A Svalbard trip costs roughly €200–€500 per day beyond your flights, depending on how you travel. Four things drive the total: the round-trip flight to Longyearbyen, where you sleep, what you eat, and the guided activities — which you need, because leaving town safely requires a guide. Our own guided packages bundle most of that: from €1,290 for 3 days in winter and €2,290 for 7 days, with flights extra.
Per-day cost by comfort level
The table below shows a realistic daily spend at three levels, excluding flights. “Activities” assumes one guided outing per active day, since most of what brings people to Svalbard happens outside town.
| Per day (excl. flights) | Budget | Mid | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €150 | €220 | €350 |
| Food | €40 | €70 | €110 |
| One guided activity | €150 | €230 | €350 |
| Daily total | ~€340 | ~€520 | ~€810 |
Restaurant dinners run €30–€60, hotels €150–€350 a night, and single day activities €150–€350 — so the ranges above reflect real on-island prices, not estimates.
What a full trip totals
Booking a guided package usually beats stitching together separate day tours, because gear, transfers, and several meals are already inside the price. Our package prices, with flights added separately:
| Trip | Winter from | Summer from |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day package | €1,290 | €1,390 |
| 7-day package | €2,290 | €2,990 |
| 10-day package | €2,990 | €3,790 |
| Flights (round-trip, Oslo) | €250–€500 | €250–€500 |
So a 3-day winter trip lands around €1,540–€1,790 all in, and a 7-day summer trip around €3,240–€3,490, before any extra spending in town. Expedition cruises are quoted separately and typically run into the multiple thousands.
Where the money goes — and where to save
The fixed costs are the flight and the guided activities; there is little room to cut those without cutting the trip itself. The flexible costs are accommodation and food.
- Book flights early. A round-trip from Oslo runs €250–€500 booked ahead, €600 or more late. This is the single biggest lever.
- Travel in shoulder months. The weeks on either side of peak summer and the winter holidays are cheaper for both flights and rooms, with the same landscape.
- Choose a package over à-la-carte tours. Bundling several activities, gear, transfers, and meals usually costs less than booking each separately.
- Self-cater some meals. With dinners at €30–€60, cooking a few meals from the supermarket trims the daily total, even at higher grocery prices.
Pay in Norwegian krone (NOK); cards are accepted everywhere, so you do not need much cash. Build your budget around the flight and your chosen package first — those anchor the number — then layer food and any extra town days on top.
Quick answers
- Is Svalbard expensive to visit?
- Yes, by most standards. It is a remote Arctic destination where everything is shipped or flown in, and guided activities are required to leave town safely. Plan for €200–€500 per day beyond flights, depending on the comfort level you choose.
- What is the cheapest way to do Svalbard?
- Travel in a shoulder month, book flights two to four months early, choose simpler accommodation, eat some meals self-catered, and pick a short guided package rather than many separate day tours. A focused 3-day winter trip is the lowest-cost way to see the core.
- How much should I budget for food?
- A restaurant dinner runs €30–€60 per person, and lunches less. Guided packages include several meals, which lowers your daily food spend. Self-catering from the supermarket is possible and cheaper, though grocery prices are higher than on the mainland.
- Are flights included in tour prices?
- No. Our package prices cover guides, gear, accommodation, transfers, and meals on active days, but not your flights to Longyearbyen or your travel insurance. Budget the round-trip flight from Oslo (€250–€500 booked early) separately.
Updated 6 June 2026.