Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago belonging to Norway, located roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Its main island is Spitsbergen, where most of the population lives. It is one of the world’s most unique, remote, and fascinating places, both geographically and culturally. Svalbard's landscape is dominated by vast glaciers, rugged mountains, frozen tundra, and dramatic fjords, with nearly 60% of the land covered in ice. Seasonal contrasts define life here: the Polar Night, from mid-November to mid-February, brings 24 hours of darkness, while the Midnight Sun, from May to August, offers continuous daylight.

Despite its remoteness, Svalbard teems with wildlife. Polar bears are iconic, though they are not as commonly seen on land as the Arctic foxes and the distinctive Svalbard reindeer. The region is also home to walruses, bearded and harp seals, numerous whale species, and vast seabird colonies that flourish during the summer months. Strict environmental regulations help protect these species and their fragile Arctic habitats, and travellers are required to follow safety guidelines at all times, especially when venturing outside the settlements.

The main settlement, Longyearbyen, is one of the world’s northernmost communities and home to a diverse population of around 2,500 residents from more than 50 nationalities. It offers surprisingly vibrant cultural life with cafés, museums, galleries, and gourmet restaurants. Other communities include the Russian mining town of Barentsburg and the international research base at Ny-Ålesund. Notably, Svalbard has no indigenous population; instead, it is a place of transient workers, scientists, explorers, and adventurers.

Historically reliant on coal mining, Svalbard’s economy has shifted toward tourism, scientific research, and satellite-based environmental monitoring. During winter visitors can enjoy dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice cave exploration and northern lights excursions (day and night), and during summer there are boat and fjord cruises, visits to abandoned mining sites, kayaking and glacier hikes. With its pristine wilderness and extreme conditions, Svalbard offers an unparalleled sense of remoteness, stillness, and natural power.

Nuggets of information:

• An Arctic desert, Svalbard is considered one of Earth’s last great wildernesses.
• With around 3,000 polar bears and about 2,500 residents, polar bears actually outnumber people.
• During the Polar Night, the Northern Lights can even be seen during the day.
• You cannot be born or buried on Svalbard due to strict environmental and logistical conditions.
• Carrying a gun is required when travelling outside settlements, for polar bear safety.
• Seven of Norway’s 47 national parks are located in Svalbard.
• Svalbard is a completely visa-free zone for everyone, regardless of nationality.
• It is home to the world’s northernmost permanent settlement.
• Across the entire archipelago, there are only about 25 miles of roads.
• There are no trees in Svalbard.
• Spitsbergen, the main island houses the world’s only Global Seed Vault, safeguarding millions of seed samples for future generations.
• It’s customary to take off your shoes when entering many buildings, a tradition linked to snow and coal dust.
• Longyearbyen Airport is built directly on permafrost.
• Cats are banned on the islands to protect vulnerable birdlife.
• Svalbard is almost entirely cashless; Longyearbyen has no bank branch or working ATM.
  

Svalbard Through the Lens