgeland coast (which is part of northern Norway, mind you!), right now it’s -20C on Svalbard. Brr.

You can follow my Norway winter packing guide, but I would also be sure to include extra woolen layers, and definitely invest in a warm parka and good quality snow boots. And remember to bring reflectors, as it’s very dark outside!

Your parka doesn’t need to be down (mine isn’t), but I would recommend having a longer one that covers your bum, just for added warmth.

I have these Sorel boots and absolutely love them. The textured soles are really grippy and lift your feet a bit off of the ground, which actually makes quite a difference in keeping your feet warmer. As always, be sure you have plenty of extra room in your boots for thick wool socks. Having air in your boots keeps your feet warmer, so you don’t want your feet to be crammed in.

You also should definitely bring snow pants for this trip. I wore mine pretty much whenever I went outside. Most of the tours will provide overalls and thicker boots, hats, and mittens, but it’s still good to have at least a basic pair of snow pants for when you go outside on your own.

And that’s pretty much it!

I visited Svalbard as part of a paid collaboration with  Visit Svalbard  and  Visit Northern Norway

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January 16, 2020 at 8:26 pm

Are those lovingly arranged Brussels sprouts on that dish at Kroa? Funny :). Also: you wrote ‘nice a lively’ there, and ‘black current juice’ further up!

Question: when you say snow pants, do you mean those thick skiing pants that people buy to go skiing in the Alps (but that no one wears to go skiing at their local track in southern Norway)?

Silvia says

January 18, 2020 at 11:18 pm

Thanks for catching those! Yes, they were funny little Brussels sprouts. And yes, I mean the thick skiing pants used for downhill skiing – at least that’s what I was wearing, and I was very glad for the extra layer of warmth and wind protection.

Christine says

January 19, 2020 at 11:00 pm

Somehow I had thought you could only visit Svalbard by cruise, like Antarctica. I just looked up flights and they’re surprisingly affordable! I think my husband and I will visit this summer, if we can swing it. Thanks for the tips and hope to read about your return to Svalbard in the other seasons as well.

January 30, 2020 at 1:17 pm

Ragnhild says

February 11, 2020 at 12:17 am

Hi Silvia! Thank you so much for giving such friendly feedback about our mining tour, although we couldn’t make it up to the mine that day. I was supposed to be your guide and was really looking forward to meeting you. Too bad! Hope to meet you another time! If you ever travel back up to Svalbard, contact us and we will offer you a new mining tour 🙂

Thanks again!

February 12, 2020 at 1:45 pm

I hope this means you eventually made it off that mountain! I hope you weren’t stuck for too long. I was so sad to miss out on the mining tour, but now I have a good reason to return to Svalbard 🙂

February 12, 2020 at 11:41 pm

Luckily a friend came and pulled me out of the deep snow 🙂 You’re more than welcome to make another visit to Svalbard!

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Once a full-time nomad, I'm now trying to find a balance between continuing to explore off the beaten path places around the world while also building a home in Norway. Want to know more? Head to my About page !

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Out of Your Comfort Zone

The art of backpacking & adventures to get out of your comfort zone – tips and advice, ultimate guide to visiting svalbard, the arctic (even on a budget).

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by Talita

How to visit Svalbard, the northernmost place in the world that can actually be visited by tourists. Although a fairly expensive place, we give tips to save on accommodation, flights, transportation, excursions, and food. If you want to visit the Arctic the cheapest way possible, then this is as close as you can get!

Picture a place that’s quite literally as far north as you can go (unless you somehow make it the North Pole) ….

To a place that’s home to….

….more polar bears (& snowmobiles) than people.

….bizarre, semi-abandoned Russian mining towns (featuring the world’s northernmost Lenin Statue).

….glaciers, ice caves, fjords, and pristine Arctic landscapes.

….the famed “ Doomsday Seed Vault .”

If this list hasn’t given you a hint, Svalbard is an incredible (though strange) place to visit.

After our trip there, we can easily say it’s one of the most unique, stunning places we’ve ever visited.

And, though you might not expect it, it’s surprisingly easy to get to! (All it takes is a 3-hour flight from Oslo, the capital of Norway)

Table of Contents

• 1    Svalbard Fast Facts
• 2    How to Plan a Trip to Svalbard / Svalbard Trip Planning
• 3    Svalbard Accommodation
• 4    Svalbard Transportation
• 5    Svalbard food & drink
• 6    What to do in Svalbard/Svalbard Itineraries
• 7    How to work or study in Svalbard
• 8    Final tips for visiting Svalbard
• 9 Svalbard Attractions, Tours and Activities
• 10 Planning your next trip?

   Svalbard Fast Facts

Where is Svalbard?

In quick terms, Svalbard is waaaaay the heck up there. It’s farther north than Iceland than the Arctic Circle, and than most of Russia and Greenland.

In other words, short of visiting the North Pole, you really can’t visit a place farther north. Especially if you want to visit a place where real humans (not just scientists and researchers) live.

In fact, Svalbard is the northernmost human settlement on our planet!

What is Svalbard?

Svalbard is a group of islands technically owned by Norway. Yet, they don’t operate as a traditional territory since people from any nation of the world can come here to live and work visa-free.

The islands are fairly large (23,561 square meters )  but are mostly uninhabited. The biggest city, the capital Longyearbyen, has just over 2,000 people.

Spitsbergen is the biggest island on Svalbard and is likely where you’ll be spending your visit (since the rest of the islands are so hard to get to).

What is Svalbard’s currency?

Since Svalbard is a part of Norway, they use the same Norwegian Krone as the mainland.

Who lives in Svalbard?

