The journey to our archipelago in the far north is a little different than some other journeys. Here we show you what you should bear in mind and how to get to Svalbard safely and relaxed.
In principle, it is possible to reach Svalbard by ship or by plane. However, shipping is limited exclusively to cruise ships. There is no ferry connection, as you may know it from other islands.
If you haven't already planned an expedition cruise to the Arctic, you will need to book one of the various flight connections to Spitsbergen.
The plane is the fastest and easiest way to reach Spitsbergen. There are daily flights from Oslo or Tromsø to Longyearbyen, Svalbard's largest city. These are conducted by SAS oder Norwegian.
Depending on where you start from, you will have to reach Oslo or Tromsø first and transfer to the next plane from there. As Oslo Airport is much larger than Tromsø Airport, most European and international travellers arrive here. Depending on the day of travel, longer layovers of up to more than 12 hours may occur in Oslo, especially in the low season from October to February. If you are not flexible with your travel dates, you should take this longer travel time into account in your planning and book accommodation for one night in Oslo if necessary.
You can book your flight to Longyearbyen (Airport Code: LYR) either directly via SAS and Norwegian or with a comparison portal such as Skyscanner or Expedia. Unfortunately we cannot book any flights for you, as we are only a local tour operator from Spitsbergen, not a travel agency.
It is possible to book individual legs of the journey via different providers, but we advise against this, as in the event of flight delays and cancellations, the connecting flight will not be refunded - and due to the weather, it happens from time to time that flights are delayed or not cancelled.
Although Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway, it is not part of the Schengen area. As a result, there are passport controls at the airport even for flights within Europe. Please have your valid passport ready - entry with an identity card is not possible.
As the flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen is not a domestic flight, you may have to check in your checked baggage again when you change planes in Oslo. It is best to ask the local staff about this. If you fly via Tromsø to Oslo on your return journey, you will need to re-check in your baggage in Tromsø.
The airport in Longyearbyen is only a few kilometres from the city centre. Regular airport buses take you from the airport to the city and back. If you have booked a longer tour with us, we can also pick you up directly at the airport and take you to your accommodation.
For accommodation in Longyearbyen, we are in contact with various partners and will find the perfect accommodation for you and your trip. Simply contact us via the contact form or by email to info@spitzbergen-reisen.no.
The journey to Svalbard is not entirely uncomplicated. But if you keep the following points in mind, everything should go smoothly:
And finally: Have a good journey!
Book your flight to Svalbard yourself with:
Contact
+47 952 000 55
info@spitzbergen-reisen.no
