Svalbard in October: What to Do, Weather, & Polar Night Tips

Q: Is it polar night in Svalbard in October?

Polar night starts in Longyearbyen in October... more specifically on October 26 at 12:09pm. The sun sets for the last time of the year then and won't rise again until February. While it is polar night in Svalbard starting in October, do note that it is still twilight and won't be pitch black 24 hours a day like other polar night months.

Post overview: This post discusses everything to know about visiting Svalbard in October. Youʻll learn what to do in October in Svalbard, weather information, things to pack, and some tips for the start of polar night. At the end of the post, I will answer some FAQ about taking an October trip to Svalbard.

Quick Svalbard Travel Guide

If you’re traveling to Svalbard last minute, be sure you have hotels and tours booked ahead of time. Below are some of my top picks:

🇳🇴 Top October activities in Svalbard:

Arctic wildlife nature tour (an on-land option that goes outside of Longyearbyen)
Gruve-3 mine tour (this is great at any time of year, especially in autumn!)

🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Longyearbyen:

Haugen Pensjonat Svalbard (where I usually stay; affordable)
Funken Lodge (great for couples – has the BEST views)
Coal Minerʻs Cabins (budget option- further from town)

🍲 Popular places to eat in Longyearbyen: Huset, Gruvelageret, Kroa, Funktionærmessen (at Funken Lodge), Restaurant Polfareren, Nansen

I have visited Svalbard so many times over the years, but I had never been there in October. So when I was planning an extended autumn trip to Tromsø last year, I got this urge to leave the city for a few days and fly north to Longyearbyen and see what October in Svalbard was all about!

I planned four days in Svalbard, which was probably the shortest trip I had ever taken there. Since I was heading to Longyearbyen toward the end of October, I knew activities would be limited with the start of polar night the day I arrived (October 26).

Svalbard in October travel guide

colorful houses with snow-covered roofs and a snowy, treeless mountain in the background — Svalbard in October travel guide

To be completely honest, I didn’t think I would love visiting Svalbard in October. I thought it would be dark and stormy, as well as boring. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Now I can’t guarantee your trip will be storm-free because mine definitely wasn’t, but if you end up with some nice days, you’re in for a real treat.

In this guide, I will break down why you should visit Svalbard in October, including some weather info, daylight details, best things to do (including festivals and events), and some tips for your October trip. If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the following:

October weather in Svalbard
Daylight information (+ polar night details)
Best things to do in Svalbard in October
Festivals and events
What to pack for an October trip
Tips for visiting Svalbard and Longyearbyen in October
FAQ

Weather in Svalbard in October

The weather in Svalbard in October is cold but not as bad as the winter months, naturally. The average highs are -2C (28F) and the average lows are -7C (20F). There are around 3 days of precipitation in October.

October in Svalbard ; views over the town of longyearbyen with clear skies and snow on the mountains — When the skies are clear, October in Svalbard is unbelievable!

Svalbard can often be windy, but I found October to be pretty bad. I had one day of calm weather, but the rest of the days had pretty bad wind. So much so that the snow that was settled on Hiorthfjellet (mountain) across from Longyearbyen was bare again on my last day since the wind had taken the snow off of it.

Daylight During October in Svalbard

October marks the start of the polar night on Svalbard! The sun sets for its final time in the year on October 26 at 12:09pm in 2026. But just because polar night starts doesn’t mean it is pitch black.

I arrived in Svalbard on October 26 before the sun set, but every single photo in this guide taken outside was taken from October 26 until the end of the month. There is still plenty of light even though days are getting shorter.

dark blue skies at twilight on a snowy pedestrian way in Svalbard — Darkness during the afternoon at the end of October

Here is the daylight situation in October in Svalbard:

October 1: sunrise at 7:32am, sunset at 5:58pm
October 15: sunrise at 9:25am, sunset at 3:58pm
October 26: sunrise at 11:11am, sunset at 12:09pm
October 31: sun is down all day

One huge perk of these short days is that you may have an opportunity to see the northern lights if conditions are right and the skies are clear.