Since anyone can live and work in Svalbard visa-free, this isolated island is surprisingly diverse and is a place people from 50+ countries call home. Naturally, there are many Norwegians but there are also large groups of Russian, Ukrainian, Thai, Swedish, and German people.

What language do people in speak in Svalbard?

Officially, Norwegian. But as with the Norwegian mainland, everyone speaks English.

   How to Plan a Trip to Svalbard / Svalbard Trip Planning

2.1) Do I need a visa to visit Svalbard?

Technically, anyone can visit, live, and work in Svalbard visa-free. The problem is that you’ll have to fly through mainland Norway to get there. And since the flight from mainland Norway to Svalbard isn’t considered an international flight , you’ll need to pass through Norwegian immigration control.

This means that, if you need a visa to get to Norway (or the Schengen zone), then you’ll also need one to cross into Svalbard.

Here is a list of countries that need a visa to enter Norway and thus Svalbard.

2.2) When to visit Svalbard?

This depends 100% on what you want to do while in Svalbard and how well you tolerate cold & the darkness.

We personally went at the beginning of June and found it to be a perfect time of year. It was warmish by Svalbard standards (around 30 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius), yet we were lucky and still had some snow.

There was also 24 hours of daylight when we were there, and there weren’t too many tourists since it was still a few weeks before the high season began (meaning it was fairly easy for us to get into the tours we wanted too….and they also weren’t too full).

There’s still light even at 2:32 AM during Svalbard’s summer!

Note about going during summer high season: from about mid-June to August, there are now going to be a fair number of cruise ships docking in Svalbard. It might be worth confirming with the Svalbard tourist office what dates cruise ships are docking and then do your best to avoid them

There are pros and cons to visiting each part of the year.

If you’re really hardcore and can handle the cold and 24 hours of darkness, then going in the winter would give you a true Arctic experience. For example, we weren’t able to go snowmobiling because we visited Svalbard too late in the season.

However, we were able to take boat rides and see places where the water is too frozen to get to in the winter.

My recommendation is to check the Svalbard Activity Planner  on the Svalbard Tourism website to get an idea of what activities you can do during each season and then decide based on that.  

2.3)  How long to stay in Svalbard?

We had 4 full days + the entire afternoon of the day our flight arrived. This was just about the right amount of time for us to visit/see/do what we wanted.

If we had stayed longer, we probably would have done an overnight trip that took us farther from Longyearbyen.

2.4) Is Svalbard expensive? Is it possible to visit Svalbard on a budget?

Yes and no.

Unfortunately, no matter what you do, Svalbard will never be a budget destination. Even if you choose the cheapest options for accommodation , transportation , and food (all of which we’ll talk about below), the costs of the excursions are what’s going to get you.

Basically, you’ll have to do an excursion almost every day you’re in Svalbard. This is because you can’t leave the town limits without a rifle due to the polar bear threat.

If you’re comfortable renting using a rifle in case of emergency, then you may be able to venture off a bit on your own (which we did for one day and talk about in day #3 of our 5-day itinerary below).

But even if you rent a rifle, you won’t be able to get very far on your own since Svalbard is so big.

In other words, it would be a bit silly for you to come all the way to Svalbard and skip the excursions (and thus miss out on the most incredible parts of the island) because of the cost.

2.5) What about the polar bears?

If there’s one thing people know about Svalbard, it’s the polar bears. And truly, this is something to take seriously.

In town and on an excursion, you’re fine (there are maps that show which areas are safe and if you’re on an excursion, at least one of your guides will have a rifle).

But you don’t have to go very far out of town to be in a polar bear risk zone. In the past, there’s been attacks and deaths of people who left the town and went to these zones without a rifle. So please, do be careful .

I talk more about how to rent a rifle in Svalbard below. 

   Svalbard Accommodation

3.1) Where to stay in Svalbard

Likely, you’ll be staying somewhere in the capital city Longyearbyen. That’s where we stayed, so we’ll talk about options for staying there.

On the off chance you want to spend a night somewhere else, both Barentsburg and Pyramiden have a single hotel. Here is the link to the hotel in Barentsburg , and here is the link to the hotel in Pyramiden .

3.2) The best place to stay in Longyearbyen: our top recommendation

We had the privilege of being invited (by Mary Ann herself!) to stay at Mary Ann’s Polarrigg. And we’d highly recommend it to anyone else coming to Svalbard!

The Polarrigg, which was originally barracks for coal miners, is a place brimming with personality— from its cozy wooden interiors to its quirky arctic decor.

They have a variety of rooms (or even complete, furnished apartments) for you to choose from.

Basic private rooms with shared bathroom

Luxury rooms with private bathroom

Complete, private apartment (where we stayed)

There’s an inviting common area with WiFi (although the WiFi was sometimes a bit too slow to use) in the main rig, and a shared kitchen you can use for a fee. Since we stayed in the apartment and had our own kitchen, we didn’t use this shared one.

They also have a restaurant on-site which serves meals all day (including a buffet-style breakfast). There’s a spa, as well. We didn’t try either of these things personally since we were trying spending most of our budget on excursions….but they both look nice and are highly-reviewed!  

The Polarrigg is about a 5 minutes walk to the town center.

We do have to admit that staying here isn’t the cheapest option. But between the comfy, cabin-y atmosphere of the Polarrigg and the charm and energy of Mary Ann, we know you’ll have a great time if you do!  

3.3) The cheapest place to stay in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

If you’re really on a budget , then it looks like the cheapest place to stay in Svalbard is the campground.

They have tents and arctic-grade sleeping bags for you to rent (for an extra fee), hot showers, and a shared indoor kitchen.

