A local's guide to Svalbard

07.08.2024 - 20:30 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 6, 2024 • 7 min read

Svalbard influencer Cecilia Blomdahl's life in Norway is magical. If you’re one of her millions of social media followers, you already know that. This remote region is a vast Arctic wilderness with stunning glaciers that make it feel a world away from the mainland – its remoteness is part of its charm. Most tourism centers around Longyearbyen – “the village,” as locals call it – which is also the world's northernmost city.

Originally from Sweden, Cecilia moved to Svalbard intending to stay for three months to experience its unique way of life. Nearly nine years later, she's still there living in a cabin outside Longyearbyen with her boyfriend, Christoffer, and dog, Grim. Right now, they’re in the middle of Polar Day or Midnight Sun season – May through September – when the island gets 24 hours of daylight (Polar Night, when there’s 24/7 darkness, runs from October to January).

Lonely Planet's Social Media Director, Deepa Lakshmin, asks her for the insider tips on how to get the most out of a trip to Svalbard. If you’re down to experience Svalbard’s extreme climate and even more extreme adventures, read on for Cecilia's insider tips for an unforgettable trip.

Deepa: What are the pros and cons of visiting during Polar Day vs Night?

Cecilia: If it’s your first visit, come in summer because it’s milder. That way you can see and experience everything out on the fjords by boat, a really easy way to get around. You cover a lot of ground and see a lot of wildlife. If you're feeling adventurous, come during sunny winter (March to May) when it’s super cold. You can go on long snowmobile trips out in the middle of nowhere and get that raw, more harsh experience – but it's also very authentic.

Winter has a different kind of light and feel – you get to feel how Arctic we are. If you love darkness like I do, you should definitely visit during Polar Night to see what it's like to live with permanent darkness. But if you want to experience Svalbard, bear in mind you can’t see anything during this period. I don’t think it’s the best time if you want to see nature and wildlife.

You’ll see a super cozy city, people drinking coffee all day long and chilling. That’s basically Polar Night. Of course, you have Northern Lights but you also have those in February and March (after Polar Night).

Deepa: You talk about Polar Day being “zombie season” because it’s so tiring. How do you recommend travelers deal with that?

Cecilia: I think when you visit in summer, you'll be running on energy, so this is the perfect time if you want to get lots done and see everything. There’s no end to the day. You wake up, it’s sunny; you go to bed, it’s sunny. There are so many hours to do stuff!

But I call it the zombie season