What to wear in Longyearbyen

Wind is the main problem on Svalbard, more than the thermometer. Pack layers under a windproof shell all year, and check before each tour which clothing the operator lends you and which you bring yourself.

Person in a red hat and dark jacket walking away along a snowy street between houses — Hat, jacket and boots on a snowy street in Longyearbyen. Photo: Gunnar Ridderström / Unsplash

5 min read Updated October 2026

Visit Svalbard's advice on packing fits into one line: bring the warmest clothes you have. Temperatures alone do not tell the full story. Svalbard Airport averages about −12 °C in February and March and 7.0 °C in July, but strong wind can make it feel much colder, and the weather changes quickly. The answer is the same in every season: several layers under a windproof outer shell, adjusted to how long you will be outdoors and to what your tour lends you.

Winter, from October to May

Visit Svalbard counts the months from October to May as winter and says temperatures can fall towards −30 °C. The record at Svalbard Airport is −46.3 °C, measured in early March 1986. You need a windproof outer layer with several layers of wool or fleece underneath. Add warm winter boots, a windproof hat, mittens, gloves and a scarf. Visit Svalbard also suggests a balaclava that covers head and neck, worn together with a windproof hat.

Two small items make daily life in town easier. Streets are often icy, so Visit Svalbard recommends spikes for your shoes. During the polar night a reflective vest is useful, and the tourist information lends vests out if you have none.

Lit houses of Longyearbyen below a dark snowy hillside during the polar night — Longyearbyen in the polar night, when a reflective vest helps on the roads. Photo: Himmel S / Unsplash

What the tours provide

Visit Svalbard notes that operators of organised tours usually provide the necessary equipment and outer clothing. The details differ from tour to tour, and the inclusion list is the place to check. The full-day snowmobile trip to Barentsburg includes winter overalls, boots, gloves and a helmet, and so does the six-hour trip to Tempelfjorden. On the RIB trip to Pyramiden you wear a drysuit supplied by the operator, and the boat trip to Barentsburg adds boots, mittens and goggles to the drysuit. At Gruve 3 the mine provides an overall, a helmet and a headlamp for the crawl into the old tunnel; what you wear underneath still counts, since the building is colder than the air outside.

Shorter tours often expect you to come dressed for the weather. The two-hour aurora drive by car lists winter clothing as not included, and the ice cave trip by snowmobile asks you to bring your own winter clothing. The wildlife photo walk excludes warm clothing, boots, hats and gloves, but hands out spikes and headlamps when needed. Hiking boots can be rented for the autumn fjord hike but are not part of the price. See our snowmobile tours and northern lights pages for the tours themselves.

Summer, from mid-May to September

Visit Svalbard gives an average of 3 to 7 °C for the summer months. MET Norway's figures for Svalbard Airport are 3.6 °C in June, 7.0 °C in July and 6.0 °C in August, while September drops back to 2.0 °C. The recommended kit is a windproof jacket and windproof trousers with wool underwear, plus mittens, a scarf and a hat even in July.

For hiking, Visit Svalbard suggests rubber boots or mountain boots with gaiters. Out in the terrain, sturdy waterproof footwear is the minimum. Guided hikes such as the climb to Platåfjellet hand out spikes when there is snow, which reviewers mention for October.

The midnight sun lasts from about 20 April to 23 August, and Visit Svalbard notes that it affects the body clock of people and animals alike. If you sleep badly in daylight, an eye mask is worth packing.

Indoors and in town

On Svalbard it is common to take off your shoes when visiting someone at home. The custom goes back to the time when the mines were close to town, and boots carried black coal dust into the houses. Bring slippers or warm socks for indoor use; the tourist information also lends slippers. For the rest of the trip, our best time to visit page shows the light and temperatures month by month.

Questions travellers ask

How cold does it get in Longyearbyen?

At Svalbard Airport, the coldest months are February and March with averages of about −12 °C for 1991 to 2020. Visit Svalbard says winter temperatures can drop towards −30 °C, and strong wind makes it feel colder still.

Do I need my own winter clothing for tours?

It depends on the tour. Snowmobile day trips often include overalls, boots, gloves and a helmet, and boat trips include a drysuit. Several aurora, wildlife and ice cave tours list warm clothing as not included, so read the inclusions before you book.

What shoes should I bring to Longyearbyen?

In winter, warm boots plus spikes for icy streets. For summer hikes, Visit Svalbard recommends rubber boots or mountain boots with gaiters. Bring slippers or warm socks as well, since shoes come off indoors.

Why do people take off their shoes indoors on Svalbard?

The habit dates from the mining era, when the mines were close to town and coal dust was carried into houses on boots.

Is it warm in Longyearbyen in summer?

Not by most standards. July, the warmest month, averages 7.0 °C at Svalbard Airport, and Visit Svalbard still recommends a windproof jacket and trousers, wool underwear, a hat, a scarf and mittens.

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.