There is no regular boat or ferry service to Svalbard from anywhere. However there is an alternative: to get there on an expedition ship as part of a multi-day cruise. These trips generally start from either Norway, Iceland or Scotland, and are typically 9 – 14 days in duration, only running from May to September.
How do most tourists travel to Svalbard?
The easiest way to get to Svalbard is by plane. There are regular flights to Oslo and also to Tromso, with FlySAS or Norwegian. It takes just 3 hours to get to Svalbard from Oslo and less than 2 hours from Tromso. In summer, you can also visit Svalbard by cruise ship.
How many days do you need in Svalbard?
How much time should you spend in Svalbard? At a minimum, you should plan on spending two full days and three nights in Svalbard. This gives you two days to go on excursions. More time is better, if you have the time and money.
Can anybody move to Svalbard?
In mainland Norway, the Immigration Act regulates foreigners’ access to and residence in the country. Although Svalbard is part of Norway, the Immigration Act does not apply to the archipelago. Foreigners do not need a visa or work and residence permits from the Norwegian authorities to travel to Svalbard.
Can you get a boat to Svalbard? – Related Questions
Is it expensive to live in Svalbard?
Why is Svalbard so Expensive? Svalbard is the most expensive place we have visited. With a high cost of living and the fact that almost everything you see here was imported, you will absorb some of that expense in your trip costs. It is also very difficult to travel independently in Svalbard.
Why can you not give birth in Svalbard?
Svalbard in Norway can’t handle dead bodies – because of the permafrost.
What is forbidden in Longyearbyen?
In addition to dealing with round-the-clock darkness in the winter and the constant threat of polar bears, the 2,000 residents in the remote Norwegian town of Longyearbyen must also follow one very strange law: It’s illegal to die there.
Do you need a gun in Svalbard?
Due to the polar bear threat on Svalbard, anyone travelling outside the settlements must be equipped with suitable means of scaring off polar bears. The office of the Governor of Svalbard also recommends carrying firearms with you.
Do they speak English in Svalbard?
Talk. The official language is Norwegian. However, nearly everyone speaks English. In Barentsburg, Russian and Ukrainian are spoken.
Can I get citizenship in Svalbard?
These applications are forwarded to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for processing. It is important to be aware that even if you come to Svalbard and take up residence here, this in itself does not entitle you to residence or citizenship in mainland Norway.
Who can live on Svalbard Island?
Everybody may live and work in Svalbard indefinitely regardless of country of citizenship. The Svalbard Treaty grants treaty nationals equal right of abode as Norwegian nationals. Non-treaty nationals may live and work indefinitely visa-free as well.
What is minimum wage in Svalbard?
7. Minimum wage. There is no information about the minimum wage for this country. Salaries in Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands range from 6,610 NOK per month to 117,000 NOK per month.
How do people in Svalbard make money?
The economy of Svalbard is dominated by coal mining, tourism and research. In 2007, there were 484 people working in the mining sector, 211 people working in the tourism sector and 111 people working in the education sector.
Is there WIFI in Svalbard?
Believe it or not, Svalbard, Norway has famously reliable internet — and has since 2003. The remote arctic archipelago sits almost 2,000km away from the mainland, at about 80˚N, but its nearly 3,000 residents have surfed the web for years, thanks to a network of fiber-optic cables that cover the distance underwater.
Can you retire to Svalbard?
The archipelago is an entirely visa-free zone and you do not need a residence permit to live on Svalbard. But due to the remote nature of the islands and limited employment opportunities, you must be able to support yourself with your own funds if you are not moving with a job offer.
Does Svalbard have a hospital?
Our hospital in Longyearbyen, Svalbard
The hospital is located centrally in Longyearbyen. The hospital provides both primary care and specialist health services to the population and visitors to Svalbard. There is free parking by the hospital.
Is Svalbard tax free?
Svalbard is a tax-free area which means that many commodities are cheaper here than on the Norwegian mainland. Longyearbyen has a variety of shops selling everything from perfumes to outdoor- and sports equipment, gifts and souvenirs.
Do they speak English in Svalbard?
Talk. The official language is Norwegian. However, nearly everyone speaks English. In Barentsburg, Russian and Ukrainian are spoken.
How warm does it get in Svalbard?
Average summer temperatures on Svalbard range from 3 to 7 °C (37.4 to 44.6 °F) in July, and winter temperatures from −13 to −20 °C (8.6 to −4.0 °F) in January.
Are there mosquitoes on Svalbard?
In certain localities in Svalbard mosquitoes are found in large numbers. There is only one species (Aedes nigripes) here and the same species is also found on the mainland and on Greenland.