{"id":51061,"date":"2024-07-31T12:26:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T10:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/?post_type=country&#038;p=51061"},"modified":"2026-07-08T18:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T16:55:50","slug":"svalbard","status":"publish","type":"country","link":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/country\/svalbard\/","title":{"rendered":"Svalbard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Svalbard isn\u2019t an independent country, but it\u2019s an Arctic archipelago that belongs to Norway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in my opinion, this Arctic region is isolated and different enough to be considered as a country, from a traveling perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Located at 78\u00ba north, this is one of the most beautiful and fascinating places to visit in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check our travel guide to Svalbard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull d-flex flex-column has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#85ab86\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color\">need to know <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#31551d\" class=\"has-inline-color\">for traveling in Svalbard<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:30px;height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer white-spacer mx-auto\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns row flex-wrap max-cols-3 mw-100 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-edit\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Quick facts<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Capital<\/strong>: Longyearbyen<br><style>@font-face<br>\t{font-family:\"Cambria Math\";<br>\tpanose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;<br>\tmso-font-charset:0;<br>\tmso-generic-font-family:roman;<br>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br>\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face<br>\t{font-family:\"Arial Unicode MS\";<br>\tpanose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;<br>\tmso-font-charset:128;<br>\tmso-generic-font-family:swiss;<br>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br>\tmso-font-signature:-134238209 -371195905 63 0 4129279 0;}@font-face<br>\t{font-family:\"\\@Arial Unicode MS\";<br>\tpanose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;<br>\tmso-font-charset:128;<br>\tmso-generic-font-family:swiss;<br>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br>\tmso-font-signature:-134238209 -371195905 63 0 4129279 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal<br>\t{mso-style-unhide:no;<br>\tmso-style-qformat:yes;<br>\tmso-style-parent:\"\";<br>\tmargin:0cm;<br>\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;<br>\tfont-size:12.0pt;<br>\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\",serif;<br>\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Arial Unicode MS\";<br>\tborder:none;<br>\tmso-ansi-language:EN-US;}.MsoChpDefault<br>\t{mso-style-type:export-only;<br>\tmso-default-props:yes;<br>\tfont-size:10.0pt;<br>\tmso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;<br>\tmso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;<br>\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Arial Unicode MS\";<br>\tborder:none;<br>\tmso-font-kerning:0pt;<br>\tmso-ligatures:none;}.MsoPapDefault<br>\t{mso-style-type:export-only;}div.WordSection1<br>\t{page:WordSection1;}<\/style><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Population: <\/strong>2,600<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Languages<\/strong>: Norwegian<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Area<\/strong>: 61,000km\u00b2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-passport\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Visa<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Svalbard is the only inhabited region in the world where all world citizens can travel visa free, despite belonging to Norway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-plane-arrival\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Getting in<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">By flight from Oslo and Troms\u00f8 (Norway).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">The only airlines operating in Svalbard are Norwegian and SAS.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns row flex-wrap max-cols-3 mw-100 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-file-medical\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Travel Insurance<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">With its Backpacker plan, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iatitravelinsurance.com\/en-eu\/products\/iati-backpacker-eu\/?r=30867932099453&amp;cmp=svalbard_category_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\">IATI Insurance<\/a><\/strong> is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Svalbard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iatitravelinsurance.com\/en-eu\/products\/iati-backpacker-eu\/?r=30867932099453&amp;cmp=svalbard_category_en\" style=\"border-radius:5px;background-color:#fe9900\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\"><strong>GET A QUOTE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-dollar-sign\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Money<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">The official currency is Norwegian Krone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 USD = 11 NOK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Cash is not accepted in Svalbard, only card payments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Budget<\/strong>: starting at \u20ac300 a day, including budget accommodation, tours and a simple meal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-cloud-sun\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Best time to visit<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Winter<\/strong>: Good for northern lights, polar nights, snow-related activities, snowmobile excursions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summer<\/strong>: Good for hiking, cruise expeditions, polar days and spotting wildlife.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-atc-primary-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-atc-primary-green-background-color has-background is-style-default mx-auto\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Polar bears in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7;grid-template-columns:27% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Svalbard-text-box-category.avif\" type=\"image\/avif\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Svalbard-text-box-category.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Svalbard-text-box-category.jpg\" alt=\"Svalbard text box category\" class=\"wp-image-51162 size-full\"><\/picture><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Svalbard has one of the largest populations of polar bears in the world, and you are very likely to see one if you go on a cruise expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polar bears are also the reason why travelers can\u2019t venture or hike around Svalbard on their own, but they must always be accompanied by a local person who is certified to carry a rifle.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-atc-primary-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-atc-primary-green-background-color has-background is-style-default mx-auto\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Top experiences in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>Sailing to the ice pack<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Sailing to 81\u00ba north, where the ocean meets the ice pack that surrounds the North Pole in the summer is a surreal experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Wildlife<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Polar bears, walrus, seals, arctic foxes, reindeer, and a large variety of birds, are all part of Svalbard\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>Hiking<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Svalbard has a lot of mountains surrounded by mesmerizing tundra landscapes, perfect for short half-day hikes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong>Polar days<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">In the summer, the sun is shining for 24 hours a day, like completely bright, as long as it isn\u2019t cloudy, of course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull d-flex flex-column has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#d4d4d4\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-atc-primary-green-color has-text-color\">tips for Svalbard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:30px;height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer white-spacer mx-auto\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns row flex-wrap max-cols-3 mw-100 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-bed\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Accommodation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Longyearbyen is the capital, or main town in Svalbard. It\u2019s well-sorted of accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.xu.html?city=900040668&amp;aid=1232728&amp;label=svalbard_category_en\" style=\"border-radius:5px;background-color:#0c3b7c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR HOTEL IN LONGYEARBYEN<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-walking\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Tours<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">For leaving Longyearbyen, you\u2019ll have to book a tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">You can either stay in Longyearbyen and do day trips, or book a multi-day cruise expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">I did both. I booked my day tours through Discover Svalbard and my cruise trip through Oceanwide Expeditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column col rounded-4 p-3 p-md-5 has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#f8fffb\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#31551d\"><i class=\"fas fa-suitcase-rolling\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#31551d\">Packing list<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">In the summer, the temperature rarely goes below 0\u00baC but it can get windy. Just pack regular winter clothes. In winter, however, you\u2019ll have to stock up on gear for extremely cold weather.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-atc-primary-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-atc-primary-green-background-color has-background is-style-default mx-auto\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">ALL MY ARTICLES ON SVALBARD<\/h3>\n\n\n","protected":false},"featured_media":51062,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"}},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51061","country","type-country","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country\/51061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/country"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}