Best Time to Visit Longyearbyen

Summer: June to August

July is the warmest month, and August ties it with a high of 6°C. That's still cool, so don't expect beach weather. June is the best-rated month with July, and the sun doesn't set at all for months, so a 10 pm walk is as bright as noon. That's the midnight sun.

This is the high season. Boats cruise Isfjorden, and you can go kayaking or take a day trip to the Russian mining town of Barentsburg. Hikes up Platåfjellet or toward Hiorthfjellet are open once the snow melts. Rain falls on about 16 days in July and August, so it's often drizzly or foggy. Rooms and tours fill up fast, and polar bear safety rules mean you'll need a guide for trips beyond town.

Spring: March to May

Spring is the sweet spot for snowmobile trips and dog sledding. April has the most sun of the year, at about 7 hours a day, and it's still properly cold. March is the coldest month, with highs of -11°C. The sun returns in March, and the town celebrates with Solfestuka (Sun Festival) around 8 March, when the sun first reaches the old hospital steps.

Late winter and spring suit you if you want snow, big skies and fewer people than in summer. Travelling with kids? Short snowmobile rides to the ice caves and the trapper-style huts are popular. May is milder, but the snow gets soft and some routes turn slushy.

Autumn: September and October

September is the wettest month, with 76 mm on 17 days. The tourist season winds down, and some boat trips stop running. Light fades fast, and the northern lights become possible again as the sky darkens. If you like quiet streets and don't mind grey weather, this is a cheap time to come. By October it's mostly winter again, with just over an hour of sun a day.

Winter: November to February

From November to February the sun never rises. This is the polar night. Days are dark, though blue twilight glows around midday in the early and late parts. Highs hover around -6°C to -9°C. The Dark Season Blues jazz festival runs in late October, and the lights of the town feel cosy against the dark.

Come for northern lights, snowmobiling by headlamp and the hush of the long night. Skip it if you want hiking or long days outdoors. Christmas brings a small rush of visitors, so rooms tighten then.