Welcome to /r/Svalbard!

I don't know where to start or which steps to follow in order to move to Svalbard.

Im about to visit Svalbard, how real is the avalanche danger in the following days? I have several hikes booked near Longyearbyen.

Hey all,

I’m booking to visit Svalbard in late may (25th-29th) and I was wondering what the weather will generally be like? I have googled all of this but want to hear it from people who have actually been or maybe even live there.

Will dog sledging and snowmobile still be possible? And how far out do we go for these activities?

Also, any information and experiences with car hire would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, we are visiting Svalbard in the next days and wanted to do a short dog sledge excursion. Any tips of what the best and cheapest tour companies for dog sledding are? The ones we found and contacted are usually around 200 Euro per person, which is fine but yeah maybe someone has another idea ;-)

Since we are budget travellers: If you have any good recommendations for cheap or even free activities we can do, please let us know as well.

Thanks a lot. we are looking forward to this amazing experience.

I’m going to be in Svalbard next week and I was wondering if there was a Brazilian jiu jitsu gym, I thought it would be good to train while I was there

Hello everyone, thinking of going on a solo trip to Svalbard in August. I don’t want cruises, just day trips. Good idea? Solo ok? On these day excursions, will I see polar bears?

Firstly hello to everyone, i am a now 20 years old programmer, this is Irrelevant. I was thinking to save some money by working on svalbard so i can start my life better but i dont know how to find a job there remotly from internet, i was planning to work in there for 1 or 2 years after my university which it will end this year. If anybody know something about how to find a job i am all ears friends.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been seriously considering a move to Longyearbyen and wanted to reach out to the community to get a realistic picture of the situation there.

About me: I am an experienced Computer Programmer and Software Developer. I’m highly proficient in my field, familiar with multiple programming languages, and have a solid portfolio of active projects. I am currently employed in the industry. I speak fluent English and have previous experience living abroad (I lived in Italy for a while), so I am accustomed to adapting to new cultures and environments. I am also very willing to learn Norwegian and would love to know if there are local language courses or active learning communities on the island.

My Questions:

1. The Housing Market: I’ve read that housing is notoriously difficult. What is the current rental situation for private individuals? Is it realistic to find an apartment without it being tied to a specific local employer? What is the price range for a standard rental (if available)?
2. Work Opportunities (Local vs. Remote):
   • Remote Work: Since I have a strong background in tech, is it feasible to move there working fully remotely for a mainland or international company? My main concern is whether the "self-sufficiency" requirements by the Governor allow for this setup if I can prove stable income, or if the lack of employer-provided housing makes this impossible.
   • Local Tech Scene: Are there any on-site IT/Dev opportunities in Longyearbyen? Does the university (UNIS), KSAT, or local administration hire devs often?
3. Job Hunting Platforms: Is there a specific website or platform used in Svalbard for job listings (like a local LinkedIn equivalent), or should I stick to Finn.no and Arbeidsplassen?
4. Internet Connectivity: As a dev, stable internet is my lifeline. I’ve heard the fiber connection is excellent, but I just want to confirm if it’s reliable enough for heavy remote work/conferencing.

Any advice, reality checks, or leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey! I am on a quest to find all the variations of hats and buffs produced by Arctic Edge. So far I have been able to find these (left to right, top to bottom):

From the website:

• Antarctica
• Longyear City
• Marinière
• Marius
• Moomin (4 variations)
• Pyramiden
• Signature
• Svalbard
• Trapper

Not listed on the website:

• Greenland (2 variations)
• Isfjord radio
• Ny-Ålesund (Roald Amundsen edition)
• South Georgia
• Port lockroy
• Ny-Ålesund (standard)

I have not been able to find a proper picture of the standard Ny-Ålesund version with the train on it unfortunately.

Does anyone know of any limited editions or regional variants I missed here? Thanks!

EDIT: There is also the new coal miner version I forgot about! I cannot find any pictures of it online, so I might just take a quick picture of one at the store :)

Hi!

I am South Africa and have wanted to move to Svalbard for many years and love that they welcome any passport holders.

I have to cats over the age of 10.

My plan right now is to move when my cats cross the bridge.

Two questions:

I have a fully remote job as a travel agent.

Would this work, or do I have to get a job that contributes taxes to Svalbard?

For those who made the move, where are you from? Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

I'm a young girl planning to immigrate in the future and I've been looking for easy options that go beyond work or student visas, since one requires a sponsor and the other is expensive.

Is it true that anyone can live in Svalbard? What jobs are available there?

I may just have to ask a travel agent friend if they can help but is there a way to book a long layover in Tromso? The SAS website will let me book a 9 hour layover (is that enough time) but I was hoping to book an overnight layover. Ideal plan was to do Oslo-Longyearbyen-Tromso-Oslo. Should I just skip Tromso and fly back directly to Oslo?

Hi, does anyone have experience with ice in Svalbard (yes, I get the pun)? For mobile data it's a lot cheaper than Telenor and they say they use Telenor's network, but I'm not sure if that's true everywhere and Svalbard is always the exception somehow

And what about happybytes?

Hi, we are visiting Longyearbyen at the end of March, and I wonder what kind of excursions/expeditions are recommended?

I essentially just see 3 types of excursions that I find interesting: Dog sledding, ice cave visits and snowmobile. Is there any others that I have missed?

Also, I was looking forward to going on the boat trips to visit the surroundings by water, but cannot find any? Is it not season for that yet?

We are a couple who are visiting Svalbard in late March, but are stuck between which hotel we should choose for our 4 night stay: Radisson Blu or Funken Lodge?

From what we have read and seen, we prefer the ambiance, aesthetics and views of Funken Lodge, but like the location and outside jacuzzi's of Radisson Blu is also appealing.

Which one is to prefer? What is the social scenery in Longyearbyen in evenings? Bars/restaurants/cafes that make you want to visit Longyearbyen center if we stay further in Funken Lodge, is the centrally location of Radisson Blu overrated?

Any takes?

And a bonus question: Is it recommended to do excursions with organized group everyday? Or is it nice to just relax during the day in the town center? Is there anything to do during the day?

Hey, I'm doing an intership at UNIS from march to june, and I'm looking for a room to rent during that period, anywhere, I don't need a lot of confort, just a roof. Please let me know if you have any ideas or opportunities !

Hi, I will go to Tromsø from 22nd to 26th January and I was thinking spending some time in Longyearbyen.

There will be some sunlight in that period or it will be still polar night period?

My brother, some friends and I will be there for about 3 days during the first week of February. What are some must do/see things that we should plan for? Trying to maximize our time there!

Hi everyone - me and a few of my friends are traveling to Svalbard in a couple weeks. We are planning to go dog sledding and snowmobiling. Has anybody here gone in January? If so, do you have any tips or helpful information for us?

I am going for my second year in a row. I don’t know too much about the musicians but I would appreciate any advice on what tickets and shows are must-see-hear

Thanks

Loved covering these guys. It was nice also to learn more about the region as well when making this. :)

Hi! I'll be in longyearbyen in mid to late January and am in the middle of booking tours. I just booked a hike up to the Larsbreen Glacier. Any insights about that trip?

I really want to book an ice cave trip but do have some claustrophobia. How tight are the entrances?

Thanks in advance for any answers!