Longyearbyen in January: weather, festivals and crowds

Verdict

AvoidBest and avoid months for Longyearbyen

Listed as a month to avoid: Late Oct–mid Feb (polar night, most boat and many tours closed).

January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Long-term averages

LongyearbyenHighs around -8 °C (18 °F), lows around -14 °C (7 °F), rain on about 21 daysHighs around 18 °F (-8 °C), lows around 7 °F (-14 °C), rain on about 21 days
Svalbard, Norway · Longyearbyencool
High Arctic: polar night late October to mid-February (true darkness mid-Nov to end of Jan); midnight sun about 20 April – 23 August. Snowmobile season March–May.

Norway overall: Polar night in the north returns to light mid-month; Tromsø aurora and whale season; south is cold and short.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Longyearbyen, side by side.

First month

Second month

January: Listed as a month to avoid: Late Oct–mid Feb (polar night, most boat and many tours closed).

March: Inside Longyearbyen's best window: Mar–May (snow, auroras, snowmobile season) and Jun–Aug (midnight sun, boat trips).

Longyearbyen: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.