The biggest downfall is that it’s actually right next to the airport and thus quite far away from Longyearbyen center (it’s maybe an hour walk or so from the town center).

Luckily, if you take tours or excursions they can pick you up at the campsite. But if you need to buy groceries to use the kitchen or want to explore Longyearbyen, you’ll either have to walk or take the airport shuttle bus (approximately 120 NOK round trip with a schedule that revolves around flight times).

3.4) Other budget options for Svalbard accommodation

   Svalbard Transportation

4.1) How to get to Svalbard

Any flight you take to Svalbard will have a connection on mainland Norway (usually Oslo, but sometimes Tromsø).

If flights from your departure city to Svalbard seem expensive, here’s something you can try: see if it’s cheaper for you first to buy a flight from your departure city to Oslo, and then a separate flight from Oslo to Svalbard.

See our article with 16 tips to find cheap flights before you start searching for your flight to Svalbard.

4.2)  How to get from the Svalbard Airport to Longyearbyen Town Center

You have two options.

#1) Walk from the airport into town (about an hour — it’s just one straight road there so it’s impossible to get lost)

#2) Take the Svalbard airport bus. The bus costs 75 NOK (or 120 NOK roundtrip). The bus runs around the flight schedule, so no need to book in advance. The bus should be there when your flight arrives. You can buy your bus ticket directly on the bus with cash or credit card.

Here’s Svalbard airport bus timetable (this can change, so always check an updated schedule before your trip):

The bus stops at most accommodation options in Longyearbyen, so just tell the driver where you need to go. You can see a map of bus stops and read more info here.

4.3) How to get around Svalbard

The city of Longyearbyen is small (2,000 ish people). And since you won’t be walking beyond the city because of the polar bear risk, you can easily walk anywhere you need within the city.

Any excursions you schedule will pick you up from your accommodation directly so there’s no need to arrange transportation to a pickup point.

Renting a car isn’t really worth it because weather conditions aren’t great for much of the year, and there are very few roads (snowmobiles in the winter and boats in the summer are much better ways to get around).

In other words, between walking and transportation provided by excursions, you won’t really have to organize anything else.

   Svalbard food & drink

As expected, eating out in Svalbard is expensive (a little more expensive than eating out in mainland Norway).

So, we can’t actually recommend any good restaurants since we didn’t eat out personally.

If you’re looking to visit Svalbard on a budget, then you’ll likely be buying most of your food at the local grocery store (there’s only one and it’s downtown – you can’t miss it).

We had a kitchen in our apartment at Mary Ann’s Polarrigg, so we likely saved a lot of money by cooking our own food. Many of the accommodation options in Svalbard have kitchens as well, but you’ll want to ask to be sure.

During full-day excursions , your lunch is covered (although you may want to bring snacks).

   What to do in Svalbard/Svalbard Itineraries

What you do in Svalbard will depend on the time of the year you’re going since certain activities are only available during certain parts of the year (ex. snowmobiling in the winter, fjord boat rides in the summer, etc.).

So while we maybe can’t help you with an itinerary that works year-round, we can tell you what we did during our visit in June and the tour companies we went with (all of which we’d highly recommend based on our experience).

On that note…

6.1) Our Svalbard 5-day itinerary (for summer/June)

Day 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen and city/area tour with SvalbardBuss

Our flight landed in Svalbard around noon and, since we had 24 hours of daylight, we wanted to get the most from our first day.

So, we booked a city & area tour with SvalbardBuss.

As you’ll probably know if you’ve read other articles on our website, we usually prefer to do things by ourselves and opt out of tours. But since it’s so hard to get around in Svalbard (between the polar bears and unwalkable distances between things), we decided our best option was this tour.

Here’s just a few of the things we visited on the tour around Longyearbyen :

The famous “don’t go beyond this sign unless you have a rifle because that’s where the polar bears are” sign

EISCAT Radar Station (featuring some adorable polar dogs!)

Views of the fjords

Global Seed Vault (aka the “Doomsday Seed Vault”) — Photo by Ethan Ableman

The reindeer of Longyearbyen

Most of these places (like the satellite station and the Global Seed Vault) were things that we would never have been able to get to ourselves. So, even if the tour might seem a bit expensive (they’re 345 NOK or a little over $40 USD), it really is a great option.

The tours are 2 hours long, will pick you up directly from your hotel or accommodation, and run twice a day at 10 AM and 4 PM. You can book online here.

Once you finish your tour, don’t forget to spend a bit of time wandering around the strange, though surprisingly charming town of Longyear!

If you like, you can pick up a map from your accommodation or the tourist office of Longyearbyen (although Longyearbyen is so small you likely won’t need one).

And although we didn’t have time to visit, the Svalbard Museum is also supposed to be quite nice.

Day #2: Fjord Cruise to Esmark Glacier & Barentsburg with Henningsen

Clocking in at just under 600 residents, Barentsburg is Svalbard’s 2nd biggest ‘city’ and its last remaining Russian settlement.

Between the brightly colored canteen and dorms where Barentsburg residents (primarily miners and their families) eat and live….

The leftover communist propaganda (which the residents do seem to enjoy making fun of)….

This one says “communism is the goal”

And the Lenin Statue ….

….stepping into Barentsburg will make you feel like you’ve been transported straight back to Soviet times.

Although there’s a few companies that do tours to Barentsburg, we went with Henningsen and we go with them again in a heartbeat.

Beyond your tour in Barentsburg, you’ll also have a lovely cruise through the fjords ….

…. and pass by a glacier (where we saw 3 polar bears!).

Photo courtesy of Clare Storry

Plus get a tasty BBQ lunch! 

