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Svalbard and Jan Mayen travel guide

A remote corner of Northern Europe where 2562 people share 61399 km² of open land

Best: Apr, Jun

Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels

Capital
Longyearbyen
Language
Norwegian
Currency
Norwegian krone
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Driving
On the right

Why visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Svalbard and Jan Mayen suits travellers who want space and quiet more than city life. Only 2562 people live across 61399 km², and most trips start in Longyearbyen, the capital. The best months to go are April and June. Prices are in Norwegian krone, and the main language is Norwegian. One honest limitation: with so few residents, there are few services and places to stay, so plan each step before you arrive.

  • Wide spaces, very few people

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen covers 61,399 km² but has only 2,562 residents. That means a lot of land for each person. If you like quiet places with few crowds, this is one of the emptiest corners of Northern Europe.

  • Longyearbyen as your base

    Longyearbyen is the capital and the main place to stay. With such a small population across the whole territory, the capital is a small base rather than a big city. It is a practical starting point for your trip.

  • Two clear best months

    Our data picks June and April as the best months to visit. They are good choices if you want to plan around the most favourable time of year. Check local conditions before you book, as each month offers a different experience.

  • Familiar Norwegian setup

    You pay in Norwegian krone, the language is Norwegian, and the calling code is +47. If you have travelled in Norway before, much will feel familiar. Traffic drives on the right, like most of mainland Europe.

  • Easy time zone for Europeans

    The territory uses UTC+01:00. Many travellers from Europe will face little or no jet lag, so you can make the most of a short trip from your first day.

Is Svalbard and Jan Mayen right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want long winter darkness: 0 sun hours in November, December and January
  • Cold-weather fans: March highs of -9.6°C and lows of -13.5°C
  • Summer trips in June, the driest month, with 5.6 rain days and 13.7 sun hours
  • Spring visitors in April, with 10.8 sun hours, 6.3 rain days and highs of -6.5°C
  • People who want wide open space: 2562 residents across 61399 km²

Less ideal for

  • Beach and swimming trips: even August, the warmest month, reaches only 5.2°C
  • Travellers who need sunshine in winter: November to January get 0 sun hours
  • Autumn trips hoping for dry days: September has 11.4 rain days and 56 mm of rain
  • City breaks with many places to choose from: the whole territory has only 2562 people

Svalbard and Jan Mayen right now: October

1.3/10
Avg high
1°C
Avg low
-1°C
Rain days
10

Averages for Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Weather by month

The climate data covers Svalbard and Jan Mayen as a whole, not one city, and June is best, with highs of 1.7°C, 13.7 sun hours and only 5.6 wet days, while April is dry but colder at -6.5°C. November to January is toughest, with 0 sun hours, highs down to -6.8°C and up to 12.8 wet days in December.

Average highs and lows in Svalbard and Jan Mayen by month January: high -7°C, low -10°C , 10 rain days . February: high -8°C, low -12°C , 8 rain days . March: high -10°C, low -14°C , 10 rain days . April: high -7°C, low -10°C , 6 rain days . May: high -2°C, low -4°C , 8 rain days . June: high 2°C, low 0°C , 6 rain days . July: high 5°C, low 3°C , 9 rain days . August: high 5°C, low 4°C , 10 rain days . September: high 3°C, low 2°C , 11 rain days . October: high 1°C, low -1°C , 10 rain days . November: high -2°C, low -5°C , 9 rain days . December: high -4°C, low -8°C , 13 rain days . -7°C -10°C JAN 10d -8°C -12°C FEB 8d -10°C -14°C MAR 10d -7°C -10°C APR 6d -2°C -4°C MAY 8d 2°C 0°C JUN 6d 5°C 3°C JUL 9d 5°C 4°C AUG 10d 3°C 2°C SEP 11d 1°C -1°C OCT 10d -2°C -5°C NOV 9d -4°C -8°C DEC 13d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Svalbard and Jan Mayen (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen: month-by-month weather →

Food to try in Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Svalbard reindeer

Meat from the small reindeer that live on the islands. Restaurants in Longyearbyen serve it as steak, stew or cured slices, often with root vegetables and berry sauce.

Arctic char

A cold-water fish related to salmon, with pink, mild flesh. Look for it pan-fried or smoked on dinner menus in Longyearbyen.

Norwegian fish soup

A creamy soup with white fish, salmon, carrots and leeks. It is a common warm lunch in cafés and hotels after a day out in the cold.

Brown cheese (brunost)

A sweet, caramel-coloured Norwegian cheese made from whey. It is cut into thin slices with a cheese slicer and eaten on bread or crispbread at breakfast.

Waffles with jam

Soft, heart-shaped Norwegian waffles served with jam and sour cream or brown cheese. Cafés offer them as an afternoon snack with coffee.

Svalbard Bryggeri beer

Beer from the local brewery in Longyearbyen, the capital. You can drink it in the town's bars and pubs, and it makes a popular souvenir.

Know before you go

  • Currency: The currency is the Norwegian krone. Plan your payments in kroner and check before you travel which cards and payment methods your bank supports.
  • Language: The official language is Norwegian. Learning a few basic Norwegian words, such as greetings and thank you, is a polite way to start conversations.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when pulling out.
  • Phone calling code: The international calling code is +47. Save local numbers with +47 at the start so they work from a foreign SIM card.
  • Time zone: Svalbard and Jan Mayen use UTC+1. Check the time difference from home before you book tours, transfers or calls.
  • Capital: The capital is Longyearbyen. Most visitors arrive there and use it as their base for planning the rest of the trip.
  • Size and population: The territory covers 61,399 km² but has only 2,562 residents. Services are spread thinly over a large area, so plan routes and supplies carefully before you leave town.

Svalbard and Jan Mayen: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

June and April are the best months. June is mild for the Arctic, with highs of 1.7°C and lows of 0.4°C. It also has the most sun, at 13.7 hours a day, and the fewest wet days, at 5.6. April is much colder, with highs of -6.5°C and lows of -10°C. But it is fairly dry, with 25 mm over 6.3 days, and has 10.8 hours of sun a day.

Is Svalbard and Jan Mayen good in August?

August is the warmest month, but it is also one of the wetter ones. Highs reach 5.2°C and lows stay around 3.9°C. On the other hand, there are about 10 wet days and 53 mm of precipitation. Sunshine drops to 8.4 hours a day, down from 13.7 in June. Pack waterproof layers.

Is there any sunlight in Svalbard in winter?

No. November, December and January average 0 hours of sunshine, and February has just 0.4 hours a day. December is also the wettest month, with 12.8 wet days, and highs of -4.4°C. Some travellers come for exactly this long dark season. Bring warm clothing and good lights.

What is the coldest month in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

March is the coldest month, even though the sun has returned. Highs average -9.6°C and lows -13.5°C. It gets about 5 hours of sunshine a day, with 38 mm of precipitation over 9.5 days. February is close behind, with highs of -7.8°C and lows of -11.7°C.

What currency and language are used in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

The currency is the Norwegian krone, and the language is Norwegian. The main settlement is Longyearbyen. The time zone is UTC+01:00, and the international calling code is +47. Traffic drives on the right.

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