Getting to Longyearbyen

Scheduled flights to Svalbard leave from Oslo and Tromsø, and the airport lies a few kilometres outside town. Svalbard belongs to Norway but not to the Schengen Area, so bring a passport or ID card even if you are Norwegian.

Snowy peaks and glaciers seen from an airplane window, fjord in the distance — Snowy peaks and glaciers seen from the plane. Photo: Chris-Håvard Berge / Unsplash

6 min read Updated October 2026

There are no roads to Svalbard, and almost everyone arrives by plane. Svalbard Airport Longyear lies about 4.5 kilometres northwest of the town and is owned and run by the Norwegian airport operator Avinor. The trip itself is simple once you know three things that differ from the rest of Norway: the ID check, the lack of cash machines and the mobile phone rules.

Flights from Oslo and Tromsø

Avinor lists two airlines at Longyearbyen, SAS and Norwegian. Norwegian flies directly from Oslo, and SAS flies from Oslo both directly and with a stop in Tromsø, according to Visit Svalbard. A direct flight from Oslo takes around three hours, from Tromsø about an hour and a half. The number of weekly flights differs between the Norwegian and English versions of Visit Svalbard's own page, so check the current timetable with the airlines. More flights are added in the peak season from March to August.

From abroad, the route therefore goes through Oslo or Tromsø. Leave enough time for the connection, since the ID check for Svalbard adds a step to the journey.

ID check and the Schengen border

Svalbard is part of Norway but lies outside the Schengen Area. For that reason there is an ID check on the way in and on the way out for everyone travelling to or from Svalbard, Norwegians included. Avinor treats flights to and from Svalbard as travel outside Schengen; on arrival the police may check IDs before the baggage hall, and customs carries out spot checks.

Visit Svalbard asks every guest to bring a passport or a national ID card. The Governor of Svalbard names only Norwegian ID cards explicitly, so a passport is the safest document. Keep it at hand for the whole journey, on the way north and on the way back.

Visas work differently, too. The Norwegian Immigration Act does not apply on Svalbard, so the islands need no visa of their own. Anyone who needs a Schengen visa must have one for the journey through mainland Norway, and the Governor recommends a visa for at least two entries. For the return, Avinor requires valid Schengen entry clearance for all passengers leaving Svalbard Airport. The EU's Entry/Exit System registers passport and biometric data when travellers enter and leave the Schengen Area; according to Avinor, Norwegian and other EU and EEA citizens are not affected.

Arriving at the airport

The terminal opens only two hours before a scheduled departure, so you cannot wait there overnight for an early flight. A kiosk run by Svalbardbutikken sits in the departure hall.

The airport bus runs for all scheduled flights, arriving and departing. It stops at every place to stay in Longyearbyen and leaves about 30 to 40 minutes after landing, once the luggage has been unloaded. You pay on board by card or in Norwegian kroner; foreign currency is not accepted. Up to two children travel free with a parent. For the return trip, ask at your reception for the bus times. Two taxi companies also serve the airport, both day and night.

Broad snow-covered mountain above the low buildings of Longyearbyen on a clear late-winter day — Longyearbyen below its mountains in late winter. Photo: Gunnar Ridderström / Unsplash

Money, phone and other things to sort out before you fly

Svalbard has no bank and no cash machine. Almost every business takes credit cards, and the currency is the Norwegian krone. Foreign currency is not accepted, not even at the tourist information. If you want cash, bring kroner from the mainland.

EU roaming does not automatically apply on Svalbard. Check the terms with your mobile provider before you go, or buy an eSIM in advance. Outside the town there is almost no mobile coverage at all.

Keep your flight ticket after landing. Wine can be bought freely at Nordpolet, the only liquor shop, but for beer and spirits visitors must show an airline ticket, which is stamped. The rule covers scheduled flights and stays of more than 24 hours and less than 30 days; charter passengers are not included.

Svalbard is a separate customs area, and no customs duties are charged on goods brought to the islands. Check that your travel insurance covers Svalbard. An ordinary policy usually does not pay for search and rescue, while local operators include rescue insurance in the price of booked activities. That is one reason most visitors explore beyond the town on tours; the getting around page explains the rules for moving outside Longyearbyen.

Clothing is the last thing to plan. Our page on what to wear covers winter and summer, and the best time to visit shows how the light changes through the year.

Questions travellers ask

Do I need a passport to fly to Svalbard?

Svalbard is outside the Schengen Area, so everyone has their ID checked on the way in and on the way out. Visit Svalbard asks all guests to carry a passport or national ID card; a passport is the safe choice, since the Governor of Svalbard only names Norwegian ID cards explicitly.

Do I need a visa for Svalbard?

The Norwegian Immigration Act does not apply on Svalbard, so there is no visa for the islands themselves. If you need a Schengen visa, you need one for the journey through mainland Norway, and it should allow at least two entries so you can return.

Can I fly to Longyearbyen directly from outside Norway?

Scheduled flights come from Oslo and Tromsø with SAS and Norwegian. Travellers from abroad change planes in one of these two cities.

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

The airport bus meets every scheduled flight and stops at all places to stay in Longyearbyen. It leaves about 30 to 40 minutes after landing, once the luggage is unloaded. You pay by card or in Norwegian kroner, not in foreign currency.

Is there a cash machine in Longyearbyen?

No. Svalbard has no bank and no cash machine, and foreign currency is not accepted. Almost all businesses take cards, so bring Norwegian kroner only if you want some cash.

Where these facts come from

Dates, opening hours and rules change. We checked these pages in October 2026; the official source has the final word.