Henningsen runs tours to Barentsburg every day March 1st to October 24th.   

Make sure you dress warmly so you can sit either inside or outside the boat and enjoy the view.

And if your extra lucky, you’ll even have our favorite guide, Marcus! (Honestly, he was the best. I’d even ask Henningsen beforehand what days he’s working to see if you can join his tour).

Thanks, Marcus!

You can read more and book your boat tour to Barentsburg with Henningsen here.

In the winter, tours to Barentsburg are done by snowmobile.

Day #3: Independent hike up Sarkofagan Mountain (without a tour/excursion)

If you are not 110% comfortable renting a rifle and using it in the case of a polar bear attack, then you should absolutely not even consider this as an option (instead, you should schedule an excursion/tour with a guide for each day of your trip).

But if you feel comfortable with a rifle, then there are quite a few mountains surrounding Longyearbyen that you can easily hike in a day.

In our case, since Rodrigo has a few years of military experience (including weapon training) and we are both strong hikers, he decided to rent a rifle one day so we could head out hiking on our own.

We asked locals, tour guides, and the tourist office for recommendations (which you should do as well), and settled on Sarkofagen mountain because 1) it wasn’t too far away, 2) it was almost impossible to get lost, and 3) conditions seemed to be good (as in, the river wasn’t too high to cross and the glaciers were safe to walk on).

If you think you feel comfortable doing an independent day yourself, scroll down to our “exploring Svalbard without a tour” section below for more info.

On last warning: do NOT attempt an independent hike like this without renting a rifle because you don’t think it’s necessary. There have been polar bear attacks very close to Longyearbyen and taking the chance isn’t worth it.

Day #4: Arctic Challenge (Hiking & Kayaking) with Svalbard Wildlife

This particular tour, considered to be the most physically challenging day tour you can do around Longyearbyen, is great for adventurous travelers!  

The tour begins by kayaking from Longyearbyen to the other side of the fjord, hiking to the top of the mountain there (called Hiorthfjellet) for a view of the city, then hiking down and kayaking back to Longyearbyen.

Hiorthfjellet is that mountain on the other side of the fjord

One reason we chose this tour was for the physical challenge. But also because we knew that even if Rodrigo rented a rifle again, we wouldn’t have been able to get all the way to this particular mountain on our own.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hike Hiorthfjellet because there was a polar bear sighting on that side of the fjord, and authorities weren’t able to scare it away with the helicopter nor track where it went.  

So instead, we did the originally planned kayak route, then returned to our side of the fjord to hike Trollsteinen (a mountain behind Sarkofagen, the mountain we’d climbed the day before).

Honestly, this trip was maybe a bit expensive for what it offered (or maybe we just felt that way because we ended up hiking a similar route to what we did the day before on our own). But it was still a great physical challenge, and being able to go with a group was a lot less stressful than just the two of us and a rifle.

And, of course, kayaking with all the cold weather gear was quite the experience!

Svalbard Wildlife runs this tour Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from June to September. You can read more info and book here .

Day #5: Fjord cruise to Nordenskiöld Glacier & the (almost) abandoned city Pyramiden with Henningsen

If you thought Barentsburg was bizarre, just wait until you visit Pyramiden!

This once booming Russian mining town, which was home to 1,000 people, is now home to just 9 isolated residents. Yet, the town has remained almost entirely as it was during its Soviet “glory days .”

(Read more about Pyramiden and its bizarre history here )

Though many of the buildings are now locked up if you’re lucky your guide will open up a few for you to explore…

Abandoned recreation center

As with the cruise to Barentsburg, the trip to Pyramiden is equally stunning and hopefully filled with wildlife (we saw 2 blue whales, a pod of beluga whales, and a polar bear from a distance). Admittedly, the boat ride is kind of long….but chatting with fellow passengers , admiring the view, and taking a bit of a cat nap will certainly keep you entertained.

Like with our trip to Barentsburg, we also went with Henningsen and our favorite guide Marcus.

Henningsen runs boat tours to Pyramiden every day March 1st to October 24th. You can read more about the tour and book here.

One more thing: check with the tour company before your trip to make sure the ice isn’t too thick for you to dock at Pyramiden. This sometimes happens and you won’t be refunded if it does.

6.2) Svalbard Winter Itinerary & Activities

The first thing to decide is if you want to go during the “Northern Light Winter” with 24 hours of darkness (1st October – 28th February) or the “Sunny Winter” (1st March – 16th May).

Again, we weren’t there in the winter so we can’t help too much with this. But like I mentioned above, you can check out the Svalbard Activity Planner on the Svalbard Tourism website to see all your options for winter tours and activities.

Some popular winter activities in Svalbard include:

• Snowmobile trips to Barentsburg and Pyramiden
• Snowshoeing/cross country skiing
• Dog sledding
• Northern light cruises
• Ice cave tours

One last tip: before you book an excursion, check the reviews for the tour company on Tripadvisor to see if other people have had good experiences.

6.3) How to visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (the “doomsday vault”)

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to visit the interior of the vault. But you can see it from the outside!

The vault isn’t too far away from Longyearbyen, so it might be possible to hike there. However, it is outside the “safe from the polar bear zone,” so you’d need to rent a rifle to make the hike.

Otherwise, as we mention in day #1 of our itinerary above, we highly recommend doing the Longyearbyen and surrounding area tour with SvalbardBuss (which includes a stop outside the Global Seed Vault).

6.4) How to visit Barentsburg

In the summer, there are a few companies that have boat tours to Barentsburg (which also include a tour of Barentsburg once you arrive).

