10 Places in Svalbard You Can Visit

Svalbard is full of stunning places to visit, from remote glaciers and islands to the most northerly settlement on Earth. But where are the best places to visit in Svalbard?

Our expedition team have pulled together 10 of our favourite places you can visit on an Expedition Micro Cruise to Svalbard. 

1. Austfonna

Austfonna is one of the largest ice caps in the world! It dominates a large part of Nordaustlandet in the North-Eastern part of the Svalbard (Spitsbergen) archipelago. With a 200km circumference and standing tall at almost 800 metres above sea level, its grandeur is hard to describe. 

This natural conveyor belt of waterfalls is one of the most breathtaking phenomena in the Arctic.

2. Lilliehöökbreen

An impressive complex of glaciers spanning more than 22 kilometres – making it one of the largest glacial spectacles on Svalbard and accessible for zodiacs launching from smaller expedition vessels. As the glacier calves, it fills Lilliehook Fjord with icebergs making for a very Arctic scene.

A glacial complex stretching over 22 kilometres, this glacier is one of Svalbard's most striking natural spectacles. Its vast ice walls are accessible by Zodiac boats, allowing for a close-up look! Often we see the glacier calving, filling the Lilliehöök Fjord with floating ice formations, but it’s the booming sound as it crashes that really creates the drama. 

3. Alkefjellet bird cliffs

Alkefjellet translates as Bird Mountain, for very obvious reasons. The domineering 7km long steep cliff in the Hinlopen Strait doubles up as the kingdom for tens of thousands of nesting brunich guillemots, each summer – making it one of the largest breeding colonies in Svalbard. You might also spot Glaucous Gulls and kittiwakes circling overhead and an Arctic fox or two prowling around the lower ledges looking for some lunch.

• The Alkefjellet Bird Cliffs: Svalbard's Living Walls

4. The sea ice edge

The sea ice to the north of Svalbard extends all the way to the North Pole, some 800 miles to the north. In calm conditions, it is possible to reach 80 degrees north and cruise along the edge of the pack ice which is an incredible experience. It is also possible to observe polar bears hunting on the pack ice.

The sea ice stretching north of Svalbard is vast, reaching all the way to the North Pole, some 800 miles away. In calm conditions, you can journey to an extraordinary 80 degrees north, cruising along the very edge of the pack ice – an otherworldly experience few ever witness. 

As you drift along this icy edge, the opportunity arises to witness one of nature’s rarest sights: polar bears patrolling the ice, often hunting for seals and whales. It’s a chance to glimpse into the heart of the Arctic ecosystem. 

5. Prins Karls Forland

Sometimes translated as Prince Charles Foreland, this long narrow island off the west coast of Spitsbergen is part of Forlandet National Park and is a fantastic place to spot walruses. It sits in shallow waters which larger ships cannot reach, but our micro expedition vessels can. Once in the vicinity, you can see a blend of snow-topped mountains, coastal plains and Arctic glaciers. It’s a haven for all wildlife, including seals and a variety of migratory birds.

6. Kongsfjorden and Ny-Ålesund

A busy fjord by Svalbard’s standards, attracting tourists and scientists from across the world. It’s home to one of the handful of settlements on the archipelago, Ny Alesund. Ny Alesund hosts research facilities for scientists from 10 different countries and has a permanent population of around 30-35. Kongsfjorden – sometimes known as Kings Bay – is home to island bird sanctuaries with strict restrictions for visitors around breeding season (summer months). It is also a great place for a spot of seal spotting.

7. Magdalenefjorden

One of the most stunning fjords in Svalbard is Magdalenefjorden.  Situated in North West Spitsbergen, at 8km long and 5km wide, it’s one of the most accessible fjords in the archipelago. One of the popular landing sites, Gravneset used to be home to an English whaling station where the remains of whaling ovens were discovered along with graves dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

8. Hornsund

The southernmost fjord in Svalbard is part of the South Spitsbergen National Park. It has a different feel to some of the more northerly fjords, with ice-free mountains in parts and lots of drifting ice in other areas in the summer months. You cannot escape the beauty of this place, with endless great views of rugged scenery – none more so than the mountains of Hornsundtind mountain and Bautaen, which is tall and pointy. Most people refer to it as a witch’s hat, due to the sharp peak! 

9. Monaco Glacier

Named after Prince Albert of Monaco – a pioneer of Oceanography as a science, this picturesque glacier runs into Liefdefjorden in Spitsbergen – adding bright blue and white icebergs to the waters when it calves. At 60 metres high and 7km wide, you’ll marvel at its splendour.

10. Moffen Island

A small low-lying island sits above the 80 degrees north – taking you into the High Arctic. Moffen Island was at the centre of the fight to re-establish walrus numbers on the archipelago after they were almost hunted to extinction. You can still see large walrus colonies here today. Understandably, it is heavily protected, meaning the ships – even smaller expedition vessels – can’t get too close (no closer than 500 metres) but we can still enjoy it from a distance.