Best Things to Do in Svalbard in October

1. Go dog-carting with Svalbard Husky.

One of my favorite things I did last October in Svalbard was going dog-carting through Adventdalen with Svalbard Husky. They pick you up in Longyearbyen and drive you out of the city to the kennel where you can meet the huskies (puppies included!), get suited up, and take to the wild landscapes of Spitsbergen!

a team of dogs on an adventure tour in svalbard with snowy landscapes — Dog-carting in October

I was so lucky we had incredible weather that day, and it was such a memorable experience. There are two tours daily… one at 9am and one at 3pm. There may be additional ones at the beginning of the month but when I went, this was all that was offered. I opted for the morning one. It was perfect because you can plan other activities after (like an evening at Camp Barentz, which I discuss further down).

Click here to read my full guide about dog-carting in Svalbard.

2. Celebrate the polar night with a mørketidsboller.

Svalbard and other parts of Northern Norway celebrate the arrival of polar night with mørketidsboller (darkness time buns). These are delicious, sweet buns filled with vanilla cream and topped with dark chocolate. They may be less popular than their counterpart, solboller (sun buns), which mark the return of the sun after polar night, but they are absolutely tasty and deserve a place in this guide!

a woman's hand with a bun covered in chocolate in it — Mørketidsboller

I actually didn’t see mørketidsboller at any of the cafes in Longyearbyen (it might be different this year!), but they sold them in large quantities at Svalbardbutikken.

3. Take a glacier RIB boat trip with Spitzbergen Adventures.

Before arriving in Svalbard, I remember searching for boat trips still operating at the end of October and I found nothing. I was pretty gutted but planned my trip around this.

When I was doing the dog-carting experience, however, a family from Sweden joined us and told us they had just done a boat trip the day before! It was too late for us to do one at that point, but I made note of it for this guide so you don’t make the same mistake (if a boat trip is on your bucket list).

Spitzbergen Adventures offers a RIB boat glacier and walrus tour until the end of October. I honestly don’t know if seeing walruses is easy at this time of year (they are in Svalbard year-round, but the Borebukta colony usually is broken up around this time), but the glacier tour and being on the water would make it worthwhile regardless. Click here to check rates and availability for a RIB boat tour.

4. Do a nature and wildlife trip with See & Explore.

If you are seeking a land-based activity instead, my favorite one to recommend is this nature and wildlife excursion with See & Explore. I have done it twice in different seasons, and my partner did it by himself last October (it was his first time up there).

an Arctic fox with white fur in a snowy landscape looking for food — An Arctic fox on a wildlife tour in October

This is a small-group activity where you’ll hop into a van and head to Bjørndalen, a valley popular for ptarmigans, reindeer, Arctic foxes, and more. Most of the birds have left by this point, but you still have a chance to see other Svalbard animals hanging around.

If the day goes well, your tour may also make a stop at the Global Seed Vault or head over to Adventdalen. It can last for 3-4.5 hours, but please know that toward the end of October, the tour will be much shorter due to lack of daylight.

You can read more about my two experiences on this Arctic wildlife tour here.

5. Spend an evening at Camp Barentz.

I have gone to Camp Barentz twice, with two different tours. Honestly, I liked the October one way less than my September one (October’s was about the northern lights and September’s was about polar bears), but it is still a worthwhile experience if you are looking for land-based activities or something to do in the evening.

a wooden hut that is kind of dark with a fire in the middle and people sitting at tables around it — An evening at Camp Barentz

You will be picked up in Longyearbyen and bussed out to Camp Barentz where you’ll sit through a program about the northern lights inside a large, wooden gamme before enjoying bidos stew and drinks. If the northern lights come out to play, you can step outside and enjoy them away from the Longyearbyen light pollution.

You can read more about my time at Camp Barentz here.

More Things to Do in Svalbard in October

Here are some additional things to do in October:

Spend a few hours visiting museums (the Svalbard Museum, North Pole Expedition Museum, and Nordover Art Centre & Cinema)
Relax at Svalbad Sauna
Go on a quad adventure through the wilderness
Do a beer tasting with Svalbard Bryggeri
Take a walk through Longyearbyen
Hang out in a cozy cafe (Fruene, Cafe Huskies, Nordover)
Plan a night at one of Longyearbyen’s best restaurants
Go on a Gruve-3 mine tour
Take in the views from Platåfjellet with a guide
Search for the northern lights on a guided tour

two husky does on a couch at a cafe — The hardest workers at Cafe Huskies

a collection of paintings in a minimalistic museum in svalbard — Kåre Tveter Collection at Nordover

a dark restaurant with a plate of tasters from svalbard — Svalbard tasting platter at Vinterhagen Restaurant

a sauna on a fjord with snow on mountains behind it — Svalbad Sauna near Longyearbyen port

Festivals and Events in October

There are two large events in Longyearbyen in October, so be sure to try to visit during one of them.