Most of the companies use expedition, icebreaker-type boats (which are awesome because they let you get closer to the glaciers) that have indoor/outdoor seating, and go more slowly.

Like we said in our itinerary above, we went with Henningsen (in one of the slow/expedition/icebreaker-type boats) and had a great time. Scroll up to day #2 of our itinerary for more info about our trip to Barentsburg.

If you wanted to spend the night in Barentsburg, you can try talking to some of the tour companies and see if you can negotiate a 1-way trip (or a round trip that has you coming back on a different day).

In the winter, Barentsburg is only accessible by an overland snowmobile tour.

6.5) How to visit Pyramiden

Visiting Pyramiden is fairly similar to how you’d visit Barentsburg. You either have the option of a slow/expedition/icebreaker-type boat or a fast boat.

As with Barentsburg, we also went in the slow/expedition/icebreaker-type boat with Henningsen and had a wonderful trip. Scroll up to day #5 of our itinerary for more info about our trip to Pyramiden.

In winter, Pyramiden is also only accessible by snowmobiling across the frozen fjords.

6.6) Exploring Svalbard without a tour/by yourself

If you want to venture out beyond Longyearbyen on your own to hike one day like we did (day 3 in the itinerary above), then there’s two important steps you need to take: #1) rent a rifle and #2) ask about the weather and environmental conditions.

Keep on readin’ for some more details about these two steps.  

6.7) Exploring Svalbard without a tour: how to rent a rifle in Svalbard

IF you are comfortable operating a rifle when confronted with a polar bear, then you can rent a rifle to do some individual exploring.

If I was by myself, I would never have dreamed about renting a rifle alone. However, since Rodrigo has military experience and is comfortable operating a weapon if necessary, he rented the rifle (you just need a single rifle per group).

One VERY important thing to know: rifles should primarily be used to scare a polar bear away. Shooting them is an absolute last resort. 

https://www.sysselmesteren.no/en/

Here are the steps you need to take to rent a rifle in Svalbard:

Step 1:   Fill out this application form here and provide a “Certificate of Good Conduct” from your home country. Rodrigo used a background check from his home country, Brazil, as his “Certificate of Good Conduct.”

The “Certificate of Good Conduct” must be in either English or Norwegian, so I then translated the document for him into English from Portuguese.

Step 2:   Print out both forms, sign the application, then email it to the governor’s office on this website here.

Step 3: If you’re approved, you’ll receive an email letting you know with an attached “approved form.” Print this out and bring it to Svalbard with you.

Step 4: When you arrive in Svalbard, bring this form (along with your passport) to Longyear 78 Outdoor & Expedition sports store to rent your rifle. The store is right downtown near the supermarket.

Step 5:   They walk you through using the rifle, you pay the rental and bullet fee and demonstrate you know how to use the rifle, and off you go!  

6.8) Exploring Svalbard without a tour: check the conditions

Conditions change fast in Svalbard and there’s some unexpected natural hazards you need to watch for (meltwater in glaciers, avalanche zones, polar bear sightings, etc.). So, we’d highly recommend talking with the people at your accommodation, the tourist office, tour guides, or locals to see if your hiking route is safe to do currently.

Safety note: If you are heading out by yourself, tell someone (receptionist at your hotel, the person you rent the gun from at the sports store, etc.) where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Tack on a few extra hours to your estimate and ask them to let the authorities know if you aren’t back by then.

   How to work or study in Svalbard

Unlike the rest of Norway (and most other places in the world), Svalbard is a 100% visa-free zone. In other words, anyone from anywhere in the world can come to live and work without a work visa in Svalbard.

If you do plan to stay long-term and arrive without a job offer, however, you do have to show proof of funds to support yourself.

This article here  does a great job breaking down what it’s like to move to and work in Svalbard.

If you want to study, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) has courses in biology, geology, geophysics, and technology. It’s also the world’s northernmost higher education institution in the world!

To see their courses and learn how to apply, check their website here .

   Final tips for visiting Svalbard

• Bring good binoculars. This wasn’t even something we thought about before our trip, and we wish we had. Luckily, we had really nice guides who let us use their binoculars. But without them, we wouldn’t have been able to spot those 3 polar bears on the glacier or look at the blue & beluga whales more closely. (Which would have been pretty heartbreaking after going all the way to Svalbard!) You can check some binoculars models and prices here. 
• Bring lots of layers and warm clothes. Since you’re in the arctic….this should be pretty obvious. Even though we were there in the “summer,” most days I still wore my winter parka (it was around 0 Celsius even in the summer) . Many tour companies will also send you an email after you book an excursion with clothing recommendations.
• Get crushed ginger or seasickness pills . As you saw in our itinerary, we took lots of boat rides while in Svalbard. If you’ll be there during this same season and are prone to seasickness, make sure you bring something for it (seriously, crushed ginger is amazing for this). You can also find some to buy here. 

Svalbard Attractions, Tours and Activities

If you are looking for activities to do in Svalbard, I recommend looking at Viator and GetYourGuide . These sites have some very fun options for activities, and the best, several promotions.

GetYourGuide

If you didn’t get enough of Svalbard in this looong article, here’s another for you: 18 Amazing Facts about Svalbard .

And that’s it!

Have you been to Svalbard before? Do you have any other tips you’d like to add? Or do you have any of your own questions? Let us know in the comments below!

—– 

A quick disclaimer: we had the privilege of partnering with several of the companies and brands mentioned in this article. As part of our partnerships, we were hosted or may have received discounted rates in exchange for writing honestly about our experiences with them. But as always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% our own.

Planning your next trip?

 Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes .

 Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets. 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.

4 Responses

Hi, very useful info, thanks. What about renting cold weather clothing? We’re going feb 2023.

Sylvia Scales

Hi Sylvia – glad to hear the article helped!

Hmm I’m afraid I don’t know too much about cold weather clothing rentals. Since we went during the summer, we could “get away with” our normal winter jackets.

Do you already know what activities you’re going to be doing while you’re there? I know if you book a snowmobile excursion or the like, they will probably supply heavy-duty winter gear. So it might be worth contacting some of these companies and seeing if you could rent out these clothes for your entire stay.

If you find somewhere you can rent, do you mind commenting back here so I can update the article for other travelers?

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Next stop….The DMZ, South Korea

Top Things to Do in Svalbard, Norway - Svalbard Must-See Attractions

Things to do in svalbard.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Couples
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Kids
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Svalbard Museum

3. Svalbard Brewery

4. Pyramiden

5. Svalbard Kirke

6. North Pole Expedition Museum

7. Magdalena Bay

8. Svalbard Experts

9. Magdalenefjord Svalbard

10. ArtArctic Gallery

11. Galleri Svalbard

12. Magdalenefjorden

13. Art Hall Svalbard

14. Barentsburg Mine

15. svalbard museum.

16. Kongsfjordbutikken

17. Visit Svalbard

18. Nordover

19. die amundsenvilla in ny-ålesund.

20. Svalbard Buss og Taxi

21. Barentsburg Souvenir Shop

22. Karlsberger Pub

23. Longyearbyen Kunst og handverksenter

24. Barbara Foto & Ramme

25. Svalbard Busservice

26. Longyear 78 Outdoor & Expeditions

27. Golden Hands Wellness

28. Dirigibile Italia Arctic Station

29. Green Dog Svalbard

30. Poli Arctici

What travellers are saying

• Svalbard Museum
• Svalbard Brewery
• North Pole Expedition Museum
• Svalbard Kirke
• Spitzbergen Adventures
• Magdalena Bay
• Magdalenefjord Svalbard
• Husky Travellers
• Svalbard Husky
• Svalbard Busservice

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59 European Places You NEED To Visit In Your Lifetime

Posted: December 15, 2023 | Last updated: December 15, 2023

Europe's unmissable sights

For such a small continent, Europe certainly punches above its weight. There are countless things to see, do, eat, learn and admire here – from historic neighborhoods to natural wonders. Read on to discover 59 European places you should definitely add to your bucket list.

Go on a polar adventure in Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard is the final frontier before the North Pole and one of the world's northernmost inhabited areas. A place of dramatic landscapes, it’s perfect for observing the mesmerizing Northern Lights throughout winter, while summers bring perennial sunlight. As one of Europe’s last true wildernesses, it’s also great for spotting Arctic foxes and polar bears.

Visit Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland

Located in Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, the Santa Claus Village is the “official residence” of Santa and his helpers. Visit the post office and write your wishlist, or stop by the Santa Claus office to meet the mythical man himself. With its Christmassy shops, snow hotel and a year-round festive atmosphere, even adults will believe in the magic.

See the chateaux of the Loire, France

More than 300 castles are dotted throughout the Loire Valley, and many of them are open to the public. Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most exquisite: the 16th-century Chateau de Chenonceau. If you come to this picturesque region during the summer, you'll catch the captivating sound-and-light shows put on at many of the chateaux.

Hike in England’s Lake District, UK

Lace up your hiking boots and discover how the beauty of the Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – inspired William Wordsworth to write his sublime poetry. Follow in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright, the intrepid hiker whose Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells is still required reading more than 70 years after he first started writing it. Whether you walk his signature routes or blaze your own trail, the majesty of the Cumbrian countryside won't fail to blow you away. Don't miss Bassenthwaite, Wastwater and Derwentwater, some of the prettiest lakes in the national park.

Climb the Three Towers in San Marino

Looming high above one of Europe’s smallest countries, the Three Towers are located on a trio of Monte Titano's peaks and used to serve as fortification during medieval times. Today only two towers are open to the public; when you reach the top of the highest tower, the Guaita fortress, you’ll be enchanted by sweeping views in all directions. San Marino is surrounded entirely by Italy and doesn't have its own airport or train station, so the Italian city of Rimini is your gateway to this elusive microstate.

Take a road trip in Iceland

For an unforgettable road trip, tackle some or part of the 828 miles that make up Iceland’s Ring Road. Leave at least 10 days to get to know some of the country’s most scenic spots. You'll go right past the huge blue-and-white expanse of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, as well as the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, whose thundering cascade you can walk behind – just remember to pack your waterproofs.

Explore Andalucia's white villages, Spain

For a break from the beach crowds along the Costa del Sol, head into the mountainous countryside of Andalucia. Take a tour of the interior’s white villages, called pueblos blancos. One of the prettiest is Zahara de la Sierra, which overlooks a giant reservoir and features the remains of a Moorish fortress clinging to the mountainside.

Get musical in ABBA the Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

Fans of Sweden’s most famous musical exports can find out how Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Bjorn and Benny rose to fame in this fun museum. Listen to the fab foursome's memories of how they put Swedish pop music on the map, and see how you would look in their fantastically spangly costumes. Singing and dancing aren’t obligatory, but hard to avoid.

Hit the slopes in Grandvalira, Andorra

Feast on khinkali in Tbilisi, Georgia

Originating from the Caucasus mountain regions, khinkali are filled dumplings that you’ll find in every traditional Georgian kitchen. Most commonly they’re filled with a mix of spiced beef and pork mince with fried onions, but the fillings can range from mushrooms to various combinations of different vegetables. You'll find some of the best in Georgia's capital Tbilisi, at joints like Cafe Daphna and Amo Rame Bani. Eat the khinkali with your hands and try to slurp up the hearty broth inside without spilling a drop.

Relax in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, France

Pull up a green chair and chill out in one of Paris ’ most elegant green spaces. Kids will love racing toy boats on the ornamental pond in front of the 17th-century Luxembourg Palace. Stroll through woods and past elaborate fountains and elegant statues. Play a round of tennis if you're feeling active – if not, exercise the brain with a game of chess.

Visit Lisbon’s Bairro Alto, Portugal

Portugal’s capital has an enchanting old town, filled with cobbled streets and vintage trams that trundle through its historic quarter. Lisbon ’s layout harks back to its Moorish past, with narrow lanes and twisting alleyways. The old town is one of the liveliest parts of the city, with plenty of restaurants and bars where you can listen to the haunting sounds of fado, Portugal's Unesco-inscribed traditional music.

Hike along the Princes’ Way, Liechtenstein

Visit Rome's Pantheon, Italy

Rome is full of ruins, but the wondrous construction that is the Pantheon has been standing intact since AD 128. You can’t help but marvel at the coffered dome and its oculus that lets the light (and rain) in. It's one of Rome's most beautiful buildings, having started life as a Roman temple before becoming a Catholic basilica. As of July 2023, you have to pay for a ticket to peek inside – look out for the tombs of two Italian kings, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I.

Explore Bergen, Norway

Norway’s second-largest city is in a breathtaking location surrounded by seven towering mountains and impossibly deep fjords. Stroll along Bergen's old wharf past brightly colored wooden houses, and hop on a ferry for a tour of the fjords. A visit to the fish market will whet your appetite for fresh seafood in the city's waterside restaurants.

Listen to live music in Galway, Ireland

Take a ride in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

Flop on western Algarve beaches, Portugal

You’ll find some of Portugal’s best beaches along this western strip of the Atlantic coast. Look out for Praia do Martinhal, one of the region’s most appealing beaches. It's one of the gentlest, as it's sheltered from the full force of the Atlantic's waves by the promontory at Sagres. It's only 90 minutes from the nearest airport at Faro, but it's a world away from the busier resorts of the eastern Algarve.

Ride a pedal boat through Amsterdam, Netherlands

Take the train from Koblenz to Mainz, Germany

Taste the tapas of San Sebastian, Spain

This northern Spanish city is famed for its delicious tapas – known as pintxos in the local Basque language. Take a slow bar crawl through the old town, nibbling these morsels of ham, seafood, cheese or olives along the way. They're either on bits of bread or on toothpicks, which you then tot up to find out how much to pay. Don't miss the Playa de la Concha, one of the loveliest city beaches in Europe.

Visit Bruges’ offbeat museums, Belgium

Three of Belgium’s most prized products – fries, chocolate and beer – get their own museum. At the Bruges Beer Experience, reward yourself with a craft brew in the museum's taproom after taking a tour. At Choco-Story, you'll discover the fascinating history of chocolate and see how it's made. And as you wander through the Frietmuseum, the smell of fried potatoes will eventually lead your nose to the museum's cafe.

See Berlin’s East Side Gallery, Germany

There isn’t much left of the Berlin Wall, but there’s a stretch in old East Berlin that's become the longest open-air gallery in the world and shouldn’t be missed. Check out the graffiti and street art mocking just about everything from politics to industrialisation. It's right on the edge of Kreuzberg, still one of Berlin's hippest districts after all these years.

Catch the best view of Venice, Italy

Leave the crowds of Piazza San Marco behind and hop on a vaporetto (water bus) to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The church’s bell tower (currently closed for maintenance) typically allows you to see the best views of Venice – and there’s even a lift to the top. Elsewhere, use the vaporetto to explore some of Venice's lesser-known districts, including Giudecca and the studenty part of Dorsoduro.

Go shopping in Monte Carlo’s Carre d’Or, Monaco

Watch Prague’s astronomical clock, Czechia

For more than 600 years, this mechanical marvel by Prague’s Old Town Hall has been putting on a performance every hour. Watch the procession of Apostles and statues as they mark each hour in mesmerizing style. You can catch it every hour on the hour from 9am until 11pm. While you're there, don't miss a visit to the dazzling interior of the Old Town Hall, a complex of several Gothic buildings.

Visit Riga’s old town, Latvia

Latvia’s capital is a pleasure to explore, particularly Riga’s old town on the Daugava River’s eastern side. Walk along cobbled streets admiring the magnificent medieval and Baroque architecture before taking in the views from the top of St Peter’s Church tower. Because the tower soars to 425 feet, you'll have splendid vistas of the old town's crenelated roofs, the historic zeppelin hangars that now house Riga Central Market and the uber-modern National Library of Latvia across the water.

Soak in Budapest’s spas, Hungary

Explore Kazimierz Jewish Quarter in Krakow, Poland

Go hiking in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia

The Tatra Mountains form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and feature more than 90 lakes and 35 valleys. Keen hikers can join a hut-to-hut guided tour and keep an eye out for wildlife, including lynx and bears. The town of Poprad is a handy starting point for guided or self-guided walks, as it's right by Tatry-Poprad airport.

See the art in London's National Gallery, England, UK

It’s one of the world’s finest art galleries – and as it’s free, it’s one of London ’s best bargains. The National Gallery’s huge collection covers everything from 13th-century paintings to works from the early 20th century. Among the 2,300-odd artworks are some of the world's best-known paintings, including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait.

Stop for a coffee in Vienna’s coffeehouses, Austria

Visit the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Enjoy Ljubljana’s riverside cafes, Slovenia

Slovenia’s capital is one of the most visually appealing in Europe; a harmonious blend of Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture – not to mention an attractive string of cafes and bars along the Ljubljanica River. Some of the bars suit certain times of the day: for example, the ones along Petkovskovo nabrezje are the buzziest at happy hour. On hot summer days, head south to the large grassy area of Spica.

Eat oysters in Mali Ston, Croatia

Take a boat ride on Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK

Get the best view of Loch Lomond from the vantage point of a boat – anything as simple as a pedal boat to a large speedboat with its own skipper. Stop for a walk on a lake island or a lochside village. Loch Lomond forms part of the Trossachs National Park, the place to "bag some Munros" – walk up a Scottish mountain that's higher than 3,000 feet. You've got 21 here to choose from. Alternatively, explore Scotland by cruise ship – its coastline and islands make for an epic seafaring adventure.

Visit Kotor, Montenegro

Visit the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania

Allow plenty of time to explore the fascinating old town of Vilnius – it’s one of the largest intact medieval old towns in Europe, an enchanting mishmash of all sorts of architectural styles, from Gothic to Neoclassical. But Baroque is the king here, including the imposing 17th-century St Casimir's Church. For superb views, climb the 193 wooden steps to the top of St John's Church bell tower.

Lose yourself in Sarajevo’s Ottoman Quarter, Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Ottomans founded Sarajevo in the 15th century, and you can still see the strong Turkish legacy in the Bosnian capital’s old Bascarsija quarter. It’s like a mini Istanbul, with souk-like stalls squeezed in among cafes and silversmiths and coppersmiths working their metals in tiny workshops. You'll spot their little coffee pots in cafes, whose Turkish coffee – called bosanska kava – will keep you going for hours.

Ride a boat through Gothenburg’s waterways, Sweden

Visit Beyoglu in Istanbul, Turkey

Once you’ve seen Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Istanbul’s other landmarks in Sultanahmet, head across the Golden Horn to Beyoglu. The district's Istiklal Street is one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan in the city. Check out the little side alleyways where jazz clubs lurk in spaces hardly larger than cubbyholes.

Come to Lake Bled, Slovenia

Slovenia's Lake Bled really does look like something out of a fairy tale. There’s even a medieval castle perched atop the lakeside cliffs. Rising from an islet in the centre of the lake is the Baroque-style Church of the Assumption and its striking bell tower. Once you ride to the island on a wooden boat called a pletna, tradition has it that you should climb the 99 stone steps to the top of the church tower and ring the bell yourself.

Visit Symi, Greece

It’s hard to choose among Greece’s 227 inhabited islands, but if you have to pick one, go for Symi. This small Dodecanese island has one of the prettiest ports, a riot of colorful houses tumbling to the water’s edge – not to mention excellent beaches. On the days when it's too hot to hike to the beach, just take a water taxi from Symi harbor.

Explore Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, Cyprus

Join the party on Belgrade’s floating nightclubs, Serbia

Explore Gozo's Ggantija Temples, Malta

Visit Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Switzerland

Explore Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Walk across the Stari Most of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Wander through Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

Prepare to be dazzled by the extraordinary Keukenhof. More than seven million tulips and other brightly colored flowers spread across this sprawling garden that’s only about an hour from Amsterdam. But you'll have to time your visit carefully – because it's a celebration of spring flowers, the park is open only from March to May. 

Discover Ohrid, North Macedonia

Head to Snowdonia, Wales, UK

The biggest mountain in Wales and England stands at a whopping 3,650 feet, but there are many ways of exploring Snowdonia National Park without hardcore hiking. Its footpaths suit all levels – or you can just take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit. But it's not just mountains here – the park includes nearly 200 miles of seashore, with sandy beaches and sheltered coves.

Explore Berat, Albania

Wander through Tallinn’s old town, Estonia

Stroll along Varna’s Black Sea waterfront, Bulgaria

Urbane Varna stands out from Bulgaria’s Black Sea beach towns as it’s a port city and naval base as well as a resort. There’s plenty of room along its waterfront promenade for sunbathing, as well as a large selection of bars and restaurants. Afterwards, you can cool off in the lushness of the 19th-century Primorski Park.

Walk along Dubrovnik’s city walls, Croatia

Allow at least two hours for a wander around the medieval and Renaissance fortifications circling Dubrovnik’s cookie-colored old town. Get a snapshot of Dubrovnik life as you walk past courtyard gardens, laundry-lined balconies and terracotta rooftops. The walls are extremely popular with cruise-ship crowds that descend in their thousands, so try to time your visit for as early in the morning or as late in the afternoon as possible. A ticket for the city walls will also grant you access to Fort Lovrijenac, across the bay from the historic centre.

Spend a weekend in Dresden, Germany

Located near the German border with Czechia, Dresden has collected its fair share of nicknames over the years, including Florence on the Elbe and the Jewel Box. The world almost lost it forever during the Second World War, when it was bombed into near-oblivion. But this dazzling Saxon city has since been reborn and is full of world-class museums, lavish palaces, onion-domed churches and arty hotspots ready to welcome discerning visitors.

Get back to nature in the Faroe Islands, Denmark

Learn Belfast’s nautical history, Northern Ireland, UK

The story of the Northern Irish capital is inextricably linked to that of the world’s most tragic ocean liner. Built on Belfast’s slipways, the RMS Titanic began life here before sailing into Southampton for that ill-fated maiden voyage. Today, the waterfront Titanic Quarter of the city exists to further connect the dots of this maritime history, featuring unmissable maritime-themed attractions like the immersive Titanic Belfast museum.

Now discover the story of Titanic's lesser-known sister ship

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