Taste of Svalbard (October 1-5, 2026)
Global Seed Vault deposit day (October 13, 2026)
Dark Season Blues Festival (October 22-25, 2026)

A lot of people traveled in for the Dark Season Blues Festival, and the island felt busier than I would have expected for this time in October. If you want to avoid the crowds, try visiting before or after it. But I heard it was a blast (it wrapped up the day I arrived last year).

a red church made of wood in svalbard under a purple sky

What to Pack for Svalbard in October

Svalbard is pretty cold in October, especially toward the end of the month. I would dress for winter, as a result. Wool sweaters, insulated boots (or snowshoes), mittens/gloves, a hat, and a winter parka.

If you arrive at the beginning of October and there isn’t much (or any) snow, beware that your shoes will get dirty from the gravel and sand. Don’t bring ones that you want to keep in perfect condition. I always bring wipes with me or purchase them from Svalbardbutikken to keep my shoes clean. Even though you take them off indoors, it is still pretty grim!

Tips for Visiting Svalbard in October

✅ I’d recommend staying in Svalbard for at least 4-5 days. This makes your trip worthwhile and you have better chances of seeing wildlife, the aurora, etc. Weather can also be temperamental in Svalbard, so giving yourself more time is a smart idea.

a red building that is a guesthouse in svalbard — Places like Haugens Pensjonat offer week-long deals

✅ Wear a reflector! You will notice all locals wearing reflectors around Svalbard. More often than not, they are wearing reflector vests, which are much easier to see than armbands, but something is better than nothing. If you can’t find a reflector, you can purchase one immediately at Svalbardbutikken or the outdoor shops at Lompesenteret.

✅ Most boat tours are done by October (except the one I mentioned above with Spitzbergen Adventures). If you want to go on a boat, or go snowmobiling, you may want to consider visiting Svalbard at a different time of the year.

Svalbard in October (a view over the city with snow and colorful buildings)

✅ It’s important to note that you can only leave Longyearbyen if you have a gun license or you’re with a licensed guide, due to the area’s polar bear population.

Svalbard in October FAQ

If you’re considering an October trip to Svalbard and have questions, I may have answered them below (otherwise send me a message so I can get you the response needed).

Yes, October is a good time to visit Svalbard, but activities are limited during this month. If you want options for boat trips, a lot of wildlife (especially birds), or snowmobiling, you may want to consider visiting during a different month.

If the skies are clear and the conditions are good, yes, you can see the northern lights in Svalbard in October. Please keep in mind that Svalbard is usually outside of the aurora oval and often is too far north for all aurora displays, so don’t plan a trip to Svalbard solely to see the northern lights.

Polar night starts in Longyearbyen in October… more specifically on October 26 at 12:09pm. The sun sets for the last time of the year then and won’t rise again until February. While it is polar night in Svalbard starting in October, do note that it is still twilight and won’t be pitch black 24 hours a day like other polar night months.

Svalbard is pretty cold in October, with highs of around -2C (28F) and lows of -7C (20F). While there are not too many days of precipitation, it can be rather windy, and if there is precipitation, it is often snow.

October presents no additional threats from polar bears compared to other months. And Longyearbyen is very safe and has around-the-clock spotting to ensure the safety of its residents. Like other times of the year, you cannot leave the city without a gun or a guide (who has polar bear protection).

Activities are limited on Svalbard in October, but you can still do a RIB boat tour with Spitzbergen Adventures, evenings at Camp Barentz, northern lights driving tours, and wildlife excursions with See & Explore. You can also do a hike to Platåfjellet. Dog-carting is also a popular activity during autumn.

The month starts with plenty of daylight (10 hours and 25 minutes) and hits just 6 hours and 33 minutes by mid-month. On October 26, the sun will set and polar night begins. There will be twilight during this time until Svalbard falls into complete darkness in the following months.

Yes, accommodation can be cheaper in Svalbard during October than in peak season. Just be sure to avoid the Dark Season Blues Festival if you’re traveling on a budget because accommodation does increase a bit for this.

You can get to Svalbard with regular flights from Oslo or Tromsø in October.

Do you have any questions about visiting Svalbard in October? Let me know below!

Svalbard Travel Guides & Resources

*This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission.